Tool belts may not look very stylish, but they play a significant role in keeping a carpenter’s projects running seamlessly.
Thanks to the tool belt, a carpenter can have all the important tools and go-to supplies in easy reach while keeping the hands free to continue working.
However, with hundreds of choices on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. To help, we’ve created this “best tool belts for carpenters” buying guide.
We’ll tell you the most important things to look for when you buy your next tool belt, answer some of the most frequent questions and tell you our top 5 best tool belt picks.
What to Consider in Choosing the Best Tool Belt for You
There are a couple of things you need to consider when you buy your next tool belt.
Since you’re going to be carrying it with you during most of your projects, it’s important to choose a tool belt that is suitable for your needs and comfortable to wear.
These are the most important things to consider when choosing the best tool belt for yourself:
Material
When you are on the hunt for your new tool belt, the materials used for the tool belt, are the most important aspect you need to decide on.
Canvas or cotton is a comfortable material that is cheap. However, it tears easily and won’t last as long as other materials. Tool belts made from any highly breathable fabric are less durable and are only suitable for basic lightweight tools.
Nylon and polyester blends are durable and sturdy, so many carpenters tend to buy nylon-based tool belts. However, polyester blends are not breathable and, if not reinforced, can be uncomfortable to wear and promote sweating.
Leather tool belts are some of the most famous ones. They have a classic look and are extremely durable. They are expensive but will last you a long time. They can be heavier than some of the other materials.
Today, a combo of nylon-based material with leather reinforcement seems to be the best idea. Aside from the material itself, you should pay attention to the sturdiness of the stitching too.
Design
The next thing to consider before buying your new tool belt is the design.
What do you need in a tool belt? Is there some specialized tool that you need to fit inside? Are you prone to losing your bolts or nails, so you need compartments with closure?
Do you simply have to have your cell phone with you, and you want to keep it in your tool belt? Is comfort the most important consideration for you?
Consider all these questions and think about what it is that you need from a tool belt. From experience, we tried to include the most spacious belts, with many different compartments, suitable for all kinds of tools.
Naturally, there might be something else you cherish in a tool belt. So, rate these tool belts by your criteria.
Comfort
We understand the hip weight problem that most carpenters have, so we also went with ergonomic and comfortable belts. The belt becomes an inseparable part of the carpenter’s work, so the belt needs to be nicely secured around the waist without interfering with work or even worse, injuring you.
For this reason, most of the tool belts we chose to have on our list have suspension straps or ergonomic reinforcement.
Value for your money
Some tool belts can be quite pricey. Since no one can guarantee if a particular brand of tool belt will suit you, it’s always a good idea to strive to get the best value for your money.
With that in mind, we tried to exclude the cheapest (and worst quality) and the most expensive (the ones where you mostly pay for the brand) tool belts.
We kept the tool belt product prices somewhere in the middle, so there will be something for everyone.
Features and Benefits of the Best Tool Belts for Carpenters
When looking for the best tool belts for carpenters, we combined our years-long experience with what carpenters need from a belt. So, we took into consideration a couple of features that are highly important and useful in tool belts.
Plenty of pockets and space
Having enough space for all the tools you’re going to need is mandatory. Without enough compartments for all your tools, the tool belt becomes more of a fashion accessory than an asset to your time, efficiency and organization.
So, the first thing we made sure that all of our best tool belts have is plenty of pockets and enough space for hammers and other heavy tools.
Waist adjustment or ergonomic design
Another important thing is for the tool belts to have ergonomic designs that are easy to wear. Tool belts are worn constantly – from the time you get to work until you clock out and head home.
If you are going to wear something for hours daily, it needs to be adjustable and ergonomic.
To ensure that we propose comfortable tool belts, a couple of our best tool belts have suspenders, while others are reinforced with breathable material or memory foam pads.
Durability
Finally, tool belts could not get into our “best” list if they don’t last. Since some of the tool belts for carpenters can get quite pricey, we took durability as an important aspect.
