4 Best Tool Belts in Australia (2024 Product Reviews)

What are Tool Belts?

Tool belts probably don’t need much of an introduction, with carpenters or brickies rarely seen without one but, did you know that there is a huge range of bespoke (and beautiful) garden tool belts, specifically designed with trowels, seed packets, and garden basics like twine in mind.

Tool belts are usually pretty simple kits that strap around the waist and fasten with a basic clasp. Every belt is different, but they will generally have a mix of pockets, hooks, clasps, and loops to hold a wide range of tools; from hammers and nails to twine and scissors.

Do you need a tool belt in the garden?

Obviously, a tool belt is an accessory, not a necessity, but personally, I can't imagine gardening without one. I don’t have the biggest garden in the world, but there’s nothing worse than getting halfway through a job and having to trek back to the garage for extra tools. 

Preparing a standard set of garden tools, ready to go in one belt that’s always loaded up, makes gardens a breeze.

What to Look for When Buying a Tool Belt

Tools belts aren’t complicated things, but often that makes it harder to choose a good one. Rather than looking at mechanisms, or reviewing functionality, as we do in most of our tool reviews, tool belts need to be chosen based on their materials, manufacturing quality, and perhaps above all else, their looks.

Materials

Leather tool belts are the traditional choice, but leather can be really quite restrictive, and challenging to clean - particularly out in the garden. Well-stitched polyester and nylon is the best material for tool belts where I'm concerned.

The structure and sturdiness make them longer-lasting, and more breathable. In other words, they're tougher and more comfortable. And that’s incredibly important with something you’re wearing for hours at a time.

Fastenings

Before buying any tool belt, check out its fastenings. Clips and poppers are great, but if they’re made from flimsy-looking plastic, they will not last forever. Belt buckles, shackles, and even ties are often stronger and better built than clips and clasps.

But, and this is important, it’s more about the quality than the type of fastening. Sturdy stainless steel buckles are obviously better than plastic clips, but a well-constructed, thick, plastic clip is often better than a cheaply made aluminium buckle.

Weight

Assessing the weight of a tool belt is tricky online, but you can get a good gauge by looking at the materials, and the quality of stitching. Thick, hemmed stitching carries more weight and stability than lightweight, unhemmed stitches. That might make your tool belt heavier, but it will last longer, so is worth the compromise.

Leather tool belts are always heavier than fabric belts and can be challenging to wear for long periods but, with proper care, they can be passed down through generations.

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Pockets / Hoops / Holsters

Absolutely the most important factor when choosing a new tool belt is its fittings. There’s no one size fits all explanation for a good tool belt here, but as a basic rule, the more pockets it has, the better.

A mix of fastenable (ideally zipped) pockets, open pockets, and loops are pretty standard and mean you can work without worrying about dropping nails and screws all over the garden.

Different Types of Tool Belts

Garden tool belt

Garden tool belts are pretty basic, so I’d always suggest looking for DIY tool belts with more pockets. There are some great garden tool belts out there, with flapped aprons for simple tools, and more comprehensive belts with pockets, zip bags, and clasps to attach hanging tools from too.

Tool aprons

Tool aprons wrap around your waist, and hang down to your knees. They can be useful for sowing, and tending to a vegetable garden with a handful of tools, and are great for storing small harvests as you walk around the garden too.

Personally, I find that their flappy nature gets in the way of basic tasks, but that’s just personal preference. If you prefer something lighter while you work, an apron might be just the trick.

Tool Vests

Tool vests are by far the best version of tool belts, with shoulder straps to take the weight of heavier tools, and a belt packed with pockets and hooks. With a really good tool vest, you basically become a walking toolbox and nothing can stop you!

Standard tool belt

Standard tool belts are probably the best all-rounder, with a smaller number of pockets, but more clasps for hanging tools, or attaching things like twine and pegs. They are usually quite lightweight and don’t get in the way.

1. Jackson Palmer Professional Comfort-Rig Tool Belt

The Jackson Palmer tool belt certainly isn’t something to jump into without getting to know the feel of tool belts first. It’s comfortable, yes, but it's also heavy and cumbersome and does restrict your movement.

If, however, you like the reassurance of having your entire tool collection on your person when you’re in the middle of a task, there is no finer tool belt than this.

The sturdy straps are really well stitched, with hooks and hoops on every inch of the belt, meaning you’ve got no limit to the number of tools you can fit on at once.

2. Esschert Design Garden Tool Belt

Esschert’s tool apron is, I have to admit, my guilty pleasure. It's not the most effective tool belt in the world, but when I’m feeling lazy, and don't want to cart my full garden belt around, this is my go-to.

I’ve got this at home, and have for some time, and it’s probably my most used tool belt, with the most basic tools hanging on the back of the garage door.

We usually just get a couple of days, or hours, with tool review products. Thankfully, knowing this tool apron as well as I do gives me complete confidence in suggesting it to anyone out there looking for something simple for use around the garden.

3. Bucket Boss - Builder’s Tool Belt

Bucket Boss, as you might have guessed from the name, is focused on practical kits for DIY and garden use. Their tool belts are really well-built, of great value, and this is definitely one of my favourites.

The only downside, and it is a tiny bit frustrating, is that the buckle tends to dig into your stomach when you’re using it, thanks to the unsheathed metal clips. 

4. STRONGLAD 5-Pocket Leather Tool Belt

The STRONGLAD 5-Pocket Leather Tool Belt is a top choice for those looking for a reliable tool belt. Crafted from premium oil-tanned leather, this tool belt is built to last. With an adjustable fit from 29 to 46 inches and a heavy-duty double roller buckle, it provides both comfort and security, even during long hours on the job.

STRONGLAD ensures top quality with this durable, stylish design, helping you stay prepared and efficient on any job.

You only need to take one look at the Jackson Palmer tool belt, with its wide over the shoulder straps, and generous waistband to know that it’s going to fit like a glove. This has to be one of the most comfortable tool belts we’ve ever come across, and I’m jealous of any gardener who gets to keep this for themselves!

There are literally dozens of fastenings, hooks, loops, and pockets, as well as the standard holsters and hammer loops. If you’re serious about buying the best, then this is almost definitely it.

If you don’t need your tool belt to fix the world’s problems, and just want something simple with enough space for basic garden tools, and a few handy extra slots, then stick to something budget-friendly like this tool belt apron from Esschert Design.

I’ve had this exact belt for years now, and I wouldn't be without it for day-to-day gardening tasks.

Tool Belts Frequently Asked Questions

Do you wear a tool belt forwards or backward?

Always wear a tool belt to your back if it's comfortable. Some tool belts, aprons in particular, are designed for front use, but most are better used to the side or to your back. This stops tools from slipping or pushing into your stomach when you bend.

Is a tool pouch the same as a tool belt?

Tool pouches are smaller than tool belts and can be clipped onto standard belts, or attached to tool belts for extra space. Tool bags, tool pouches, and nail pouches are all interchangeable terms, but tool belts are the most useful with more pockets and storage spaces.

Do tool belts hurt your back?

A fully loaded tool belt can easily weigh 10-20kg depending on what you’ve got attached to it. To avoid hurting your back with a tool belt, you can buy shoulder straps, which attach to hoops along the belt and are easily adjustable.

How do you break in a tool belt?

Leather tool belts need breaking in, or softening. Like any leather product, they are stiff at first and need to be used before they begin to adapt to you, and your tools, and generally become more flexible.

Treating leather tool belts with mink oil before use can help speed up the process while protecting the belt in the long term too.

For more tips on making your gardening experience more comfortable, don't miss our compilation of the best gardening attires from shoes, gloves, hats, and many more.