Buying a new Milwaukee tool is the easy part. Knowing which ones will genuinely make your day smoother — and which ones will end up living at the bottom of a box — is where most people get stuck.

If you’re building out your kit for linework, the best approach is to think less like a shopper and more like someone solving problems: What slows you down? What gets lost? What do you use every single day? Once you answer those, the “right” purchases become obvious.

This blog walks through what to buy first from Tallman’s Milwaukee Lineman Tools category, in the order most linemen find genuinely useful.

Start by organising your lineman tools

It’s not glamorous, but it’s true — organisation is often the biggest upgrade you can make.

If you’ve ever had a job grind to a halt because a small part has vanished, or you’ve had to empty half a toolbox just to find the one thing you need, you already know why. Milwaukee PACKOUT gives you a modular system where you can separate essentials, keep small parts secure, and build a setup that works for the bucket, the ground, and the truck.

You don’t need to buy an entire stack on day one either. A lot of crews start simple: one solid base for the truck, an organiser for small parts, and a compact toolbox for the kit you grab constantly. Then you expand as you work out what you actually need.

Lock in the daily hand tools you reach for

Cordless tools get a lot of attention, but your day-to-day efficiency is still built on hand tools — the things you pick up dozens of times a shift.

This is where your money is safest, because you’ll use these constantly. Think about the basics that live in your hands all day: gripping, cutting, pulling, adjusting, tightening. If you’re upgrading, it makes sense to prioritise the tools that take the most abuse and the ones you rely on most.

A sensible “buy first” shortlist usually looks like:

• A dependable pair of lineman’s pliers (your workhorse)
• A hammer you trust for daily use
• A knife that can handle real jobsite wear
• Insulated options where your work calls for them

The important part isn’t buying everything. It’s buying the small group of tools you’ll genuinely use every day — and choosing versions that won’t let you down when conditions are rough.

Add cordless tools that remove bottlenecks (not just “nice-to-haves”)

This is where a lot of people overspend: they jump straight to cordless and buy whatever looks impressive, rather than what actually saves time.

A better way to do it is to pick one cordless upgrade that targets a task you do repeatedly — the job that makes you think, “There has to be a faster way.” For some crews, that’s cable prep. For others, it’s fastening, drilling, or repeat installs. The point is to buy the tool that reduces fatigue and speeds up the work you’re already doing.

Once you’ve got that first cordless tool in your kit, the next priority is making sure you can keep it running: batteries, charging, and storage so you’re not digging around or waiting on power.

Specialist tools are where productivity starts to climb

Once your kit is organised and your daily tools are sorted, you’ll start noticing exactly where your time disappears — and that’s the moment specialist tools become worth it.

For many linemen, that’s where tools like crimpers, cutters, and other productivity-focused gear start making sense. These are usually bigger investments, but they can pay off quickly if they match your day-to-day workload.

The key is timing: specialist tools are most valuable when you already know your workflow and you’re upgrading something you do a lot, not buying “just in case”.

Don’t forget about lighting

Lighting tends to be an afterthought until you’re working in poor visibility and then it suddenly becomes the most important thing you own.

A reliable headlamp or a portable work light can make inspections easier, reduce mistakes, and help jobs move forward when the conditions aren’t ideal. If you’re already building a PACKOUT setup, it’s worth considering lighting that fits neatly into your system so it’s always there when you need it.

Shop Milwaukee Lineman Tools at Tallman

If you’re ready to build out your kit, browse the full range here: Milwaukee Lineman Tools.

And if you’re starting with organisation first (highly recommended), go straight to: Milwaukee PACKOUT.