I’d like to begin by saying that historically, I did not wear a tool vest. Through the majority of my career, I have worn an Occidental Tool Belts framing rig or, more recently, a set of Diamondback bags for my work. Throughout the summers, these belts would sit snug around my waist and in the late fall and winters of the Northeast, I would add suspenders to accommodate multiple layers of clothing in cold conditions.
When I was asked to put on the new Diamondback Toolbelts 701 vest and give it an honest, and hopefully thorough, assessment, I jumped at the opportunity to try something new, though I admit to my lack of reference points to other vests on the market, from the Snicker’s to Blaklader offerings.
My hope is to give vest wearers an insight into the specifics of how this vest adjusts, what features it has, and the versatility it offers as an alternative to a vest they may be wearing. This review is also directed at the belt-wearing community, some of whom may have never considered a vest option [Editor’s Note: You’re talking to me.] or have a preconceived negative opinion of the vest as a tool carrier.
The first thing that struck me when I started putting the vest on was the number of adjustment points to work with. It took me a good amount of time to fit the unit to my frame. This was not a source of frustration, but rather it led me to appreciate the nuances of the product’s design. As I fiddled around with the straps and closures, it became clear that this vest is designed to fit many different body types and sizes.
The vest itself is made almost entirely of a very tough mesh that "breathes," and it’s so light, it feels as if it isn’t there. At first, I began wearing the vest with no attachments to get used to the feel of having it on before adding weight to it. The idea here is that the vest replaces the belt; you still need pouches but with the 701, the larger surface area of the vest carries the weight rather than the much smaller surface area of a hunk of leather around your waist. I currently possess a number of different Diamondback products to attach to the vest. The Bossman, the Wingman, the GKII, a prototype trimmers’ pouch I have been working with, and my full bag sets, the ***** and ***** (stay tuned …).
What makes the 701 Vest unique is that all of these products, as well as any other package of storage system that Diamondback makes, can be hung on the vest—this is what makes Diamondback different. I’d call it “customizable to the Nth-degree.” My editor would call it “FrankenBelts that are awesome.” The point is, I can use the 701 in trim situations, framing scenarios, and anything in between. As part of my review, I decided to spend some time with each option that made sense to the work I was performing.
Throughout the review process, I have noticed a number of things. For starters, the 701 vest is remarkably cool. The mesh breathes incredibly well and I have yet to feel like it is heating up my body as I work. (That was one of my primary concerns about wearing an extra layer of fabric on my upper body.) Second, the adjustment straps held their position extremely well. This includes changes in weight and the size of bags and storage I was using. From bent-over positions to kneeling to reaching above my head, the fit adjustment stayed true. Finally, I was not just impressed, but actually surprised by how well the weight is distributed. Regardless of what I was packing, from a framing setup to a finish setup, the 701 vest carried and distributed the load to near perfection.
I found myself working more comfortably than I can remember. I can say it was actually refreshing.
There is but one major thing I would suggest for what otherwise is a very well designed and executed product: The shoulder straps that set the height of the vest oriented to your waist could be slightly longer. As a relatively tall man with a long torso, I found my adjustments to be towards the end of its adjustability.
If you are considering moving from belt-wear to vest-wear, the Diamondback Toolbelts 701 vest is a solid option with a vast array of options for bags and accessories for your specific type of work and it—without penalty—takes weight off your waist and redistributes it over your upper body well. It is adjustable to the many body types working in our profession and is a comfortable and cool option. After 20 years in this business, having worn a tool belt the entire time, I may have become a vest man.
The vest costs $210.