Milwaukee is expanding their Packout shop storage line with 8 new accessories, which can be mounted to Packout wall plates.
All of the new accessories will be launching in May 2023. Pricing information and details specs are not yet available.
Milwaukee Packout Compact Wall Basket (48-22-8342)
The new basket looks to be a tall catch-all, with wide slots for visibility and ventilation.
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Milwaukee Packout Magnetic Rack (48-22-8346)
The magnetic rack looks to be designed for quick-retrieval tool storage, such as for wrenches and screwdrivers.
Milwaukee Packout Large Magnetic Bin (48-22-8071)
The large magnetic tray looks to be a fastener catch-all. It’s hard to tell from just one image whether it’s designed for use on horizontal surfaces, vertical wall panels, or both. For wall-mounting, I would expected the bottom wall to be scooped upwards for better retention.
Milwaukee Packout Magnetic Bin (48-22-8070)
There will be a small magnetic bin as well.
Milwaukee Packout 7-Hook Rack (48-22-8329)
This two-cleat rack has 7 steel hooks for holding tools and accessories.
Milwaukee Packout 4-inch Single Hook (48-22-8328)
There’s also this single hook attachment, with a 4″ steel peg.
Milwaukee Packout Belt Clip Rack (48-22-8344)
The belt clip rack seems like a good place to attach tape measures and other such tools for easy access.
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Milwaukee Packout Long Handle Tool Holder (48-22-8348)
Lastly, there will be a single long handle tool holder, similar in function to the existing 3-tool holder that launched last year.
Milwaukee Packout Workshop Storage Lineup
Milwaukee launched their Packout workshop storage products in 2022.
You can learn more here:
Steven+B
The magnetic bins are genius. The top of a toolbox is the perfect place for one of those.
Daniel L.
That’s exactly what I thought!
Dustin Lewis
A step ladder with Packout mounts on the top/sides would be awesome. The magnetic trays would be perfect for the ladder – fasteners wouldn’t fall off when moving it.
Steve
Good idea – maybe they’ll start offering a packout ladder with these capabilities. Definitely has merit…
Doresoom
They filed a patent for a Packout ladder a few years ago.
Joe M
A Packout compatible ladder and rolling scaffolding would be ideal. Every time I have to use my m18 vacuum on top of a step ladder I wish that I could snap it in place.
My dream system would be a rolling scaffold with a packout shelf and tread area where everything would lock down and I wouldn’t have to worry about tools or paint pans tipping over. It would have an integrated packout paint roller pan and bucket that couldn’t be kicked over.
The newer packout stuff seems ok, but suited more for the work trailer or someone’s garage. By integrating it onto scaffolding and ladders it would be more applicable to the worksite.
JoeM
If that’s effectively “Milk Crate 2.0” then all the added features and such make me think “It’s finally worth buying for more than $5! Go Milwaukee!” I wasn’t so impressed with the Packout Crate original, since it was really just a milk crate with attachment points. Something we could have got for free in the 80’s or 90’s if we lived near a grocery store or convenience store. So, it kinda broke my brain a little when v.1.0 came out.
But the new one has all new design features, and has a new shape that makes sense. So I really do like it for the Packout system. If the pricing is about the same as 1.0, I don’t think I’d have anything to complain about. Nice job Milwaukee!
Yeah, Disclaimer… I’m a DeWALT guy, still looking into TSTAK for my own needs… but objectively, I can see the new additions genuinely being valuable to Packout users. My needs for my tools, and Milwaukee Packout Users’ needs are quite different, so I’m looking at these new items as completely worth it for Packout users. If actual Packout users disagree with me, I won’t argue. It’s only an opinion as an outside observer. I Like both systems, it doesn’t make me an expert on Packout, or Milwaukee. Serious respect for Milwaukee is just inherent here.
Steven+B
DeWalt just announced new ToughSystem 2.0 half totes….didn’t announce price, but those seem somewhat similar and quite exciting.
JoeM
I saw those as well. Although I don’t see the point of mounting soft-sided storage to hard-sided mobile storage solutions, I don’t think they’re meant for me. So I leave that up to contractors and specialists.
There are totes from ToughBuilt that I really would like. They’re innovative, and versatile, and they genuinely don’t have the design format that the Packout and Tough System totes do. They’re not smothered in various sized pockets, zippers, and both mesh holders, and strap-based grabbers. That’s where Packout and Tough System totes lose me in the brain fog. If they had arrays of equal, or regularly-sized pockets, I’d understand totally. But that huge a variety all over the bag, and it mounts down to the mobile system? Okay, it has to be for specialists who know exactly what every pocket is for.
But, again, I vaguely know what I personally need, and I leave it up to those who know they need these other Totes to decide if they want to buy them or if they’re worth the price.
