Switching from Gas to Battery is Easier with the Latest Generation of Battery-Powered String Trimmers

Even if you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger on an electric lawn mower, cordless string trimmers are a much easier jump for most homeowners to make. Even Pro lawn care crews have legitimate options to replace gas models. What’s the best battery-powered string trimmer for your needs? We got our team together to determine top picks for a range of priorities.

Want to see our top overall string trimmer picks, including gas models? Check out this article!

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Overall

Best for Professionals: Husqvarna 520iLX Battery-Powered String Trimmer

When we’re talking about the best all-day, everyday professional string trimmer for residential crews, we love Husqvarna’s 520iLX. What helps it rise above other solid picks from Stihl, EGO, and Greenworks Commercial is its combination of lighter weight, extremely low vibration, and thoughtful feature set in conjunction with excellent performance. Other professional brands hit several of the same elements, but none of them put them together as completely as Husqvarna.

Price: $299.99 bare tool

Best for Homeowners: EGO PowerLoad String Trimmer with Line IQ ST1623T

EGO started back in the day with surprisingly strong performance for a cordless string trimmer with eye-opening vibration control. Since then, it’s only gotten better as battery and motor technology have improved. Add to that, automatic line loading with EGO’s PowerLoad feature makes string trimmers with it the easiest to load we’ve ever used. For 2022, automatic line feeding takes it to another level, setting the bar very high for any other brand hoping to compete for the title of the best battery-powered string trimmer.

Price: Price: $299 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Power

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series Carbon Fiber Shaft String Trimmer RY402110VNM

In case you haven’t noticed, Ryobi has been absolutely unleashed in the last year. The 40V HP Brushless lineup has been impressive, taking the Home Depot-exclusive brand to a whole new level in OPE. For the latest flagship string trimmer, that means impressive cutting power.

The combination of advanced battery and brushless motor tech lets you spin line up to 0.105-inch with a 17-inch cutting swath. It’s fantastic when you’re reclaiming overgrown areas or simply have a lot of lawn to maintain. It gets even better, though, because this model is also part of the Whisper Series, boasting 60% quieter operation than a comparable gas model thanks to specifically focusing on the pitch of the sound.

Price: $329 with 6.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Lightweight Battery-Powered String Trimmer

Makita ConnectX String Trimmer CRU03

Makita packs 30cc gas power equivalence into a sub-10-pound package with the ConnectX string trimmer. By shifting the weight of the battery off of the tool and putting it on a harness, you also get incredible runtime thanks to the 1200Wh of capacity you’re wearing. Makita isn’t the only brand to offer a backpack battery, but this combination of weight and performance is special.

Price: $419 bare tool

Best Attachment-Capable Battery-Powered String Trimmer

Stihl Battery-Powered Kombi System KMA 135 R

When we tested cordless attachment systems, none of them had the overall performance that Sithl’s 36V KombiSystem did. It was the closest one to using a gas powerhead. Now it’s even better with the launch of the KMA 135 R powerhead.

Even though Stihl doesn’t use a universal attachment mechanism, the brand’s list of available attachments is deeper than we’ve seen from any other. Plus, there’s Stihl’s extensive dealer and service network to support you after the sale.

Price: $359.99 powerhead only

Best Budget Battery-Powered String Trimmer

SKIL 40V PWRCore Brushless String Trimmer LT4818-10

This year, we set a price limit on our best budget battery-powered string trimmer recommendation. Capped at $160 for the entire kit, we looked for something powerful that also included the battery and charger. The powerful Skil 40V PWRCore Brushless string trimmer really impressed us with its value.

This battery-powered trimmer really fills a need for a capable weed eater that doesn’t go overboard on weight or price. With more power than 18V/20V models, it’s a good fit for budget-minded individuals. It also carries a 5-year limited warranty.

Price: $159 with 2.5Ah battery and charger.

