Milwaukee Tool has expanded their line of Packout-compatible structured tool bags.
The company previously launched 2 styles of tool bags, and have just added a new tool bag and a backpack, doubling the number of options.
Milwaukee structured tool bags feature a reinforced frame that helps the bags hold their shape, even when fully loaded with tools.
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Across the line, the tool bags also feature tear-resistant layered ballistic material, an impact-resistant molded base, all-metal hardware, YKK zippers, sturdy carrying handles, and padded shoulder straps (the backpack of course has two).
All of the structured tool bags are Packout-compatible, and can be connected to Milwaukee’s popular modular tool storage system.
Below, we’ll take a quick look at the full line:
- 10″ structured tote
- 15″ structured tote
- 15″ structured tool bag
- Backpack
The 10″ structured tote and 15″ structured tool bag are available now, the 15″ structured tote bag and backpack are launching in July, 2024.
Milwaukee Packout 10″ Structured Tote (48-22-8311)
The 10″ structured tote is the smallest of the line so far.
It features 35 total pockets and a 50 lb weight capacity.
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There are pockets on the outside as well, and also D-rings where you can attach other accessories.
Dimensions: 15″ L x 9.8″ W x 19″ H
Weight: 7.6 lbs
Price: $220
Milwaukee Packout 15″ Structured Tote (48-22-8317)
The new 15″ structure tool tote bag, part of the new line expansion, is similar to the 10″, but stretched out to fit more tools and supplies.
The 15″ tool tote has a total of 39 pockets.
Dimensions: 18″ L x 11″ D x 13.5″ H
Weight: 10.1 lbs
Price: $250
Milwaukee Packout 15″ Structured Tool Bag (48-22-8316)
The 15″ tool bag, which launched alongside the 10″ tote a few months ago, has 65 total pockets, plus external storage, such as a metal tape measure clip.
It has zippered compartments on both sides, and a total of 65 pockets (inside and out).
As with the other tool totes and bags, you can slide the shoulder strap over the top handle, keeping it off the floor and out of the way.
Dimensions: 18″ L x 10″ W x 19.8″ H
Weight: 10.5 lbs
Price: $270
Milwaukee Packout Structured Backpack (48-22-8303)
The new backpack has similar features to the other tool bags, and more.
The tool backpack has a total of 42 pockets.
There’s a zippered pocket at the rear for laptop or tablet storage.
It also has an expandable outer panel that can fit larger tools, like a cordless drill or driver.
A hanging hook helps you keep your tools close to your work.
Dimensions: 18″ L x 9.5″ W x 20″ H
Weight: 10.4 lbs
Price: $320
Packout Compatibility – if You Want it
If you’re hauling a lot of tools, Packout compatibility provides a way to transport more gear with fewer trips.
However, it’s worth reminding everyone that the Packout compatibility is optional, and that all of the tool bags and totes can be used independent of other Packout products.
Packout compatibility makes it convenient to bring a different parts organizer or two with you, depending on the job or task. The same has been true for Milwaukee’s other Packout-compatible tool bags.
What are the Downsides?
All those pockets, heavy-duty layered and reinforced construction, strong handles, and high durability come with a cost, both literally and with respect to weight.
Milwaukee gives the bags a 50 lb load rating, and I think that’s a good practical limit.
Peter
Are those prices competitive?
Stuart
For like-featured and like-sized structured tool bags? Yes.
Jason+S.
These look very similar to Veto Pro Pac designs (and pricing). I really like Milwaukee products, but at these price points, I’m very hesitant. Why would someone choose these over proven Veto bags? Simply due to the packout ability/product line?
Stuart
Features, availability, reputation, Packout compatibility?
I’ve tested a couple of Veto bags, and found them to be well-made and nicely featured. I’ve tested Milwaukee’s first two structured bags, and like them better.
If approaching this from a fresh perspective, I think the ability to connect a Packout organizer to the bottom would be the deciding factor for me. If I had more specific needs, Veto has a broader and more mature selection.
James
I have several Veto bags and love them. I use Packout but mostly for storage rather than transport. I bought the 10” structures tote to handle my overflow of hand tools that I keep in the truck but don’t want in any of my regular bags. It works great for this purpose because it sits on a stack of Packout organizers that are clipped to a shelf so it’s off the floor.
It’s pretty good. I found the price to be a bit ridiculous but so are Veto prices. The quality is there and I’ll never regret it. Storage is not bad; quite similar to Veto; some things better, some things worse. If the 15” was out I would have grabbed that instead because my tool overflow is substantial and completely maxes out the 10”.
