Best Tool Vests In 2022

There’s no better tool vest than this one from Stanley, and is that really a surprise? Stanley is one of the top providers of tools and work gear in the country, and they just keep on getting better. They kept functionality in mind while ensuring this tool vest would be as safe as possible, regardless of what condition you’re working in. The extra-wide arm slots allow for great mobility, while the loose-fitting straps give you breathing room around your midsection. For safety, there’s reflective strips that notify vehicles and rechargeable flashlight users of your location, so you won’t even have to announce yourself to stay safe.

Apart from that, Stanley Fatmax Tool Vest is also lightweight. Many companies claim this, but this vest is just over 1.6 lbs., which is about two pounds less than the average tool vest that we’ve come across in our research and testing. It’s difficult to associate an ultralight design with durability because there’s the common misconception that it has to be thicker to have quality. Between the air mesh interior and nylon exterior, it’s built to last through numerous uses. Depositing and withdrawing your tools isn’t going to mess with this vest.

If you need a work vest, there’s no better place to look than Holmes. Your position might be the same, but the job itself changes from contract to contract, and location to location. They had that in mind when they added a removeable tool pouch, giving you the option of loading up even more tools and small materials if needed, but not over encumbering you for smaller tasks that don’t require so many tools.

Made from a blend of polyester and mesh, you get plenty of comfort and an airy feeling in the back panel. That back panel is almost completely lined with mesh, but helps prevent pockets of heat from forming on your back, especially when the sun is beating down on it. The only issue with the usage of mesh in Holmes MHBLK Workwear Tool Vest is that it doesn’t provide the best stability for the pockets, so while they’re fortified, the mesh lining near the pockets (inside the vest) won’t hold up forever.

There’s budget-friendly, and then there’s help-I-need-something-for-work-right-away. NoCry pushes hard on the latter option with a work tool vest that’s not likely to even cost you your first hour’s wage on the construction site. It’s so impressively priced, we initially didn’t hold much stock in its durability or quality until we had a chance to use it. This is made to last for 2-3 years on average, with some users reporting more than 7 years of total use with proper care.

Canvas isn’t the first material that you’d expect from a work vest, and neither did we. That’s because the NoCry vest can be used for gardening, work, woodworking, or whatever it is that you need. It’s made of 600D canvas, which will surely hold up against scuffs and scrapes. The thing is, with its low cost, production levels are high. Stitches get missed every now and again, so you might end up with one to three frayed ends on your apron.

While it’s not the best tool vest, Dickies holds a very close design to our top pick. This suspender style tool vest will not only completely envelop you, but it’s built out of a durable blend of heavy-duty canvas, not to talk about smaller tools like hex keys or wrenches. It’s breathable for the material, but also the segmented design of tool pouches that hang off of you. There’s seven slots on the right, and three on the left for quick access to whatever you need.

The adjustable waist area is a bit less than we would like, but we recognize that it’s difficult to make a wide area of adjustments in a suspender system. Dickies Work Gear Padded Suspender Tool Vest is harness-ready, but it’s also built with a 2” belt, designed to go along with Dickies pants perfectly. It makes sense, but understanding that not everybody will be buying Dickies pants, a 1.5” (which is the standard) would have been better.