Milwaukee released their new 24″ hardtop rolling tool bag earlier this year, model 48-22-8220. This wasn’t the first we’ve seen of this bag, – I mentioned it last June in my Intro to the Milwaukee New Product Symposium 2016 post. I was impressed when I saw it there and while I haven’t been able to put it through any of the torture tests Milwaukee showed us, I haven’t been disappointed by my test sample.
Milwaukee wanted their rolling bag to be the most durable and versatile rolling bag in the industry. With 53 total pockets and measuring 16″ deep by 25″ wide by 21″ tall, this bag can carry a LOT of tools. You can stack even more on the hardtop of the bag for extra capacity. In total, the bag can handle a load of up to 250 lbs.
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There are pockets-galore in the main compartment, and also ample space for bulkier items, such as cordless power tools, extension cords, a caulk gun, or other such items.
The front panel folds down for even more storage. Users will likely want to use this compartment and its storage pouches for quick-access tools.
The toolbag even has 4 drink holders – two on the hard top and a pocket on either side.
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The two metal-rimmed wheels have have full bearings and “all-terrain” 6-inch tires which attach to a full-length metal axle.
The bag itself is made from 1680D ballistic material, and both the bottom and back of the bag have metal skids for added protection. This means you can roll the tool bag over rough terrain or pull it up stairs, without worrying about accelerated wear and tear.
When the Milwaukee product manager was showing off the bag at NPS16, they seemed proudest of the handle. The rectangular telescoping handle is oriented so that the widest part of the tubing is running front to back. This does make it stick out farther from the bag, but it gives the handle much more rigidity in the direction that you are pulling the bag.
The tool bag is available at all the usual Milwaukee tool dealers. It’s available at Home Depot, but it does not look to be widely available in stores yet.
Price: $199
Buy Now(via Acme Tool)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
Now thru 7/31/2017, some retailers (such as Acme Tool and Tool Nut) are throwing in a free M12 Jobsite speaker when you purchase the 24″ hardtop tool bag.
Update: Home Depot has the promo too – Buy Now.
A Closer Look at the Features
From the outside, it looked like the wheel had an outer bearing, but I wanted to see the axle and the other side of the wheel. The whole axle spins so I had to clamp down in it with a pair of Vise-Grips to hold it while I loosened the screw. Sure enough the wheel has two bearings
It looked to me like the axle was solid not tubular. To make sure, I probed the bottom of the threads in the end of the axle and my pick bottomed out.
The hard rubber inserts in the top lid capture the handle rails. This keeps the top open when you are accessing the inside of the bag.
The V-groove in the top can help hold round stock if you need to make a quick cut.
In the process of writing a review, I usually try to have the tool with me by the computer whenever possible. As I was writing, I looked at the bag and noticed a seam in the lining running up both sides and across the bottom at the front. Upon closer inspection I found a zipper.
I unzipped the lining and pulled it out of the bag as far as I could but I couldn’t remove it because it is sewn to the top of the bag. There’s nothing there except connection points for all the corner guards and skids on the outside of the bag.
This made me wonder why they used a zipper to hold the lining together. Is it a “secret” compartment where a Milwaukee Tick or other tracking module can be stashed away? Or is it just a convenient way of assembling the bag?
Loading up the Bag
I really don’t move my tools off my property much anymore, but I figured I’d load up the bag with some of the tools and supplies I used to bring when I did computer service calls. Most of the tools I carried fit into a tool tote, but I still would have to carry parts and a laptop separately. I wanted to see if the tool bag could hold it all.
This was pretty typical of what I would carry: my laptop, an extra CPU and power supply to swap out, an extra switch, supplies to make custom length networking cable, an 11-in-1 screwdriver, Bosch PS-21 cordless screwdriver, a set of drills and bits, and various other computer connectors.
Milwaukee says the inside pocket is for tablets, so it’s no surprise that it wasn’t big enough for my ThinkPad. It did fit in the outside pocket, but I’d rather it be protected inside the bag than in an external pocket.