I find the tool bag and now the backpack much less appealing.
Matt
Vetos arent that great, the Milwaukee wont be either. Both have nylon zippers, Veto wont warranty theirs for zipper damage, I’m sure Milwaukee wont either. If you go through their warranty policy they even have pictures under their “WHAT IS NOT COVERED” section such as “Abused Zipper”, “Excessive Wear and Tear” and “Damage due to overstuffing pockets. For $300+ you would think either could afford to include a brass zipper in their bill of materials, and not tell you that you stuck something too big in a pocket. And cue the fanbois getting upset of this post.
James
I prefer “fan man”. Haha I’m not upset. And if you need to overstuff your Veto, get a different model. They have plenty of tote style bags, or if you really want zippers, get a bigger bag or cut down on your kit.
I have about 10 Veto bags, all for different purposes, with a couple sitting empty because they were relegated when I learned they weren’t big enough or good enough for what I wanted them for.
I haven’t had a warranty issue with the zippers. I’ve had mine “jump the tracks” a couple of times but was always able to reset them, and I learned not to over stuff. I have had warranty on one bag because it became frayed and ripped and they sent me a new bag within 48 hours. Once they had a look at the ripped one, they told me to keep the new one. Granted, my sample size is “1”, but it was a pleasure that time.
Stuart
A good plastic zipper should deliver years of daily use.
I don’t think I’ve used many tool storage products with metal zippers. Klein’s pouches come to mind ( https://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Zipper-Klein-Tools-5139/dp/B000BQRCKY/?tag=toolguyd-20 ). I don’t recall the models I tested, but I really didn’t like the feel of the brass zippers.
If you don’t like the idea of a plastic zipper, you can always opt for one of the open totes.
Wally
I have the regular 15″ tote. I find its well made. A good bag especially if u can find it on sale
Farkleberry
I concur. In looking at the new 15″ structured tote, I wouldn’t be surprised if I still prefer the original, features wise.
Obviously the new price and potentially higher quality are trade offs, but I have been almost completely satisfied with the original 15″ tote except the level loop buckles’ orientation make it sit horizontal. Not sure if this is a design vs manufacturing flaw.
I know a lot of people complained about the 2 compartment setup in the original, one with pockets, the other without. I have found for my uses this is perfect as my drill/driver, bit index, hammer and trash balance out the hand tools in pockets.
The new bag has 3 compartments and one reviewer of the 10″ was complaining how tight they are compared to the Veto, which can be wider and not have to worry about fitting into the Packout module.
I like the the strap stowage, but the center compartment seems to always be covered up by the top handle… can it swing out of the way to not obstruct access to the middle?
It’s easy to load up the 15″ to where it’s heavier than comfortable/practical for a handle or single strap. Adding organizers underneath exacerbates the problem. The backpack would seem more comfortable with heavier loads, I wonder what the rating is there?
I also got some original 15″ tool bags that are just basic cloth boxes with handles, straps and ability to ride on and carry other pieces. I’ve not found them very useful.
The new structured tool bag looks pretty nice, its 2 compartments maybe more practical for the width.
I love the quick retrieval of tools from totes, but tipping over and spilling everything is a pain. The new tool bag’s and backpack’s zip down flaps would seem to offer more security and visibility but involve lots of zipping.
Richard
I like these, clearly aimed at the veto lookalike competitors with that handle. I wish there was more innovation with customization. Like different panels that could be attached and changed out depending on what tools you wanted to store.
I’ve got the plain non-Packout bag and find the generic pockets and hangers are never just right. I would ideally want one tool to one pocket and it always goes back in the same pocket but I just have to shove stuff where I can. The backpack looks more solid which I like. My main complaint of my current one is that it flops over and makes it hard to get stuff in/out.
I’ve contemplated getting one of the Packout wall hangars and hacking my own custom thing with a frame backpack and some totes. It would probably look a little silly but be pretty dang useful.
Jared
I like the look of the littlest one. I use the Husky 10-inch Electrician Tool Bag. I like it a lot – but that Milwaukee looks like it might be even better.
Farkleberry
10″ totes are great in general, but I don’t like them for Packout.
The most important limitation is they are not really the right size for carrying compact (1/2 width) Packout organizers underneath.
When stacking them on top of boxes/drawers, etc., they also only sit on the first 2/3, wasting some space.
20″ organizers are the worst in this regard, and take up the whole width of a stack vs the 10″, 15″ and backpacks which dock side by side. Perhaps a reason we have yet to (and might not) see an updated version.
