Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack Fits a Minimalist Work Life
There are plenty of tool backpacks to choose from and I’m more of a minimalist kinda guy. I like multi-bit drivers, multi-purpose pliers, and anything else that helps me reduce the number of tools I have to carry. Since I’m constantly on the go, it makes for a lighter way to work and the Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack fits my work philosophy beautifully.
Pros
- Compact design makes travel easy
- Comfortable straps and fit
- Good balance of pocket sizes
- Tough build
- Extra strap lets you attach to a dolly, rolling Packout organizer, or carryon roller
Cons
- Some Pros might want a completely separate zippered tech pocket
- Doesn’t have a waterproof base
Recommendation
If you’re the kind of guy that likes to keeps things minimal and still get the job done, the Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack is a great way to keep your go-to tools close at hand and ready to go. It’s great for Pros that travel and want a go bag that’s always ready and won’t weigh you down. As a bonus, it’s an awesome intervention tool to teach the new guy he doesn’t actually need to carry every tool known to man.
Organization Without Going Overboard
Interior
The big deal with this backpack is that it’s not big. There are some tool backpacks out there that you can use in a World’s Strongest Man competition by the time you load it all up. The Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack caters to those of us that prefer a more back-friendly approach.
There’s a total of 18 internal pockets. It has a good mix of small pockets for space-saving multi-bit drivers and medium pockets for larger hand tools and meters.
On the inside front flap, you get a puncture-resistant zippered pocket. On the opposite side, there’s a padded sleeve for a small laptop or tablet. We normally see that in a separate pouch on its own, but Milwaukee puts it all in a single compartment to keep it, well, more low-profile.
There enough room left in the bottom to bring along a drill or light, maybe even an M12 drill/impact combo.
Exterior
The exterior of the backpack has another 4 pockets and a tape measure clip. A pocket on either side works for carrying water bottles or clipping your favorite meter onto. A top entry sleeve works well for documents and a side entry zippered pocket is a great place to stash your phone and wallet—just keep it close by!
While the backpack itself is fairly small, MOLLE-style straps give you the ability to clip a hard, other tool bags, or whatever else suits your fancy. Just grab a small carabiner or some bead chain and go to town.
Build
The Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack primarily uses 1680D ballistic nylon for its material. That’s nothing new. It’s a tough material that we’ve seen since their first tool backpack and many other manufacturers go with the same material. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
The zippers are all solid and the base gets some reinforcement. It’s not a full plastic waterproof base like some others, but it does offer some additional support and has a couple of tough strips that help reduce the risk of wear.
The straps offer a pretty comfortable fit with padding and a chest strap that keeps it from shifting around on you. In combination with the harness, they keep the weight balanced well. With a backpack this size, there’s no real need for hip straps—it would be overkill if Milwaukee included them.
That chest strap and another one hiding underneath the shoulder straps let you strap it to a dolly, your rolling Packout box, or (in my case) my rolling carryon bag during travel days.
Price
The Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack has a retail price of $89 and we’re seeing for $79 pretty frequently. That’s right on par with prices we’re seeing on similar sized backpacks from other manufacturers and quite a bit lower than what you’ll pay for a Veto Pro Pac.
The Bottom Line
If you’re the kind of guy that likes to keeps things minimal and still get the job done, the Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack is a great way to keep your go-to tools close at hand and ready to go. It’s great for Pros that travel and want a go bag that’s always ready and won’t weigh you down. As a bonus, it’s an awesome intervention tool to teach the new guy he doesn’t actually need to carry every tool known to man.
Milwaukee Low-Profile Backpack Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 48-22-8202
- Width: 11.80″
- Height: 19.6″
- Length: 7.87″
- Weight: 5.11 lbs
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
- Price: $89
