There have been 2 big questions that readers have asked me about Milwaukee’s Packout tool box system, and until now I haven’t been able to answer either of them.
The first: When are Milwaukee Packout tool boxes and bags coming to Europe?
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Answer: It looks like they’re launching soon, as some UK and EU retailers have started to list Packout SKUs.
The second question was tougher: Will Packout tool boxes be available in black?
Answer: Yes! But… maybe only in Europe. I have not (yet?) seen any indication that we’ll see anything other than the bright Milwaukee-red Packout tool boxes here in the USA. Well, at least we know that there will be Milwaukee Packout tool boxes in black, and so it’s not an impossibility.
See Also: Milwaukee Packout Tool Boxes and Storage System, in Photos
The tool bags look the same, and so it’s only the tool boxes that will be available in black.
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Honestly, while I like bags and such that don’t call attention to themselves with bright colors, I can’t say if I’d prefer the black plastic Packout tool boxes over the red. I’d have to see both in person side by side to decide.
Here’s a look at a Packout stack.
It looks like Milwaukee Packout products will be slowly rolling out to UK and EU retailers. Most have a limited number of SKUs, presumably due to supply constraints and high anticipated demand.
What do you think – should Milwaukee release special edition blacked-out Packout tool boxes here in the US?
VladFineCraft
I am getting these in March ?????
Rodrigo
Are you from us? If yes how did you get them
Brandon Padgett
Was that dude from the USA? How did he get it? I have a connection in the Philippines so order it and have them send it to the Philippines and then send it to the US but… Shipping is going to be pricey but well worth it
Jordan
I wanna purchase the black packout, I dont care about how much it cost me, how can I get it shipped to US?
Nuno
Amazon is selling for 249 but the shipping is more then 300
Brandon Padgett
Maybe find a P.O. Box out of United States then have the Store with pick box send it to usa
Diego
I just bought mine last year from Amazon it cost me almost 800 to 900 I think. It’s the shipping the cost more
Will
Where can I get this
Stuart
European Milwaukee Tool Sellers.
The yeti
Nice looking boxes. Looks better in black.
Recently got a couple L boxxes. Really like them. Took me a long time to warm up to the idea of plastic tool boxes.
D
Looks much better.
When drawers are released I will be getting them if they are better than the new Tough System drawers coming out. Price will also be a factor so here’s hoping packout becomes reasonable.
Tim
They definitely look better in black, but then it ends up looking pretty similar to the DeWalt ToughSystem. I guess Milwaukee and DeWalt don’t have problems competing in every other area, even though they share the same parent company, so this one wouldn’t be any different?
Stuart
Dewalt is owned by Stanley Black & Decker. Milwaukee Tool is owned by TTI.
Tim
Foot meet mouth. I thought Stanley owned both of them.
Jason Dixon
Nope stanley is apex corp
Milwaukee is itt corp
Stuart
Stanley is NOT a part of Apex Tool Group.
Dennis D
Milwaukee is now a Chinese company. no longer American…
Stuart
Publicly-traded TTI acquired Milwaukee Tool 14 years ago. I’ve been to their growing USA facility, which gets bigger and bigger each year, and that’s only one USA location where they’ve been adding more jobs.
TGRRAG
They don’t share the same parent company. Techtronic Industries owns Milwaukee. DeWalt is owned by Stanley Back & Decker (SWK).
Cottenboy
That’s Black*
Mike
You know what’s funny I was looking at the new DeWalt 2.0 boxes and there was a lady standing there and I asked her which box looks better the Dewalts or Milwaukee and she told me if your a man get the Dewalt if your a woman get the Milwaukee and I asked her why she said the Milwaukee looks you’d put makeup in the DeWalt looks manly, she said if a man came into my house to do work with those tool boxes I would think he was gay I laughed my ass off
Raoul
I like the black. Wish they would all mute all the products.
Wildxplora
I have the red three piece set purchased wickedly fast at HD before they were all snatched up, and I have to say if I was given the choice at the time I still would have purchased the red over the black. So many manufacturers cases are black, black, and more black. The red is different. With these boxes it reminds me of the quote from Henry Ford “ any color so long along as it is black” lol.
The Red Rules !
Brian A
Why make two colors?!?! Black does look pretty slick.
Arlan
YES !! Black please. I’ve delayed buying the packout simply because I don’t like gaudy boxes and cases. Red tools are fine. Cases……make it blend in and look a bit more classy.
Milwaukee 0
Yes , waiting on black pack out system . Low profile , bright red boxes dont like .
Brandon Padgett
Was that dude from the USA? How did he get it? I have a connection in the Philippines so order it and have them send it to the Philippines and then send it to the US but… Shipping is going to be pricey but well worth it
A W
Yes, they should release in the US in Black.
I don’t currently need it, but if I was looking for a portable tool box solution the packout in black would be top of my list.
Dj
Yes, why haven’t they released in the USA it yet?
Nathan L
I like the red because it’s easier to see things inside clearly and wouldn’t get so piping hot if left exposed to the hot sun.
Nathan L
In a similar vein, i’m increasingly disgruntled with the sick obsession with black automobile interiors in Miami. It’s hard to find anything else, and of all the places in the US that are NOT suited for a black interior, it’s the southern tip of Florida.
dave
phoenix arizona
Jim Felt
In the Photo world Black cases became the gold standard of “pro” use decades ago. Even though they suck up heat and show marks more easily. I still miss the US made Haliburton aluminum cases. (Though the Airlines dented the hell out of them. Never lost any contents).
