A  tool belt is a very important accessory. It can help you organize your tools, improve efficiency, and in some cases, improve the quality of work. Although there are a few people who don’t like wearing it because they feel it’s too heavy for them or it restrains them to move better.

However, not wearing a tool belt can cause these inconveniences:

• Frequently going up and down the ladder to get or leave a tool.
• Put screws, bolts, nuts, and other fasteners inside their pockets and confusing them together.
• Small tools need to be hand-carried and are not in a consistent location for efficiency.
• Waste time looking for tools that were misplaced.

These reasons are exactly why utilizing a tool belt is important for projects of all sizes. There are different types of tool belts you can choose from to help in different situations. The type of tool belt will depend on what project you’ll be working on, and your personal preference in terms of material, design, and style.

Below are the different types of tool belts that professionals, DIY-ers, and homeowners can choose from:

1. Waist – This is the most common type of tool belt that you can find. One of the benefits of wearing this is that it’s in a fixed position. This type of tool belt is important if you want to easily find which pocket are your specific tools stored. However, they are not as large as other styles, and can not be customized as much.

2. Hip – This toolbelt is perfect to use if you would want more control with your tools and layout. It keeps your tools close to your hand at all times right next to your hips. These are often larger and with their customization are often the choice of professionals like carpenters.

3. Suspenders – Suspenders are not a separate type of tool belt, but an accessory that can get paired with one. They are best if you’ll be carrying a lot of heavy tools such as power tools or lots of fasteners for long periods of time. Wearing a suspender will reduce the weight from being around your hips and distribute it up to your upper body where you can carry more weight and be more comfortable.  However, be careful not to put too much weight on your upper body as the hips are stronger, and can handle more weight.

4. Apron – Aprons are recommended if you want to have easy access to tools while protecting your clothing and body at the same time. These are made of thick canvas or leather but are designed to be comfortable to wear with waist and neck-straps. Oftentimes, they provide heat resistance like in welding and blacksmithing. Also, they can be used to stop paint from hitting your clothes by getting blocked on the apron. The main downside to the aprons is their lack of ability to carry large amounts of heavy tools, but the majority of the time the protection outweighs that.

The use of tool belts in any kind of carpentry job

A lot of professionals wear tool belts like an electrician. Electricians take the tool belt a step further with belts and shoulder harnesses that frequently have 10 or more pockets for optimal customization and organization of specialized tools that electricians use regularly.

The high pocket count is very important because electricians spend a lot of time on ladders throughout the day. Climbing up and down repeatedly to switch out tools is exhausting, and possibly dangerous, as the risk of injury, and fatigue.

If you are a finish carpenter, then you have to make sure that the furniture gets a fine, and beautiful look, and it can only be achieved when you concentrate on the work instead of searching for tools here and there. 

Bottom Line:

Tool belts are without a doubt important.  There are many types of tool belts out there, and you should choose the one that matches your project needs and personal preferences. It is also important that the tool belt is durable, adjustable, with reinforced pockets, and can offer protection from your environment. Visit www.RDawg.com/shop and find the best tool belt for you.