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Large, extensive DIY tool kits need storage options that can match them. While some builders, fixers, and creators might prefer carrying a toolbox in each hand, others might seek out one reliable tool bag that can hold it all. Instead of making several trips or carrying all the weight in your arms and hands, these bags often have wheels to take the stress off your back.
The Husky tool bag can function as one of those carry-all bags. This large bag features tons of storage, lots of pockets, a set of wheels, and a telescoping handle for toting tools. Its goal is to make rolling the tools from the shop to the vehicle—or around a job site—easier and more comfortable.
But, how does the Husky tool bag stack up to other bags? And does it accomplish this goal? Competition among the best tool bags is stiff, so the Husky tool bag has its work cut out for it. Keep reading to learn more about how I felt about this option from Husky.
Verdict: The Husky tool bag offers impressive storage, a massive weight capacity, and sturdy wheels to get it from A to B.
Rating: 8.5/10
PROS
- Lots of storage
- Wheels roll well over rougher terrain
- Hook-and-loop closure for small items
- Deep, well-designed pockets
- Most comfortable handles among competitors
CONS
- Pockets are too uniform in size
- Expensive compared to competitors
- Will grow heavy
- Needs side handles
Get the Husky 18” Red Rolling Tool Tote Bag at Amazon for $103.75 or at The Home Depot for $84.97.
Pockets and Storage Galore
The Husky tool bag’s biggest strength is its payload and ability to fit nearly every necessary tool inside. This bag measures 18 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 14 inches deep, offering much more space than almost any other tool bag on the market.
This bag boasts 18 places to store hand tools, from the large center compartment to the pockets inside the bag to the pockets around the outside. I liked that the pockets themselves are deep and will hold tools securely, and the front hook-and-loop closure pocket is perfect for smaller bits and drivers. I found that one downside is that the pockets are all a general uniform size, so there are no obvious slots for screwdrivers, pencils, or other smaller tools.
The center compartment is very large. Other than some of my longer tools like pry bars and handsaws, it held just about every hand tool imaginable for a DIY kit, as well as most power tools. This center compartment can also hold several long-handled hammers, a few speed squares, a drill driver, an impact driver or hammer drill, and even a spare battery or two.
Typically, I’d be concerned with the weight of loading that many tools into a bag. This bag’s weight capacity is 100 pounds, which is more than enough for most tool kits.
Rolls Smoothly, Opens Easily, and Stays Open
One hundred pounds of weight is an onerous burden to carry from the shop to the truck or even just from room to room. To help conveniently offset the massive payload, the Husky tool bag provides a telescoping handle and a set of wheels. I felt that the handle was sturdy, it extended and collapsed smoothly, and there wasn’t any two-handed fidgeting as there can be with some cheaper models. Coupled with the smooth-rolling wheels, this bag makes it over rougher terrain with ease.
It’s also worth noting that the Husky tool bag’s main compartment features a zipper closure. The zipper has two sliders with nylon pull cords, and they can meet in the middle or operate from one side, according to user preference (I found that positioning them in the middle was best). The smoothness of the zipper makes it easy to open the bag with just one hand, though it did require both of my hands to zip it shut.
Once open, the bag’s design allows the center compartment to stay open, so I could see into the bag to reach in and grab a tool with one hand.
Handles Are Well-Designed but Minimal
The Husky tool bag’s top-mounted handles are well-designed. I found them to be the most comfortable in a group of competitors’ tool bags loaded with the same tools, despite the Husky weighing 7 pounds unloaded (compared to the other bags weighing roughly 2 to 3 pounds). While the nylon webbing provides lots of strength and grip, the handles also feature a soft, padded insert and a rolled design. They’re thin enough to get a good grip but comfortable enough not to hurt my hand or cause discomfort.
However, the one area in which the Husky tool bag’s design falls short regards the handles. There are no side-mounted handles on this bag. This design does allow for uninhibited access to the tool pockets on either end, but it also means there isn’t an efficient way to lift the bag once loaded to the upper limits of its weight capacity. I found that lifting a loaded bag into the back of the truck without these handles can be difficult, especially when loaded to capacity.
Plenty of Storage, but It Doesn’t Come Cheap
The Husky tool bag is the upgrade pick, so it’s obviously going to cost more than many other tool bag models. But this tool bag costs more than twice as much as the next most expensive model, which calls its value into question. Is it a good deal at nearly $140?
It’s expensive; there’s no doubt. But, between the wheels, the telescoping handle, and the weight capacity, the Husky tool bag is not so high-priced that it’s not worth purchasing. I’d prefer if it featured a few more handles and some more tool-specific pockets, but those features could also be a matter of preference. Everything on or in the bag works as it should.
For the price tag, this is a quality bag with plenty of storage ability. While it does have a premium-minded price, the Husky tool bag could potentially replace two or three smaller tool bags. That alone might offset the cost factor, depending on the type of tools the user hauls and how they intend to use the bag.
How We Reviewed the Husky Tool Bag
There’s only one good way to test a tool bag, and that’s by loading it up with a typical collection of DIY tools and putting it through the paces—which is exactly what I did.
The test tool kit included a power drill, a hammer, pliers (several sizes of pump pliers, slip-joints, diagonal cutters, and linesman pliers), a utility knife, several pry bars, an electrical multimeter, and a few other typical odds and ends. It’s essentially the gear that I would take on a typical repair project, as well as a few extras.
Once the bag was full of tools, I carried it from a garage shop to a vehicle, from the vehicle to an imaginary job site, back to the vehicle, and finally, back to the garage. I repeated this process several times. Since this bag has wheels, the test also involved extending the handle, rolling the bag to the vehicle, closing the handle, lifting the bag into the vehicle, and repeating the process.
Between loading the bag with tools and transporting it, this test provided an excellent idea of how much the Husky tool bag could carry and how easy it was to organize. All of the pros and cons listed above became apparent, providing a real-world look at this bag.
Is the Husky Tool Bag Right for You?
The Husky tool bag offers a massive weight capacity, lots of storage, and several convenient features to make rolling it about easy and convenient. But is this bag right for you?
DIYers and pros who prefer to have a smaller bag or several sets of bags or boxes set up for certain work may not see the benefit of this bag. But for those DIYers who want to keep all their hand tools (and even some power tools) in one spot, this is the bag to purchase. It features individual pockets for easy organization, a massive weight capacity, and plenty of room inside for almost any selection of tools. This rolling bag can truly operate as a one-stop workstation, ensuring users will have nearly everything they need on the job at all times.
There are a few areas where the Husky tool bag could use a bit of improvement, but overall, it’s an excellent tool bag that most DIYers will find incredibly useful or even essential to their workflow. With easy transport, one-handed use, and lots of storage, it doesn’t leave much to be desired. An extra set of handles and maybe some smaller pockets would increase the functionality, but their absence doesn’t take away from the value and convenience this bag offers.
Get the Husky 18” Red Rolling Tool Tote Bag at Amazon for $103.75 or at The Home Depot for $84.97.
