A good tool backpack is your best friend as a mechanic – it ensures you bring everything you need when working away from the garage, keeps your tools safe and dry in nasty conditions, and keeps you organized.
But let’s be honest here—how many of us can really point out the best tool backpack for mechanic without asking around?
Well, most of us are guilty!
And that’s exactly what made us test and interview users of various tool bags in the market. So that you don’t have to waste your time and money on helpless trial and error.
In this post, you’ll see the best backpacks your fellow auto crew trust.
And oh, you can use these rucksacks to carry non-automotive tools too!
Best Tool Bag for Mechanic Reviewed
These bags are perfect too for technicians and handymen who work with all sorts of hand tools day-to-day.
Editor's pick
Image | Name | Number of pockets | Editor's Remark | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1.  | 56 | - It's spacious and it doesn’t topple over when placed down | ||
2.  | 48 | -A heavy-duty and reinforced bag -Best for mechanics, electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs | ||
3.  | 30 | - Most comfortable to carry |
1. Veto Pro Pac TECH-PAC Tool Backpack
The Veto Pro Pac is a peerless tool bag offering an attractive mix of tool pockets with various dimensions.
It surprised us with its out of the world comfort -think of thermo-formed EVA cushioned back panel, over-molded ergonomic grip, freely-adjusting padded shoulder straps, and an ergonomic soft rubber grip!
Its most eye-catching feature, though, is the expansive room for carrying your critical implements, notably the two huge 2 storage bays and 4 similarly spacious storage compartments.
In total, you’ll have a total of 56 interior and exterior pockets (of various sizes) to keep your tools.
The straightforward access to storage bays is another plus.
The backpack is designed to not topple over when you place it down and the solid molded bottom comes in handy in wet areas.
On the whole, the great build quality shines through- even the zippers are made tough.
We haven’t even mentioned that you can hang the bag from the cool metal hook!
Wow. What a backpack!
- Very well built
- Remarkable space
- There’s no tool that can’t fit in this bag
- Good luck finding a weakness in this!
To ensure that your car is always ready to go even if you had grounded it over the winter, the battery charge needs to be maintained at a reasonable level. To get the best tool for this job, see our review of the best battery tender for car storage in 2022.
2. OISTRIA Mechanic Backpack Heavy Duty
- Plenty of compartments
- Better balanced when worn
- Easy access to tools
- Nothing noteworthy
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See why you should never forget a car escape tool when you are driving.
3. STEELHEAD 48-Pocket Best Backpack for Tools – Best Heavy Duty Backpack
- Very, very good quality construction material
- Sits upright when on the ground
- Amazing zippers
- Taller tools don’t fit in some of the pockets
4. Fluke Pack30 Tool Backpack Professional-30 pockets
- Not too bulky
- Waterproof molded bottom
- Pro-quality tool backpack
- A little pricey
5. Rugged Worksite Tool Backpack-68 Pockets
- Extraordinarily rugged
- Massive room
- It won’t tip over like some of its competitors
- Could do with more padding in the shoulder straps
6. CLC Custom 1132 LeatherCraft 75-Pocket Tool Backpack
- Very dependable, rugged backpack
- Heavy duty zippers
- Lots of pockets
- May not fit some larger tools
7. DEWALT Lighted Tool Backpack, DGL523 (57-Pockets)- best tool backpack with worklight
- Premium construction
- Good pocket sizing
- Well thought-out pocket arrangement
- The bottom is not waterproof
8. Klein 55421BP14CAMO Tools Backpack, Heavy-Duty –best heavy duty backpack
- Roomy durable backpack
- A decent number of pockets
- Waterproof
- The zipper may fail to zip smoothly when it’s fully loaded
9. AmazonBasics Padded Backpack for Car Tools- 75 Pockets
- Greatly resilient material
- Zippers slide smoothly
- Good space in there
- Side wall fabric doesn’t seem durable
10. WORKPRO Tool Backpack
- Made of high quality material
- Affordable pricing
- The back zipper opens it up to 180 degrees
- Would have loved some of the pockets to be deeper
11. FASITE X611 Multi-Function Tool Backpack with Wheel Handle- best tool bag with wheels
This wonderful backpack for tool by FASITE has a thicker back cushion and cozy shoulder straps so you carry your tools in extreme comfort.
It has all the basic compartments too- 11 internal pockets (varied sizes) and 6 external pockets to carry your tools.
And the dual-zipper top keeps the whole bag secure.
Most importantly, this comes with wheels to allow you roll it around sites with ease.
And oh, the ergonomic pull out handle keeps pain and fatigue away when wheeling the backpack up and down.
On top of all that, this best tool backpack for mechanic is very durable- the 1680d polyester material is not only hard-wearing but it has also been sewn together with super heavy stitching for unparalleled durability.
- Large capacity tool backpack
- Solid wheels
- Lasting construction
- Wish more pockets were added
A Buyer’s Guide for A Mechanic’s Tools Backpack
Knowing what factors are vital when purchasing your first tool backpack will stand you in good stead.
Here are 5 key considerations to make when shopping for the best tool backpacks for z mechanic.
(i) Size
A no-brainer by all means: You certainly need a tool bag that’s roomy enough to fit every one of your required tools but it should ideally be not too bulky (you want something you can easily carry around).
Some backpacks have side pockets to carry extras such as insulating tape and flashlights and are more convenient.
(ii) Tool Organization
The last thing you’d want is a tool backpack that has an inadequate number of pockets or compartments to hold all your tools.
That’s not all: the pockets should also be reasonably balanced to help you easily organize your repair tools according to usage and size.
That way, you can quickly track down the tool you want.