Best Line for Battery-Powered String Trimmers

Echo Black Diamond 0.095-Inch Trimmer Line

Echo Black Diamond trimmer line is denser than others and has sharper cutting edges in its design. For battery-powered string trimmers, you can use Black Diamond 0.095-inch line that cuts like it’s thicker without killing your runtime. There’s some reduction because of the increase in mass, but not as much as when it combines with the increased air resistance of thicker lines. It’s the line we prefer on our gas trimmers and with cordless models being as capable as they are today, we’re able to on those as well.

Price: $14.99 1-pound package (253 feet)

More Battery-Powered String Trimmer Options from Brands We Trust

Best DeWalt Battery-Powered String Trimmer: DCST972

DeWalt sports an impressive 17-inch cutting swath on its latest 60V Max brushless string trimmer. It’s a 2-speed attachment-capable trimmer using a universal connection system, opening up more options beyond DeWalt attachments. With 5800 RPM on the top end (4650 in low), there’s plenty of speed and you can swap out the 0.080-inch line that comes pre-spooled with 0.095-inch.

It’s a little beefier than some models with the 3.0Ah 60V battery pushing the total weight over 11 pounds. The trigger grip section is also a bit thicker than most, so you might not care for it if you have smaller hands. On the plus side, there are three points for the attachment detent to lock into, making it simple to convert the trimmer head into a string edger.

Price: $249 bare tool, $299 with 3.0Ah battery and charger

Best EGO Battery-Powered String Trimmer: ST1623T

There’s a reason we picked EGO’s Line IQ trimmer as our best overall for homeowners. It’s so easy to use with excellent performance and smooth operation, that it can make one of the worst tasks enjoyable.

Price: $299.00 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Greenworks Battery-Powered String Trimmer: ST60L254

Greenworks’ Pro 60V line has a few options and we like the ST60L04 as the best overall balance of performance and price for trimming. It’s a smooth-operating trimmer with an easy-loading Load N’ Go head that uses 0.095-inch line and runs for more than half an hour on its 2.5Ah battery.

Price: $199.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best HART Battery-Powered String Trimmer: HLST051VNM

HART stepped up big time this year and now has a brushless 15-inch carbon fiber shaft model for its 40V line. It’s another attachment-capable option using a universal connection and is capable to whipping 0.095-inch line. Thanks to its carbon fiber shaft, the weight comes down a bit without sacrificing the strength you need for the job.

Price: $248 with 4.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Husqvarna Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 520iLX

From its lighter weight and smoother operation to its excellent performance, Husqvarna’s 520iLX is our pick as the best overall battery-powered string trimmer for professionals.

Best Makita Battery-Powered String Trimmer: GRU01

We realize not everyone is in a place to jump onto Makita’s ConnectX system. If you want high performance with wider OPE and power tool compatibility, give the 40V max XGT GRU01 a look. It has three speeds and tops out with a blistering 6500 RPM. Plus, there’s an Automatic Torque Drive feature that auto-adjusts the speed to match what you’re cutting. Even better, this one is just 10.4 pounds with a 4.0Ah battery, giving it an excellent blend of performance and weight.

Price: $289 bare, $439 with 4.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Milwaukee Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 2825-21ST

Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Quik-Lok attachment system still holds the top spot for the best Milwaukee string trimmer in our books. Its 2-speed brushless design does an excellent job on a wide range of grasses. Even though it doesn’t use a universal connection, the available attachments have done a fantastic job over several years of service with our crew.

Now that there’s a new commercial lawn mower, whispers of further Milwaukee OPE expansion are in the wind, so keep your eyes open in case something new in the string trimmer department shows up.

Price: $229 powerhead and string trimmer attachment, $299 string trimmer kit with 8.0Ah High Output battery and rapid charger

Best Ryobi Battery-Powered String Trimmer RY402110VNM

For all the reasons we already stated and more, Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless 17-inch string trimmer is something special.

Price: $329 with 6.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Skil Battery-Powered String Trimmer: LT4818-10

It’s tough to find a brushless string trimmer under $150 that includes a battery and charger. Skil is one option and it’s a compelling high-value pick. It’s capable of using 0.080-inch line and we whacked down some pretty tall grass in Josh’s backyard when we decided to reclaim it. It’s also a good pick if you’re looking for a lightweight trimmer—it’s just 9.3 pounds with a 2.5Ah battery.

