Home Depot is launching an updated Ridgid tool box system, dubbed Pro Gear System 2.0.
Ridgid’s Pro Gear tool box system came out in late 2014, and has been quite popular over the years. In my opinion, the Ridgid Pro tool boxes offered decent features, durability, and convenience for the price.
Ridgid’s tool box system was never the best, but it had a lot to offer while still being surprisingly affordable – especially when their 3pc combo went on sale for the holidays.
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Here’s what Ridgid says on their website about their new Pro Gear Gen 2.0 system:
The RIDGID Pro Gear Toolbox 2.0 delivers the tough tool storage pro users have come to expect from RIDGID Pro Gear and goes the extra mile with premium pro features that will raise your game.
And, not to worry, Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 tool boxes are backwards compatible with their original products as well.
The new Ridgid tool boxes feature a built-in hanging systems, with the Pro Gear Mounts included.
It seems that all of the hand-carry tool boxes are wall-mountable, but presumably not the rolling tool box.
The rolling tool box has been upgraded with “reach and roll technology,” which they don’t really get into.
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But, there are also upgrades that I do understand, such as an Attach-and-Detach capability.
The RIDGID Pro Gear Cart features Attach-and-Detach capability between RIDGID Pro Gear 2.0 XL Toolboxes allowing you to switch between 2.0 XL Toolboxes on the Cart’s wheels (purchase additional RIDGID Pro Gear 2.0 XL Toolboxes on the Home Depot website) and to detach the XL Toolbox 2.0 from the Cart for easy insertion and transportation in your truck or vehicle.
Okay, so you have the Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 XL tool box, and the cart 2.0, which can… be attached and detached from each other?
This is a huge feature, and something I and many readers have been wanting to see from Milwaukee Packout and other brands’ modular tool box systems.
If I’m understanding this correctly, the “cart” components, basically the handle, wheels, and XL tool box attachment points, are one component, and the XL tool box is removable from that. This would allow for separation for easy carrying and transport, or for adding a mobile rolling base to any XL-sized Pro 2.0 tool box.
IF – and that’s a big if – Ridgid comes out with other XL-sized tool boxes, this could allow users to customize their bottom tool box component as they please. For example, if Ridgid comes out with a drawered tool box or front-door cabinet-style tool box, an Attach-and-Detach cart base would allow any of those or other XL-sized tool boxes to be used as the bottom of a Ridgid mobile tool box stack.
Readers have mentioned wanting customizable bottom boxes before – such as tool boxes with drawers – and THIS would be the way to do it!
But, it remains to be seen if Ridgid is interested and intent on expanding their Pro Gear 2.0 tool box system with such options. Ridgid has not added much to their 1.0 system over the past 8 years, but perhaps things will change with this new 2.0 system.
The rolling tool box’s wheels are on the outside of the tool box, leading me to believe I’m right in understanding this to be a cart plus XL tool box combo.
From the product image, the rolling tool cart also has a foot step, for more easily moving a loaded tool box or stacked tower into an angled position for transport.
Looking deeper, here’s a product image of the Ridgid Gen 2.0 XL tool box with its rolling cart component next to it in a truck bed.
Sweet! This holds huge potential and might just give Ridgid a strong competitive advantage.
Even if Ridgid doesn’t expand their selection of XL-sized and cart-compatible tool boxes, this design also means that they can offer large 9-inch wheels, and without taking away from the tool box’s storage space.
The large and XL tool boxes (and rolling tool box combo) all come with a new one-piece removable organizer box.
All of the Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 tool boxes I’ve seen so far are advertised as having an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance.
It doesn’t look like much has been done to the latches, or the interconnecting latches, which helps with backwards compatibility.
Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 Tool Box Sizes
- Half-width organizer
- Small tool box (suitcase-style)
- Large tool box
- XL tool box
- Rolling tool box
According to the product specs, the large and XL tool boxes each have a 50 lb weight capacity, and the rolling tool cart has a 100 lb weight capacity.
Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 Tool Box Pricing
Large Tool Box: $50
XL Tool Box: $60
Rolling Tool Box: $90
I expect for these and the other new tool boxes teased in Ridgid’s product images to be available shortly.
With the holiday season fast approaching, I’m guessing we’ll see the new Ridgid Pro Gear 2.0 tool boxes debut around November, with promotional pricing on 3-piece tool box combos.
The new Ridgid tool boxes will be available exclusively at Home Depot.
Thoughts
I’m sure there are other differences between Ridgid Pro Gear 1.0 and 2.0 tool box systems, but the main differences look to be the included wall-mounting option for hand-carry boxes, and the removable rolling cart component for the XL-sized tool box.
Unfortunately, the “Fix-and-Hold technology,” which seems to be the wall-mounting system, requires different brackets for each size of tool box. That is, the small, medium, and large (XL?) tool boxes all require the brackets they come with.
Ridgid’s documentation says that the wall bracket pairs have a maximum load capacity of 55.1 lbs.
The tool boxes come with hanger clips, and I wonder what other kinds of mounting systems or accessories might make use of the mounting interface.
I’m glad that the new Ridgid tool box system is compatible with their existing products, although there might be some exceptions, such as with their new half-width organizer boxes.
I would say that this compatibility might limit what Ridgid can do with their updated tool box lineup, especially compared to newer systems such as Flex Stack Pack, but we also don’t know what they have in mind for their new Attach-and-Detach connectivity interface.
Competition is certainly heating up in the tool box space!
What’s your take on the new Ridgid tool box system?
Saulac
I only wait for the drawer to jump on Ridgid system. I was on Dewalt ToughSystem but has since moved to Husky Connect for the smaller drawers. I would only buy these type of tool boxes for the drawers or the front doors (has not had a chance to try one yet). For the “stack boxes” I rely on those plastic totes with attached lids and a hand truck. Cheaper, bigger, lighter, and can be stacked when empty.
Mark
I’m not interested in any new system unless it’s drawers, I’m tired of having to pull every box to get one thing out of the lower one. My next stackable purchases will be Milwaukee
Corey
I’ve watched a video on this tool box system and if you remove the middle toolbox, you can open the lid on the bottom tolling box while still having the small parts organizer box on the top as it stays attached to the wheeled cart. Thus allowing you access to all 3 boxes by just removing the middle box. And then when you are ready to go, put the middle tool box back and wheel it out. Those attach and detach aren’t just for wall mounting, but also for the wheeled cart.
Dale
Good choice Milwaukee is the way to go.
Ken Maxwell
exactly. you need draws to quickly access tools. not wasting time stacking and unstacking to get and put tools away. you end spending more time stacki g/unstacking
Elanne
Ridgid easily access the tools without unstacking. Just lower the handle, undo the front buckles of the chest you want to open. The rolling box too, just undo the side buckles (1.0 system), and lift the whole stack up including the lid. Dunno how people don’t know this?
Ricky
I guess you can’t go wrong with Ridgid now. Home Depot seems to have them all….Ridgid, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Husky….
Josh
I checked out the Ryobi stuff. It’s definitely homeowner grade, not pro grade at all. The good the series has is the shaped slots on top that interlock with the bottom pattern like Milwaukee uses.
The bad part of Ryobi is the lids are very flimsy plastic that flexes easily and doesn’t hold shape very well. The box itself is also not nearly as strong, grabbing it by the corners and twisting made it deform easily.
I don’t think Ryobi will hold as much weight, the lid seal looked like it would come out easily and the parts organization cups inside don’t really seal against the lid when shut. Tip it over and your hardware will fall out.
Stevan
Cool, I’ll be waiting till 2030 for these to be in stock for purchase, because Ridgid doesn’t stand by their release dates nor do they put out enough product.
Evan
I just saw it for sale in Clarksville, IN. Looks really nice. Big step from the 1st group. The removable dolly is pretty nice for truck storage.
