I saw that a reader bought this Duratech 3pc silicone tool tray set, and took a closer look.
There are plenty of silicone tool trays and holders on the market today, but I haven’t seen one with these features before – holes for sockets and grooves to hold wrenches or other tools in an elevated and easy-grab positions.
To be clear, it looks like there are other silicone tool trays with similar features, and it’s just that the ones I’ve seen before didn’t have this. It’s been a while since I’ve paid close attention to silicone tool trays.
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It comes as a 3pc set, and everything nests together so you can carry it all together – unless you have tools in the largest tray.
When I tested a different system a while back, I kept my tools in the small trays and used the larger one as a work mat to hold and separate the various parts.
The great thing about silicone tool mats is that they stay put, even when placed on a car hood or unevenly shaped engine or machinery parts – but be sure not to let things roll off.
I love the idea of silicone mats and holders, although they’re not very useful for the work I do. Here’s where I hope readers chime in – what do you think of this type of product?
Deal Price: $31.34
Other colors are also available – blue and hot pink.
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Not sure if this type of tool storage and working tray is good for you? I’ve seen some less expensive mini options.
The same brand, Duratech, makes lots of random stuff. Also see: These Mini Stackable Organizer Tool Boxes Look Better than Dewalt’s.
Nathan
Are they the original. I had one of the original devices it was orange I think. Came in 2 sizes I had one of each. Didn’t have all the subdivisions. It works well for purpose. Supposedly made by an ex army mechanic. Or something like that.
Anyway protects paint holds on to the side even with 10+ lbs in it. So on the fender while doing spark plugs or such. Holds most of you hardware and sockets wrenches drives etc. Worked well but don’t put it on the ground . Picks up all the dirt now the bottom is gritty.
Mine disappears I think I left the small one somewhere and the big one got torn up by a dog
fred
When looking at this on Amazon, I spied this quite different tray (more for parts and oil changes) from another manufacturer:
https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-5060-Magnetic-Flexible/dp/B0FGZ75QYJ
Stuart
Interesting concept for a magnetic parts cup!
Drew
Yeah the original was Grypmat.
Jared
I bought a couple of trays like that but didn’t end up using them as-intended for underhood work. Instead they just became tabletop work and organizing trays – which they are good at too.
MM
I’m curious about how paint-safe these are for automotive work? I have a silicone work mat I use with my hot glue gun and even though it is not “sticky” per se, it seems to attract dust and debris nearly as effectively as a tack cloth. A nicely painted fender is not somewhere I’d want to put it, as it would surely have a bunch of abrasive bits stuck to the bottom. Am I missing something?
Stuart
Clean it off first. https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-Roller-3-Rollers-100-Sheets-Sheets/dp/B07CQ2PQW4/?tag=toolguyd-20 I can’t guarantee it, but a lint roller is the first thing I’d try to quickly clean the bottom surface if needed.
Nicely painted fender? Nope, I probably wouldn’t. This type of product has been around for a while, and so I presume there are lots of tips for using them in commonly advertised ways.
Internet says they help prevent damage.
You can always test the concept with small basic trays rather than a 3pc set. Home Depot has a small one for $15.
S
You’re right. They tend to attract dirt and debris.
But they hose off easy enough with brake cleaner, and sometimes a rag for the more stubborn spots.
Wayne R.
Those acute angles in the triangular cups would likely trap small parts and I’d find that frustrating. I don’t see that in the Grypmat models, so I’ll try one of those.
Scott F
Interesting idea and maybe useful for somebody on a workbench, but not something I think I would use much. Most often I’m working on cars – under the hood I prefer magnetic trays with walls for removed hardware, and on the ground I am usually also using magnetic trays or just holding buckets (again with walls).
For tool carrying I use a larger hand carry tote, which allows me to fit battery tools, Hammer, pliers, sockets, ratchets, almost whatever I need in one hand. Sometimes at the cost of a few seconds to find a socket under the rest of the stuff, but typically not very inconvenient. These trays would not hold a fraction the amount of items.
Mikes
Menards has a very similar 3pc set for about 15. Also, harborfreight has the same ones as menards, not sold in a set. Ironically enough harborfreight would be the MOST expensive to get all 3 sizes of trays.
S
Yeah, I ended up with one of the versions. Never used it, so it went into the spare tools pile.
