The best HVAC tool bags can make daily work in the HVAC industry go much more smoothly. There’s certainly no jimmy rigging’ in this trade. Everything from air conditioner repairs to refrigeration maintenance demands you to have specialist tools to perform the task competently.
Having the best HVAC tool bag is basically a requirement for the job. It will not only allow you to store and transport your tools, meters and documents safely but it will keep your stuff organized so that it’s easy to find at any given moment.
This is a lot to ask of one bag alone, but thankfully there are so many tool bags and backpacks bags that are up to the task. Here we explore and review some of the best bags in the industry.
Quick Picks: Best HVAC Toolbag and Backpacks
- Pockets: 22
- Parts Tray: Yes
- Dimensions: 11 x 10 x 19 Inches
(My Personal Favorite for Essential Tools)
One of the best HVAC tool bag models as offered by CLC is everything you need for a medium sized tool kit.
It sports 22 pockets, 14 of which are on the outside of the bag and have multiple functions including one which holds the included plastic tray for the small bits to be organized within.
8 large pockets are on the inside for holding larger tools that have elastic loops to secure your tools in place.
It has a box shaped design which means that it’s not going to go out of shape very easily. By keeping form it prevents your tools from moving around when you put it down and it also has a flat sturdy bottom so it can’t be tipped over.
It has a strong, well supported carrying handle and handy shoulder strap which has padding for added comfort!
This tool bag is popular and well-loved for its durability and the sheer amount of equipment that it can hold! Just check out the product ratings and reviews for yourself!
I personally have multiple tool bags for my gear and I certainly use this one for the essential tools I like to keep close to hand. It’s too small for the bulk of my tools though and that’s why I use the next recommendation.
- Pockets: 43
- Parts Tray: Yes
- Dimensions: 23 x 12 x 15 Inches
(My Personal Favorite for Bulk Tools)
If you have a lot of tools in your kit to carry back and forth, it can be annoying to keep having to go to and from the van to get what you need.
Having this extra large version of the CLC Electrical and Maintenance Tool Carrier is just what you need. Its the best HVAC tool bag for keeping all of your tools organized and in one place.
With so much space, so many pockets and a small parts tray its going to reduce the amount of trips you are taking to the van to get something that you accidentally left behind or can’t include in your small tool bag.
Just like the smaller model, it still has a box-like shape so it’s almost impossible to fall over, even if it is over weighted on one side and it fails to loose its shape when you set it down.
If you haven’t used a frail tool bag before you don’t know how great it is to have a sturdy one that doesn’t loose its shape and knock all of your tools out of place.
This bag has two window pockets so that you can see inside them, handy to keep consumable parts in so you can see if it needs refilling. One of those windowed pockets are removable too which, again, makes it useful to keep small parts together and wherever you need them to be.
- Pockets: 23
- Parts Tray: Yes
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 10 inches
Dewalt is a well-known and respected brand amongst tradesman and DIY hobbyists alike; they’re reliable, upstanding and make quality equipment.
It’s no different with their best HVAC tool bag which is made from high quality, durable materials. It will last you for ages and it can hold plenty of essential tools so you’ll never need any extra carrying space for the kit you like to keep close at hand.
This bag has a total of 23 assorted pockets, sleeves and pouches, some can be fastened with a zipper which can be used for keeping smaller tool sets or small parts together and secure.
Other pockets have a flap covering and then some are lined with elastic giving quite a lot of versatile options for storing your tools. It’s of an open top design so you don’t have to mess around with the bag, just reach in and grab what you’re looking for.
It also has the same box shape we have seen already, with flat bottom preventing it from easily being tipped over and it also comes with a small parts tray! The shoulder strap is padded, non-slip and adjustable and the carrying handle is extra secure.
- Pockets: 27
- Parts Tray: No
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.5 x 13 inches
Another tool bag that’s handy and highly rated by previous buyers, but not as popular as the last is this one which is designed by Hilmor.
It’s very similar in shape to the CLC tool bag but it sports a lot more pockets, more elastic loops and the carrying handles are slightly different.
What’s great about the carrying handle and the shoulder strap is that they are loop locked which allows you to detach them if needs be.
This is really useful for those who work in awkward access environments such as rope access.