Price: $149.00 with 2.5Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Stihl Battery-Powered String Trimmer: FSA 135 R

Stihl was already doing a great job in the professional battery-powered lawn care department, but the 135 line takes it a step further with even better performance and durability. Comparable to the power the FS 91 offers, it’s matching up with one of Stihl’s workhorse gas models. The trimmer works best with 0.095-inch line and has a 16.5-inch cutting swath. It also comes in both standard and bike handle models, giving you a great option for clearing large areas.

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Buying Guide | What We Look For

Cutting Power

Three primary factors go into cutting power: line speed, line thickness/mass, and motor torque.

The faster the line whips around, the better the tips cut grass. Most battery-powered string trimmers are fine in this category. As long as you’re getting at least 5000 RPM, you should be in good shape. The top models are capable of hitting 6500 RPM and there is a significant difference in how fast you can complete your trimming duties at higher rotational speeds.

Shifting the focus to the line thickness, the higher the line mass, the more force it’s able to cut through thicker grass with. It’s like the difference between getting hit by a 175-pound safety and a 225-pound linebacker at the same speed. More mass equals more cutting power.

Most cordless string trimmers take 0.080-inch line at a minimum. We recommend 0.095-inch for the best all-around performance. If you have tougher grass or deal with overgrowth frequently, a string trimmer with 0.105-inch line lets you power through even better. Just keep in mind that line diameter has a direct effect on runtime—thicker line takes more power to run.

Finally, a motor with higher torque helps the trimmer resist slowing down as the going gets tougher. Even though trimming grass seems like a low-demand task, grass does push back against the line, causing it to bend back and eventually start to bog the motor. Higher torque holds keeps the head spinning better in tough cutting situations, even when its highest RPMs are lower than low-torque gearing.

Cutting Swath

Having a large cutting swath helps you clear large areas faster or gives you a more generous border for your mower. You need more power to run wider, though, and runtime is always a consideration. That said, in the past couple of years, we’ve seen the technology come together to give us solid options. Look for a 15-inch cutting diameter for most situations. Recent 16- and 17-inch models are a great choice when you have larger areas to cut.

Runtime

The average homeowner on a 1/4-acre lot only needs about 15 minutes of consistent trigger time to cover trimming. Most cordless string trimmers are able to hit that at high speed without too much trouble.

Professional lawn care crews need much more, though. So do homeowners with large properties and farm/ranch acreage.

If your runtime needs are greater, look for a string trimmer that balances the efficiency of a brushless motor, uses 0.095-inch line, and possibly comes with a higher-capacity battery. Of course, you can always carry multiple batteries.

Also, consider learning how to trim at low speed when the grass isn’t as thick. Even though you have to slow down a bit, you’ll cut a significantly larger area.

Vibration

We highly value low-vibration string trimmers. We already have enough work to do managing the weight of such a long tool without vibration adding additional fatigue. The harmonics in some of today’s models are so good that hardly any vibration makes it up the handle… and they are a joy to use!

Weight and Balance

If you’re working all day on a lawn crew or even just putting the finishing touches on your own lawn, you want the lightest weight you can get without sacrificing the power you need. Bare weight isn’t everything—the battery can add a lot. If you can get a fully-loaded battery-powered string trimmer that meets your performance needs and comes in under 10 pounds, that’s a big win.

Balance is a consideration and the trimmers that have the best typically mount the motor on the trimmer head to counter the battery weight on the back. Many models also let you adjust the front handle to help dial in your fit.

If you’re after an attachment-capable model, you’re stuck with the motor in the back, and the balance shifts back. For those and trimmers that are simply heavier by nature, consider adding a shoulder strap to help you out.

Sound Level

Low noise is one of the major benefits of moving away from gas power. Cordless string trimmers we’ve tested range from decibels in the low 80s to the upper 90s (measured at our operator’s ear). Even at the top end, it’s an improvement over the majority of gas trimmers.

Your line selection plays a bigger part than it does on gas trimmers. Sometimes, switching the line you use can reduce the overall noise level or change the tone to a less irritating pitch.

