While we’re on the subject of tool bags, a reader asked for some input about Milwaukee’s 20″ Packout tool bag, model 48-22-8322.
At the time of this posting, this tool bag is on sale for $48 at Home Depot, down from its regular price of $60.
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Leo wrote:
I was wondering if you had any hands-on experience with this particular bag, and what you thought of it. Also, is the deal at Home Depot decently priced? I was thinking it may be handy for PPE; my hard hat, knee pads, respirator, glasses, etc. It’s a little overkill for that, but would fit in nicely to the rest of the stack.
The price does seem decent – $12 off $60 is 20% savings. I haven’t been watching this model very closely, and so I can’t tell you if there were better promotions in the past.
Frankly, I’m not really a fan of this particular bag, although due to no fault of its own. It’s just that this bag never really aligned with my tool storage needs or wants.
I personally like Milwaukee Tool’s 15″ tool bag quite a bit better, due to its half-width format, but if you need extra capacity and length, the 20″ is a very spacious tool bag.
This tool bag is fully compatible with other Packout tool storage products and accessories.
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The bag doesn’t have many pockets, only 2 exterior pockets and 6 internal ones, but that also leaves room for bulky tools and gear.
This product image is a good example of what it can hold – bulky power tools and a couple of hand tools.
The bottom is hard plastic, with Packout-compatible locking cleats.
Personally, I bought a couple of Milwaukee Packout crates/tote boxes for my bulk storage needs, but I’m also not concerned about sawdust or one-handed portability.
Answer Leo’s specific questions, I think that this would actually be a very good PPE bag. It’s definitely large enough to hold a hard hat, knee pads (except maybe the largest stabilizer knee pads without having to pay attention to how everything fits together), and other safety gear. The couple of pockets could come in handy too.
The handles are very sturdy, as is the shoulder strap, and the bag is constructed from “1680D ballistic material and all-metal hardware so it can withstand harsh jobsite conditions,” and so it’ll definitely do the job. Is it overkill for PPE/safety gear? Definitely, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
If you’re already working with Packout storage products, this is a really good solution for the reader’s described needs.
I thought about recommending the Packout open tote tool bag along with covers for anything that needs to be protected from dust, but that seems like a clunky and much more expensive alternative.
There are other tool bag options, but you’re not going to save a lot of money, and any savings will be offset by a hit to the convenience factor for someone that is already using other Packout gear.
I took a look at a couple of 18″ tool bags, and some of them don’t look like they can comfortably fit a hard hat.
Milwaukee’s 20″ Packout tool bag outer dimensions measure 21.5″ wide x 12.3″ wide x 13.5″ tall. It’s trapezoidal shaped, but spacious.
I feel a little wishy-washy about this particular bag when it comes to my own needs and wants, and because of that I feel hesitant to wholeheartedly recommend it. However, it seems perfectly suited for what the reader would use it for.
Just to be sure, I tried finding an alternative, but came up short.
There are some other tool bags that are large enough to comfortably hold safety gear, but this Packout bag seems to be the best bet for under $50.
I think I’m sold on this being a good fit for Leo.
Sale Price: $48
What do you guys think about this tool bag? Ignoring Packout compatibility for a moment, do you know of any other closed tool bags that can hold a full array of safety gear? I can think of and find other options, but not very close to this price point.
Frank D
Same thoughts: PPE.
May be able to hold a full face respirator, respirator, pair of ear muffs, gloves, disposable gloves.
Would not hold much in terms of tools … unless you were to dedicate a series of these to be let’s say trim router and accessories, rotary tool and accessories, etc, and then have a way to clip these in place in a van or trailer with racking.
Matt
It’s 2x the price, and maybe harder to find locally, but the Milwaukee 17” Jobsite Tech Tool Bag (48-22-8210) is one of the best bags I’ve used. It’s built well, it has a laptop/tablet sleeve, the front zips to fold out for hand tool organization, and the bag itself has elastic and pockets while also being extremely deep.
I would love Husky stuff more if their individual tool holding straps were elastic instead of the same fabric used for shoulder straps. If a tool doesn’t fit then tough luck as there is zero give.
I needed a bag for the passenger seat. I outgrew my 13” Husky and loved it, but the larger version was just too unwieldy and didn’t fit a seat properly. The Milwaukee is deep enough to hold several 12v power tools, as well as 80-90% of my hand tools, and it all stays organized. If you have a need for a tool bag under similar circumstances then I would say it’s worth the price. It might be too bulky if you’re on the move a lot and in such conditions I have no idea how durable it is.
Just my two cents. First time poster, long time reader.
Jake
I don’t think they are worth the money. I have a Milwaukee tool bag and many husky bags, and side by side the husky feels like much better quality. Honesty I was very surprised about that since Milwaukee has such a good rep.
Jake
I did not get the packout bag, but just the regular type without the plastic piece. I don’t know, but maybe the packout bags are better quality.
NoahG
I got one free with an M12 kit last year. I use it to carry my lunch box, water bottle and coffee thermos from my car to the shop. It’s been a good man bag so far. I wouldn’t have ever bought it but for free it’s been fine.
Jared
There aren’t near enough pockets for me to buy that as a tool bag – but for bulky gear when you’re already using the packout system? Seems like a great choice.
Javier A.
I own this bag, and use it for electrical supplies (small rolls of several different color/gauge wire, THHN scraps I use for pigtails, electrical tape, etc. I’ve got it connected to a small/slim packout organizer that contains wire nuts, spacers, and grounding screws. I like that it has a solid bottom, so it doesn’t collapse when you load it up – and I love the packout compatibility. It’s a nice bag, but only because I got it for $39 at HD. I wouldn’t have paid any more than that for it.
