If you're a typical home handyman you probably have a well-stocked toolbox that you use for various home-improvement and repair projects. And while a toolbox is great for carrying tools to the work site, it doesn't serve much purpose once the dust starts to fly. The most efficient way to work is to keep essential tools and supplies close at hand, and the best way to do that is with a tool belt.

When most people think of a tool belt they imagine the typical leather carpenter's belt favored by professional contractors. But that's just one of the many tool-toting aprons, belts, pouches, holsters and slings available for active do-it-yourselfers. If you're still using an old cloth nail apron or, worse yet, stuffing tools into your pockets, then it's time to consider a buckle-up tool belt.

You can select from products made from thick cotton, supple leather and hard-wearing DuPont Cordura Nylon. Or you might prefer a cleverly designed tool vest, or a beltless system with interchangeable tool pouches.

Deciding which tool belt to buy depends on several factors including the kind of projects you tackle, the type of tools you use and, of course, how much you're willing to spend.

Popular Mechanics Occidental Leather Tool Belt Model 8080DB

Leather-Nylon Framer's Belt
Flexible leather and resilient Cordura Nylon come together in this pro-quality modular tool belt from Occidental Leather. It's sized for carrying a substantial quantity of fasteners and most of the hand tools you would need for a day's work. Called the OxyLights DB Pro Framer, it has some of the largest pockets found on any of these products hanging from its 3-in.-wide leather belt. The two forest green nylon pouches are divided into six various-size compartments, including two oversize pockets that measure 8 in. deep x 9½ in. wide.

The OxyLights DB Pro Framer is equipped with a tape measure pouch, six outer pockets and six interior pockets, which are great for organizing easy-to-lose tools such as nailsets, screwdrivers and small pliers. Because the belt is large and capable of carrying a substantial load, Occidental makes an accessory Stronghold Suspension System (not shown, Model 5055, about $75). These heavy-duty suspenders clip onto the belt and help distribute the load from your hips to your shoulders, reducing fatigue and lower back strain.

Incidentally, this maybe your belt if you're a stickler for buying products made in the United States. Occidental makes its products here and uses U.S.-made premium-grade leather, nylon and hardware.

Popular Mechanics DeWalt Model D5100 Tool Belt

Tool Belt Set
This DeWalt professional-duty tool belt is made from ballistic nylon, a material so tough it's used in bulletproof vests. Its two oversize bags are divided into compartments. All of the seams are double-stitched and riveted to survive a lifetime of job-site abuse. Plus, each wide-mouthed pouch is heat-formed to maintain its shape. The advantage of this is that you can reach more easily into the pouch and readily locate what you need.

All totaled, this versatile tool belt offers seven large fastener pouches (for nails and screws), 14 narrow tool pockets, a steel-loop hammer holder, and four leather sleeves to hold crowbars, flashlights, hammers, wrenches and combination squares.

The DeWalt is a modular tool belt, meaning its bags aren't permanently attached to the belt. This allows you to slip off a bag and exchange it for another bag or tool-holding accessory. Here, the belt is shown with its Accessory Drill Holster.

Popular Mechanics Sears Craftsman Model 40522 Tool Belt

Oil-Tanned Leather Tool Belt
A leather tool belt usually takes awhile to soften up and lose its stiffness. That's not the case with this Sears Craftsman belt. It's made from oil-tanned leather that's soft and supple the first time you use it. It's an all-leather tool carrier with permanently fixed pouches, which are steel-riveted and double-stitched to the 2-in.-wide leather belt. There are two extra-large, 8-in.-deep tool pouches and two 4-in.-deep fastener pouches.

The belt is also equipped with two steel-loop hammer holders to satisfy both right- and left-handed users, six narrow leather pockets for storing drill bits and pencils, a tape measure pouch that has a snap-down strap, and a steel sheath that accepts a combination square.

