Best Fluke 179 Accessories: 4 Straps and Cases Compared

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Fluke 179 accessories cover a wide field, but this guide focuses on the ones a listing can verify against your meter: a magnetic hanging strap and three carrying cases that name the 179 in their titles. You will see how each handles protection, storage, carrying and fit, and where a listing’s compatibility field disagrees with its title. Test leads, probes and clips are separate purchases and are covered in linked guides. Use this guide to decide whether you need a strap, a hard case or a soft one, and what to confirm before buying. All specs come from the product listings.

Quick answer

A strap and a case do different jobs, and you may want both. For hands-free use on a job site, the first pick is a magnetic hanging strap that sticks to metal surfaces or hangs from hooks, rails or nails. For carrying, the second is a travel case at 8.48 ounces with a mesh pocket and removable foam, but its compatibility field leaves out the 179 even though its title includes it. The third is a hard case with a shoulder strap, three compartments and a 2 Year warranty. The fourth is a soft EVA case at 262 g with a zipped pocket, a mesh pocket and a carrying handle, and it is not water resistant. Check the compatibility lists below before ordering.

What matters when you shop for Fluke 179 accessories

Accessories do not carry the meter’s measuring specs, so the decision criteria differ from a meter guide. Five questions settle it.

Does the listing really name the 179? All four titles include 179, but the fields below the title do not always agree. One listing’s compatibility field omits it. Another lists it only in the title and bullets. Treat a name in both places as stronger evidence than a name in one.

Strap or case? A magnetic strap helps while you work, since the listing says it keeps the meter visible and cuts the need to hold it. A case helps while you carry and store. Neither replaces the other.

How much protection? Look at the shell. The third lists a Hard shell, while the fourth has a title that says hard and a spec field that says Soft. Water resistance varies too: one case is listed as Water Resistant, one as Not Water Resistant, and the others do not state a level.

Where do leads and spares go? Three cases list a mesh pocket. Two list a strap in the middle that holds the meter in place. Count the compartments: the third lists 3, the fourth lists 2.

How will you carry it? One lists a carrying handle and a double-zipper closure, one a shoulder strap with a cross-body style, and one a carrying handle with zippers.

How to choose by situation

Electrician or HVAC tech working on site. Start with the first pick if you often need both hands free. Add a case from the list for travel. The strap listing names electricians, HVAC techs and field engineers as its audience.

Home workshop and storage. A case matters more than a strap. The second lists a pocket for batteries and manuals, and the third lists a pocket for batteries, leads and a thermo probe. The fourth lists a zipped pocket with room for multiple accessories.

Travel between jobs. Check size and weight. The second weighs 8.48 ounces and measures 8.7 x 5.2 x 3.2 inches. The fourth measures 9.4″L x 6.1″W x 9.4″H and weighs 262 g. The third weighs 0.28 kg and has a shoulder strap.

None of the four is a test lead, probe or clip, and none lists a CAT rating, so none changes where your meter can safely be used. That decision stays with the meter’s own manual and rating.

The four picks in detail

First pick: magnetic hanging strap

The listing describes a magnet hanger kit for a long list of Fluke multimeters, including the 179. A built-in strong magnet sticks to metal surfaces, and a reinforced strap lets you hang the meter on hooks, rails or nails. The package holds one meter magnet loop strap. It installs without tools, according to the listing, and it is described as compact enough to store in a tool bag.

The listing’s claims about safety and efficiency are the seller’s, so judge them against your own work area. Limits: no weight, no dimensions and no magnet strength are stated, and the listing does not say whether the loop fits over a protective boot or holster. Its last bullet is advertising for other lead kits and says nothing about this strap. Skip it if you want protection while carrying the meter, because a strap does not do that.

Second pick: travel case with removable foam

This hard case is listed at 8.48 ounces and 8.7 x 5.2 x 3.2 inches. It is made of EVA and described as protecting against dust, shocks and moisture. Three pre-cut shock sponges suit different meter models, and the foam is removable so you can cut it to a custom shape. A mesh pocket holds test leads, batteries, user manuals or small accessories, and an extra strap in the middle locks the meter in place.

It also has a sturdy carrying handle and a double-zipper closure. Limits: the title names the 179, but the compatibility field lists 117, 115, 116, 114, 113, 106, 107, 101, F15B+, F17B+, 87V and 88V only. The pre-cut foam is also described for those models, so a 179 would need the DIY foam. Skip it if you want a case that clearly lists the 179 in every field.

Third pick: hard case with a shoulder strap and three compartments

This case lists a hard shell, a zipper closure, a cross-body shoulder strap and 3 compartments. The material type is polyester, and the bullets describe high-density EVA and 1680D material with three modes of soft shockproof lining. It weighs 0.28 kg, is listed as Water Resistant, and carries a 2 Year manufacturer warranty.

Removable foam can be cut to different shapes, and an attachable strap in the middle holds the meter. A mesh pocket stores test leads, batteries and a thermo probe. The 179 appears in both the title and the bullets. Limits: no dimensions are given, and the listing does not say what level of water resistance applies. It lists meters from other makers as compatible too, which can mean looser foam for a 179 until you reshape it. Skip it if you want a stated size before buying.

