Milwaukee Packout Shockwave 13-Piece Bit Set Review: A Great Box With One Catch

Introduction

The Milwaukee Packout Shockwave bit set is one of those products where the name promises slightly more than the product delivers. Milwaukee calls it a 13-piece set, though that count leaves out the box itself, and despite the Packout branding, the case does not snap into a Packout rail system. Neither detail ruins the product. The bits are impact rated, the included bit holder is genuinely well designed, and the case is one of the nicer small tool boxes you will find bundled with hardware.

Who This Product Is For

This set makes the most sense for anyone who already runs impact drivers and wants a compact, durable place to keep a curated selection of Shockwave bits. If you like the modular storage ecosystem but want exposed-bit storage in open organizers instead, other options cover that use case well. This set is more of a self-contained kit: open the lid, grab what you need, close it up.

What You Get in the Box

The “13 pieces” refers to the contents, not the case, so functionally you are getting a 14-piece package. Inside is a nice short bit holder plus a full spread of impact-rated Shockwave bits. The case itself is a big, solid hinged box with a see-through lid, and Milwaukee has clearly put real engineering into the interior: there are pop-out rails with one-deep and two-deep sections, giving you flexibility in how you arrange things.

One note on the fine print: the bit holder is made in Taiwan, the driver bits are made in China and Vietnam, and the case origin is not stated. That is fairly typical for this product category, but worth knowing if country of manufacture matters to you.

The Low-Profile Bit Holder Is the Star

The included bit holder is on the short side, and that is a feature. Compared with standard-length holders, the low profile makes a real difference in tight spaces and keeps the driver feeling nimble. If you have ever favored a very short, strongly magnetic holder, this one will feel immediately familiar.

The Collar: Handy, But Not Always Necessary

This holder also has a collar that secures the screw to the bit. That means you can slide the bit out with the screw attached, position it, and the screw will not go flying off mid-task. It is genuinely useful for overhead work or awkward angles where you only have one free hand.

That said, the collar is not for everyone. For many everyday tasks, a plain strong magnet in a short holder is all you want, and some riders of the bit-holder world prefer the simplicity of nothing but magnetism. Whether the collar is a plus or a minor annoyance depends entirely on how you work.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The biggest gotcha is right in the name. This box is called Packout, but it is not Packout compatible in the functional sense: it does not snap onto the rails or slide into a stack. If mounting into your Packout wall or rolling stack is the reason you are looking at this set, plan accordingly.

The good news is that the fix is simple. Small aftermarket adapters exist with a male end that drops into the Packout system, and the case has enough internal space along its back edge to bolt one on. Line up the adapter, drill pilot holes, add a couple of screws with washers, and the case slides onto a Packout stack like it was always meant to. It is a five-minute job with a drill, a screwdriver, and a pair of pliers to hold the nut side.

Buying Advice

If you want a compact, impact-rated bit set in a genuinely well-made hinged case, this is easy to recommend. The short magnetic holder with the optional collar is the standout piece, and the see-through lid means you can identify contents at a glance. Just go in knowing the Packout compatibility is in name only, and budget a few minutes for an aftermarket adapter if rail mounting matters to you.

Conclusion

The Milwaukee Packout Shockwave bit set earns its place in a toolbox on the strength of its bits and its low-profile holder, not its packaging cleverness. The case is sturdy and thoughtfully organized, the collar adds real utility for fiddly fastening jobs, and a simple adapter turns the false Packout promise into a true one. Buy it for what is inside the box; just do not expect the box to click into your stack out of the package.