Popular Mechanics Occidental Leather Model 2008 Tool Belt

Suspender Tool Carrier
This product from Occidental Leather is not a belt in the conventional sense but a suspender-mounted system of large clip-on pouches.

Made of durable Cordura Nylon, this innovative design allows complete freedom of movement. It enables you to more easily bend or squat without dumping tools and fasteners out of the pouches. Along with the increased mobility comes improved comfort because the system transfers the load from your hips to your shoulders. And it's one of the few tool carriers that can be comfortably worn over a work coat or insulated coveralls.

The system features more than 30 pockets and tool holders. On the right side, you'll find eight tool pockets, two steel-loop hammer holders, a giant 9 x 10-in. fastener pouch, a 6 x 6-in. outer pouch, two narrow leather pockets and a leather sheath for a combination square.

The left side has eight small tool pockets, a 5 x 5-in. fastener pouch, a large leather sheath that will hold a framing square, two narrow leather pockets and a smaller leather sheath for a combination square. The Oxy Tool Chest weighs about 5½ pounds when empty. That's a lot of weight, but there are times when you need a lot of carrying capacity.

Popular Mechanics Bucket Boss Model 83100 Tool Belt

Canvas Apron
The old-fashioned canvas nail apron is a good idea because it's lightweight and perfect for those jobs when you don't have to carry everything including the kitchen sink. The problem with canvas aprons, as anyone who has ever worn one can tell you, is that their drawstrings often wear through and break. The drawstrings also do not do a particularly good job of distributing the weight of nails and a hammer, not to mention other tools. A few years ago, the clever folks at Bucket Boss decided to improve on the canvas nail apron. The result of their efforts produced the Super Waist Apron. This inexpensive lightweight tool tote is sewn from 12-ounce cotton duck, a material that's soft and comfortable, yet tough enough to withstand many years of use.

The apron has eight small inner tool pockets, five large outer fastener pockets and two nylon hammer loops. Its adjustable, 1-in.-wide nylon belt is fitted with a snap-lock, quick-release buckle, so there are no strings to tie.

This 9-in.-wide x 24-in.-long apron is ideal for active homeowners who enjoy tackling small projects around the house, workshop and garden.

BEYOND THE BASIC BELT
Back in 1975, Swedish electrician Matti Viio was frustrated that he couldn't find comfortable work clothes that also were compatible with his need to carry lots of tools. So, he designed his own line of workwear based on the demanding needs of professional tradesmen. Today, his company, Skillers Workwear, offers a broad range of innovative, well-made garment-tool carriers including the Stillers Tool Vest (left), and the Skillers Flexi system on page 3.

Tool Vest
The Skillers Tool Vest is a comfortable, zippered vest made of nylon-reinforced cotton duck (Model 4205-12, about $50). The vest's right side has a large snap-closed upper pocket, two small tool pockets and a 4-in.-deep x 5½-in.-wide fastener pouch. Four more pockets and a fastener pouch can be found on the left side.

Hanging from the bottom of the vest are four large 7 x 7-in. sewn-on pouches, two in the front and two in the back. There are also two Velcro-lined straps for attaching other Skillers accessories, such as a drill holster or nail pouch.

Flexi System
A slightly different take on the tool vest (shown on page 2 is Matti Viio's clever Skillers Flexi System, which consists of more than a dozen different harnesses, vests, pouches and bags that you can mix and match to create a customized tool carrier. Here, the Skillers Yoke (Model 9712, about $30) is shown with the Ergo Belt (Model 9702, about $20). The Yoke has two large pockets, eight narrow pockets and two small fastener pouches. Its four adjustable nylon straps and thickly padded shoulder straps ensure a comfortable, snug fit. The nylon belt is outfitted with a Power Tool Holster (Model 9711, about $16) and a Hammer Holder (Model 9082, about $6).

Contact Skillers Workwear, 299-A Washington St., Woburn, MA 01801; 800-325-8707; www.skillers.com.