JoeM
…Do tool companies panic when they haven’t released a new tool storage/transport system in some interval? I know Covid lockdowns messed with my perception of time, but it does seem like there’s a new version of every tool system storage boxes coming out whenever we think the release cycle is quiet for a while.
When we get a chance to look around and calmly weigh our options for what we want, and what we can afford… there seems to be this weird tendency for one of the many companies out there to jump out of nowhere and surprise us with a totally new system for us to consider.
Is this really happening, or did the lockdowns mess with my sense of time so much that I’ve become paranoid… or something like that?
Matt J
I think that all these companies one up each other. When Milwaukee came up with their stuff, Ridgid already had a system in place that was functional and affordable. Than Dewalt one upped Milwaukee so Milwaukee decided to upgrade their pack outs. Ryobi joined in with some crazy pipe dream that they can compete. So I guess it’s Ridgid time to again show something that may not be as sophisticated as Milwaukee/Dewalt but will be affordable and just as functional. But like with most of the stuff by the time it hits the store, reviews are written by people who actually use the stuff and I get to actually touch it there will be somebody else one upping that brand. I have the original Ridgid boxes from 6 years ago and as I see nothing wrong with them I have no reason to venture out and buy something different. But it is nice to have options just in case.
Kevin
Milwaukee, Ridgid and Ryobi are all made by the same company, TTI. I would assume that is why they all have a version, (good, better, best) not because they’re trying to complete with one another. Milwaukee would be the direct competitor to DeWalt.
Stuart
Not quite.
TTI handles Ridgid cordless power tools for Home Depot, with other tools and equipment often being unrelated to that relationship.
Milwaukee and Ryobi have the same corporate parent, but they’re separate companies, very much unlike Craftsman, Dewalt, and other Stanley Black & Decker brands very obviously have shared design and engineering teams.
Milwaukee presumably works with Keter to produce their Packout designs. It’s unknown who manufactures Ryobi’s LINK products, but it’s unlikely to be Keter.
So although Ryobi, Ridgid, and Milwaukee offerings do offer good, best, better-like tiered quality and respective pricing, that’s more tied to Home Depot interests than TTI.
Ryobi and Ridgid tool box products also aren’t available outside of Home Depot.
As far as I am aware, TTI doesn’t benefit at all from the Ridgid 2.0 tool boxes. If they were a TTI product, the TTI North America group that covers TTI-made Ridgid and Ryobi products would have provided press info on the launches, which they never have.
Stuart
It’s simply competition. Tool brands do this with power tools, and it was only a matter of time for tool box systems.
Also keep in mind that Home Depot is the customer here. Lowe’s has several new modern-featured tool box systems, and the request for Ridgid improvements could have come from Home Depot. Or, the developments could have been pitched by Keter, the OEM for Ridgid’s tool boxes.
JoeM
Okay, just a sanity check. Thank You both. I’m glad it’s something simple like that.
Quick side question for Stuart though… Are there any of these container news items where it’s not a good thing? Discontinuation, Manufacturing Defects/Recalls, and Supply Chain Issues not included. I’m talking purely about the release of new storage products, from any brand. Is it ever truly a bad thing?
Stuart
Not that I can remember?
JoeM
Okay, that’s what I thought. Am I wrong in thinking things like “Every Brand should at least attempt a container system for their products” or “The variety of options for container types related to the field you work in is a positive way to help you get your job done” kinds of things?
I mean, I don’t have anything Ridgid makes, but I like that they are making containers for tools used by their customers. The cheap brands like Flex and Kobalt just annoy me, but for those who have those tool lines, it doesn’t matter what I think, they need them, one way or another.
Sanity check passes on this one? I’m not off my rocker for these thoughts?
Franco
Just my opinion, but I don’t look at Flex as a cheap brand. I do not have any of their products (yet), but from YT video tests and reviews + online reviews also, I would say that Flex is at least medium but more a premium brand.
