Klein Tools appears to have discontinued select ModBox tool boxes, with no word as to why, or whether there will be any replacements or updated models.
So far, this move appears to have impacted all of their full-size tool boxes that feature a closing lid.
All of their original tool boxes now show the same message.
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“This product is no longer in production.”
Milwaukee Tool’s patent infringement lawsuit against Klein Tools has progressed, with the legal complaint based on how Klein allegedly adapted patented Packout features.
Today – 12/15/25 – was set by the court as a deadline for both brands to report whether the United States International Trade Commission delivered final determination about the matter.
Maybe that has something to do with things.
Or maybe the costs were too high – these Klein ModBox products are manufactured in China and are likely subject to increased tariffs.
All we know is that several core Klein MoxBox products are now marked as being “no longer in production.”
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At this time, it’s unclear if other Klein ModBox tool boxes and accessories, such as the drawered tool boxes, are impacted by whatever is happening with the original tool box models.
We asked Klein Tools’ marketing and media contacts why this is happening, but they have not yet provided any answers or insights.
Update 12/16/25: According to the latest update in the infringement lawsuit, the International Trade Commission has issued a Final Initial Determination that certain Klein ModBox products infringe upon certain claims in Milwaukee’s Packout tool box patents. The expected target date for the ITC’s Final Determination is in mid-January 2026.
Nathan
Other than the one with the reel holder as part of a box set and you could have your tools and 2 to 3 spools ready. The test wasn’t terribly compelling
Jason
Hopefully 2026 is the year where brands Learn, it’s a little too late to launch a new modular storage or cordless line.
COBill
Why? Makita’s MAKTRAK is wonderful and is selling well, and Hilti just introduced ProKit.
Jason
Are they selling well? My Home Depot had a few but they’re nowhere to be found now with the holiday sales.
Hilti may be the exception to this, but they’re their own animal. The nuron 22v stuff looks amazing but they’re not exactly fighting for retail shelf space with anyone
COBill
Yes.
The reason they are nowhere to be found isn’t because they aren’t being carried, it’s because they’re out of stock.
My local HD sells a complete stack once or twice a week, and other boxes more often.
It’s certainly selling faster than TOUGHSYSTEM 2.0.
CMF
Maybe in 2026 brands and people will learn that it is never too late.
Dewalt introduced ToughSystem in 2011. Ridgid was around that time also. There had been Systainer for years. Makita and Bosch had their own versions of Systainer type systems.
People kept asking when and if Milwaukee was going to make one. They finally did in 2017, six years later. As usual, there were many (possibly yourself) that were saying that Milwaukee was just too late to the game, the market boom is over and saturated, and all the things that are commonly said when someone new joins the game (broken record).
Look at Packout today.
As a consumer I welcome new products; more choice for me (we the consumers). more selection. How about the opposite, everyone throw in the towel and leave Packout as the only choice, a monopoly.
Do you remember Word perfect (and Lotus 123)? They were it, back in the day. Someone that said they used Word would get a perplexed look, like “you mean Word Perfect” or “Word? what is that”.
These kind of events happen all of the time…remember AltaVista, dogpile, Copernic and so many other search engines. Google was smaller than all of these.
I don’t understand the harm is causes you that you need to say “Hopefully 2026 is the year where brands learn…”.
Every person who achieves new heights or greatness, they all say to never let the naysayers stop you from your dreams.
I hope 2026 someone already established, or even new to the game, comes out with something new or creative that was not already in the modular storage or cordless line.
Stuart
ToughSystem came out in 2011 and Ridgid Pro Gear in 2014. https://toolguyd.com/modular-tool-boxes-timeline/
When Packout launched, only (1) reader commented that Milwaukee was “late” to market. https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-packout-tool-boxes-photo-introduction/
CMF
I did not mean TG in particular. Many tool forums and YT were saying it is too late or asking if it was to late
Jason
Well switching word processors was a bit easier than being locked into a platform like a cordless system or even an ecosystem like iCloud.
I didn’t think Packout was late to the game, I didn’t think Ego was late to the game when they launched a cordless lawn and garden platform. But now? Would need to be VERY unique.
