Skillers Tool Vest
By Dan Kitchen
This Skillers tool vest looks like a cross between a cameraman’s vest and a tool belt. A Swedish electrician designed it because he couldn’t find any practical workwear solutions, and he ended up founding one of the top workwear companies in Europe.
The vest design spreads the weight of the numerous pockets over your shoulders, instead of it all riding on your hips. A mesh back keeps you cool up in that hot attic, or you can buy a zipper insert to expand the vest around a jacket when you’re in that unheated construction site.
The larger lower pockets can swing loose so you won’t be spilling hardware everywhere when you bend over. And you color-coordinating craftsmen can choose from a variety of fabric blends and colors.
With a street price of $55, the vest is comparable in price to a tool belt. But you might have to wear it with some carpenter’s pants, because I don’t see any evidence that this thing has a hammer loop. If any of you has one or if you’ve seen it in action, please let us know in comments if there really is such a glaring omission.
Work Vest [Skillers]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Don’t know to many vest wearers. I think they may be to hot for warmer climates.(Florida)
I do know that Skillers “holster” pocket pants have a following. They seem well made.
If I was going for an alternative to a tool belt, I think I would try Occidentals belt free system.
http://www.bestbelt.com/product/belt-free/index.html
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Well, it was invented by an electrician. Most electricians don’t carry hammers around as a standard tool.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I’m a Satellite guy I use a Fly Fishing vest as my tool belt and it Work real good. Its got more then enough pockets for different types of connectors, screw drivers, cable crimpter, satellite meter and everything I need.
A lot more comfortable then tool belts and they only cost $10.00 at K-Mart.
Tool belt was hurting my lower back and spilling connectors when I sit on the roof.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
It looks like the back would cover “Plumbers Crack” also.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Duluth Trading Company sells a very similiar vest. It has pouches that you buy separate that attach to the side of vest behind the front pockets and one of the attachements you can purchase is a hammer loop. I own one and really like the vest over a tool belt. I believe it sells under the DTPro line on their website or just search for vest.
January 24th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I had an electrician ask me to pass him “the ‘lectician’s hammer” on a recent job. He meant his pliers…
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 am
I’m a Finish carpenter in Las Vegas, and the Skillers vests are very highly used out here among other finish carpenters. Skillers does sell an after market hammer loop accessory. I personally perfer the vest over A toolbelt.