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When you think of Milwaukee’s Packout storage system, you likely think of the modular tool boxes that are all the rage. The popularity is easy to understand, as the stackable designs are extremely useful for professionals on the move. After reviewing some of the boxes, I can even see how they fit into the world of a mobile mechanic. The name is branded on much more than just mobile tool boxes, though. Today, we’re focusing on the wall plates.
The Milwaukee Packout wall plates are basically Milwaukee’s version of a slat wall. It features the same, unique anchoring system found on the Packout boxes. The connection offers a sturdy, positive lock on whatever’s inserted. With a variety of accessories and different anchor plates available, it’s a fully customizable system that can easily find a home in any collection where Packout boxes are used.
I recently had the chance to see what the Milwaukee Packout wall plates and accessories are all about. Just like with the boxes, I can see the appeal to the mobile pro. However, I don’t see this system taking the place of slat walls and pegboards in shops whose owners tend to stay put.
Bottom Line
| Milwaukee Packout Wall Plates | |
|---|---|
| Quality | 9/10 |
| Value | 5/10 |
| Ease of Installation | 8/10 |
| Versatility | 7/10 |
| Overall | 7.25/10 |
The Rundown on Milwaukee Packout Wall Plates
The Milwaukee Packout Wall plate system is a modular setup that makes use of the same anchoring slots found on the Packout tool boxes. It’s even possible to mount some of the boxes on the wall plate. That allows them to serve as something of a dual-purpose storage system. While giving your things a home when they’re not in use is great, these wall plates can also be paired with accessories similar to what’s found on any pegboard or slat wall.
The Wall plates are available in large, regular, and compact sizes. The large has a total of 18 slots to work with, the medium has 12, and the small has six. They have a variety of weight capacities and are all constructed with impact-resistant polymers and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. As for pricing, the large lists for $39.98, the medium for $29.97, and the small for $19.98.
Setting Up Shop
For this test, I installed a total of six large Milwaukee Packout wall plates along the wall of my garage. Since this is kind of a quick and dirty test, I just installed them over a wall of bare studs. However, I would suggest adding a layer of plywood to anchor these particular plates to if you’re in a similar situation. That or just buy the version that uses metal mounting tracks rather than screw holes.
Part of the reason is that, while there are some anchor bolts are spaced for 16-inch on center studs, it’s only the case for one large plate. And for just four of the 15 holes. Most of the holes are spaced out pretty randomly. And when you stack them together, the 16-inch spacing is not shared to the same four holes on the next plate. This is a bit of a weird problem. They’re designed to stack side-by-side, with the quick-alignment tabs helping to do so. Still, it’s nothing a simply piece of plywood wouldn’t fix.
Once the wall anchors were mounted, it was time to add some accessories. I placed the system over my rolling tool chests that double as work benches. Some large bins, hook racks, battery mounts for M12 and M18 batteries and power tool stations really help elevate this area as a work station. I also mounted some small Packout boxes and Shockwave sockets just because I could. I’ll soon replace them with accessories that actually make sense to have here, like a paper towel holder. The customizability of these wall plates is awesome. Still, I can’tt help but feel like it’s a bit overkill for someone like me. That said, I do see exactly who benefits most from this setup.
The heart of the Packout line is the unique anchoring system used. The boxes and accessories slide into the special slots, with many of them using some sort of mechanism to keep them positively locked in place. The added security makes perfect sense in a trailer or van where things tend to get jostled around. If you’re using the Packout wall plates in a setting like that, it’s great to also have these in the primary shop to keep storage systems cohesive.
The Verdict on Milwaukee Packout Wall Plates
At the end of the day, the Milwaukee Packout wall plates are designed to serve a particular segment of the market. It’s really here to help existing Packout owners make the most of their collection. I think it clearly excels within that space. For the most part, it’s a pretty solid design, with the exception of the awkward anchoring hole spacing on the boards I was sent. That said, this version of the board is still a solid choice if you’re anchoring to some sort of masonry or other flat, hard surface.
The Packout wall plates definitely are not for everyone, though. As great as the Milwaukee Packout line is, it’s a specific tool to get a specific job done. While the customizability and versatility are hard to deny, it’s simply overkill for the stationary worker. It’s more sensible to put up a regular slat wall or pegboard for folks who stay put for most projects. That’s a given though, as the use-case is right there in the name.
