I reviewed Ridgid’s new professional tool boxes last Fall, and while the UPC code suggested that Keter was the OEM (thanks for the insight, Fred!), I couldn’t find anything about these boxes on Keter’s site. Until now.
Keter uploaded a new video earlier this week, showcasing their new professional tool storage system. Yep, the new tool boxes are identical to the Ridgid ones at Home Depot.
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What does this mean? I’m not sure. Maybe it means that the designs might not necessarily be Ridgid or Home Depot exclusives.
Keter products are notoriously difficult to find in the USA. Take their 3-tier organizer for example. I saw it at Lowes once, and that was it. I still look for them every couple of visits to the local home centers. And so, even though Keter is releasing these under their own branding, I doubt we will ever see them in person or at our favorite online stores.
My feeling is that Keter often prefers OEM relationships with brands and retailers, rather than offering their products under their own branding. How many consumers have heard of Craftsman? Husky? Ridgid? And how many have heard of Keter?
Craftsman’s new 3-chest tool storage system, Husky’s technician tool case, and Husky’s one-hand-latch tool box are all Keter-made products I have never seen in stores except under these well-known private label brands. That Craftsman 3-chest storage system was Keter-branded at Sam’s Club, but I was never able to catch it in-stock. It’s been “not available” for as long as I’ve known about it.
Anyway, the Ridgid-branded professional tool boxes I bought and reviewed are awesome. If you see them in stores under Keter branding and at a better price, don’t hesitate to give them a try. Keter-branded, Ridgid-branded, all of these boxes seem to be the same.
Someone is bound to ask how well these stand up to other modular tool storage systems. I discussed many of the other modular tool box systems, but haven’t yet updated that post with mention of Keter/Ridgid’s. These professional tool boxes have some nice features that I wish Dewalt would implement in their ToughSystem tool boxes. But when it comes to brute strength, I think that Dewalt’s might have an edge. These Keter/Ridgid offerings have the edge when it comes to affordability. That Keter/Ridgid rolling tool box is also pretty unique and snazzy.
These boxes are a little tougher than Bosch’s L-Boxxes and Festool Systainers, but aside from price that’s their only advantage there.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Keter folks, if you’re reading this, please, please, PLEASE set up an online store of some kind. Or make it clearer where your products can be purchased. It is incredibly frustrating to come across an appealing Keter product only to find that there aren’t any stores that sell it.
mike aka Fazzman says
Ive seen Keter stuff at like the outdoor deck boxes and such at Sams club all the time,havent noticed if they have other Keter items but i know they have those.
I like the look of these,not too flashy but do the job.
Jason says
I’m a big fan of the Ridgid/Keter tool boxes. You really can’t beat the price point if your looking at a cart. The Dewalt Tough cart is almost 200 dollars its a nice piece of steel don’t get me wrong, but it is overkill for most people. It would be nice if Dewalt released a more economical cart.
kenruud says
Damn! We need those in Norway!:)
Asap!!;D
Anyone heard anything new about the new milwaukee systainers? Maybe they should go for this too 🙂
ktash says
I’ve seen Keter items at Costco and Menard’s. Menard’s had the 3-tier box for a while at a good price. Don’t remember how much, though. I think it was branded Keter.
Pete says
I disagree with the dewalt might be tougher than ridged comment. From what I can tell the dewalt is more foam and not enough plastic, where as the ridgid is more plastic meaning that it can take more abuse and bounce back. From what I can tell the dewalt flexes then snaps, almost like when plastic is too cold.
Anyways, it’s a smart move for keter to brand their products for other companies. They don’t have to do any advertising, or apparently have a singular place to sell their products lol.
Chris Pyfer says
I prefer the Ridgid boxes myself, however the Dewalt cart is much better for trasnsport. I guess that is why it is expensive, but for steps and uneven terrain like work sites the Dewalt shines. My Ridgid 3 piece set is for wheeling around the shop.
Pete says
I should have worded my opinion better. I completely agree with you. The dewalt cart is much better BUT also more expensive. I do think the ridgid boxes are better though.
Dennis says
The boxes being made by Keter just makes me want them more. It’s been my experience that Keter makes a good quality product, and in Israel not China. So double bonus.
ktash says
Another advantage of the LBoxxes and Systainers is that they are not so bulky. If you are using them to store items in and have a small shop space, that’s a very big advantage. I got some toughboxes a while back and while they are very tough, they don’t store very neatly. I’m still buying LBoxxes to store things in, though. They stack neatly on the floor or in shelving units of standard sizes. I never know where to put the Toughboxes. I thought I’d like them, but they are mostly in the way. Probably store them in my van eventually.
Seb says
Here in France we find ketter at most stores but the big items are a bit harder to find. I use a ketter tool carrier everyday actually. Ketter is relatively aggressive in their pricing, but I have yet to see some of my version of their products, probably due to different strategies.