There was plenty of room for more hand tools and I could have probably stuffed in more supplies, not to mention that I could strap an extra monitor or full sized PC on the hard top using the large D-rings and handle.
Final Thoughts
This is not a light bag, even with side handles. A fully loaded bag is going to be difficult to carry up and down stairs. So to move between floors you are probably going to roll this bag up and down stairs. I tested this in the short video above. It might be slow but it’s definitively possible.
The only real difficulty I have with the bag is that I have a hard time getting the handle to extend or retract once it is locked in place. You can’t just press your palm over the button, you have to intentionally jab your thumb hard in the center of the button or the handle won’t release. Sometimes I have to use both of my thumbs. This may be intentional to prevent it from accidentally being released, or it’s something that might get smoother with use.
At $200, this bag seems a little expensive for a rolling tool bag, but when you think about it there are other more modular systems out there like Dewalt Tough System carts and Festool Sys-Roll that rival the Milwaukee bag for price. It all depends on what your specific needs are.
I’m not sure why this is classified as a bag, it really is a plastic toolbox with a cloth covering. Maybe they call it a bag because you can’t really lock it. That is a real potential downside if you are worried about your tools walking off the site, but even if it locked, it is a rolling bag, there’s nothing stopping someone from rolling away with it.
At its best, this tool bag will allow you to carry everything you need into a jobsite safely in one trip. And hey, it makes a great seat for break time complete with beverage holders.
Thank you to Milwaukee for providing the review sample unconditionally.
Brent
I remember reading your post about this bag when it was introduced at the Milwaukee Tool even last year, and was excited about getting a really durable portable tool bag — I frequently haul everything down to my girlfriend’s to help work on her house and the cheap bag I had was falling apart quickly.
When several months went by with no release date, I finally sucked it up and went with a bunch of DeWalt ToughSystem cases. It’s easy to grab the right combination of tools I’ll need — hand tools in the rolling base in a soft-sided bag, drill/driver/batteries/lights in one box, Sawzall for pruning and demo in another, auto tools in another, circular saw and blades in another. I’m extremely happy with the DeWalt setup, both with quality and design.
When they finally got this rolling tool bag into the stores, almost a year after they announced it, I looked at it to see if it would complement my ToughSystem setup, but even though it appears to have great construction, it doesn’t really do enough for me to warrant purchasing.
Milwaukee really blew it by announcing it so early and delivering it so late, irritating potential (and loyal — all my battery operated tools are Big Red) customers like me who couldn’t wait any longer for a tool transport solution.
taras
This is exactly the situation I had found myself in. The only thing that makes it worse for me is that not only had I purchased the DeWalt box, but being in Canada, the DeWalt was $150 on sale! It’s less than half of that regular priced in the US. The Milwaukee bag is $240 up here. I would have waited if there was a concrete release date, but it took forever! The Dewalt isn’t bad, but there isn’t any organization. I may just cut a Bucket Boss in half and rivet it to the inside walls of the DeWalt.
Pete
I love milwaukee products BUT this looks terrible…. add the cost that its $200 and its even worse.
Fabric wears out, so those pockets are gonna wear out in a year under heavy use.
What i really want is the ridgid boxes that have modular inserts. For the sides, bottoms, tops.
Matt
Totally agree with the first post. What’s with the massive lag time between announcements and release? The Dewalt nailers won’t be seen in Canada until the fall when they will begin to roll out? Seriously? Why? Milwaukee nailers were being seen around Christmas here and typically at Home Depot for $500. Ridiculous.
These paper or soft launches are ridiculed in the computer industry yet seem quite common here. I get that it’s the big power tool symposium but come on. When the release is closer to the next year’s event there’s a big problem.
taras
Exactly. When I see something that can fill a need for me RIGHT NOW, I don’t want to wait 11 months to be able to buy it. I’ll just look at something else that I can rig up in a similar way to fill those needs. Companies are really blowing it when it comes to reveal vs. release time.
Stuart
Media Event: “This is stuff we’ve been working on.”
Press Release: “This is stuff we’re coming out with soon.”