Franco
What Stuart says + this is not quite untapped, but a relatively open market amenable to growing marketspace. Yes, everyone has some form of toolbox, but ever since the Dewalt TS and T-Stack, then Ridgid got into it…big, solid, on wheels, stackable, not like what was typically available…they sold well which is why Milwaukee came out with theirs, then Dewalt 2.0, Flex, now Ridgid 2.0, not to mention Systainer, Makita and the other Tanos products.
At some point when the market starts to get saturated, the MFR’s will slow down but for now, all the MFR’s are fighting for you to have their box in your truck, shop, or garage before the competition gets in.
Jeremy
I’m fully invested in the 1.0 boxes, and love them! Very glad to see the backwards compatibility and the renewed focus from Ridgid. Here’s hoping some 1.0 boxes end up on clearance!!
Noah
If you check online at home Depot, I was able to get Ridgid boxes for 40-50% off!
Mike
Was in my local HD two months ago, and all of the 1.0 boxes were on sale – discounted at least 30-40%. I picked up the pro organizer for $20.
Frank+D
I never saw those half size organizers on top?
I have a few of their stacks, big organizers and a dozen of their baskets.
Having a bottom box with drawers would be the ticket to a flood of sales.
I can envision a cart with 3 drawer large box or 2 drawer smaller box, tool boxes and some supplies on top; being popular to no need to unstack and reach in.
I guess hanging the boxes in the shop or on a long term site could be handy to keep some stuff off the floor and save space.
Stuart
Those all appear to be upcoming 2.0 products. The new lids also look to have middle-located lugs to help anchor the half-width organizers.
AlexK
I’ve commented before on the smell of the Ridgid boxes everytime I open them at HD. It gives me a headache. I don’t know if that is out gassing and will go away over time. The ability to remove the wheels and handle is a useful feature for me. I think I’ll get this, leave it open for awhile and hopefully the smell will go away.
Julian Tracy
Right. Everyone else has managed to make a plastic toolbox that doesn’t stink to high heck, but for some reason, Ridgid hasn’t. Who’s got time to wait for that nasty smell to dissipate?
Stuart
A lot of brands’ tool boxes and plastic containers stink when you buy them.
Julian Tracy
None are as bad as the Ridgid stack units. Every time I get tempted to buy a stack, I decide against because of the smell.
Xenia
Leave them in a car on hot day, and the stink will overwhelm you. I do not know what chemicals Keter (Ridgid is just a brand under which Keter is selling those boxes in US, the rest of the world knows them as Magnusson, Erbauer, Keter etc) is using in those, but I do not expect them to be healthy type…
Matthew
That smell is formaldehyde, it is used in ABS plastics. It will offgas given time and importantly USE. The smell will not really go away until things are placed in it and it has been in jobsite environments being exposed to sawdust, gypsum etc. Which helps absorb the smells.
Franck B.
@Matthew. almost all of these boxes are polypropylene, not ABS.
Incidentally, Pelican Storm, Air and some Seahorse cases are ABS or polycarbonate. Most other hard cases are PP.
And the worst smelling cases are those that ship with Kobalt XTR, they actually smell up the tools and make them unusable until they are left in the sun a few days.
Tom
The included wall mounts are a great feature. Not as flexible as dewalt, but I’ve been looking for wall mount capability at a lower price point. Will definitely keep an eye on this system.
Jeff
some boces in stores now
Bob
Will buy rolling toolbox system soon.
James
Looks like they only made two improvements to system, detachable wheels and back mount clips that dont really warrant the price increase. I bought the gen 1 system and used it for about 4 years now. I am going to say there latches to connect boxes together seem to be loose and not as tight as they use to be, same goes for the lid latches. Also i had a few of the lid latches pop, due the pack out tipping over. I hope they improved the lid latches, their current design looks like the latch was heat stamped on the pack out instead of being bolted on.
