Earlier, we reviewed the Veto Pro Pac Closed Top LC bag. This is their lightest closed-top bag, representing a way to bring a variety of specialized tools to the jobsite in a protected bag that can withstand most any kind of weather or jobsite abuse. But it wasnโt terribly significant โ by design โ 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 sameโฆ 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 donโt plan on using the zippered cover). More room. More tools. Moreโฆ um, better.
Editorโs 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 heavyโand it was. The difference was, I expected it to be โ especially since this is a larger bag, capable of toting around a greater number of tools. The Veto Pro Pac OT-XLย toolย 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, indicating that itโs extremely 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 isnโt going to allow dirt or moisture to encroach on your tools โ not even a little bit. You also wonโt, 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 it all contributes to the bagโs considerable bulk and weight.
Veto Pro Pac OT-XL Tool Bagย 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 โ no more and no less. Well, actually, it does have fewer pockets. The smaller bag has 51 tiered pockets, while the OT-XL has just 40. The trick is โ theyโre bigger. The OT-XL gives you the ability to carry larger items, like multimeters, chalk lines, and hammers, without feeling like youโre crowding all your tools into something resembling a โbloominโ onionโ at Outback Steakhouse. I say that, and then easily see how you could still jam-pack a ton of tools into this bag.
Hereโs what ours looks 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-XLย still has Vetoโs clever stainless steel tape measure clip. Weโve seen this on other bags, but itโs still a favorite (and itโs 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 became when loaded up, itโs so overbuilt that we never once felt like it would rip, tear, or break when we tossed it into the back of our work truck. Itโs just a sturdy bag that youโll find you give very little thought to once you get started. The rubberized handle remains comfortable and is thick enough to fill your palm when you grab it, so it doesnโt cut in or create marks when youโre lifting its heavy load.
You never get the feeling that this handle could break, no matter what you do to the bag. It can also fold over, allowing you to pile items on top of this bag if needed, without fear of damaging it or stressing 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 real estate, thereโs no place to store it when you put the bag down (though, based on some videos weโve seen, Veto Pro Pac is adding a handy storage clip to it in upcoming products.)
Pricing and Warranty
The Veto Pro Pac OT-XL bag comes with a โwe put our money where our mouth isโ 5-year limited warranty. Apparently, Veto Pro Pac is just as confident in the durability of their tool bags as we were โ in fact, more, since itโs their reputation on the line if one does break. Given how expensive decent tool bags are, itโs hard to understand how other companies can charge what they do and provide so much less than Veto Pro Pacโs 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 โ and that means time and money.
Final Thoughts
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 donโt need quite this much space, consider 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 is one of the strongest bags in this style. If they can find a way to make the bag a little lighter overall, this should be able to squeak out a perfect rating. After using the Veto Pro Pac bags, it will be very hard to go back to anything else.
