The Veto Cargo Tote is basically a souped-up industrial-grade beach bag. The inside is one giant compartment, so while it’s unlikely you’ll use it to lug your wrenches, pliers, and nail sets, it’s ideal for larger, bulkier items.
The bottom of the tote is a durable polypropylene shell. This not only protects the bag and its contents, but the hard rectangular shape holds the walls of the bag stiff and upright. The walls won’t cave inward while you’re loading and unloading; there’s never any awkward grasping for the handles.
The walls of the bag are made of 1800 denier fabric. Denier is a measurement of the weight of the fiber used in the fabric; the higher the number, the more rugged the fabric. In my experience, 1800 denier fabric is nearly impossible to cut, rip, scuff, or wear in any way.
What these formidable bags can hold is entirely up to you. For me, the totes are perfect for the gear I need that’s too big and bulky for my regular Veto Pro Pack. This includes extension cords, duct tape, caulking guns, framing square, 2-foot level, worm drive, clamps, work lights, and a framing gun. Items like these usually end up on their own, bouncing around the back of the truck in a disorganized fashion. They’re also the tools that create multiple awkward trips from the truck to the work area.
Another carpenter who saw the Veto Cargo Totes told me he would ditch his tool cases and use the totes to carry his cordless setup, saying the bag was perfect for a recip saw. I could also see it being good for tiling gear, plumbing equipment, or drywall tools—anything where containing the cargo is more important than keeping it organized.
The totes are available in two sizes; the CT-LC goes for $85 and the larger CT-XL runs $100. At first glance the pricing may seem high, but considering the bags’ usefulness and probable longevity, it makes sense. For something that you’re going to use every day that will likely last well past a decade, $100 is a sound investment. Besides, there are plenty of high-quality lineman’s bags in a similar price range.
Doug Mahoney is a carpenter in Harvard, Mass., and a regular contributor to Tools of the Trade, where this review originally appeared.