Will have to wait to it release to check quality if build, but i think I will move to a different system.
fred
This is more a HD product than one from a “tool company” – but the question is still applicable. Home Depot has sourced their Ridgid-Brand toolboxes from various sources like Keter (UPC’ s starting 731161) and Myro-PPG (UPC’s starting 793945). I suspect that HD’s tool buyers have some statistical sales base that they used to decide on this new product launch – and/or they may have changed their OEM supplier prompting these new offerings.
mla
Very interesting. My local HD has been totally out of Rigid toolboxes for the most part. I guess they’re waiting for 2.0 series, hopefully.
Franck B.
I bought four more 1.0 boxes today, stock on clearance seems to be good around here but it has gone down significantly since I checked 10 days ago.
I don’t need “innovation” in the space I’m using these boxes… which is probably good because what they’ve announced now will probably all there ever will be in the 2.0 line (like the 1.0 hardly expanded). Even what would seem to be obvious additional items never came out (e.g. small toolbox not in a suitcase style, large non-rolling box).
In the UK, the same boxes are sold under a retailers in-house line (Erbauer at ScrewFix), and they also never supplied anything other than the same basic boxes. It’s also available elsewhere branded differently.
Frank+D
Other thing I forgot to mention is the base unit now has a lid that can flip up and stay open (hopefully) whereas with the old one, you always were stuck with that loose lid floating around.
Apparently my store already has some of the new ones. Old ones were already out of stock for a while. I should have looked around for a minute but was in a rush for 1 item on the opposite end of the store.
Brian
I have the 1.0 system from Ridgid the handle is sucks I had about 150 lbs. Of tool in the system and it fell backwards on the handle when it was fully extended and bent them pretty bad to we’re you can’t puss the handle down this looks better good move Ridgid it’s all about the cost I can get the Milwaukee pack out for 235$$
Corey
I don’t believe they are rated for 150 lbs of tools, that could be the issue
MFC
Drawers. I had 20+ ridgid toolboxes and sold almost all of them and moved to Packout. If they can make a decent drawer box then this other stuff would be welcome additions.
TomD
I think the smaller boxes will work on the larger mounts.
The larger will probably work on the smaller but it would lean a bit and I wouldn’t trust it.
Munklepunk
What I would really like to see is a better and cheaper version of theLbox removable parts drawers. Imagine if you could have a box the size of the large packout box but inside you had a racking system that could hold 5 or six slim parts boxes or half boxes or any of the parts box. You could have them readily available and secure.
Dennis
I recently spotted the Ridgid Cold Box (cooler) at my Home Depot. Does that fall under the new 2.0 or the original system? And can you put the detachable wheels/handle on it? Because that would make a pretty nice rolling cooler.
Stuart
That’s a Ridgid 1.0 product that was supposed to launch a while ago but only appeared in stores this season.
Corey
You can’t put wheels or a handle on it. I have the cooler, got it as soon as it was available and in stock online. The cooler does come with a large handle already, whichakes lifting a full cooler with drinks and ice much easier, however this handle does not tick in anywhere so must go either in the front or the back, which if stacked on the large rolling toolbox means it must go in the front because of the telescopic handle. However on the longer rolling cart, it can placed on either front or back because the telescopic handle comes put from the side. Just watch irregular surfaces as it could tip on the massive 1.7″ wheels the longer rolling toolbox has.
John
Hopefully these continue to be a value leader. I looked at the Ryobi offerings this weekend out of sheer curiosity, and I was a amazed at how light duty they are. They felt like Rubbermaid storage containers.
kurt
The small wall hanger looks like the hangs the tool boxes flat? I am interested in the splash image which shows the parts box hung with the clear lid facing out like a picture frame. I have had some success using adjustable shelf brackets to hang boxes like that on my garage wall.