Fourth pick: soft EVA case from the meter maker

This listing names the 179 in both its title and its bullets. The title calls it a protective EVA hard tool carrying case. The shell type field says Soft. These two fields disagree, so rely on neither. The case measures 9.4″L x 6.1″W x 9.4″H, weighs 262 g, is Medium and lists 2 compartments.

It includes a zipped pocket with ample space for accessories and a mesh pocket for smaller multimeters and other tools. The listing says it is designed to fit the 11x and 17x series multimeters, and the compatibility bullets add 175, 177, 179, 113, 114, 115, 116 and 117. A carrying handle and zippers are listed. Limits: it is Not Water Resistant, and it states no foam inserts or mid-case strap. Skip it if you carry the meter in damp conditions.

Side-by-side comparison

Pick	Type	Weight (as listed)	Size (as listed)	Pockets or compartments	Water resistance
First	Magnetic hanging strap	not stated	not stated	not applicable	not applicable
Second	Travel case	8.48 ounces	8.7 x 5.2 x 3.2 inches	mesh pocket	not stated (listing mentions moisture protection)
Third	Hard case, shoulder strap	0.28 kg	not stated	3	Water Resistant
Fourth	Soft EVA case	262 g	9.4″L x 6.1″W x 9.4″H	2	Not Water Resistant

Worked example: what a case adds to your bag

This is an assumed figure, so replace it with your own. Compare the carried weight with each case, converting the second pick from ounces at 28.35 g per ounce.

• Second pick: 8.48 × 28.35 = 240.4 g, so about 240 g. Total 600 + 240 = 840 g.
• Fourth pick: 262 g. Total 600 + 262 = 862 g.
• Third pick: 0.28 kg × 1,000 = 280 g. Total 600 + 280 = 880 g.

Re-checking: 8 × 28.35 = 226.8 and 0.48 × 28.35 = 13.6, which sum to 240.4, and 0.28 × 1,000 = 280. The heaviest total is 880 − 840 = 40 g more than the lightest. A 40 g gap rarely decides the purchase. Water resistance, compartments and a shoulder strap matter more, and the strap’s own weight is not listed, so it is left out of this sum.

Common mistakes when buying Fluke 179 accessories

1. Trusting the title alone. The second pick’s title lists the 179, but its compatibility field does not. Look for the model in more than one place.
2. Treating a hard-sounding title as proof of a hard shell. The fourth pick’s title and spec field disagree about its shell.
3. Assuming water resistance. Only one case is listed as Water Resistant, and it does not state a level.
4. Expecting a strap to protect the meter. The first pick holds the meter in place. It is not a carrying case.
5. Forgetting the leads and probes. None of these four includes any, so shop for them separately.

Ratings, safety and care

Work on mains circuits can kill, and an accessory does not change what your meter can safely measure. Measurement category (CAT) is an IEC method of classifying live circuits used in measurement and testing of installations and equipment, and the required impulse withstand voltage varies from 500 V (CAT II, 50 V) to 12,000 V (CAT IV, 1000 V). IEC 61010-1 requires that a device’s transient withstand capability be made known to the user. Follow your meter’s manual, and leave panel or service work to a licensed electrician.

For care, keep batteries and leads in the pockets provided, close the zippers before carrying, and follow each seller’s instructions for the foam. For related guides, see the best Fluke 179 case, the best Fluke 179 meter, the best Fluke 179 multimeter how to use, the best Fluke T5 600 leads, the best alligator clips for Fluke multimeter and the best Fluke current probe.

FAQ

Which Fluke 179 accessories does this guide cover?

One magnetic hanging strap and three carrying cases. Leads, clips and probes have their own guides.

Do I need both a strap and a case?

Not necessarily. The strap is for hands-free placement, and a case is for carrying and storage. Choose by how you work.

Which case lists the 179 in the compatibility field?

The third and fourth name the 179 in their bullets or compatibility text. The second names it in its title but not in its compatibility field.

Is any of these cases water resistant?

The third lists Water Resistant, and the fourth lists Not Water Resistant. The second describes protection against moisture, and none gives a test level.

Does a hanging strap make the meter safer to use?

The seller says it reduces the need to hold the meter. The listing gives no safety rating, so follow the meter manual and your local electrical rules.

Can I store leads and batteries in these cases?

The second and third list a mesh pocket for leads and batteries, and the fourth lists a zipped pocket and a mesh pocket.

Do the accessories have a CAT rating?

No listing states one, and none is required to match the meter’s rating. The meter’s own manual governs where it can be used.

Do I need to buy any of these at all?

Not if you already have a case that fits and a place to put the meter down. Buy a strap or case only for a problem you actually have.

Bottom line

Choose the first pick if you need the meter hanging at eye level, the second for a light travel case with removable foam, the third for a shoulder-strap hard case with 3 compartments and a 2 Year warranty, and the fourth for the maker’s own soft case. Before ordering, confirm the 179 appears in the compatibility field, not only in the title, and remember that a strap or case never changes the meter’s CAT rating.

Sources

• Measurement category (Wikipedia): defines CAT classification, the impulse withstand range from 500 V to 12,000 V and the IEC 61010-1 requirement