MoogleMan3
I have this bag and like it a lot, but like the 15″ version a bit more.
blocky
It seems like the work version of a gym-bag. As others have said — probably great for PPE, or boots, or maybe framer bags or a chest rig. The floppy gear you walk around with, that could have loose, dangling pieces, can just drop in here end of day, and zip up until tomorrow.
Product shots don’t seem to convey that usage, but maybe that’s because the stylist was pulling from a table full of Milwaukee products.
I use the 15″ soft tote for chargers and expendables that don’t pair with specific tools.
X lu
Why a trapezoid instead of a rectangle? Seems like a needless loss of space. Any thoughts on shape utility? Thx.
Stuart
Easier carrying?
I have a very blocky-shaped tool bag, and it’s not very comfortable to carry.
I’ll see what I can find out.
Blocky
I think the wide-base of the trapezoid helps with stability, which is important because it will often be on top of a rolling tool stack that may be tilted. Also, because of the bag’s size, it may often be used to hold heavy, irregular objects. Since it is soft-sided, it is also more likely to deform if the contents shift. This shape encourages stable packing, but also limits how far off-axis the center of mass can shift on the stack.
Chris S
I have this bag. Paid $22.
They were on clearance earlier this year.
https://slickdeals.net/e/14746313-milwaukee-20-in-packout-tool-bag-48-22-8322-the-home-depot-37?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1
You can check the brickseek link in the comments to check your local inventory (though there’s probably none left)
I use it for electrical tools and it does a decent job. My usual bag is a smaller VETO but this has been useful on jobs where I need to carry extra stuff.
I bought this Husky strap to go with it because Milwaukee’s is not comfortable.
The Husky has a gel cushion and is overall beefier. It pairs well.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-44-in-to-60-in-1680-Denier-Padded-Bag-Shoulder-Strap-GP-53232CN16/307699157
Plain grainy
I never had much appreciation for tool bags. Then I started accumulating them with tool kits that I bought. I really like the storage, but I usually have to remove half of the contents before finding what I need. But I’m now aware of how great a storage tool they are.
Jim
I think you’re on to something with the idea of using this to hold with PPE equipment.
I used something maybe a little bigger but waaaay cheaper to hold my welding helmet, plasma cutter glasses, etc.
What I used was a soft sided cooler that I kept in my locker.
I was a mechanic so I could go days without needing it’s contents but when I did everything was in one place.
Mike
This bag looks a little soft and I like my bags to open from the center, just bought the craftsman versastack 17in bag and it looks way tougher than that Milwaukee bag, my brother in law gave me his Makita bag that came with the kit he bought it open the same way it never felt sturdy
Leo B.
Thanks you, everyone, for all the good feedback and suggestions! Well, the bag came in today, and I think it’ll work. I was actually able to drop my entire tool belt inside, plus a hard hat, knee pads, glasses, and a few other assorted things. It’ll be nice to keep my belt nicely on the Packout stack; I always ended up carrying it so it didn’t fall off. The downside is that my Husky tool bag no longer fits on top, but I always ended up carrying the tool belt if it was riding along, so they’ll basically just switch places. I’ll try it for a little while, but it’s looking like it’ll work nicely. The bag is definitely lacking inside pockets, but for this purpose it’ll be okay. I would never pay full price for it, but as a Mary Poppins-style bottomless bag, it’ll do it’s job nicely. Thanks again, Stuart and everyone!
CyberRanger
I used to be a professional mechanic, but that was 30 yrs ago. I still do all sorts of home repair, plumbing, outdoor work, rural property tasks, etc. Basically, I’m a jack-of-all-trades guy now. I needed a bag to go with my Packouts for smaller projects & repairs I could throw a few tools in & this fits the bill perfectly. I can toss it in the back seat of the truck or the hatch of the SUV either with or w/o another Packout. It’ll hold just enough tools to get the job done & I can zip it closed so it’s not getting filled with dirt & dust like a tool tray, yet it’s lighter than the smaller Packouts.
I use the end pockets to catch removed fasteners, parts wrappers, stripped wire, etc to throw away when I get back home. I end up keeping most of my Milwaukee bit sets & multi-bit drivers in it & I think my M18 drill lives in the bag more than it does it’s own case. I like that I can attached a fastener organizer to the bottom for the task at hand.
It could use a few more small pockets on the opposite side of the existing interior pockets, but that would be my only complaint. I have one almost completely wrecked shoulder (missing 85% of my rotator cuff) yet the shoulder strap is comfortable enough to go over that shoulder & that’s my preferred method to carry it.
I got mine on sale several months ago at Home Depot online.
Plain grainy
Like. CyberRanger mentioned. The ability to tie it to another Packout gives it great flexibility. I find it interesting how the carrying handles are fastened to the bag. Handle is a lot shorter where it’s stitched to the bag, only on one side as to not cover up the Milwaukee Packout logo.
James G.
This tops out my Packout stack and holds all my fastening guns (Cordless Framer, Brad Nailer, Impact, and Hammer/Drill), a few auger bits, hammer drill handle a charger, and a knipex adjustable pliers wrench for shutting off gas/etc. When I need to pop off to another small project I clip all my bits and fasteners to the underside and swing it over my shoulder. The only con I have is that it has to always be on top of the stack.
Stancel
I like the 20″ bag as a tool bag. I’m a service electrician. My tool belt, loaded,and my m-12 impact fits in it with ease. I keep eatra tools in the bag also, the one I don’t always need but come in handy often. I can carry it on my shoulder but it can get a little heavy. That’s when I know I have to much in it and it’s time to purge.
The 15″ bag is great for my most used m-12’s.( band saw,drill,hackzall,charger, and,4or5 batteries) With all it is packed and takes some experience at Tetris to load and unload. The bag is solid and hold it’s shape, keeps everything in place, but again gets heavy on the shoulder.