![]() Instead, I use them to hold tin snips for roofing or aluminum flashing. There are two leather hammer loops on each of my side bags, but I don’t regularly use them for this purpose, because when I walk, the hammer hits my leg. My side bags have abundant slots and sleeves to house these tools vertically, in their own space. I also carry pencils, driver bits, a counter-sink, nail set, chisel, scratch awl, and utility knife. As a carpenter, I drive a lot of screws, and this is where I store them. The fourth pocket, the lowest on my belt, gets lots of use. It carries anything from racks of gun nails to caulk, a chalk reel, molding returns, even a notebook. The third pocket is the largest, and I use it on both sides for general storage. On the right, the pocket houses three hand tools: dikes, a screwdriver, and a 5-in-1 tool. Just below the square slot on the left is a soft-sided pouch for my tape measure. I wear the same four-tiered bag on both hips, with different things in them. ![]() Storage is seamless, and the no-look grab’s a snap. While there are lots of three-pouch bags available, four-tiered bags have a game-changing feature-a slot for my square. My rig consists of two four-tiered side bags, one hammer loop, and a 2″ leather belt. For me, individual components work best, offering an unbeatable level of customization. Side bags come in various configurations some are complete sets, others individual components. I’ve often had an apron belt’s contents appear on my lap when crouching down to work on something. I prefer side bags, because they allow more mobility for climbing ladders, moving through joists, or bending to make cuts. Tool belts are configured as either aprons or side bags. More and more tools have belt hooks on them, which is a feature I use often. While padded belts can seem nice, they’re often too thick to hook a tool on. Even after they’re broken in, the pockets remain rigid enough to stay open, yet supple enough to let a hand pass in either direction. For that reason, I like leather bags and belts. I have three main criteria for tool pouches: 1) I can walk and work easily, 2) I can access everything with a no-look grab, and 3) I can drop everything in, and snatch everything out, without having to wiggle or force it. No matter what you call it (bag, rig, belt, or pouch), one that suits you and your tools makes a big difference. Whether you’re a professional carpenter or a weekend DIYer, you can’t get by without a good tool belt, one that affords fast, efficient access to your stuff.
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