Picture yourself on a home improvement job. You’re lugging your tool kit up three flights of stairs and into an attic via a narrow access door and a rickety ladder to work on an HVAC system.
Almost every tradesman and field worker understands the need for an on-the-go tool set solution and storage organizer.
So, many have turned to Husky, Home Depot’s very own brand of tools.
Husky tool bags are darn near as popular as cornbread. They’re available everywhere, even if they do update their range so often, you can never find the same one twice.
They’re relatively cheap, too, so they’re easy enough to replace from The Home Depot or Amazon when you need to.
But how do they stack up? And are Husky tool bags really the best tool bag option for you?
Keep reading to find out! This article compares one of Husky’s most popular and common tool bags (the 18” Tech Tool Bag) with the DECKED D-Bag. (Not those D-Bags… Drawer-Bags, obviously.)
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Husky Tool Bags |
DECKED D-Bag |
Winner |
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Construction (What’s it made of?) |
Heavy-duty polyester fabric. |
Military-grade hybrid soft and hard shell with ballistic 900D TPU coated nylon with thermoformed EVA foam base. |
DECKED |
|
Weather Resistance |
Water-resistance 1680 denier material. |
Increased water resistance; 900D. |
DECKED |
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Organization |
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TIE |
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Ergonomics |
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|
DECKED |
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Dimensions/Size |
18.75” W x 13” H x 11” D 88 cubic inches |
19″ W x 16″ H x 9″ L 2500 cubic inches |
DECKED |
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Price/Affordability |
$60 backed by a limited 1-year warranty. |
$174 backed by a limited lifetime warranty. |
Husky (until you compare features, durability, and warranty) |
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Compatibility with Storage Systems |
None. |
Compatible with the DECKED Drawer System. |
DECKED |
Tool Bags: Let’s Compare the Nitty-Gritty
It’s the details that make a particular tool bag a favorite. When you find a really great tool storage bag, you just know, right?
We took a close look at a few features of Husky tool bags and compared them with the DECKED D-Bag. Here’s what we looked at:
Construction (What’s it made of?)
Husky
- Materials vary from bag to bag, but most are made from 600 Denier heavy-duty polyester or a rugged canvas cloth material. Husky’s larger bags have a molded base to keep them upright. Closures range from zippered to open top to largemouth bags with a metal frame. Overall, Husky makes sturdy tool bags that can withstand a tough working environment but might not protect your hand tools if the bag gets thrown around or if heavy items land on it at the job site.
DECKED
- The D-Bag is a military-grade, hybrid soft and hard shell tool bag with a ballistic 900D nylon cloth coating (which won’t rip, tear, or snag no matter what you put it through). It’s constructed over a thermoformed EVA-foam base, features a reinforced lid, as well as 900D TPU-coated nylon side panels and removable storage compartments that allow it to expand or collapse at your convenience.
Weather Resistance
Husky
- 600D water-resistant material will protect the contents of your bag to some degree, but your tools may still be vulnerable to harsh elements.
DECKED
- Who needs rusty screwdrivers or a bag full of dirty water? The D-Bag’s increased water resistance from the thicker 900D cover and heavy-duty, oversized, double-taped, double-stitched zippers ensure full weather protection anywhere.
Organization
Husky
- Husky bags feature both internal pockets and external pocket tool storage, leaving the main bag space open for larger tools. The main bag area features dual zippers and becomes a wide-mouth tool bag.
DECKED
- Why dig in the whole bag and root around in a million pockets when you can lay out a roll with your most-used tools? The D-Bag comes with a removable DECKED tool roll and DECKED duffel bag with a normal amount of pockets and storage organization options. Made with the same durable 900D nylon-coated material as the D-Bag, these removable bag components come as standard with the D-Bag.
Ergonomics
Husky
- The Husky 18” tool bag features grab handles and a padded canvas strap for carrying as a shoulder bag. Single stitching on straps and zippers.
DECKED
- Strong aluminum handles on each end make the D-Bag easy to grab out of DECKED drawers while never getting snagged in the Drawer System. The D-Bag features fully padded straps with double reinforced stitching, which attach using military-style carabiners and adjust for carrying in 4 ways:
- Double shoulder straps for use as a backpack, with sternum strap for comfort.
- Tighten the straps to carry the D-Bag like a briefcase.
- Adjust the straps to carry the bag horizontally (“pizza delivery style”).
- Longer single strap over the shoulder.
Dimensions/Size
Husky
- Outer dimensions: 18.75” H x 13” H x 11” D
- Interior volume: 88 cubic inches
DECKED
- Outer dimensions: 19″ W x 16″ H x 9″ L
- Interior volume: 42 liters/2500 cubic inches
- The D-Bag is designed to fit snugly into DECKED Drawers
Price/Affordability
Husky
- The 18” Tech Tool Bag comes in right around $60 with a limited 1-year warranty. While extremely affordable, Husky tool bags may not be as durable, so they will need to be replaced more often. They’re also pretty small in size, so this will limit your space for larger power tools and result in purchasing an additional tool pouch or supplement bag (like the Husky 12 inch) to carry everything else you need.
DECKED
- A good tool bag is like a good steak. You get what you pay for. You may have to pay more for that thick, juicy, fork-tender porterhouse. But it’s worth it. The D-Bag comes in at $174 and a limited lifetime warranty, which includes the integrated removable tool roll (which beats the hell out of a clunky tool belt, by the way) and duffel bag. Designed to withstand heavy use and abuse, this versatile combo bag won’t need to be replaced for years.
Compatibility with Storage Systems
Husky
- Husky tool bags aren’t designed to be compatible with a specific storage system and might not fit well inside larger toolboxes or truck organization systems. At the end of the day, it’s a tool bag—it will likely find a place somewhere. It just might not be in the place it’s meant to be.
DECKED
- The D-Bag is designed specifically to fit into the DECKED Drawer System yet works perfectly on its own, too. You can fit two D-Bags in full-size system drawers and midsize wide drawers (it currently does not fit the midsize system’s narrow drawer). If you’ve outfitted your truck with a DECKED Drawer System, the answer is easy. Like our other accessories, the D-Bag fits in there like a hand in a glove. Better than O.J.’s.
Your Next Tool Bag…
If you’re an electrician or plumber, or even a DIY enthusiast, the D-Bag will be your new favorite gadget. It’s a tote bag, an ergonomic backpack, a tool organizer…anything you need it to be!
It may cost you more than a Husky tool bag, but the D-Bag comes with great storage capabilities, ergonomic features, and long-lasting, durable construction that will protect your tools and equipment.
Forget the fancy rolling tool bags with faulty telescoping handles.
The D-bag is a 360-degree organizer bag perfect for any tradesman or craftsman out there. Get the job done with a simple and effective tool backpack that’s made to last.