On topic though… Packout seems to be expanding the entire workshop to become mobile with the Packout users themselves. The system seems to be adapting to be used both at home/in the workshop, as well as picking it all up and transporting it to the worksite. DeWALT seems to be focused simply on A to B transport for major tools. Which, if the two companies are competing, is actually a good thing. They each cover a niche that barely overlaps the other company’s. DeWALT is trying to do one thing really, really well, where Milwaukee is making good headway into offering adaptability for how the Packout system gets used for each specialist.
You gotta respect this duality between the two companies! At first you might think they’re going head-to-head, and many of their devoted users do just that to eachother. But look carefully, and they’re targeting their user bases with their needs and leaving huge gaps for the other company to fill. The system-compatible totes are a good example of this! How they connect, and the overall designs, fit completely different specialties, with very little to compare them!
I’ve had to come around to this thinking after several years. I was once guilty of the “Team Red Vs Team Yellow” rivalry for a while… but Stuart’s articles have changed my mind pretty drastically over the years. I now see where the actual companies are leaving space for eachother to do their own things. The rivalry doesn’t hold up when you look that closely, and the rivalries between, what appear to be, near-identical products will break down when you compare the DeWALT install base to the Milwaukee one. Hand either side the same bag, they’ll use it for drastically different tools and jobs. Regardless of which company made the bag.
Steve
I like just about all of it. I like the wall basket – will definitely be getting a couple of those. The magnetic bins are very nice – I’ll definitely get a couple of those as well. I guess the hooks and belt clip rack could have some use. I have a couple of the long tool holders and the stick has to be a specific size or they don’t work. Really not a big fan of those. If that was adjustable, it would be far more useful. I like the expansion of products though…
Greg
You ever search Milwaukee Packout on Etsy? Lots of creators making things
Steve
I’ve seen a couple of cool mods, but just went and checked it out and there is all kinds of stuff. Pretty cool…
Josh
I have bought many 3D printed Packout bins with integrated Shockwave bit holder attachment points.
I have a shallow full sized Packout just loaded with bits and adapters and another one with all different drill bits and they are probably my two most grabbed cases.
Also some of the printed holders for multi tool and dremel bits are extremely handy.
Paul
How many of these “new tools” can drive a screw?
Josh
Weird comment since most of the tools in my shop can’t drive a screw…
They already have plenty of tools that cover that job extremely well.
Pete M
The frequency those “plastic accessories” surface proves that tool companies most likely making more money in selling plastic in all shapes and form instead of tools.
I just hope that tool companies just don’t forget what is their core business because every company that lost focus in their core business ended belly up.
Bonnie
“every company that lost focus on their core business ended belly up.”
Eh… That’s not really true. A ton of companies have managed to shift their core business to great success. Nintendo spent almost a century exclusively making playing cards, Amazon was a bookstore, and Tiffany’s started out as a stationary retailer.
Aspencr
Berkshire Hathaway comes to mind
Pete M
Can’t speak about Tiffany’s but Nintendo is still in the games business just following our times. As for Amazon not a great example as of lately, especially since they allowed third party sellers. A lot of dark clouds are piling over Amazon with the number of dissatisfied customers increasing by the day.
I just hate to see any tool company becoming a plastics manufacturer. Nothing wrong with it if they chose so but I’d rather have them as tool manufacturer with factories in the US.
Mxx
Any word how soon before Milwaukee offers their “tool box” with clear lids like the “organizers”?
Stuart
I don’t think they will.
Mxx
Thanks. Need a spring packout sale.
Mitherial
As a tangential question, is there a best way to paint the outside of a Packout box–as in, what kind of paint/primer would actually adhere to this type of plastic? I love the boxes, but would like to make some of them less bright red, to discourage them from “walking off” when unattended.
Josh
They are a little more expensive and sometimes harder to find, but check out some of the euro Packout stuff. They are mostly black with some red trim pieces.
Mitherial
Interesting, I had not seen those. The black-dominant design definite stands out less on hardware store shelves (and is less “Brand Color Forward), so I see why MW went with bright red in the US.
MM
You’ve got several options for spray paint that sticks well to plastic. Krylon Fusion is probably the easiest to find. There is also paint meant for automotive trim plastic like Color Bond LVP, that works as well. Before you paint make sure you clean everything well, there is often mold release agent left on plastic parts from manufacturing and that will interfere with the paint sticking. I clean plastic parts twice before painting, first I wash with soap and water, then I wipe down with denatured alcohol. This makes sure there’s nothing to stop the paint from sticking.
Mitherial
Very helpful, thanks!
Chris
More overpriced packout stuff
Joel Wiedeman
Anyone know if there’s a good one for a hung up the blowers and trimmers?
Chip
In my personal opinion packout is mobile storage,not static.
Static can easily be built to be fully custom.
Mobile can be as well,just much more time consuming.
Mobile needs to be moved,stacked separated for different tasks.
That said am not against static storage systems, just like I am not totally against cords and hoses.
The cabinet has been extremely useful for tracksaw storage,but has been the last useful PO offered for mobile use.