Tool designers focus on the performance and ergonomics of the tool. They rarely consider where the tool "lives" when it's not in use. Thus an entire sub-economy of tool holder manufacturers exist, providing the brackets, straps, holsters and specialty hooks where users dock their tools.

For firefighters and rescue personnel, who travel with their kit in a vehicle at high speeds, tool holder specifications are strictly regulated. Never mind that you can't have tools bouncing around in the passenger cabin; imagine a firefighter opening a storage compartment on-site and being greeting by an improperly-secured axe.

Performance Advantage Company, based outside of Buffalo, New York, specializes in the design and manufacture of firefighting tool mounts that meet the National Fire Protection Association's stringent Automotive Fire Apparatus 1901 standards. These standards dictate that tools must be held securely—in some cases, able to withstand 9 G's of force—while ergonomic considerations demand quick-release mounts that can be operated while wearing gloves. Furthermore, though these brackets must be strong, they also need to be lightweight in order to keep the vehicle's overall weight down.

Following are examples of PAC's injection-molded positive-locking tool brackets. ("Positive-locking" means that the fastening mechanism cannot work itself loose through vibration.) All of these feature bright yellow elastomer straps, providing the user with instant identification of what to grab to release the tool. Furthermore they are designed to be fat enough to grab while wearing gloves.

The Toolok 1003, the company's smallest offering, can accommodate handle diameters as narrow as 1/8", going up to a maximum diameter of 1.5".

The Handlelok 1004, the company's bestseller, offers two different mounting points for the strap's pivot and can handle diameters up to 1.75".

The JumboLok 1070 offers four different mounting points and can accommodate diameters up to 3.75".

The CoilLok 1021 is for holding ropes, cords, chains and narrow-diameter hoses.

The Flexmount 1002 is for nozzles.

The taller Stow-N-Lok 1005 is used in pairs to hold pole-handled tools at a distance from the mounting surface.

PAC's line of brackets is also popular with EMS, police and military customers. For the latter two categories, straps are available in a more discreet black color.

If you're interested in the design of these brackets, examples of their applications and the testing procedures for the materials, PAC's video below provides more details.

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