Below the belt

Tackle tough jobs with tool belts built to meet your needs.

Tool belts can be as simple as a single-pouch affair or as complicated as one with pockets, tool holders, suspenders and accessories set up to attack a wide variety of jobs. They can be lightweight nylon belts and bags for light-duty applications, or heavy-duty leather harnesses that need to be hitched up and are built to last for years with heavy, hard-core use. Or they can be something in between.

Trouble is, most tool belt experts admit, there are so many choices and price points that there is a good chance a tradesperson may not select the right belt. The wide selection and pricing can easily steer any buyer down the wrong path.

Think about your jobs
The experts agree it’s all about thinking about the jobs you must do and the working conditions that you must do them in.

“End-users often end up with the wrong belt because they don’t understand their needs, or the salesman doesn’t understand their needs,” says Roger Lessard, vice president of sales at Custom LeatherCraft. “These components get used or worn for up to 10 hours a day. If you select the right tool belt, you won’t even realize you are wearing it.”

“Our research shows that there is a definite need for many types and sizes of belts. There is no one-size-fits-all belt,” says Sean Sweeney, DeWalt tool belt product manager. “A worker doing punch-out work has different needs than a roofer.”

No matter what the belt, the experts recommend trying them on before buying.

“There is a shift away from leather to synthetic belts. Although humans still like the feel of leather next to their skin, younger workers appreciate the comfort of synthetics. Plus, synthetic belts offer more flexibility in customizing the belt to the job,” says Tom Votel, Ergodyne president and CEO. “Pay attention to belt design. Heavily padded belts don’t breathe as well as less padded belts.”

Votel also suggests making sure the belt fits on your hips or, as the experts call it, your pelvic girdle. “This area carries all of the weight from a tool belt. If the belt is leather, it may need to be broken in like a baseball glove. Thick cowhide wears well, but may take time to break in,” he says.

Judge the material
As big box stores and some tool belt manufacturers develop products for the more casual tool belt user, professional tradesmen may be tempted to slip on one of the $30 wonders and see if the belt fits as well as the price. The tool belt experts advise against it.

“Think about the cost vs. durability. What is it made of? What is the price point? How long will it last? If you correctly match the belt to you and your jobs, you should easily get three to five years of wear from it,” says Sweeney.

“Professional tool and supply distributors will also more likely carry professional-quality belts and have job-savvy experts who can help you select the right belt for the job,” says Votel. “You won’t find a higher quality belt with as many options in big box stores that cater to consumers.”

Low-cost belts are generally made with a light nylon or polyester fabric. Under heavy use, the pockets rip, the rivets tear and quickly become unusable.

A big step up in strength is denier ballistic nylon. Quality ballistic nylon belt systems are made with rip-stop fabric. “It is tough material – it was used in bullet-proof vests before Kevlar material was available,” says Votel.

There are various grades of ballistic nylon, and you can get an idea how durable the material is by the denier number of the fabric.

“With ballistic nylon, the higher the denier number, the more threads there are per square inch, which means it’s a tighter fabric. The tighter the weave, the better,” says Votel. “For example, 1680 denier ballistic nylon, when compared with 100 denier nylon, has a denser thread count and is more durable.”

Next in durability and price is suede leather. It’s more supple than top grain leather, and in some cases, than synthetic fabrics. Finally, top-of the-line models are made with split-grain or top-grain leather.
No matter what material the belts and pouches are made of, how they are assembled can also greatly affect durability.

The experts suggest considering the following use and selection points:
► Are you going to take it on and off several times a day? If so, select a belt with a sturdy buckle and reinforced holes.
► Will the belt carry quite a bit of weight? Wider belts help spread the weight more evenly and will be more durable. Make sure the buckle and the belt holes are reinforced to take the stress of the heavy weight.
► Are the buckle holes punched in, star-riveted or riveted on both sides? Double rivets are more durable.
► Does the belt have one or two tongues?
► Is the belt buckle plastic or metal?

While these are all indications of quality, a lighter-weight (and lower-cost) belt may be an appropriate choice. “A lower-quality and lower-cost belt may be suitable for some less-skilled or transient workers,” says Votel. “It all comes down to selecting the belt for the tasks at hand.”

The experts also suggest looking at the construction of the pouch or pockets. Durability improves with double-stitching and rivets.

“Many users don’t realize how many times they put their hands into and out of their tool belt pockets a day. Starburst rivets won’t hold as well as reinforced solid steel rivets. Double-stitched seams will also hold up better over time,” says Sweeney.

Higher-end tool pouches are pre-formed, holding their shape enough to contain the tools or supplies stored in them without restricting hand access. Manufacturers accomplish this in different ways. For example, DeWalt heat-forms its pockets to hold their shape; Custom LeatherCraft designs larger pocket sizes and double-layers the material for long wear. Ergodyne reports it uses rubber bases to maintain pocket strength and access.

Seasonal wear, such as winter coats or coveralls, can also affect belt sizing. To accommodate that, Custom LeatherCraft came up with a one-size-fits-most belt. “With adjustment, the belt can go from a small to a large size, accommodating most workers in all weather conditions,” says Lessard.

Accessories
Each manufacturer offers a belt style for specific trades, and many can be customized even further. For example, some allow pouch removal to make room for tool hooks or other carriers such as a chain that carries electrician tape.

Gunook offers the Super Hook, which rotates 180 degrees on the belt and will hold any cordless drill, pneumatic nail gun or painting tool, says Mark McGee, Gunook National Sales Manager.

“The Super Hook can slide onto or on coming models, slip onto any tool belt. It offers hands-free access to the tool and greatly reduces the chances of the tool falling to the floor. For less than $12, it can save a cordless drill from a drop that could damage the battery. It frees up one hand for safer ladder climbing and maneuvering as well,” he says.

Many of the tool belts can be outfitted with suspender systems that help redistribute the weight over a larger area of the body and make the belt more comfortable to wear.

Finally, some models have built-in handles that make the tool belt double as a tool bag when the worker isn’t wearing it.

Ergonomics continue to play a greater role in tool belt design, and DeWalt is even considering introducing a suspender system that carries a camelback-style hydration pack for roofers and others who must work in very hot conditions.

Bags becoming more popular
The experts agree that tool belts can hold quite a few tools, but workers often need extra space for larger items or more supplies. To that end, soft-sided bags are gaining momentum in the market.

“How many times have you seen a worker decked out in his tool belt toting a milk crate of tools strapped to a dolly so his tools are closer to the worksite?” asks Sweeney. “That’s why flexible tool bags are gaining popularity. We are also looking at bags and pouches that will clip on and off the belt easily as a worker’s job changes.”

Lessard says Custom LeatherCraft continues to design a variety of tool bags that are trade-specific, yet are flexible enough to fit many job tasks. “We are introducing a new Climate Gear bag that can keep contents dry even if it’s set in the mud or in snow or rain,” he says.

Votel suggests users look closely at tool bag strap design. Workers tend to overload bags, and shoulder straps like Ergodyne’s Bio-Curve strap, keep the shoulder strap comfortable. “The strap keeps the bag closer to the body and helps keep it from slipping off of the shoulder,” he says.

Published in the November/December 2006 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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