Basically the 15″ is the sweet spot in totes and bags for efficiently showing double wide above stacks, and carrying compact organizers below.
I got some 15″ Packout totes on sale for $50 and have greatly enjoyed them, except when they tip over in the truck. I don’t beat them up, but was leery as I’ve read lots of bad reviews of the first gen stuff falling apart, mostly stitching and backpack’s zippers, etc. It’s good to hear positive reports on the new structured line’s quality, the price should surely allow it.
$250-300+ for Veto or new structured surely makes sense for tradesmen if they last a few to several years.
There are lots of great totes from Husky, AWP, Hercules etc. for under $50 (often even $25 on sale). I don’t think the Packout compatibility really matters for DIY around the house.
Actually, I really think Packout in general makes the most sense for for trades people or DIY, hobbies, etc. that need relatively lightweight, weather and impact resistant MOBILE storage.
Robert
Stuart, your very last sentence in the article states:
“ Milwaukee gives the bags a 50 lb load rating, and I think that’s a good practical limit.” And you explicitly state the 10 inch bag has a 50 lb limit.
But wouldn’t the two 15 inch bags need a correspondingly greater weight limit to take advantage of their greater tool carrying volume? Roughly 50% more?
Wayne R.
A “practical limit” would include shoulder & hand limit. And a top-heavy stack makes it a little more difficult to trundle around.
Stuart
In theory they could have went with an even beefier handle, but it would cost more and add to the size and weight. Does anyone really want to carry more than 50 lbs of tools in one hand or on one shoulder?
Robert
Isn’t the point of making these tool bags Packout-compatible that they can be securely latched to the top of a rolling stack of Milwaukee tool boxes, so that you can move the tool bags around (fairly) easily even when stuffed to the gills? Which would somewhat negate the bags being too heavy.
Stuart
Yes, they can be connected on top of a Packout stack. But they don’t have to be.
Consider an HVAC tech that’s servicing a heating or cooling unit in the attic of a 2-story house. They have to carry a tool bag from the van or truck, through a front or back door, through the house, up some stairs, down a hallway, and then up a set of narrow pull-down stairs.
Portability and mobility is a high priority. Tool bags are commonplace for these types of jobs.
JoshtheFurnaceGuy
As an HVAC guy, I agree with this sentiment.
If I moved to a packout bag it would be for the ability to attach a half width pachout case to the bottom when needed. I have several for different purposes, and the cases only go in when needed.
Most jobs I go in with a tool pouch and an impact until I see that something else is needed. (Oil furnaces get an additional case.)
I’ve seen the 15″ tote, and honestly think it would probably be too large for my tastes. My pouch is just over 21 pounds, and that’s plenty.
Wayne R.
The Milwaukee bag full of Milwaukee tools: Way too much red.
Feels like I’m being snarky with that viewpoint, but my Veto bags have tools of all colors and that makes it easier to get the one I’m reaching for.
The Veto colors are subdued too.
Stuart
What brand of tools are they supposed to depict it filled with?
If they show mixed brands when they sell competing ones, you’d have people pointing it out up and down the internet and social media.
Like this: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/craftsman-experience-gets-a-remodel/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Sears was renovating their Craftsman Experience showroom and I spotted a worker using Dewalt power tools. Things like that don’t look good.
Michael F
I get the sentiment. Why does everything Milwaukee have to be SO red and why does everything DeWalt have to be so yellow? Klein orange toolboxes? I think tool manufacturers must think we’re in Kindergarten or living on Sesame Street.
Stuart
Branding and recognition.
When you mix brands of tools, you can grab what you need by color.
Channellock is blue.
Klein hand tools tend to be dark blue unless they’re color-coded such as with strippers.
“I don’t like the color” can sometimes be a valid reason not to buy something.
But for hand tools? Personally I don’t really care. If I have too many of the same brand and need to better ID specific tools from the handles, I use gaffer tape or similar.
Why are Wera handles green, or yellow for heavier duty lines? Gearwrench is now black and yellow-orange. Knipex is red. Irwin is blue and yellow.
It’s just how it is.
Wayne R.
Klein’s pliers are blue-handled, their needlenose are yellow, their cutters are red. Craftsman’s screwdriver handles are different between flat & Phillips. Nutdrivers different between metric & “normal”. It’s not impossible to do, even in Extreme Brand Marketing.
Stuart
Ah – so you’re not saying the bag should be shown outfitted with different handle colors, but that Milwaukee hand tools should have different handle colors.
