As a gardening editor, flower grower and occasional floral designer, using regular pockets for my tools just doesn't cut it. I need to have easy and instantaneous access to my snips, pruners and trowel without feeling weighed down or worried I'm about to cause myself an injury.
Ok, so here is the honest truth. I have tried several belts in the past to keep my gardening tools in check, and always found them clumsy and cumbersome. But it's not just that. I love fashion and timeless style, and even when I'm out in the garden or teaching a floristry workshop, I want to look good. Tool belts, in general, are not made for their aesthetic value.
I'm unashamed to admit I ordered the Tourbon leather tool belt from Amazon not because I thought it would solve all my problems, but because all the incredible flower farmers I follow on Instagram have one, and they look fantastic. I wanted to try this look on. But this belt has taken me by surprise. It is genuinely brilliant, and with 20% off now in the Black Friday sale, here's why I think it is worth every cent.
My issues with gardening tool belts
Why didn't I have high hopes for the Tourbon belt? I've been gardening and working as a florist for over a decade, and in my experience, tool belts have an annoying tendency to flap around, get in the way of what I'm doing, or twist to the back, making them much more a hindrance than a help when it comes to keeping my tools easily to hand.
I've also had little success using an apron with pockets, because heavier gardening tools can fall out of them easily, the ties come undone, and I have often accidentally snipped the fabric with the tips of my scissors, leaving them looking worn and untidy.
I'd become resigned to keeping my tools at my feet and was actually looking at investing in a standard toolbox, just like this one from Amazon, to help carry my kit with me from plant to plant instead. This belt, however, has changed my mind entirely.
What's great about the Tourbon tool belt?
My immediate reaction when I opened the Tourbon gardening tool belt was that it feels like quality in your hands. I was so impressed by the substantial leather material, gold hardware and precise stitching - it looks premium, and I love this.
It also felt soft and lightweight, so I wasn't concerned it would make me feel weighed down when I tried it on. I was right. In terms of comfort, it passed with flying colors. The adjustable belt meant it fastened exactly where I needed it to, and the holster sat snugly on my hip.
In terms of tool storage, it has three main pockets, with space to hold four key tools, as well as a hook for keys. I tried it with a trowel, a pair of floristry scissors, some standard snips and my Niwaki pruning shears, almost identical to these Japanese pruning shears from Amazon. Each tool fit snugly, didn't move about, and also didn't seem to add any weight to the belt - the support it gave was astounding.
Since it arrived several weeks ago, I've worn this gardening tool belt many times in the backyard and for lots of different tasks. One of the biggest things I love about it is that it genuinely doesn't move. The leather material and curved shape of the holster is designed to stay in one place, and it really does. It isn't tight on me, but it sits on my hip and you almost don't feel it once it's on.
It genuinely made a day pruning hedges easy and I experienced a lot less strain on my back from the usual bending and reaching. Another plus is it's absolutely unisex. My husband was keen to try it on, and it worked just as well on him in terms of the fit.
What are the drawbacks?
The only slight snag for me is if I wanted it to sit on my waist, I'd have to get some more holes punched in the belt. For now, it sits comfortably on my hips, and means I could also wear it over a bulky jumper or coat without issue.
One Amazon review mentioned a canvas insert would have been handy in the larger pocket to prevent sharp shears from snipping any of the stitching, but this isn't something I've found to be an issue for far.
I adore the overall look and feel of this gardening tool belt, and from the reviews it appears a lot of other people agree with me, citing not just the premium quality but also the fantastic style of this belt. Even though I can't verify it yet, I feel like this belt will last me many years and will wear beautifully.
In our H&G gardening team, we have decades of hands-on, professional experience, and often recommend the best tools on the market - including these essential pruning tools, which will come in handy over the winter.
