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I spotted the new Milwaukee Packout rolling tool chest at a local Home Depot today, and it left quite an impression.
We have known about Milwaukee’s newest – and largest – Packout tool box for a couple of months, and that its “Dual Stack” top lid can fit two full-size Packout tool boxes.
Even so, I was a bit surprised at its size. While technically only a little larger than two Packout tool boxes placed next to each other, the new rolling tool chest has a much bigger presence than I had anticipated.
The wheels felt sturdy, and I liked the simple but effective locking lid support. The removable tote is large and felt exceptionally sturdy.
The latches were perhaps the most impressive aspect, with wide locking levers that were easy to pull open and snap closed.
I think that users are going to have an easy time customizing the tool chest, thanks to its built-in slots for DIY dividers and custom-made inserts.
I didn’t have a chance to test out the rolling tool chest’s handles or mobility, as my initial assessment was only done in-store.
I also didn’t test the Packout tool box’s ability to be stored upright. If you recall from our initial news post, this rolling tool chest can be stabilized in the upright position by its fixed wheels-end side handle.
I was very surprised to see this Packout tool chest at Home Depot stores, mainly given its price. But, Milwaukee’s other tool storage products seem to have been selling very well, both online and in stores.
As I am sure some readers will point out, there are less expensive rolling tool chests on the market that can hold about the same or even more tools and at a fraction of the price. This is of course true. However, the Milwaukee Packout rolling tool chest has a higher load rating – 250 pounds compared to 100 pounds for a similarly-sized Husky product.
The Packout feels well-built, and you can also load Packout-compatible tool boxes, organizers, bags, and equipment to the lid.
The Packout tool chest has a 35 gallon capacity.
At the time of this posting, Home Depot is offering free shipping on the new Packout tool box. Acme Tools also has it in stock, and is charging a $10 special handling fee, which is understandable given the size of the tool box.
The $229 price tag isn’t all that surprising, and is less than it would cost to buy two of the smaller rolling tool boxes. This size also has the benefit of being able to hold much larger or bulkier tools.
This is one of few Milwaukee Packout storage products that I wouldn’t get a lot of use out of, but it’s nice to have options.
Price: $229
