Black & Decker Tool Bag, 16-Inch

A good tool bag earns its keep by making tools easy to find, easy to carry, and protected from the jobsite. In the 16-inch bag from Black & Decker, the priorities are clear: quick access, lots of pockets, and a base you don’t have to baby around wet floors. It’s a straightforward, no-gimmicks soft bag that aims to be a versatile grab-and-go organizer for hand tools, small power tools, and accessories.

Design and layout

This bag is built around a wide, stay-open mouth with a double-pull zipper and long pulls. That combination matters more than marketing copy suggests. A zipper that runs smoothly from either direction and a mouth that stays open means fewer fights with fabric when you’re reaching for pliers or a driver set. The hi-vis orange interior paneling is another practical choice; small black sockets or a hex key don’t disappear into a dark cavity, and you spot loose fasteners quickly before closing up.

Organization is a strong point. There are 24 total pockets and slots, with a breakdown that includes:
- 6 interior belt loops and 3 interior pockets for core tools
- 10 exterior pockets and 6 more exterior belt loops for quick-grab items
- 2 customizable dividers to help tailor the main compartment

The dividers are useful for creating a lane for a compact power tool (a drill/driver, oscillating tool, or a small circular saw) while fencing off hand tools or a charger. The exterior includes a dedicated cell phone pocket; it’s a welcome touch, but large modern phones with rugged cases can be a tight fit, so it’s best treated as a small-accessory pocket if your phone is oversized.

Materials and protection

The body is 600-denier fabric—durable enough for daily use and light jobsite abrasion without pushing into heavyweight, stiff territory. It’s water-resistant fabric, not waterproof, and the seams aren’t sealed, so think splash protection rather than rainstorm insurance. The rigid plastic bottom is the hero for protection: it keeps the bag upright, adds shape, and most importantly, isolates contents from damp ground, truck beds with condensation, or the occasional spill. If you work in finished spaces, it also keeps screw tips from printing through the bottom and scratching floors.

The handle system feels purposely overbuilt for the size class. Reinforced handle straps with a padded wrap reduce hand fatigue, and there’s a steel carry handle that adds rigidity across the opening and contributes to the bag’s stay-open behavior. An adjustable shoulder strap rounds out the carry options; for short walks between the truck and the work area, shoulder carry frees up hands for a ladder or case.

At roughly 3.0 lb empty, it’s not the lightest 16-inch bag you can buy, but weight here pays for structure: the steel handle and rigid base add ounces that translate into a bag that doesn’t collapse into a puddle when partially loaded.

Access and usability

The day-to-day value of a bag like this lives in how quickly you can get in, out, and move on. The long zipper pulls are easy to grab with gloves, and the wide mouth avoids the “tunnel” effect that narrower openings create. The combination of interior loops and pockets strikes a good balance—enough places to put the usual suspects (drivers, pliers, snips, a small square, utility knife, electrical tape, stud finder) without overcompartmentalizing to the point that you’re hunting for where you parked your linesman pliers.

Outside pockets are sized appropriately for tape measures, a small bottle of lubricant, a chalk line, or boxes of screws/anchors. The belt loops—inside and out—are handy for hanging electrical tape or a thin pry bar. I also appreciate having pockets that don’t swallow fasteners; shallow exterior pockets let you toss in a handful of wire nuts or screws and actually retrieve them again without digging.

Capacity and what fits

“16-inch” bags are a sweet spot for carry-all utility without getting unwieldy. This one’s main compartment comfortably supports a compact power tool plus a small kit of hand tools and consumables. If you run a compact 6-1/2-inch circular saw, multi-tool, or drill/driver with a charger and two batteries, the customizable dividers help keep everything separated so blades, cords, and hand tools don’t mingle into a mess. The rigid base also helps prevent a blade guard or shoe from poking through the bottom over time.