The hardtop press release hit my inbox in January (1/13/17), and mentioned a Feb 2017 launch.
Dewalt’s tool storage expansion was shown off in June, and I posted a sneak peek in September. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-ball-bearing-tool-storage-2016/%3C/a%3E They’ve been listed on Dewalt.com, but aren’t quite available for sale yet, and there hasn’t been a press release yet that I’ve seen.
There are times when I need something NOW, and other times when I plan ahead.
Sometimes I like knowing about what’s coming out, but there are times when it’s really annoying. I was waiting on a lighting product for a while, checking for updates frequently, until one day the company said they abandoned the project.
Marty
When this was announced I remember thinking that I would probably pick one up. I finally saw one in Home Depot about two weeks ago and it seems pretty bland especially considering the price point. Home Depot’s Husky rolling tool bags are significantly cheaper and while they may not be as fully tricked out as the Milwaukee (smaller wheels and a soft top) I would be more prone to buying one of those since I think that pocket durability will be a factor in it’s longevity.
Mick Dna
Buy it OR don’t buy it , cry babies go shop at Ollies !!! Buy a bucket !!!
Everything cost $$$ today …
Things are made to break and wear out …
That is what makes the world go around so we got jobs … hopefully in the U.S.
( MR. Milwaukee )
I personally will buy one …and it may break and I will definitely wear it out !!!
Wayne
Stuart’s the materials guy – is the plastic in this thing going to handle being beat up in the winter?
Richard G.
I am pretty sure, that Husky bags are selling much better now after this Milwaukee bag hit the shelves.
Ringsteel
High folks !
found this site while looking for replacements of a lifetime accrual of tools etc.,stolen in one night
Great site nice reviews!
So , my question for this application is:
Looking for a container that I can load on bed of truck and head out to pasture to clear brush and tree limbs. I want it to contain bar oil, spare chains, files, and tools for chain saws, weed wack string extra gloves etc.
This looks like a good start but a bit steep for a retired guy on a budget. I’m open to suggestions.
Thanks folks….
taras
Bucket and Bucket Organizer. $3 for the bucket, and $20 for the organizer. If you have a mode of hauling it around (your truck), then you can load it up as heavy as you want with tools and not have to worry about carrying it. It will last a long time (mine is still going with 3 years of daily construction use). It only becomes inconvenient if you have to carry it any sort of distance, which is why I retired it for home use. Next in line, I would look at an 18″ tool bag. Boxes are fine for holding bulky items like power tools, but the lack of organization makes them horrible for carrying lots of small items. Organization is key to working efficiently and being able to see if all of your tools are present. When each tool has a “home”, it is easier to see if something is missing, or needs to be put back. The bucket organizer is the easiest, cheapest, and most versatile way to get organized for a small number of tools. I personally picked up this one https://goclc.com/products/Work-Gear-Softside-Tool-Carriers-Bags-Backpacks/4122 , but wished I had gotten this one https://goclc.com/products/Work-Gear-Softside-Tool-Carriers-Bags-Backpacks/1119 . I initially thought I would be better of with 61 pockets vs. 48, thinking I would use it more for small accessories such as driver bits, small tools and such. I reality the 48 pocket one would have suited me better because the pockets are bigger. It’s the difference between having small tools like wrenches and pliers in their own individual pocket, or having them tossed into the bucket portion. Basically a lot of small pockets were unused and therefore useless to me. Bigger pouches is a better use of real estate in my situation. Analyze your needs and go with the one that suits them better, even if the other one is cheaper. If you need even fewer (but larger) pockets, they also make these bucket organizers for gardening tools https://www.amazon.com/GardenHOME-Garden-Bucket-Tool-Organizer/dp/B00I9L7T2E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495516690&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=garden+bucket+caddy&psc=1. The garden ones don’t have internal pockets, so they have only half the available real estate. There are also ones that are made for fishermen with slightly different configurations https://gowildriver.com/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=WL3506&id=, so take a look around and see what suits you, but this would be the cheapest way to carry stuff around, even if you needed two of them. Also, light/contrasting materials make it easier to spot your tools.