That said I went and sprung for the Ridgid models a couple of years ago for portable tool movement.
No regrets on the color. Just the lousy space utilization. @DumbInteriorDesign
And even though thinner walled cases should allow way better storage optimization I’ve still never seen one tool centric system to act as the the end all.
The impossible (improbable) dream?
Ryan
I want all black. “Murdered out”
Matte black cases with a gloss black Milwaukee logo. Smoked plastic lids on the organizers, but keep the red bins.
FD
^^^^ THIS x 100 !!!
Joe
Very nice in black and red….they would sell out if they come here
Josh A
I have to say, I’m a fan of the more subdued look of the black cases. I would be more willing to use the Packout boxes if they weren’t emblazoned “MILWAUKEE”. I’m glad the Dewalt Boxes aren’t bright yellow for the same reasons.
Dennis
The bright steal me red was the reason I didn’t want the better designed Milwaukee cases. Well that and because I already bought some Dewalt ones that beat Milwaukee to market by several years. Had black been available I would have probably switched over.
I really hate when manufacturers come out with products in other parts of the world that are better than what we can get here.
Milwaukee 0
I agree we need those black pack out boxes . NOW…….
lee
i had them sold them, useless cant get to bottom box without removing all the upper ones first ,, no matter what colour not practical ,, nice boxes just not practical
Kevin
The black may still be vaporware, as I think the black in the photo is a photoshopped version of the red. They two stacks are in EXACTLY the same spot, as can be seen in the gravel. Also, the dirt scuffs are identical on the sides.
But that could just be for advertising purposes…
Farid
“…presumably due to supply constraints” . This might be related to fact that,
Ketter, the manufacturer of Dewalt’s and Milwaukee’s boxes, is not popular in Europe and some countries have restrictions. Most of Ketter’s factories are situated in illegal settlements in the West Bank. For some countries, that means only boxes made in certain factories would be sold (or perhaps made by someone else entirely).
fred
You learn something new everyday. I did not know much about Keter Plastics other than that they were based in Israel. Like many others in the US, I’ve sometimes become inured to what going on in places like the West Bank. Listening to the nightly news here one might assume that what’s going on in Hollywood or in sports is of greater import than anything happening in the rest of the world.
firefly
Even though they do look nice I don’t care at all for the red accent. I would rather if they get rid of it completely. Perhaps a small red logo somewhere is ok.
I really wish they come in all black or grey. On the other hand, I would love it if the inside is red or yellow. That would help to locate the tool inside.
Rafael Ram
The black ones would be nice here is the states
Diplomatic Immunity
Haha ask and you shall receive! Kudos on Milwaukee for releasing these in black. I remember commenting on how these would be way better in something other than bright red back when you talked about them Stuey. I’m really tempted at getting these now and not feeling weird if I had to pull out another brand’s tools from them. A lot more subdued vs the bright red boxes.
Nate818
Just make multiple color options
Jeremy Brown
Don’t care what color they are but I want the black ones for one simple reason: color coding to differentiate contents
Christian
Why Black instead of Red?
I suppose Hilti may have some intellectual property rights on Red tool boxes and the want to avoid confusion?
John fal
I think I’d pick the black, but I reather have the bags in red. Be cool if they had both choices too.
Yangfan
Around the aluminum alloy bracket, black must be nice and more
Nick
I wonder what they will really look like. It’s pretty obvious that the image showing the black boxes has been photoshopped to represent the designers intent. The perspective and placement of all of the tool bags is exactly the same in both images. But with that said… I like the black.
OBDave
Yes and please and now! I’m probably waiting a few months to pull the trigger on a stacking set, was leaning toward Ridgid but even with the stupid price difference being able to get something other than steal-me-red would get the Packout system a strong second look…
Frank D
Cries …
If I were to buy (and I’m seriously considering one set, even though I don’t quite like my Ridgid dumb bins on wheels) I would seriously prefer an inconspicuous all black version with just small milwaukee logo.
The less attention the toolboxes and stuff in my van gather, the better!!!
Mike
Much better in black but they should sell them here why does Europe always get the better stuff then the U.S. and that includes Dewalt too
Chris
This is similar to FACOM being the brand of the “tough system” in Europe.
Joel
Black tools with red accents ???
Calvin cooley
Hell yeah they should. That would have been a cool black Friday limited edition for 2018 on I would wait in line or order the packout in black if I could
Jay Evans
Yeah after i complete my set of Packout you decide to come out with the black version. Not Cool !! I have spent Thousands on Milwaukee products !
mat
Same
Randy miller
I like the black and red just getting ready to buy one in red is the black and red available through you at all and is there a price difference I accidentally found you on the Web today really like the black and red Thank you
Stuart
At this time, Black Packout boxes are only available in Europe.
Nick
Are the black packout compatible with the red pack outs? Could u mix match and stack the red and black ones together or are they a little more then slightly diff then just the colours cause that would be kina cool to use uks black packout with our North American red packouts
Stuart
That’s not something we’ve tested or confirmed in any way, but I can’t imagine how or why they would not be compatible.
Jack
Do the red pack outs put on the black pack outs?
Stuart
Yes?
maggie
Can the black be shipped to the US and if so, where do I go to order?
Stuart
No idea, sorry.
Manny
Would like the all black Milwaukee pack out how much are you guys selling it for. Or know where I can buy it
Tom D
Amazon UK has some but the shipping is as much or more than the boxes.