Oh, that’s definitely not happening.
They’re been making the tools MORE red.
e.g. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-jobsite-scissors-update-2022/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
This is what their locking pliers looked like 10 years ago: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-fast-release-locking-pliers/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Now, the locking pliers’ cushioned handle grips are all-red.
They’re definitely not going to go with yellow, because that might cause visual confusion with Dewalt, especially at retail stores.
I’ve found that some brands continue to color-code certain tools, such as nut drivers, but an increasing number are not.
For things like Phillips vs slotted, Milwaukee’s drivers tend to be well-marked, and so I don’t mind the absence of color-coding.
Although, I do like color-coding on other brands of screwdrivers.
My facom set have red, yellow, and blue accents, making it easy to quickly narrow down the selection. But that’s when looking for them on a project mat or in a drawer. If it bothered me with Milwaukee, I’d add a loop of gaffer or electrical tape.
Dewalt’s screwdrivers aren’t color-coded.
Channellock’s pliers grips aren’t color-coded.
Klein’s pliers are, as you mentioned, making it easier to grab the right one from a pouch.
I don’t think “they’re not color-coded” has been voiced as a reason someone hasn’t went with Milwaukee pliers before.
I can see how it might be a nuisance, but it’s one that can be remedied by users.
MM
May 31, 2024
@Stuart
I agree that I don’t see Milwaukee suddenly changing up their mostly-red color scheme anytime soon, but they do have some examples of color-coding on their tools. For example their Aviation snips have mostly red handles but there is a part that is color-coded yellow on the straight-cut models and green on the right-hand-cut models, but that kind of thing is limited.
Honestly I wish more tool companies would follow Snap-On’s lead and offer a choice of different colors for many tools.
Stuart
The aviation snips are an exception, and they pretty much need to have the color-coding on there.
S
I specifically never used more than one Klein screwdriver in my tool belt because all their grips are the same. I intentionally used various brands for different tactile feels to the different screwdrivers I needed. Made it much easier to grab by feel without needing to look at my tool belt every time.
Color is just color. Years ago, I also bought all neon yellow tools from a different off-brand for my home shop. The theory was that the color would better contrast with the work surface and I could pick out my tools easier from the project parts I had laid across the bench. The reality was that it was just as difficult to pick the tools out of the projects. Color doesn’t matter.
James
Haha me too I want my hand tools to be all colors, and I have Knipex and Milwaukee which means lots of red, albeit slightly different shades…..
But we don’t really expect Milwaukee to display other tool brands do we? Or if you’re suggesting that they change some of their tool colors to any other color than red, that I’m down with. I’m so tired of the red BUT they ain’t gonna change ;/
Farkleberry
Great point on the tool handles. I do wish they would’ve given us the black with red accents of euro Packout boxes that aren’t a unmistakable beacon for tool thieves, not to mention a strain on the eyes and good taste. These tool bags’ color proportions are slightly obnoxious but Milwaukee fans don’t bleed black with red accents.
Frank D
I think the structured 15 could be my second bag or could become my primary one, except that I don’t like the handle. And that that price … yeah, no Milwaukee, you’re losing me. .
Scott P Graves
Oh, the backpack with 42 pockets.
“Oh, Sweet mystery of life I’ve finally found you”
300 bucks is a bit, if only I wasn’t retired I’d buy that right now. I am putting on my Christmas list.
lurker
um… just wondering … do you ever have bug(s) or small critters ending up in your open tool bag? For that worry, I think a zipped up bag is better.
Stuart
It depends on the storage environment.
Open-top tote boxes aren’t a new concept, and they’re not the best fit for all types of work or storage environments.
Sean Lundgren
I am about to possibly buy one of these. I have bought and sold a few Veto’s and tried many types. My main gripe for years has been there are two things I am very picky about needing to be able to carry in one of these. My Dell Rugged Laptop in the back, and being able to store my VOM in a side pocket. Well I have bought separate Veto bags to hang off the sides of my backpack but they move all over the place & simply not worth the hassle vrs having a back pack with already sewn in side pouches like this has. Have emailed Veto two times in the years to make their biggest sized back pack model with a pouch on both sides, what they do? They make small back pack or carry versions with side pouches which do me no good. So today I search Google & here is a Milwaukee model now similar quality to Veto & about ready to go to my local Home Depot to buy one of the two they have left. About to leave Veto finally someone has some common sense about having sewn in meter pockets on both sides of these bigger size backpacks…