Corey
They do hang off the wall or on the rolling cart justvas they stack allowing you ti remove the middle toolbox snd open the bottom box while the top box is still attached to the wheeled cart and handle
Jim
I have 1.0 bottom boxes and got one 2.0 bottom box to test. For me, the detachable nature of the wheels on the 2.0 box doesn’t seem worth the fact that the handle doesn’t collapse as far. On the 1.0, the handle will go down far enough that you can wheel it under a workbench top. With 2.0, you can’t, and so it doesn’t work for my uses. But I’m not a pro, I’m a hobbyist with too many hobbies. I use the system to let me keep everyone for a hobby in one stack. For example, I’ve got an RC-car stack that’s got my vehicles, tools, parts, etc. Awesome for grabbing the stack and putting in the car. Another stack for my nice woodworking tools, etc.
Lisa
Me, exactly. I’m using these rollouts for different categories: welding, plumbing, electrical, paint, etc. Assemble the modules I need and go. beats using totes.
TK
About time. I love the 1.0 system and they fixed 2 of the 3 things that were lacking with the organization and wall mountability. I’m glad I stuck with these in stead of Milwaukee for options or Dewalt for mountability.
Now let’s get some more options for thin stackable organizers and a 3 drawer unit…
Frank D
Stopped by our HD today, went through the tool box isle. A grand total of 1 Ridgid open basket and 1 grey cooler … which I did not know Rigid made. Did they run low on black granules to produce it in the typical color?
Franck B.
Why make a cooler the color that is going to absorb the most external heat?
mla
Just picked up two of the 2.0 boxes yesterday and I’m not very impressed.
The boxes themselves seem largely the same, which is great. And aesthetically, maybe a tad better in that they don’t have the huge orange logo any longer.
But the rest of the changes aren’t great IMO. Will most people actually use the wall hanging brackets? Seems like 90% of ppl will toss those out or collect dust. Seems like it would be better as an accessory.
The middle sized box now has a covered bin rather than the pull out bin. I think the pull out bin was probably more useful. The new one also feels a bit flimsy.
And the small box now has some dividers but they lost the removable bins. Also seems worse to me.
I would have kept the existing internals and made some of these new items optional accessories.
Franck B.
Thanks for the input, it’s helpful since I can’t go see these easily right now.
I like your suggestion of making the accessories available separately. For instance, the wall brackets might not be used by most people. But one person might use multiples (van, shop, home). And then the bins. I didn’t care for them being in the small box, as I use it more as a suitcase, and the bins and the thing in the top to seal the bins just get tossed (or to be used elsewhere).
Lowe’s went a different route on the middle box, the include both the tray and a covered bin. Then again they charge too much for their individual boxes compared to Ridgid, and Husky to a lesser extent since it’s not really of comparable quality/usability being more a Tstak competitor. But I don’t use either the tote trays or the small boxes, since normally I build a divider set to hold certain tools, so I would like those as separate accessories too… I have a large stack of SBD tote trays!
Paul the contractor
I, just this week, started transitioning from Ridgid pro to Packout, mostly because of the lack of other accessories. I like that I can have a better selection of organizers, the cooler, chargers, the radio, to clip in bags, and I can 3D print small clip in accessories.
Then Ridgid solves the one complaint I have with the packout system – the base case, and removable handles and wheels!
If Ridgid wants me back though, they are going to have to heavily up their accessory game!
Jude
Does anyone know when these new bins should be coming into canada?
Earl Spam
Now that HD has the rolling base priced at $69, $39 for medium box and $29 for small box, you can have a nice system for the cost of the Milwaukee rolling base. My local HD had the 1.0 rolling still priced at $59 right next to the detachable 2.0 at $69. I like the folding top that stays up thanks to the spring.
If Rigid does offer a drawer option, it better be more robust than the Dewalt one for $99. Even the lowly Craftsman Tradestack 2 drawer at $99 is better than the Dewalt. Even more thrifty is the Husky stackable 2 drawer for $41. You could stack four Huskies for 8 drawers for what you would pay for 3 drawer Packout. But like mechanics having to buy Snap On to keep their image up in the shop, Husky is no doubt hidden away in the home garage and doing fine service there.