If you’re paying big bucks for your belt, the least it can do is last for years to come.
Best Tool Belts for Carpenters (Amazon finds)
1. Jackson Palmer Professional Comfort-Rig Tool Belt with Adjustable Suspenders
The Jackson Palmer company continuously updates and upgrades its belt designs based on customers’ feedback and trends.
The Professional Comfort-Rig tool belt with suspenders has a customizable fit, suitable for carpenters with anywhere between 30” and 50” waist sizes.
If we talk storage space, this tool belt has it all – two hooks for power tools, 2 large detachable pouches, 4 pockets with inner dividers and a hammer carry handle design.
There are customizable suspenders that distribute the weight of the belt to 5 body points, making sure that the weight doesn’t fall solely on the hips.
The belts and the suspenders have reinforced padding for durability and an inner mesh for better breathability. Furthermore, the belt has extra ring attachments, in case you want to reorganize compartments.
Overall, this product has a lot of versatility, adjustments, and storage compartments.
Pros
- Versatile design with removable double pouch design
- Plenty of space with built-in dividers
- Iron buckles, reinforced stitching, padding, and cooling mesh
- Adjustable size
- Comfortable design with even weight distribution
- Detachable pockets
Cons
- The material is not exceptionally durable
- The belt length is not suitable for some users
- Some users report that the hooks get caught on things
Check the latest price on Amazon.
2. Dewalt DG5617 20-Pocket Pro Framer’s Combo Apron Tool Belt
The Dewalt 20-pocket apron tool belt is versatile and durable, made from a padded air-mesh synthetic material.
The belt has suspenders for weight distribution and the numerous compartments make sure that you can keep everything inside, including a built-in cell phone holder and a pencil compartment.
The Dewalt belt is reinforced with double buckles to ensure that the belt stays secure on your hips.
Furthermore, its inner side is reinforced with a breathable mesh to prevent excessive sweating.
It should fit carpenters from 29” to 46” of waist size, even though some users report that the belt is too big and needs a lot of overlapping to fit thinner users.
Pros
- Numerous pockets in varied sizes
- Suspenders for even weight distribution
- Reinforced with double buckles and breathable mesh
- Boxed pouch zipper design
Cons
- Some users report that the phone pocket is small
- Some users report that there isn’t a place for keeping a tape measure
- The pockets are too shallow for some users
- Too sturdy construction of the suspenders for some users
Check the latest price on Amazon.
3. Gatorback B145 Carpenters Triple Combo w/Pro-Comfort Back Support Belt
Coming in 6 different sizes, the Gatorback pro-comfort belt is suitable for almost every carpenter.
It’s made from heavy-duty 1250 DuraTek nylon material with sturdy stitching, to make sure that the belt can endure the weight of the tools.
The base of the belt itself is made from genuine leather and double metal buckle closure.
The back side of the belt is further reinforced with memory foam pads, making sure that your lower back is protected
The belt itself has a carpenter tools pouch on the right side, with a hammer loop on the outside. On the left, it has 7 different compartments with easily accessible pockets. In the middle, the belt has one big pouch.
To make sure that all of these compartments are durable, they are reinforced with interior plastic lining.
Pros
- The base of the belt is leather
- Sturdy stitching
- Belt back support with reinforced memory foam pads
- Around 10 compartments and pouches for an assortment of tools
- Plastic lining reinforcement on all of the pouches
Cons
- Some users report that the stitching is not very durable
- For some users, most of the left-side pockets are too small and unusable
- Some users report that their sizing runs small, so you need to order a bigger size than the one you usually wear
Check the latest price on Amazon.
4. ToughBuilt – Carpenter Tool Belt with Pockets and 2 Hammer Holders
The ToughBuilt tool belt for carpenters is made from 1680D fabric polyester construction and heavy-duty rivet reinforcement, to ensure durability even when exposed to heavy use and tough environments.
It comes with 2 big pockets and 2 steel hammer holders where you can store all your tools – your tape measure included. It also has 10 built-in pockets for smaller tools.
