DeWalt 11” PRO Electrician Tote

A tote that suits real-world service work

I spend most days bouncing between commercial sites and quick service calls, so I need a mid-size tote that keeps hand tools accessible without becoming a rolling black hole. This DeWalt tote hits a useful middle ground: compact enough to carry into ceiling spaces and tight mechanical rooms, yet structured and tough enough to be dragged around a job for a full day.

Build and materials

The first impression is that it’s built to be used, not babied. The body is 1680D ballistic fabric with tarpaulin panels that shrug off dirt and moisture. The double-wall construction and padded bottom give it structure without making it overly rigid, and the injected plastic/rubber feet lift the bag off wet floors. After months of setting it down on concrete and often-dirty rooftops, the bottom shows abrasion but no fraying, and the sides still stand up on their own.

At 4.5 pounds empty, it isn’t featherweight, but the weight buys you durability and a tote that doesn’t collapse when you pull a driver from a tight pocket. The colorway is the familiar black and yellow, and while that’s not a functional feature, high-contrast interiors really do help find small items in dim rooms.

Organization and access

There are 34 pockets total—12 outside, 22 inside—and the layout is logical. For my daily kit:

• Outer loops: pliers set, channel locks, torpedo level, and a long-shank #2.
  
• Shallow exterior pockets: nut drivers, precision screwdrivers, and a voltage tester.
  
• Interior: meter, clamps, punchdown, crimpers, spares, and a small roll pouch with wire ferrules.
  

The interior pockets run the full height, so longer handles don’t tip out, and the outer pockets vary in width enough to fit different grips. I do wish a couple of the interior loops were oversized for fat-handled insulated drivers; as it stands, they fit, but they’re snug.

Access is the whole point of a tote, and this one gets it right. The open center allows you to drop in a meter case or a small parts box, and nothing is buried. I appreciate the zippered front pocket as a dedicated spot for wallet/receipts—separate from tools so I don’t shower myself with drywall dust when I pull it open.

DeWalt includes an IP54-rated compartment for valuables, and it lives up to the claim of water resistance. It’s not a dry box, but drizzle and splashes don’t get through. I’ve trusted my phone and spare keys in there on wet days without issue. The zipper pulls are big U-shaped tabs you can work with gloves, which is a small thing that makes a big difference in winter.

An integrated metal carabiner is a nice touch for clipping tape, a rag, or a radio. It’s proper metal, not the flimsy stamped kind, so it doesn’t bend out after a week.

Comfort and carry

The removable padded shoulder strap is better than average—wide enough to distribute weight and long enough to swing the tote behind you when climbing ladders. The top handle is shaped well and comfortable bare-handed. That said, I’ve seen the plastic overmold crack after a lot of use; mine developed a hairline split around the six-month mark. The underlying webbing still held, but it’s a durability weak point to keep an eye on.

At a rated 25 kg (about 55 lb) capacity, you can load it heavier than is smart for your back. Packed to a realistic 25–30 pounds, it carries well and stays balanced as you walk. I’d avoid overweighting the exterior pockets on one side; like any tote with a relatively narrow footprint (about 9.4 inches wide), an unbalanced load can encourage tipping.

There’s a back strap designed to hook over a telescopic handle on a rolling case. It’s simple and effective, and I’ve used it to park the tote on top of a rolling stack to get across parking lots.

On the truck and in the shop

The base and feet prevent most sliding on rubber mats, and on flat floors the tote is stable. In a vehicle, it’s more particular. On a bare floorboard or a smooth van shelf, it can tip if you brake hard or take a corner with enthusiasm. Two easy mitigations:

• Load heavy items low and centered (meter, pliers) and use lighter items in the outer pockets.
  
• Use a bungee or a small crate to hold the tote in place if it rides solo on the floor.

Once it’s at the job, the upright structure helps. It doesn’t collapse as you work out of it, and the pockets don’t sag open. The injected feet don’t catch on rough concrete the way some molded bases do, and they haven’t cracked in cold weather.

Weather protection and jobsite survivability

This tote is not a waterproof bag, but it’s jobsite-tolerant. The tarpaulin panels wipe clean with a rag; mud and joint compound don’t soak in. The IP54 compartment keeps rain off your phone, and the rest of the bag shrugs at occasional wet contact. In a prolonged downpour, water will eventually find seams, so plan accordingly—a contractor bag over the tote remains the simplest fix.

Stitches are tight and bar-tacked in high-stress spots. The webbing attachment points for the shoulder strap hardware are reinforced properly. The only premature wear I’ve seen is the aforementioned handle overmold and some cosmetic scuffing on the tarpaulin corners, both of which are expected in real use.

Capacity and load management

Interior volume is around 925 cubic inches—not massive, not small. Think electrician/service tech carry: hand tools, meter, consumables, with maybe a small organizer dropped in the center. If you routinely haul cordless tools, fasteners, and PPE in one bag, you’ll want a larger tote or a backpack.

For a balanced loadout, I’ve had good results with:

• Inside: multimeter, clamp accessory, punchdown, crimpers, wire strippers, labeler tape, spare tips.
  
• Outside: pliers set, drivers, torpedo, nut drivers, test lead pouch, and a few zip ties looped to the carabiner.
  

This setup keeps the center of gravity low and makes the tote easy to grab-and-go for diagnostics.

Little usability wins

• The U-shaped zipper pulls really do work with gloves.
  
• The padded bottom softens set-downs on finished floors.
  
• The limited lifetime warranty is reassuring; stitching failures are what I’d expect to be covered.
  
• The back strap for rolling handles is a small addition that solves a real transport problem.

What I’d change

• Beef up the top handle. The comfort is good, but the overmold needs more durability.
  
• Add one or two oversized interior loops for thick-handled insulated tools.
  
• Consider widening the base a touch or adding a stiffer molded bottom to improve in-vehicle stability—even an extra half inch would help.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re the difference between a very good tote and a great one.

Who it’s for

• Electricians, low-voltage, and HVAC service techs who value open access and thoughtful pocketing.
  
• Anyone who needs a mid-size carry that can ride on top of a rolling stack.
  
• Users who work indoors and out, in light weather, and want a protected spot for a phone or wallet.

Who should look elsewhere:

• Trades who need to carry multiple cordless tools with the hand tools.
  
• Users who leave bags loose in a vehicle and demand bombproof anti-tip behavior.
  
• Folks who prefer fully enclosed, weatherproof tool storage.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt tote for service-focused trades who want a durable, well-organized carry with quick access to frequently used tools. The materials and construction are robust, the pocket layout supports a practical hand-tool kit, and the IP54 compartment is genuinely useful for valuables. There are caveats—the top handle overmold could be tougher, and the narrow footprint means you should secure it in a vehicle—but none of these overshadow its day-to-day strengths. If your work favors nimble, open-top organization over sheer volume, this tote earns its spot by the door.