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how to use tool belt stranded deep

In Stranded Deep, the tool belt doesn’t add inventory space, but it lets you bind tools to quick‑access hotkeys so you can swap items without opening the full backpack, which makes day‑to‑day survival smoother.

What the tool belt does

  • Lets you assign tools (like knife, axe, hammer, spear gun) to quick slots so you can equip them instantly with a key or D‑pad press.
  • Does not increase raw inventory slots; it only saves time by skipping the inventory menu.
  • You can upgrade it to unlock more quick slots (up to four) by crafting higher‑tier pouches.

How to craft the tool belt

Exact names can vary slightly with version, but the logic is the same: each upgrade tier adds a slot and costs better materials.

Typical pattern:

  • Tool Belt I / Pouch 1
    • Costs: 1 tarp (or cloth) + 1 lashing.
* Unlocks: 1 quick slot (Hotkey 1 or one D‑pad direction, depending on platform).
  • Tool Belt II / Pouch 2
    • Costs: cloth + lashing or rawhide, depending on version.
* Unlocks: 2nd quick slot (Hotkey 2 / another D‑pad direction).
  • Tool Belt III / Pouch 3
    • Costs: leather plus higher‑tier materials.
* Unlocks: 3rd quick slot.
  • Tool Belt IV / Pouch 4
    • Costs: more rare hides/leather for the final upgrade.
* Unlocks: 4th quick slot total.

How to assign tools on PC

Once you’ve crafted at least the first tool belt, you can bind tools directly to hotkeys.

  • Hold the tool you want to assign in your hand (e.g., spear gun, hammer, refined axe).
  • Hold down the number key (1–4) you want to bind it to, and keep it held until you hear a small “click” or confirmation sound.
  • Release the key; that tool is now bound to that slot, and pressing that number will instantly equip it as long as it’s in your inventory.

A popular setup players use is:

  • 1 – Knife
  • 2 – Axe
  • 3 – Hammer or pickaxe
  • 4 – Spear or spear gun

This lets you swap between harvesting, building, and fighting with just a single keypress.

How to assign tools on console

Buttons differ slightly by platform, but the flow is the same: open the radial/quick menu, choose a slot, then choose the tool.

Typical console pattern:

  • Hold the inventory/quick‑menu button (for example, hold LB/L1 instead of tapping it) to bring up the quick‑equip or tool‑belt wheel.
  • You’ll see slots around your inventory representing your belt slots (up to four once fully upgraded).
  • Move the left stick to highlight the slot you want (e.g., up on the D‑pad slot, right, etc.).
  • Select the tool from your inventory to assign it to that slot; the icon will move out of inventory and into the belt slot.
  • Now, tapping the linked D‑pad direction (up/right/left/down) will instantly equip that item.

Many console players like:

  • Up – Knife
  • Right – Axe or spear
  • Down – Hammer
  • Left – Pickaxe

So they can gather, fight, and build without opening the inventory every time.

Extra tips and mini “forum wisdom”

  • The belt only works if the tool is actually in your backpack; if you drop or store it in a box, the hotkey won’t pull it out of thin air.
  • It shines most on long island‑hopping runs: bind your core tools, fill the rest of the inventory with loot, and you still have instant access to what you need.
  • Many players craft higher‑tier belts as early as they can, because the time saved swapping gear adds up quickly over multi‑day saves.

“Think of the tool belt as muscle memory slots: once you’ve bound tools, your fingers go there automatically, and suddenly Stranded Deep feels way less clunky.”

TL;DR: Craft the belt (tarp/cloth + lashings, then better hides for upgrades), then bind tools either by holding the number key while holding the tool (PC) or using the quick‑equip wheel and D‑pad (console), and you’ll swap between knife, axe, hammer, and weapons instantly instead of living in the inventory.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.