Plus, it fits 32” to 48” waists, so should be suitable for most carpenters, even though some users report that it is only comfortable for hefty men.
The ToughBuilt company specializes in tool belts for different handymen, so if you don’t find the carpenter tool belt suitable for you, you can opt for some of their other tool belts.
Pros
- Padded belt
- Made from durable polyester fabric
- Metal buckles
- Adjustable belt size
- 2 big pockets and 10 smaller compartments
- Lightweight design
Cons
- Might not fit skinny users
- Made from polyester material
- Might be too sturdy and uncomfortable for wearing
Check the latest price on Amazon.
5. Occidental Leather 9850LH Adjust-to-Fit Fat
The best two things about the Occidental Leather Belt are its leather reinforcement and the ability to choose a belt based on whether you use your left or right hand more.
Furthermore, you can also order it with suspension straps.
The Occidental Leather Adjust-to-fit tool belt is made primarily from nylon blends but reinforced with leather on all the pressure points. This ensures that the tool belt will remain durable and sturdy for years to come.
The belt is adjustable and can fit carpenters from 32” to 40” of waist circumference.
Storage-wise, the Occidental leather tool belt has a total of 24 pockets and tool holders, so you can be sure that you can fit all your tools on the belt.
Pros
- Suitable for both left-handed and right-handed carpenters
- Durable design with leather reinforcement on all pressure points
- 24 compartments for tools
- Lightweight nylon base material
Cons
- Pricy
- The belt is uncomfortable for some users
- The pouches are not movable, so there isn’t space for adjustment
- The belt is small for some users
- The hammer loop is not positioned well for some users
Check the latest price on Amazon.
FAQs
What tools should I keep in my tool belt?
What you keep in your tool belt mostly depends on the task that you’re going to do. Some of the most common and most used tools include a pencil, measuring tape, pliers, screwdrivers, a hammer and some bolts or nails.
If you need to go up a ladder to work, first think about all the tools you might need and make sure that you take them with you. That will save you a lot of time and energy.
How do you wear a carpenter’s tool belt?
Tool belts are mostly worn on your hips like a normal belt is worn. Carpenters with heavier tool belts often prefer to firmly secure the belt on their hips and shoulders with the help of suspenders.
Organize tools according to their importance and make sure that the belt is balanced. Depending on the work you’re doing, you might decide to re-organize the compartments or remove some of them.
Which tool is often kept on a carpenter’s belt and is used to take measurements?
Carpenters almost always need the help of a measuring tape where they work. Often, the tool belts themselves have a special pocket for a measuring tape, but if they don’t, you can keep it in your trouser pocket.
How do you store a tool belt when not in use?
There isn’t a rule on how to store your tool belt when you don’t use it. Some people tend to leave it flat on a table, others hang it by the suspenders, while a third group drapes it over a chair. If you are the neat type, you can even empty it at the end of the day, clean the dirty tools and reorganize them in the morning, depending on the task you’re going to do next.
Do tool belts hurt your back?
If you constantly wear most of your heavy tools on your tool belt, chances are, your hips and back will hurt. So, it’s important to only keep your essentials in your tool belt and to regularly check it and rearrange the contents of your tool belt. Do so by keeping in mind the task you’re doing to do next and the tools you’re going to need for the job. Remove anything you will not be using.
Where do you put the hammer on a tool belt?
Most of the best tool belts have special hammer holders or hooks. Some tool belts don’t have a special compartment for hammers, but they have deep pockets.
If your tool belt has a hammer hook, it’s best to keep it there. If it doesn’t, make you that you place your hammer safely, where it can’t hurt you or someone else.
Conclusion
A tool belt is a valuable asset for a carpenter. It keeps all their tools in one place and makes it easy to carry tools and switch between them during work.
With numerous options for tool belts out there, we’ve made this buying guide to present to you the top 5 best tool belts for carpenters.
By considering the most important aspects before making our choices, we hope that we have helped you decide what you need from your next tool belt.