It’s a nice idea, but I ran into consistent problems with the trays being too flexible to span open distances and unexpectedly folding under tools, or conforming to curved surfaces, which made hardware run to the least-useful corner of the mat.
Ben
I also bought a set from Menards when they were on sale. I tried them in the car, on a workbench, and in a tool box, but never found them to be providing benefit in those spots. Now they are drawer and desk organizers and they shine there.
Big Richard
It’s actually on sale for $11.22 ($9.99 after mail in rebate) right now.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/tool-storage/socket-organizers-small-parts-bins/masterforce-reg-nonslip-silicone-tool-tray-set-3-piece/81588/p-1642874352553294-c-9189.htm
Patrick
I interestingly enough just bought the duratech one the other day. It unfortunately comes folded in the package and thus I have been unable to get it to flatten back out or to get the crease to go away. It seems good otherwise but the poor packaging has ruined its utility for me. I then also stumbled onto the Menards version for a third of the price and intend to give it a try.
Patrick
I have one of the harbor freight versions as well and while they are definitely nicer, I’m not sure it’s worth more than triple the price. I originally thought the duratech one was the same OEM as the harbor freight but after seeing them in person side by side I’m not sure. The HF is definitely sturdier, thicker, and feels more substantial. I will say though that I do really like the bright green color the duratech has, makes it very easy to see what’s on it compared to the darker colors.
Stuart
Yours might have been the purchase I saw in the anonymous Amazon logs. I thought I saw it twice, and that prompted me to take a look.
Patrick
It’s entirely possible, it would have been just a few days ago I placed the order. I’m not entirely sure what logs you are referring to and I have always been skeptical that those types of logs were real and not just marketing fluff to make people feel pressure to buy but it would seem there is at least maybe some truth to it if you see that.
Stuart
If a reader clicks an affiliate link and makes a purchase, it shows up as a line item in a list that only I can see.
For example, I can see that someone today purchased a ToughBuilt hammer – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTJCVCHZ/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
Somebody somewhere clicked a ToolGuyd link yesterday and purchased a Mayhew hammerless punch kit, which I didn’t know they made. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS9QQKR9/?tag=toolguyd-20
I can’t see who, when, what else they ordered, or anything like that, just items in a list.
It’s far more difficult to see what readers buy from other affiliate retailers, but I can see that too, for most.
Someone today bought the Milwaukee 3/8″ SAE and metric mechanics tool set bundle from Home Depot, which I didn’t realize was on sale for Black Friday.
There are more Black Friday tool deals than I can ever post about. Pageviews and purchase interest are 2 factors that can steer my posting intent. And sometimes there are deals that aren’t obvious or visible to me. So, this time of year I glance at the anonymous affiliate logs.
Posts like my brand deal roundups, such as https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-tool-deals-black-friday-2025/ take HOURS. So in between I take a peek at the anonymous logs and write up the interesting ones as a break.
Checking the lists gathers data from a larger data pool than simply asking “what are you guys buying on sale right now.” Such posts are fun, but right now would quickly get buried down the front page.
Patrick
Good to know. Your site has brought me plenty of value over the years so I’ll try to click through your links and browse to what I want when I go to buy tool related items in the future so you can have some of the value of that insight. Appreciate all you have done here and the integrity it has been done with.
Stuart
Thank you, I appreciate it! But with links, click if there’s something interesting you want to see more of, but please don’t feel the need to go out of your way.
Patrick
Of course, I’m intending to go take a look at the Menards version this evening to see what I think, I’ll throw a comment up with what I ultimately decided to go with after and why.
Patrick
So quick follow up, went to Menards and grabbed their master force version for $10. It’s quickly apparent that the Menards version is sturdier and better thought out, measured in various locations and it the silicone was generally about 30% thicker, especially in high stress locations on the Masterforce. I’m returning the duratech, it’s not as nice and cost three times as much. It also tended to deform because I feel like they shaved off material in all the wrong places and left it where it wasn’t really doing much. That said I did like how ease seeing parts was on the bright green duratech. Hopefully someone finds this comparison helpful!
Chris T
I bought a very similar pair at Harbor Freight. I use them when I’m taking apart small things with tiny screws and parts. For example; restoring an old pocket transit. It keeps things from rolling away.