Jason. W says
I have the ridged 3 piece set and absolutely love it. I have them packed full and they are easy to get around. Sure, they don’t like rough terrain but can be wheeled through it anyways.
I’ve owned them since Christmas and they get loaded/unloaded out the back of box trucks on a daily basis. They get shoved around, stacked on, sat on, debris fallen on….and they still look great.
The normal tool box probably has 40+ pounds in it. 3 hammers, flat bar, a assortment of a dozen pliers, a hand full of screw drivers, bit cases, and odds and ends.
Seriously, if your considering buying these….do it
skfarmer says
i had the opportunity to help a buddy with his garage remodel this past week. he had the cart, lower and middle box shown above. it seemed to be very well made stuff. said he was going to pick up the top box when funds became available. i had my stuff in my dewalt bags. i was somewhat jealous when i had to carry them around he put his on the cart and rolled it around.
Matt B says
I have many of these, and they have survived many trips around the US via plane. If they can hold up to the beating airport bag handlers put them through, I say they are worth every penny. Just make sure to take the metal locking strap out of the wheeled unit, it will fall out in travel! I use to use the Dewalt toughcases but not having wheels without the additional cart sucked in airports. I added casters but it added a lot of weight and they were not very stable. The built in wheels on the Ridgid/Keter base unit is PREFECT. These are surprising not made in China either, they are made in Israel of all places. They have many characteristics of tactical boxes.
AngryDrumGuy says
The Ridgid boxes have been outstanding for me. They’ve been through about 6 weeks of abuse, including heavy transit and what it’s taking to renovate two houses about 3hrs apart.
They barely look used and nothing inside them has been damaged or thrown around.
I have one of the top and middle boxes, as well as two bottom roller carts (one for power tools and the other for heavy hardware containers like the ones featured here:
https://toolguyd.com/stanley-organizer-diy-storage-cabinet/
Ryan says
I’m still waiting for these tool boxes to come to Canada….
Paul Peltier says
Heads up: great deal alert! I picked up a three piece set (one each size) for $99 (full price rebate on the top unit- hence the lower price) at Home Depot. Glad to have read your profile on these units earlier this year. Now was definitely time to strike. Don’t know how long the deal will last but it was a good one.
E. Baker says
Any info when & where the Keter versions of these will become available for purchase??
I picked up two of the three-piece deals from Home Depot when they were on promotion…but ideally I’d love to get more pieces w/o the orange on the boxes.
zohar says
we made this in israel!!!!!!!!
keter=crowen
Slyder says
I like these boxes design and they look tough. The side locking mechanism is much better than any others I have seen. The only complaint about them for me is the base. I prefer the cart style so I can stack and change them however I like.
I want to put each box in shelves and label them on the outside. The base container with the wheels wouldn’t allow you to do this as easily. Something like the TStak or Tough System by Dewalt serves my purpose better I guess. I prefer the interlocking side latches of these and the look of them better. I guess we can’t have it all….
Matt says
I have several of the Ridgid boxes and love them all I just wish they would come up with two other designs. I wish they had a mid size box a little bigger than the narrow box and also a box with drawers to compete with the Dewalt style boxes. I also wish they would let you buy additional Binns for the narrow boxes in the stores versus’ s having to buy two boxes to get bins for one box to fill completely.
Ken says
There’s a reason they don’t sell bins separately, the lid is designed to hold items in the bins tight on the sides while the center is raised for larger items. So if you pick up the box vertically items I. The center bins could spill over. On the flip side; you can remove the lid partition and the bottom partitions easily and use the small container to transport a myriad of other tools! Also the lid partition can be used as a small parts sorting tray either while removed or if you unsnap the metal lid stay and make the lid lay flat which I have done many many times already!
Ken says
There’s a reason they don’t sell bins separately, the lid is designed to hold items in the bins tight on the sides while the center is raised for larger items. So if you pick up the box vertically items in the center bins could spill over. On the flip side; you can remove the lid partition and the bottom partitions easily and use the small container to transport a myriad of other tools! Also the lid partition can be used as a small parts sorting tray either while removed or if you unsnap the metal lid stay and make the lid lay flat which I have done many many times already!
Mike Moreau says
If anyone knows of an outlet i the US for the Keter I would greatly appreciate it. I would be willing to pay a premium for the grey over the orange. I use and intend to use these for everything from luggage to gopro case to portable power supply box etc. I have done some creative things to eliminate most of the orange but I would prefer to not have to go through the extra steps.
DarkSim905 says
If anyone sees this post, if you buy the rolling cart I highly recommend you replace the casters on the rolling cart. I have more info here:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R20YCIS02PUNYB/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
I hope that helps someone. This stacking system is great & I use them for non-typical use (storing locks, which are heavy) — they hold up like a champ!
Danno says
While the boxes seem to heavy duty, the tool trays are not. The corners easily break off and make the tray un-useable. I am not able to find any replacement trays. Over forty years this is the first tool box I owned where the trays break.