Ryobi has teased that they’re coming with an entire new system of tool and equipment storage products – RYOBI LINK.
We don’t know much right now, but early images show that Ryobi Link will include quite a few different storage and organizational components.
Advertisement
To start off, there will be new connectable panels that mount to the wall of your workshop or garage, and a broad selection of clips, hooks, shelves, bins, and tool organizers that attach to it.
There will also be a modular tool box system, and if you look at the top image you’ll see one of the smaller tool boxes connected to the Ryobi Link wall panels.
At this time, they have only teased about a 3-component tool box stack, with small, medium, and rolling tool boxes.
Ryobi has also been experimenting with wall-mounted garage cabinets (available at Home Depot), such as this 3-shelf cabinet with power tool hangers.
Advertisement
Long-time ToolGuyd readers might also remember the Ryobi ToolBlox modular tool box and cabinet system that launched in Australia and never officially launched here in the USA.
There is also the Ryobi DOCKit, a rack for their power tool accessory cases.
Despite these limited offerings, and maybe a couple of others I missed, Ryobi has never really dived into the tool and accessory storage industry, not like they’re looking to do with the new Link system.
Ryobi Link looks to be a very ambitious lineup of tool and workshop storage accessories.
Should the Link system gain momentum and popularity with users, there are so many other storage and organizer product directions they can expand into.
We’ll keep you posted as we learn more.
ETA: Fall 2021
Here’s the teaser video:
JD
These systems always look great in the marketing material. In reality, they don’t have enough flexibility, and the cost to fully utilize the system is very expensive. I always end up building my own systems out of scrap lumber and akro organizers.
Rob L.
I’m pretty tied into Packout, but also using the Rigid boxes for camping. Curious if this is going to be a big push at Home Depot and if it will replace the Rigid gear, which hasn’t seen much expansion.
Depending on price and if they launch with enough variety, it’s interesting- if it were available before I started grabbing Packout gear I might have been interested
fred
The pictures that I see of garage organizers always portray an almost “clean-room” looking space. The reality is that the more nooks and surfaces that you have in a outdoor garage or shed the more spots for dust and grime to collect.
Jared
I use a cordless blower occasionally to keep my workspace clean. I’m guilty of leaving tool box drawers open at times and that’s a quick way to tidy things up. I assume that would work here too.
Aaron
That is how my garage looks most of the time… I keep it pretty clean.
Steve
Take my money.
A W
The thumbnail looks like a Lego set.
Cool concept. I’ve found the Rubbermaid tracks to be useful in a variety of places.
Jared
I kinda like the Toolblox thingamabob. Probably not as great in practice as it looks in the photo, but a modular tool chest seems like a neat idea. I realize there are drawers for toughsystem and packout, but they’re a lot skinnier than the Toolblox looks like.
MT
I’m not optimistic. It looks like another over-engineered storage system that ends up being more trouble than it’s worth. Do people really rearrange stuff often enough to make such a modular system necessary? What do we need to do with this we can’t do with a few utility hooks, shelf brackets, and some 2x4s? These systems always seem to end up in the clearance section before going off to a landfill.
Rog
The toolboxes, yes! The modular shelf system, no thank you.
Koko The Talking Ape
I’d be open. But I wonder what this storage system offers that any of the many other systems don’t, or even ordinary perf board, which has tons of compatible accessories available, and which you can also improvise yourself.
I don’t understand those power tool hangers on the wall-mounted cabinet and the organization wall. They look deep enough to hold two or three tools, but to get at the tool in the back, you’d have to take down the tools in front. Maybe that works if several people work in a shop and they all need to grab a drill/driver in the morning. Or maybe you can put the tools you rarely use in the back. (Or maybe just leave them in the boxes they came in on a shelf, and use the hangers for a single tool each.)
Brian M
Let’s see if they support this longer than they supported their garage door opener.
Steve
I have the opener and love it, but apparently they lost a court case against chamberlain and has to stop selling certain accessories for a period of time, or something like that.
Nathan
shooting at the craftsman versatrack system sold by the other store.
I’m guessing here this ryobi product will be a HD exclusive and potentially on line.
but neat idea.
aaron s
toolblox I seriously considered importing… I like drawers.
The idea of mounting a toolbox flat against an organizer wall really bothers me… unless you can use the box without taking it down or it has a transparent lid I just can’t see it making sense.
I like TTI’s commitment to platforms within the ryobi brand, but it doesn’t seem to extend to storage. I bought some dockit kits a while back but they’d already abandoned key products… It feels like their goal in ryobi tool storage is basically to convince people that they should go with packout instead.
Mike47
Best wall system I’ve used is metal pegboard. I think it’s the most flexible for hanging small tools and parts.
Steve
Today’s what I use all the use of pegboard + it’s magnetic.
Yadda
Modular molded plastic for the walls? Neat concept, but I won’t be buying.
IronWood
Oh great more proprietary plastic stuff to throw away when it breaks and they discontinue the line in a couple years. Pegboard, scrap wood, plywood, and a few bins always works for my wall storage and it’s infinitely customizable. I guess some folks just like to spend a bunch of money screwing plastic do-dads to the wall.
The toolboxes look fine, don’t really see much to siphon people away from the already established systems, i.e. Packout et al.
ONR
If it becomes a reality, and the price is right, I’ll be brave enough to give it a whirl in my shed. No more room in my garage.
Frank D
So they would not give us the stuff they launched and promoted in AU & NZ for years … but now they want to reinvent the wheel with whatever that lego floor mat is on the wall and a watered down version of the Ridgid boxes?
Hard pass on both.
The wall thing is over engineered and going to be a dirt magnet for starters. not compatible with anything. So $$$ and only looks good in promo images.
