What Actually Lives on the Belt
After a few years everyone converges on roughly the same dozen items. Here is the list and why.
The non-negotiables
Side cutters, combination pliers, long-nose, a pair of strippers you actually like, VDE screwdrivers in the two sizes you use hourly, a voltage indicator, a torch, and a knife you keep sharp. Everything else is job-specific and belongs in the bag.
Weight is a safety issue
A belt loaded to fifteen pounds changes how you balance on a ladder, and it changes it in the direction you do not want. Strip it back to what the day actually needs rather than what the week might.
Buy the insulated ones once
VDE-rated hand tools cost perhaps twice what the unrated equivalents do and last as long. There is no scenario in which the saving is worth it, and the certification is only meaningful while the insulation is undamaged - inspect them like you inspect anything else.
