The Best Tool Vests (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

This tool vest is an excellent option. For one, Stanley is one of the premier tool manufactures in the world. If anyone is going to make a great work tool vest it’s these guys.

We have an array of pockets of various sizes and depths to easily hold a multitude of tools. A breathable mesh material helps keep you cool even when you’re working in a hot garage or out in the sun, while adjustable shoulder straps allow you to customize the fit.

Great design, top-quality material and construction plus a name that you can trust – all that, and it’s one of the most affordable vests on the list too.

One complaint about this vest?  Well, it has a tendency to ride up a little at the back if you put too much weight in the pockets. But mainly, the only thing we dislike is the name.

Here is one of the lesser eye-catching vests available, though of course that could be a good thing.

It’s also one of the least expensive options on the list. While it may not have the flashiest design, it does have a number of useful features. Probably the most impressive is the effort that has gone into making it as comfortable as possible.

That high comfort factor starts with a material blend of 65-percent polyester and 35-percent cotton. The polyester provides strength whilst keeping the vest lightweight, while the cotton adds a degree of breathability to the material to help keep you cool. Add to that a pair of nice wide shoulders that help to distribute the weight of the tools and you have a very comfortable vest.

The pockets are large and well distributed, and it’s nice to see a couple of small pockets mounted on the back. They will be handy for storing screws, washers, nuts and bolts in a place that could be more convenient to reach if you are prone on your stomach under the hood.

If you are in the market for a work vest with pockets then this could be the one for you, because this model from Occidental Leather has 28 of them.

Of course, as far as a work vest goes, it can’t be judged simply on the quantity of the pockets. They need to be well placed and they need to be designed to accommodate a range of tools and items to make the design as useful as possible.

There are special pockets to accommodate tape measures, pencils, notebooks, screwdrivers and spanners – to name just a few. There are so many pockets and loops and attaching points you’ll probably run out of tools to carry well before you run out of space in your vest.

Extra-wide shoulders spread the weight of all the tools for comfortable and even weight distribution, while an open back design keeps you cool.

This product doesn’t come cheap, and this is one of the pricier options on our list. However, see past that price tag and you will have yourself a truly well designed and constructed vest.

This vest from Vest Tech is another premium quality option, so expect a price tag to match. For that cash, however, you are getting a really well made vest that has a number of useful features.

The nylon construction is a stand out, making it an exceptionally strong vest – though it also makes it one of the heavier on the list. The pocket distribution is a little different in this design too with fewer enclosed pockets and more hooks and loops. It’s almost a tool belt suspender as a lot of the tools are designed to hang down. That can make them easy to grab and less likely to get lost in deep pockets.

Weight distribution is great, and the high visibility design could certainly come in handy. You could keep it in the trunk to slip on and make yourself  more visible at the roadside during an emergency or a break down.

­One final cool feature is the rear pocket designed to take a two-liter hydration pack. You can fill it with water for a cooling drink, perfect if you’re going to be working on your car out in the heat for a prolonged period.

Despite coming in at the lower end of the price range there are still some good features and design points on this vest. The removable pouch is good (you don’t get too many tool pouch vests after all), while  the mesh back is a nice design to keep you cool. In addition, there are a decent selection of pockets, though perhaps not as many as you may find on a higher-end model.

As we mentioned, this is one of the cheaper vests on the list, so it does sacrifice a few features that you would find on a more premium model. For example, the tool pockets are neither enclosed (for the most part) nor particularly snug fitting, so tools may easily slip out as you are bending over.

Still, if you’re looking for a good budget priced tool vest, this is one of the better products on the market with a price tag that won’t break the bank.

This vest is nearly identical to the other Vest Tech model that appears on this list. It’s the same except that is a far more toned down, mainly black model. That means you lose that element of high visibility but it also means that you don’t have to walk around looking like you work for the power company.

Aside from that, all the great features are present here as well, including that great pocket for a hydration pouch.

This really is a well-designed and constructed vest. The fact that it is available in both the high visibility color and this more toned-down black version is great, allowing you that little bit more choice in the design that suits you better.

Our final vest is this design from Bucket Boss. It’s one of the less expensive products, however it does have a few eye-catching features.

In addition to several very deep pockets (and a pair of removable pouches that are always handy), one of the more striking design features is the construction material. Nineteen-ounce Duckwear canvas makes up the front panels, while mesh is used on the shoulders and back panel for breathability.

That canvas is very tough, so if you find your overalls constantly smeared with oil and grease this could be a good option for you.

Fourteen pockets (plus two pouches), strong material and a good design with high breathability – all that makes this is a very interesting, if slightly unusual looking, tool vest option.