Line Changes

When you have to change the line, it can be an easy or frustrating process. Manual loading is largely a thing of the past, though some trimmers still have manual heads. To make the process easier, look for models that have some type of fast-loading system (SpeedFeed, Rapid Load, etc). With these, you thread the line through the head to the middle, turn the head to load it, and go get on with the work.

Regardless of what comes on the trimmer, you can upgrade most to a quick-load head.

The best on the market right now is EGO’s PowerLoad design. It takes the fast-load concept and adds automatic winding and gives us the easiest, quickest line changes we’ve ever had.

Attachment Capability

Pro lawn crews typically have dedicated machines for string trimming, edging, and hedge trimming, but homeowners can save a lot of money by using interchangeable heads and tools that cover everything from blowing to brush cutting.

As we mentioned earlier, attachment systems require a top-mounted motor that affects the balance. It’s a trade-off you have to make for the convenience you gain.

One thing to keep an eye on is the attachment connection style. Models with a “universal” connection can use attachments from other brands, opening up far more choices. Recent multi-head systems including EGO, Milwaukee, and Stihl aren’t compatible with others, so you need to make sure they have everything you need before investing.

The post Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Reviews 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Boy, did we open a can of worms when we started searching and testing to determine the best battery-powered chainsaw models. Not that long ago, there weren’t that many cordless chainsaws, and even fewer had high enough performance to warrant replacing gas saws.

Fast forward to today and cordless chainsaws meet and even exceed gas performance all the way up to 20-inch models. The big change this year is we have battery options to replace farm and ranch chainsaws!

Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw for Pros

Sithl 20-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw MSA 300 C-O

Pros have more options than ever before and as of Spring 2022, that includes 20-inch cordless chainsaws. Of the three available, Sithl earns our pick as the best battery-powered chainsaw for professionals in a tight battle (DeWalt and Greenworks Commercial also have 20-inch models this year).

Stihl is introducing the AP 500 S battery along with the saw, giving the MSA 300 C-O an advanced power source to pull high performance from. Where it pulls away from the pack is intelligence. The saw has 3 performance settings so you have options when you want to prioritize runtime over power. It also has an LED screen that displays power status, mode, chain brake position, and has a low oil alert. For those of you managing inventory, it’s also Smart Connector A 2 compatible.

Price: TBA

Best Cordless Chainsaw for Home Use

EGO 56V 18-inch Cordless Chainsaw CS1800

In choosing the best battery chainsaw for home use, we didn’t want to sacrifice the power we enjoy from our professional saws. While there are a lot of options available, we tend to get the best balance of performance and weight in the 60V class.

Moving to an 18-inch bar, we put the EGO CS1800 on the top of the charts. It has excellent power and there’s plenty of runtime with available batteries up to 10.0Ah (a 5.0Ah pack comes in the kit).

In addition to its performance, EGO’s auto-tensioning system makes it super-easy to adjust the chain tension and access the bar and chain without the use of additional tools. There’s even an LED to help with post-storm cleanup when the power’s out and you can’t wait for sunrise.

Price: $259 bare, $349 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Most Powerful Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks Commercial 82V 20-Inch Chainsaw

In late 2021 at GIE, DeWalt, Geenworks Commercial, and Stihl all announced new 20-inch battery-powered chainsaws with the power to take on the farm and ranch class. All three also claimed to have the most powerful and as the dust settled, Greenworks Commercial’s had the highest-rated power.

The caveat here is that we haven’t been able to fully test these saws yet. They’re too new. We got our hands on them at GIE, though, and no matter which one you choose, you’re in for a treat! Once we get a chance to use for a more thorough test, we’ll be sure to share our experience. Learn more at the links below.

• DeWalt 60V Max 20-Inch Chainsaw DCC677 (March 2022)
• Greenworks Commercial 20-Inch Chainsaw
• Stihl 20-Inch Chainsaw MSA 300 C-O (Summer 2022)

Best Battery Top Handle Chainsaw

Makita 18V X2 (36V) Top Handle Chainsaw XCU08

Top handle chainsaws are an arborist’s and lineman’s best friend. The differences in design give these saws a very different feel while you’re cutting and we generally only recommend them for experienced chainsaw users.