Modular tool storage. Too little too late.
Steve
My thoughts for what it’s worth.
This looks a direct competitor to VersaTrack & Stak. Craftsman must be getting some traction with those.
First the rolling Link portable tool boxes:
I’m surprised Home Depot is going along with this as it competes with Husky’s rolling boxes. I wonder how this plays out and what eventually gives.
There’s two things that the leader, Milwaukee’s Pack-Out, has that really make it #1, the drop on locking one handed release mechanism and the sheer volume of options available including tool sets, vacuums, lights, etc that fit Pack-Out. This Ryobi set has the first one, time will see how far they go with it on the second item, especially since Craftsman Versastak has a number of options already.
This has potential, it’s in a crowded marketplace though.
Second the Link wall organizer system:
It’s an eyesore, and I’m being nice.
The Link connectors for the boxes integrated in the slats are all really big turn off. Completely unnecessary. They make the slats larger and spread out smaller stuff too much. The Link boxes are better off stacked vertically on their own. What’s the point do putting it on the wall to spread out two dimensionally taking up all kinds of space and having whatever you put in it flipped around inside? It takes up a ton of wall real estate that way. You can’t really open them on the wall either without having the stuff inside fall out.
No matter what they offer in specialty hooks and holders they will be too spread out, this doesn’t have the density possible that a pegboard has.
The power tool holders look nice but that’s the only thing the have going for them here and the competition could come out with those any time.
If it’s not cost competitive with peg board, Versatrak, and others, that won’t help.
If they discontinue this you’re really stuck if you ever want to add or replace anything.
Hard pass on this one.
William Adams
Yeah, it would be a lot more interesting if it were compatible w/ Husky Rolling Connect.
I’d also want the smaller organizers to be transparent so that the contents can be identified w/o labels.
Bob
That proprietary mounting board is fugly! Hard pass.
Metal peg board, metal slat wall or even that metal grid stuff is better. Cheaper and you can find accessories everywhere.
Personally I find exposed tools look messy and cluttered. Not to mention they get dirty and tools can walk away. Tool boxes, cabinets, drawers are better.
The metal shelf/charging station you can hang drills/impact drivers from isn’t terrible. I wonder if the thin gage sheet metal will hold up long term.
Oh great another organizer box system.
Like I said. Hard pass.
Jim Felt
If you kinda squint at the full wall display image it looks like a sci-fi wall garden thingy. Maybe?
Bet set builders incorporate parts of it into future looking shows. They’d only need to spray some weird third color onto some of the components.
Too cheesy for me.
Steve
I was thinking the same thing, this might show up in a Sci-Fi movie or show sometime.
MD
I have a Gladiator system love it but learned one major thing….all those walls and chests and toolboxez and containers. ….its all cool and nice looking but man they sure do not clean and organize themselves…LOL
King duck
If you are into hanging stuff on a wall why would you not use peg board or slat wall? You can get tons of stuff for peg board and with 3D printers it truly is limitless.
But honestly my work shop gets dusty a lot so I like things put in crates on shelves or inside cabinets.
MM
I’ve tried various systems over the years but always came back to building shelves with 2×4’s and plywood and using pegboard for hanging. It’s not glamorous but it works, it’s cheap, it’s easy to customize.
I think this is one of those areas where the problem was solved decades ago but companies keep trying to get people to bite with something that’s new but isn’t necessarily any better.
David R.
Man… I wish my workshop had a cement floor….. then I could stop using that as excuse why my workshop is always messy.
I really want the rolling/stackable chest. That’s actually perfect for my workflow.
AngryDrumGuy
If Ryobi releases the stack dolly before Ridgid (Keter makes one, so this is frustrating), I really have to question my next Ridgid box purchase and I really like the Ridgid boxes.
JoeM
…How is anyone keeping a straight face about this? Nobody finds this as funny as I do?
It’s… a LEGO lawsuit in the making… There’s bound to be some 80’s kid (like myself) who will buy the wall system, and a series of boxes, just to make YouTube videos recreating famous video games, editing the key characters in via CG, and replacing things that pop up from the top, with the boxes opening to reveal the item inside.
On one side, I’m laughing my tuchus off at the LEGO infringement… and on the other I’ve lost a little bit of respect for Ryobi for going this direction.
I’m just shocked anybody can keep a straight face on this.
Stacey Jones
Looks awesome. My only concern is my walls may fall in if I start putting my Ryobi stuff up. On a side note, please keep me posted but not posed! This word seems to have slipped through your spell checker.😉
Stuart
Thank you – *fixed* !
Reno
does it only work with Ryobi if so its worthless
Stuart
Looking at the product photo, I’d say it’s a universal-type storage system except for the mountable tool box interface.
GARY L BRINK
i would like to find one of those ryobi modular tool boxs that i can put all my ryobi tools in Could you tell me where i can find one and how much it is to buy.m
Stuart
It’s not out yet. Information was just released and I’m still working to put together a buying guide.
Dusty
I’m still completely at a loss as to why any tool organization system would launch without a chest of drawers. I’m into the Tradestack system now solely because of Versastack compatibility. (Milwaukee was yet to release their drawers when I purchased my Tradestack Rolling Tower.)
Now that I’m looking to expand a little more, I’d really like to see the Tradestack line include some drawers and Ryobi could have totally stolen my patronage by including such at launch. (It has to be in the works, right?)
John Fleisher
Saw these in my local HD today, Marysville, Ohio.
Vards Uzvards
Quite a collection, but many items not yet available, looks like.
https://www.homedepot.com/collection/Hardware/RYOBI-LINK-Modular-Storage/Family-319189263