(iii) Construction Quality
To avoid the embarrassing scenario of your backpack splitting open and spilling all your tools or parts when you don’t expect it, get a well-built backpack.
Any tool bag that’s constructed of tough materials such as high denier nylon or canvas typically holds heavier and even oddly-shaped tools without problems and is the way to go.
You may also want to pick a backpack made of waterproof material as it keeps water out when you’re working outdoors, keeping your tools and accessories dry and safe despite harsh conditions.
(iv) Backpack Comfort
This is especially important if you regularly need to carry heavy tools to the field.
And while there is tons of different comfort improving features, the least you can go for is a model with sufficiently padded back and shoulder straps to ease the pressure the load will exert on your body.
Some of us hate strapping heavy loads on our backs.
If you belong to this group, it’s better to select the best mechanic tool bag that comes with an ergonomically designed pull handle for extra comfort when lugging it.
(v) A Word on Velcro Straps
Velcro straps tend to win the durability battle over zippers but are not good for holding heavier tools.
Keep in that mind as you compare bags.
Other Considerations
- Wheels- if you’re a fan of noisy wheels, rubber-made wheels (or any other softer material) are not as noisy as those made of plastic so your backpack will not be annoying to wheel around.
- Visibility- I personally prefer tool backpacks with visibility enhancing features such as a reflective belt. It makes it easy to spot the bag when working in dark environments. Plus, it adds an extra level of safety particularly when you’re carrying it at night.
- Closing style– the most common types of closures are zips or bucket-style. The latter is great for easy access but the former is best if you don’t want your gears to spill over.
Types of Tool Backpacks
Just like tool backpacks for other tradespeople, backpacks for mechanics take a wide variety of designs.
Here is a lowdown of the best types to help you choose a suitable model:
(i) Wheeled tools backpacks
Because they feature wheels, these offer more ways to carry the backpack and are pretty convenient.
For example, you can carry the FASITE Multi-Function Tool Backpack as a handbag, pull it as a trolley or suitcase (thanks to the added wheels), or as a conventional backpack.
The greatest advantage of this type of backpack is that you can carry all your desired tools with very minimal effort.
(ii) Weatherproof tool backpacks
As the name implies, weatherproof backpacks have their bodies (or parts of the body such as the bottom) engineered to be water, mud, and snow resistant.
You can, therefore, be sure that all your work tools remain protected and dry, no matter the environment.
(iii) Heavy duty tool backpacks
A heavy-duty mechanic’s tools backpack is typically reinforced everywhere to withstand insane abuse.
The product’s body is itself constructed from the best heavy-duty materials around such as rugged polyester while every part of the backpack – pockets, zippers, the base, etc.- is beefed up to tolerate rough handling.
Though often a bit pricey, these bags are exceptionally durable.
(iv) Special backpacks
These are custom-made and pack plenty of distinct characteristics mostly aimed at making them more user-friendly.
For example, some tool backpacks have bright LED lights built in along with extra chest straps for improved balance whenever you wear the tool carrier.
Others feature specially padded compartments inside to prevent your accessories from being scratched or damaged.
In short, they are built with a lot more details than typical tool backpacks.
On the downside, they tend to be expensively priced.
Benefits of a Tool Backpack
So, are tool backpacks dedicated to mechanics worth it?
Short answer: a BIG Yeeeeees!
Here is how you can benefit when you invest in the best tool backpack for mechanic:
(i) A backpack is a friendlier tool’s transportation method
For the most part, it’s easier to carry your tools when packed in a backpack than when in a traditional toolbox.
They not only make the tools feel lighter (because total weight is distributed nicely when you wear it) but also allow you to carry other essential equipment since your hands are free.
In addition, a backpack is a more commute option when taking public transport (or cycling) to away locations.
(ii) You become more organized
As mentioned at the start, you’ll have everything with you when traveling for auto repair or servicing jobs which makes your work easier.
Of course, since you naturally place the key tools in different compartments, it’s easy to notice that an important tool is missing before leaving for the field.
(iii) It stores different sized tools
The multiple pockets are commonly of different sizes so tool backpacks store both large and small tools making them very practical.
Besides, most backpacks don’t take up much room in your garage so you can still retain the tools in there once you get back.
Best Tool Backpack for Mechanic: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What should you always carry in your tool backpack?
Whether you’re going out to perform routine maintenance tasks or urgent repairs, you certainly don’t want to bring the entire garage with you.
On the other hand, it’s really difficult to come up with a conclusive list of what you’ll need out there because it comes down to the type of job you’re traveling to perform.
But in general, you’re likely to make great progress with these tools:
- Torque wrenches –at least ¼-in and 1/2″
- A wrench set
- Pliers and wirecutters
- Dead blow mallet
- A quality work light
- A screwdriver set
- A socket set
- Cable ties/ ty-rap/ zip ties/panduit strap
- Latex gloves
- A multimeter
- Cordless impact wrench
- Duct tape and electrical tape
- Lubricants and cleaners
What is the advantage of a waterproof backpack?
The most outstanding gain a waterproof backpack gives you is that your tools will be safe from moisture damage.
That is because the materials used to manufacture these types of tool backpacks cannot be penetrated by water and/or moisture.
Wrapping it up
Whether you’re looking for the best auto mechanic tool bag with wheels, the best heavy duty tool backpack for a modern day mechanic, or the best rubber bottom tool backpack for automotive repair, you now know the direction to take.
Trust us: these will never let you down, no matter the situation.
So fork out some bucks on your favorite and your work life will be (nearly) complete.
Having second thoughts?
Read the reviews other mechanics have left on the various websites and see what the backpacks are like on the job.
Good luck!