The bottom of the bag is flat and stable; reinforced with rivets and also water proof making this bag really tough, resistant to damage and designed to last you for a long time. It holds a high number of tools and even has a compartment for the safe storage of your meter.
- Pockets: 23
- Parts Tray: No
- Dimensions: 17.3 x 12.6 x 7.1 inches
This is a top choice tool bag for those who are carrying a large selection of small tools.
The main compartment has a great variety of pockets and sleeves to store your screw drivers, wrenches and pliers and also a section which you can potentially use for filing away notes and diagrams if needs be.
The tool bag also features several exterior zipper locked pockets for storing other materials you may use or even a small meter. This bag is pretty light weight and not durable enough for heavy duty work but it is handy as an extra carrying bag to keep your files and smaller tools together.
The reviews speak volumes for this product as previous buyers love it and swear by its quality, well worth checking out if it interests you.
HVAC Backpacks
- Pockets: 56
- Main Feature: Tape Clip Holder
For something a little bit different, a with an added personal touch with the choice between standard black or camo design, look no further than the Veto Pro Pac Tall Meter Bag.
It’s an elongated shape specifically designed to protect and store your meter.
It goes further than that though, as there’s plenty of space to put some tools and even a loop allowing you to secure other essentials, such as electrical tape.
It’s actually got 8 vertical tool pockets with an additional 2 on the outside.
4 small D rings give you the ability to hang or connect larger tools on the exterior of the bag too and even though it’s not got the capacity of the larger storage bags it does have the advantage of being steam lined and out of the way.
Just because it’s fairly small does not mean it’s weak as the body of the bag is made from 600 PVC Impregnated Denier Nylon Body whilst the pockets are extra strong with 1200 PVC Impregnated Denier Nylon composing it. Overall this product is great value for money!
- Pockets: 39
- Main Feature: Orange Interior
This is a fantastic backpack for your HVAC tools as it has a smart design that allows you to fit as many tools as possible into the space provided whilst still keeping them clearly organized.
There are a total of 39 pockets in this backpack alongside a removable tool caddy with carrying handles and a D ring so you can hang the caddy up nearby for easy reach.
The backpack itself is made from reinforced 1680d ballistic weave material with a cable that’s of aircraft standard used as the carrying handle; this backpack is really tough and can handle the pressure of heavy duty work!
It’s a very popular product with many happy buyers who have left very positive reviews and there’s no wonder why, this backpack may seem to have a heavy price tag but you are actually getting so much value and quality in return for your money!
- Pockets: 53
- Main Feature: Light
This is the best HVAC tool backpack if you are on a budget but still want good quality.
Not only does it have loads of places to store your tools in an organized fashion but it also has a built in LED light, allowing you to see the front compartment easily. This is more than useful when working in the dark.
There are 54 pockets in total; 28 for your tools, 14 for accessories and smaller components and bits and 11 flexible pockets for the various tools you especially like to keep handy.
The carrying handles are comfortable to give you an easy grip and the shoulder straps are padded, to alleviate the weight of the tools digging in, they’re also adjustable to the size you prefer too!
There are also straps included for larger tools like drills and drivers and even a battery charger. It’s designed to have an extra larger base making it easy to stand up on a surface in front of you for easy access to the tools under the light and to increase its overall durability.
- Pockets: 53
- Main Feature: Light
Dewalt also have a tool backpack (not surprisingly) and what’s also not surprising is its highly rated, great quality and great value for money.
The Dewalt Tool Backpack is fantastic for tradesmen that are on a budget but still want ultra high quality. Just like the previous product it also comes with a handy LED light attached to help you work in the dark.
The carry handles are simplistic and like what you would find on most standard backpacks but the shoulder straps are extra wide, are webbed and have ample padding to make it very comfortable to carry on your back, even when full with tools.
You get 57 pockets in total on the inside and exterior of this backpack, for tools, components, small pieces and cables. IT’s got a ultra-durable base which protects it from the abrasion of being set down, and rolling around in the back of a vehicle and is overall, very highly rated and liked by previous buyers. Well worth checking out!
- Pockets: 51
- Main Feature: Good Value
Even though “Amazon Basics” doesn’t sound like the hgihest quality or the best HVAC tool bag, it’s actually pretty decent.
In fact, given that it is very durable, does exactly what you need it to do and has 51 pockets, it great value and would be money well spent.
