For years I have been trying to find a convenient way to organize and transport the tools that I need for a particular type of project – electrical, plumbing, painting, cable TV and computer lines, etc. to avoid taking large amounts of tools. Full size toolboxes are too heavy and too large, tool bags that zip closed didn't have the capacity I needed, and I can't see what is in them easily. Now that I've found the Sears Craftsman 12-in. Tool Tote product, and I believe my problem is solved.  Sears prices these totes at $12.99; they are a great investment if you, like me, struggle to get organized.

The Craftsman 12-in. Tool Tote is just the right size to take along the small to large tools that I need for typical projects, while still being small enough to not overwhelm my space if I use 4 or more of them to organize the tools by project type. The Sears Craftsman Tool Totes are black with the exterior pockets that will be a complementary color, and each comes with a different UPC code. The tote I am reviewing happens to be black with complementary grey exterior pockets (for some reason it shows up as red on several web sites but I am confident that code 00937548000 (the full code), under product code 37548 on most web sites, is black with grey exterior pockets. This grey tote is no longer sold by Sears, but is sold by Amazon and Ace Hardware as a clearance item for $14.99 (I paid $9.99 as an in-store clearance item at Ace Hardware).  The on-line version at the higer price gives you some tools in a combo kit with the tote.


No matter what the exterior pocket color, all of the totes are the same, only the product code changes between exterior pocket colors. Currently Sears is selling four colors: Blue, Green, Tan and Red. My grey tote has a full product code that is 00937548000, and the codes from Sears for red are 937538, green is 937545, blue is 937546 and tan is 937544.

The tote offers you a rectangular “bucket” for tools, on the interior gives you about 12 inches long and just under 9 inches wide, and 9 inches of depth. Along the inside perimeter there are 16 small elastic loops for attaching tools, the outside has 3 large and 2 small fabric pockets along the long-side, and the ends each have mesh pockets. Here is the best feature for me - there is a metal exterior clip that you can attach a measuring tape to – which is a great solution to organizing what seems to be a half dozen measuring tapes that I have around the house – I ca now put one on each project tote. The tote has a rigid metal, foam covered handle that is very comfortable. There are two velcro straps that let you attach a longer item such as a level to the exterior.

I mentioned earlier that these totes have more capacity than the Craftsman 12 inch tool bags I've been trying to use to get organized – I can get about 40 to 50 percent more capacity because I don't have to zip shut a bag, which is a problem because the bags have to collapse at the top for the zippers to work, and the zippers tend to get resistant to zipping over time. The Tool Tote, being wide open all of the time, but with features that secure the tools inside and outside, lets me see what tools are inside, what project purpose the tote is for, and I am ready to go to work much faster than with bags.
At first I thought that the tote style would not be “manly” enough for working around the guys, versus a tool box or tool bag, but after experiencing the convenience and comfortable design, that's not going to be an issue for me!

Recommended: Yes