The evidence is there, I was actually really excited for Toughbilt modular storage and there’s a comment floating out there where I talked about my willingness to convert to their system from Packout due to the breadth of line they initially previewed. And here we are a few years later and they’re hard to find, half the products never made it to market, and the company last I heard was in real trouble.
I’m all for innovation but the reality is there aren’t too many pros or heavy DIY folks that aren’t in some kind of system already. Packout was far from first but they started an arms race. There’s systems up and down every price point and retail and sold in every major retailer now.
The main difference is retail store placement and units sold now.
So yes I love innovation, and you can freely call me a cynic. If all you ever need is some basic drill/driving/cutting tools a new cordless line could probably fit your needs.
For a basic rolling stack with a few add ons maybe a new modular line would work.
I just don’t unfortunately see how a company at this point could launch a new full lineup and be competitive.
Mark S
Coincidentally I believe the Hybrid “half size” one is no longer sold at Lowes. It was on the deal of the day 3 times in last 2 months or so. I wanted to buy one the other day from Lowes for $35 but is sold out in most stores within 90 miles. I could get it delivered but not for $79! Otherwise would have bought it.
COBill
Lowe’s marked the Hybrid “ammo can” MODbox as “do not restock” in store a few months ago, but they are still readily ordersble for delivery.
Also notice that box is the only lidded box NOT marked as “no longer in production.”
ElectroAtletico
3D allows you to print attachments and mix/match. I have a Toughbuilt handcart with Packout and MOD boxes safely connected.
Jordan
That’s the cost of buying anything other than the most popular. It might be more innovative, solve a niche issue — but at any time, it can be yoinked from existence.
There’s a reason why there are so many sayings like “run with the big dogs” and “go with the 800lb gorilla”. If you worked in the tech industry in the 80s & 90s…”no one ever got fired going with IBM/Microsoft.”
If not having access to that system a year from now…a decade from now…is going to adversely hurt your ability to get the job done, then it’s not worth relying on it or investing too heavily into it. Lifetime warranties depend on what they mean by whose “lifetime”!
Get what you need for now — and recognize it’s ephemeral. If you don’t have a clearly articulated need, best to keep your money inside your wallet.
Milwaukee and Ridgid have been around forever. New models are backwards compatible.
Dewalt is also a big player, but they’ve got such a hodgepodge variety of toolboxes, it’s impossible to keep track of what’s compatible with what. They’re just as bad as the small vendors if they’re axing various products all the time.
Paul
Agreed. The biggest thing to consider when buying into one of these systems is manufacturer support. Once they stop production, you’re screwed.
This is the case for storage and cordless tools since they’re proprietary. You’re locked in forever.
Another reason why open source systems are better. There’s no need to do this with corded tools. They all plug into the same outlet. With storage and cordless tools, you’re stuck in your ecosystem.
J. Newell
It’s a little surprising that whoever did the IP diligence for Klein didn’t (it seems) identify the infringement risk. Milwaukee is fairly aggressive about patent defense. If you put one of the ModBox cases next to a PackOut case the similarities are obvious to an untrained and unschooled eye.
Not really relevant to anything here, but I wish Klein would stick to what it did best. There was a business book popular in the 1980s that had as one of its principles “stick to your knitting” because in the long run most companies do best what they know how to do best.
J. Newell
The book was In Search of Excellence, by Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr. (1982)
Stuart
Has Milwaukee stuck to their knitting?
Imagine what the tool world would look like today if Milwaukee never launched their own hand tools or Packout storage products.
Jason
I think this happens to everyone. There’s a reason Milwaukee no longer makes much T&M tools and closed down the Seattle office.
I thought the Flex boxes looked more similar than the Klein ones and INAL but my general understanding is utility patents are easier to defend (how something works) than design patent (how it looks)
COBill
Note all the drawer boxes are stolen production as is the Hybrid “ammo can” box and all the organizers as well as their new half height single drawer boxes, all of which use the same attaching mechanism that is the subject of the patent litigation, so I suspect this has less to do with the patent lawsuit and more to do with a new revision that is coming.
COBill
Still in production, not stolen. 😁