The only unfortunate thing to say about this bag is that it doesn’t sport an LED light like other models do and this is a huge let down.
The bag opens up into two main compartments: the front and the back and it’s in these compartments that you will find a multitude of pockets and ample storage space.
The straps are easily adjustable to fit you comfortable and are lightly padded but if you are carrying a heavy load in there, the padding may not be enough to keep all of the strain at bay.
With that being said, if you find that 51 pockets is not enough storage space, or maybe even too much for your needs, the Amazon Basics Tool Bag gives other size options for you to choose from. They go up to a hefty 75 pocket tool backpack!
What Makes The Best HVAC Tool Bag Or HVAC Backpack?
There’s a huge variety of tool bags on the market and they all more or less serve the same function, and that’s to keep your tools organized and protected. These key functions are also what differentiate the best HVAC tool bag from the worst.
Other than the degrees of the organization that is offered, your personal preference is going to factor into your choice as well as the following considerations you should take note of when shopping around:
These are bags that you’re going to be transporting to and from different contract locations with a set of heavy tools inside. Tools can have sharp edges that can really do some damage to light fabrics that are not up to the job.
There’s no doubt that the first thing you need to consider is the durability of the bag, taking into account the materials and most importantly, the quality of its stitching. The Best HVAC tool bag features materials that absolutely have to be resistant to wear and tear and stitching that’s resistant to the strain taken from the weight as its being carried.
Different tool bags and rucksacks have different arrangements of compartments, some have straps for screwdrivers and wrenches to be separated and in order, others have extra pockets or designated compartments. It’s a matter of preference as you may have a particular style that suits your kit the best.
The handles of the tool bags and the straps on the backpacks should be easy to adjust and for you to grab when you’re on the move. The best HVAC tool bags and backpacks also have extra carrying straps to suit different ways in which you can carry, e.g. shoulder straps, handles, chest straps, etc.
It’s always good to get those extra add-ons that help you along the way; they just add so much value to the product. HVAC tool bags sometimes include plastic trays that are sectioned out and have a lid for you to sort small parts like drill bits, screws and assorted small components whilst others even include a small LED flashlight that helps you to see into the bag in the dark.
Usually portability isn’t too big a deal as you only really need the bag to carry your tools from your van to your work space.
But sometimes you need the tools right with you and you may find that you tend to work in small crawl spaces a lot! Portability does sacrifice the amount of tools you are going to be carrying on hand but does allow you to have your essentials with you in those tight spaces.
HVAC Tool Bag Setup
What do you keep in your HVAC tool bag? It’s interesting to get to see what other people have in their set up and to share tips. It’s a great way to see if there is anything I am personally missing out that you think should be an essential tool to keep on hand.
I’m going to share my HVAC Tool Bag Setup so that you can get an idea of what I carry with me while I’m on the job and hopefully you guys out there can share your HVAC tool bag setup in the comments below!
I’ll just use the tool bag that I keep my essential tools in (that I like to keep close at hand) as my HVAC tool bag set up example.
Dave’s Best HVAC Tool Bag: CLC Electrical And Maintenance Tool Carrier
Main Compartments
- Multimeter
- Multitool
- 2 x Adjustable Wrenches
- Channel Lock Wrench
- Aviation Snip Set
- Wire Cutters
- Electric Screwdriver
- Compact Cordless Drill
- Cordless Drill Spare Battery
- Crimpers
- 2 x Compressed Air Cans
- Assorted Screwdrivers
- Leak Detector
- Compact Hammer
- Small Wrench Set
- Staple Gun
Side Pockets
- Black Electrical Tape
- White Electrical Tape
- 181 Tape
- Manometer + Spare Hoses
- Service Wrench
- AC Coil Brush
- Wire Brush
- Marker Pens
- Wire Strippers
- Needle nose Pliers
- Core Remover
- Jumper Cables
- Multimeter Cables
- Multimeter Alligator Clamps
- De-ox Gel Tube
- Drill and Multi tool Chucks
- Small flat head screwdriver
- Assorted screws, washers, nuts, fuses, caps, staples and valve cores in parts tray
About the Author
Dave Miller is a HVAC technician with over 10 years in the industry. Dave created HeatTalk with the ambition for it to become a resource for individuals looking for answers, whether they be a layman, student or a professional.