Earlier we reviewed Veto Pro Pac’s Closed Top LC bag. This is their lightest closed top bag and it represented a way to bring lots of specialized tools to the jobsite in a protected bag that could handle most any kind of weather or jobsite abuse. But it wasn’t terribly large – by design – and so there was a longing to check out a bag that could handle a greater capacity of tools. Consequently, when we got the opportunity to review the Veto Pro Pac OT-XL tool bag, we quickly realized we had gotten more of the same… I mean literally more.
The Veto Pro Pac OT-XL takes everything we love about the LC bag, opens it up for easier tool access (and less weight per square inch if you don’t plan on using the zippered cover). More room. More tools. More… um, better.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best tool bag roundup to see our top picks.
Veto Pro Pac OT-XL Tool Bag Build Quality
So, realizing that this tool bag is not a departure from their existing line, we expected it to be rather heavy – and it was. The difference was, I expected it to be – especially since this is a larger bag, capable of toting around a greater number of tools. The Veto Pro Pac OT-XL tool bag has the same weatherproof PVC-impregnated body fabric that we have come to love. In terms of durability, it is rated at 1800 denier, which is to say that it’s VERY strong. The higher the denier number, the heavier, tougher, and more durable the fabric will be.
The case bottom is made of the same heavy duty 3mm thick polypropylene (plastic) as the rest of the cases. Setting this case down in mud, sand, or even water isn’t going to allow dirt of moisture to encroach on your tools – not even a little bit. You also won’t, as we found with the LC bag, end up jabbing a sharp tool right through the bottom of the tool bag one day when you drop or slide it into place. Everything is fastened with heavy-duty rivets that are corrosion-resistant steel. All of this is extremely heavy duty – and all of it adds to the bag’s considerable bulk and heft.
Veto Pro Pac OT-XL Tool Bag Testing
While the Veto Pro Pac Model LC was a veritable treasure trove of pocks and compartments, the Model OT-XL seems to have exactly what we needed – no more and no less. Well, actually it does have less – less pockets. The smaller bag has 51 tiered pockets while the OT-XL has just 40. The trick is – they’re bigger. The OT-XL gives you the ability to carry larger items, like multimeters, chalk lines and hammers, without feeling like you’re crowding all your tools into something resembling a “bloomin’ onion” at Outback Steakhouse. I say that, and then easily see how you could still jam pack a ton of tools into this bag. Heres’ what ours look like, set up specifically as an all-purpose bag that can handle most small electrical jobs and minor home repairs.
Specifically, I loved the width of the bag, which allowed me to place my Stiletto Titanium Framing hammer inside without much trouble. It even allowed me to include one of their stainless steel pry bars as well. On the other side we adapted the bag to handle some of our more bulky tools, including a Dymo Rhino 5200 label maker, a speed square, and our Milwaukee bit kit.
The Veto Pro Pac OT-XL still has Veto’s clever stainless steel tape measure clip. We’ve seen this on other bags, but it’s still a favorite (and it’s now difficult to love a bag without it). We also stored our pipe and electrical tape on the handy side-mounted strap which clips into place.
Even with how heavy this tool bag got when loaded it up, it’s so darn overbuilt that we never once felt like it would rip, tear, or otherwise break when we tossed it into the back of our work truck. It’s just a sturdy bag that you’ll find you give very little thought to once you get started. The rubberized handle remains comfortable, and is thick enough that it fills your palm when you grab it, so it doesn’t cut in or create marks when you’re lifting its heavy load.
You never get the feeling that this handle could break – no matter what you did to the bag. It can also fold over, so you can literally pile stuff on top of this bag if needed, without fear of damaging it or causing stress to the plastic structure of the handle frame. Though it comes with a shoulder strap, we never found it really convenient to use. Aside from taking up bag real-estate, there’s no place to store it when you put the bag down (though, based on some videos we’ve seen, Veto Pro Pac is adding a handy storage clip to it in upcoming products.)
Conclusion
The Veto Pro Pac OT-XL bag comes with a “we put our money where our mouth is” 5-year limited warranty. Apparently, Veto Pro Pac is just as confident in their tool bags’ durability as we were – in fact more, since it’s their reputations on the line if one does break. Given how expensive decent tool bags are, it’s hard to understand how other companies get away with charging what they do and providing so much less than Veto Pro Pac’s line of products. $179 may seem like a steep price for some – but for professionals who use their tools day in and day out, having one of these on-hand is a hassle-free way to know you can pick up your tools and get to where you need to be without worrying about your bag. It will also help you stay organized – and that means time and money.
With that said, the Veto Pro Pac OT-XL Tool Bag is an easy recommendation. For those who need a bit more storage, the size of this bag is hard to beat. If you like the open top concept, but don’t need quite this much space, go for the OT-LC, which is the open top version of the Model LC we reviewed earlier this year. In terms of Performance, the Model OT-XL garnered a 9/10. If they can find a way to make the bag a little lighter overall this should be able to squeak out a perfect rating. For Value we can give it an easy 7/10 – particularly for professionals who live by their tools. After using the Veto Pro Pac bags, it’s going to be very hard to go back to anything else.