Ringsteel
Hmmm! Nice idea thanks for helping me break out of my tunnel vision!
Looks like that would hold bar oil, spare chains sharpener etc……..
That should hols until I can purchase a 3 point hitch frame to build a tool box around…….have a good one!
fred
The problem with all of these – at least all that I’ve seen – are that the wheels are too small and/or have too little ground clearance. Most can barely roll on a residential lawn – let alone traverse rough terrain.
For the Scouts, I fabricated several “Patrol Boxes” to which we added 2 bicycle wheels. The sturdiest ones had brackets that we fabricated that mounted to the side of the box and emulated a front fork . On two – we just used an axle made from pipe with threaded ends. A pipe coupling and a pipe bushing were mounted to one side of the bicycle wheel. We’d put the wheels on the boxes after unloading them at the trail head – and roll the boxes into camp via handles made of pipe – that also served as the legs for the boxes.
We looked at folding “barn carts” – but adding the bike wheels (often donated – bent ones that we trued up) was cheaper and put scouts to work collecting and building things.
https://www.amazon.com/Tipke-2100-Marine-Fold-Utility/dp/B00006LPPJ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495538469&sr=8-3&keywords=barn+cart
Olympia – also makes a muck cart that can be taken apart for transport – and holds a tub – that could be used to transport tools.
https://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Tools-80-921-Barrow-without/dp/B00T3MPJSO/ref=nav_signin?ie=UTF8&qid=1495538712&sr=8-8&keywords=bucket+cart&
Pete
You could look into “old school” shopping carts. Theyre made with bike tires-12″ i believe.
Doresoom
I tested the 18″ version of the Milwaukee bag, and found it could roll over grass easily, and even over 2x4s. The wheels are definitely a big step up over other 18″ rolling tool bags I’ve used before.
The yeti
200 American. That’s well into veto pro pack territory . I think I’d buy the veto
glenn
We checked this out in a shop a couple of weeks back but decided against it. It is certainly well made but the wheels are too small in diameter or are too high set on the sides, you would end up carrying it, even over the smallest obstacles.
Which brings to my next point, it is quite heavy at 12kg, add the 20 odd kg of tools that we use and that becomes a bit too much.
Add to that the price which is$249AUD.
Although it doesn’t have wheels, we went with this instead. Got it on sale for $99AUD.
https://sydneytools.com.au/toughbuilt-tb-81-18-450mm-modular-tote-tool-bag
Also if you are in the market for something similar to the Milwaukee try checking out the Keter master pro sliding tool chest. I Have had 2 of these for near4 years and they have stood up well.
DCL
The concept looks fine, but the price is just too high. At the end of the day it’s a peice of plastic covered in fabric with some wheels on the bottom. Compare the build quality, interior pockets, and such to a veto or something similar and it’s laughable. Also I feel like milwaukee has been doing a lot of this lately with their levels, lights, and some other tools. Trying to move significantly up market in price to compete at the absolute top, while not delivering a truly top end product, and instead relying on their name and good marketing.
Mr. Gerbik
$150+ for the Milwaukee logo, less than $50 for the actual wheel cart. No thanks. Another reason why I can’t stand Milwaukee tools. I tried one of these before from another brand & it was terrible. It was rated to handle 150lbs. So I loaded it up with 75lbs of hand tools & from the 1st time I went up and down stairs with it, the fabric and riveted plastic slowly tore itself off of the metal frame. A month later it was done.
Doneright
I work apartment maintenance and walk (according to my tracker) 4-5.5 miles a day. Lots of stairs. I’ve trashed Husky, Kobalt and CLC rolling bags within 2 months each. The longest lasting rolling bag to date was a Klein. It lasted a year and finally the handle broke.
I bought this Milwaukee bag as soon as it was released and it seems to be doing great so far. Although a couple inches wider than my previous Klein bag, it’s not too big. The typical amount of weight I tote is between 50 and 70lbs depending on the project I’m doing.
Time will tell if it is a good value but I’m pleased with it for now.