The published dimensions list a height of 18.9 in, length of 10.8 in, and width of 4.1 in—which reads oddly compared to the 16-inch class designation and typical proportions. In practice, that “16-inch” label refers to the bag’s mouth/opening length class rather than the exterior footprint. The real takeaway is that it’s sized for truck cabs, shelves, and jobsite carts without hogging space, with enough interior volume to handle a personal kit plus one compact power tool.

Comfort and carry

Three carry modes—padded wrap handles, a steel top handle, and an adjustable shoulder strap—cover most scenarios. The padded wrap is the most comfortable for loads under about 20 lb. The shoulder strap earns its keep when you’re juggling additional cases or walk distances between the vehicle and the work. Hardware and stitching at stress points appear reinforced; that’s especially important where shoulder strap anchors meet the bag body.

If you’re hauling heavier steel hand tools or dense assortments (socket sets, impact sockets, pipe wrenches), you’ll hit the comfort ceiling sooner than with a framed rigger’s bag or a molded toolbox. For mixed loads and general tasks, the comfort profile is right where it should be.

Durability notes

• Fabric: 600D is a pragmatic choice—tough but pliable. It resists scuffs and small abrasions, but avoid dragging it across rough concrete with heavy loads.
• Bottom: The rigid plastic base is the durability differentiator. It resists water wicking, road grime, and puncture risks better than fabric-only bases.
• Zippers: The double-pull setup with long pulls tends to last longer because you’re not forcing one direction every time. As with any soft bag, avoid overstuffing so the zipper tracks stay aligned.
• Stitching: Reinforcements at handle straps and pocket edges matter; based on the design, stress distribution looks sensible for the bag’s intended loadout.

Where it excels

• General maintenance and repair kits (HVAC filters, thermostat tools, small meters, bits, anchors)
• Homeowner/DIY grab-and-go setup with a compact saw or drill/driver plus hand tools
• Secondary bag for pros—keep it as a dedicated electrical, plumbing fixture, or finish-carpentry kit
• Trades that encounter wet floors or outdoor work early in the day (the base helps keep contents dry)

Where it falls short

• Weatherproofing: It’s water-resistant, not weatherproof; rain exposure requires an added cover or quick shelter.
• Hard protection: It’s not a hard case. Fragile meters or laser levels still need padded cases inside.
• Oversized tools: Full-size circular saws, 1/2-inch impact wrenches with long anvils, or long pry bars will challenge the interior height/length despite the wide mouth.
• Phone pocket sizing: Larger phones in bulky cases may not fit the exterior phone pocket comfortably.

Practical tips for setup

• Use the customizable dividers to fence off a compact power tool from hand tools. Keep the blade/shoe or chuck away from hand tool pockets to avoid wear.
• Reserve exterior pockets for frequently used items and fasteners—things you want without unzipping.
• Hang tape rolls and a small pry bar on the belt loops; it keeps interior pockets free and speeds access.
• Add a small zip pouch for loose consumables (wire nuts, screws) to drop into an outer pocket—easy in, easy out, and less spill risk.

The bottom line

The 16-inch bag focuses on practical access and sensible protection. The wide, stay-open mouth, hi-vis interior, and a genuinely useful pocket layout make it easy to work out of, not just to carry. The rigid plastic base is a standout feature in this size class, keeping contents off wet ground and stiffening the bag so it holds shape when partially loaded. While it’s not built to be a rainproof vault or a rigid box for delicate instruments, it hits the mark for a daily carry of hand tools and a compact power tool.

Recommendation: I recommend this bag for homeowners, DIYers, and pros who want a well-organized, mid-size soft bag with a protective base. It’s especially well suited as a dedicated kit or a secondary bag—electrical, finish, or general repairs—and has the capacity and structure to house a compact saw or drill/driver alongside hand tools. If you need full waterproofing, rigid-case protection, or capacity for oversized tools, look to a framed bag or hard box instead. For most mixed-tool setups, this strikes a smart balance of access, organization, and protection at a manageable size and weight.