CoolBox Lays Claim as the โWorldโs Smartest Toolboxโ
Co-founders Mike DโAgostini and Christopher Engelo have a lot of people excited about the CoolBox. The Coolbox delivers blends a traditional toolbox with modern technology. It started as an IndieGogo crowdfunding project and now you can buy it online.ย Crowdfunding has created some interesting products in the pastโlike the Oxx CoffeeBoxx and Outlaw Fasteners that we find incredibly innovative. Follow that up with products like the Milwaukee Packout radio, and you see that manufacturers like melding technology with tool storage. Users have to decide where the CoolBox fits in the tool realm. The real question remains: do you really need everything that CoolBox offers on a toolbox?
CoolBox Features
Before we can begin to answer the above question, we need to know what features the CoolBox offers. Hereโs a breakdown:
- 8 ft. extension cord
- Integrated 3-way splitter plug
- Internal 4-hour 11.1V/3 Ah lithium-polymer battery
- Detachable LED lamp
- 3.5mm AUX input
- Dual 20W RMS 8-ohm marine-grade speakers
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 2 USB charging ports
- Wheels
- Tablet/phone stands
- LCD clock
- Bottle opener
- Dual-sided whiteboard
Coolbox Tool Box Connectivity
First of all, the retractable 8-foot cord is a big win. Itโs long enough to actually use, yet retracts for easier transport. I also like the trio of three-prong outlets. Not everything charges via a USB port (yet), so itโs nice to know that I can set up a charger or three for my power tool batteries.ย The integrated 3Ah lithium-polymer battery should run any of the individual components for close to a full workday.
The Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to get your tunes started. A couple of 20W 8-ohm speaker give you marine-grade durability. That means it can get wet. Thereโs also an auxiliary port for non-Bluetooth devices. The twin USB charging ports round off what I like at first glance.
What Weโre Not So Sure About
Iโm withholding judgment before I say that thereโs anything I flat out donโt like. I do have some doubts about a few things though. Iโd prefer it if that 20V battery were removable. Sooner or later, it will need to be replaced and Iโd rather not have to send the entire unit in to have it done. Thereโs no specific mention of how you access it, so it may be that itโs an easy process that can be done yourself. We just donโt know yet.
LED lighting on a tool box? A couple for seeing insideโabsolutely. Outside? It will remain to be seen if they are effective enough to replace the lights weโre already using like Ryobiโs Hybrid LED Work Light that I could just as easily run off of one of the power supplies.
The dimensions of the box are smaller than what Iโd prefer to see. You can fit a six-pack of cans inside, but not bottles. Itโs smaller than the dated Milwaukee 26โณ Work Boxย and Iโm still holding out hope that toolboxes will start being made large enough to fit general contractorโs tools like your best impact driver.
What I Could Probably Do Without
Honestly, there are just some things I donโt think I need (but who knows, maybe once I see it Iโll change my mind!). This just boils down to the wheels, whiteboard, and tablet/phone stands. With dimensions like these and a 65-pound capacity, Iโll just go ahead and carry the CoolBox, thank you very much. I do use a whiteboard frequently, but I need it to be bigger. The phone and tablet thingโฆ itโs nice, but I donโt need it. Thatโs not to say that there arenโt people that could. Itโs just not for me.
But It Could Be Really Coolโฆ
Yes, the CoolBox may be extremely cool. Itโs got a lot of features built into it that you wonโt normally find on a toolbox, thereโs no doubt about that. When people see the $129.99 price tag, they may find it competes well with a combination of a Milwaukee Work Box ($40) and Milwaukee M18 Charging Radio with Bluetooth ($229).
Before you think Iโm totally against the CoolBox, let me remind you of a couple of points. First, this is based on only what the makers of the CoolBox are telling us online. Second, more than 1350 people have been a part of the fundraising effort to get the manufacturing process started. Thatโsย reallyย good for a crowdfunding effort. This thing has a lot of features. Whether itโs going to be a $10 Gerber multi-tool on clearance or as popular as the Leatherman Wave, we canโt know until they start showing up.
What do you think? Tell us what your first impression is of the CoolBox!