Our choice for the best battery top handle chainsaw is the Makita XCU08. It’s a legitimate gas replacement that has the muscle to hang with traditional names such as Stihl and Husqvarna. The best part is that it comes in with a lower price tag.

The saw comes stock with a 14-inch bar, but you can also order the XCU09 if you want the same saw with a 16-inch bar instead.

Price: $339 bare, $449 with two 5.0Ah batteries and charger

Best Battery Pole Saw

Makita 18V X2 LXT Telescoping Pole Saw XAU02

When it comes to the best battery pole saw, multi-head systems are an excellent platform. However, most professional crews prefer dedicated tools to attachment systems. If that sounds like you, check out Makita’s XAU02. It’s a 9- to 13-foot telescoping system that reaches significantly higher than most of its competition.

Its performance is impressive, using two 18V batteries with its 10-inch bar to cut at speeds up to 3940 fpm (20.0 meters per second). In terms of overall power, it’s the equivalent of a 30cc gas engine, and Makita’s internal testing shows it cutting faster than a 31.4cc gas competitor.

What helps set this model apart is a torque boost mode. You can do most of your cutting on a battery-saving standard setting and then kick it up to full power for thicker or harder braches.

Price: $499 bare

Best Small Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Choosing the best small cordless chainsaw isn’t just a matter of choosing something lightweight with a 10- or 12-inch bar anymore. The introduction of battery pruners with a 4- to 6- inch bar and chain ups the ante. So we picked one of each for you.

DeWalt 20V Max Compact Cordless Chainsaw DCCS620

DeWalt launched a line of light-duty OPE for its popular 20V Max platform as a way to give contractors the ability to clear jobsites using the batteries they already have. Those same OPE tools are great for homeowners that need occasional or limited use equipment.

The name says it all: DeWalt’s 20V Max compact cordless chainsaw features a highly-manageable 12-inch bar and chain that works with one of the deepest lines of cordless power tools available. For dedicated lawn care, you might look to the FlexVolt 60V Max line, but this saw is just right for limbing and light felling around your home.

Price: $179 bare, $249 kit with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Pruner

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-inch Pruner 2527

As the only current member of Milwaukee’s OPE line to use the M12 battery platform, the M12 Fuel Hatchet does a couple of things better than its limited competition.

First of all, we like that it’s a 6-inch bar and chain rather than 4-inch. Even though it’s only 2 more inches, it gets you into cutting branches you might normally turn to a heavier standard-form chainsaw for.

We also like that this model has an auto-oiler, something that’s missing on Stihl’s model. Combined, this makes it the best cordless chainsaw for those looking for a truly compact pruning tool.

Price: $189 bare, $269 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Value Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks 60V Pro 16-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw C60L212

We were thrilled with the performance improvement in Greenworks’ 2nd-generation 60V Pro chainsaw. Capable of cutting faster than 42cc gas saws, it’s a fantastic all-around chainsaw for property maintenance and storm cleanup.

In addition to its higher performance, it has a more professional-grade feel with metal bucking spikes, dual captured bar nuts, and excellent balance. If your priorities include getting a lot of bang for your buck, this is the chainsaw for you!

Price: $229.99 bare, $299.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Budget Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Skil PWRCore 40 14-Inch Cordless Chainsaw CS4555-10

Just because you’re on a sub-$200 budget doesn’t mean you can’t get a quality brushless chainsaw. Skil’s PWRCore 40 system includes a 14-inch brushless chainsaw that finds an excellent balance between performance, design, and price.

We tested this saw cutting oak and it did an excellent job of confidently melting through branches up to 12 inches thick. With auto-oiling and a tool-free chain adjustment system, it’s very easy to use as well. Best of all, the kit is just $199.99.

Price: $199.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

See Also: Can battery power cut it? Read our article: Why use a battery-powered chainsaw

More Recommendations from Brands We Trust

Best DeWalt Cordless Chainsaw

Without a doubt, DeWalt’s 60V Max 20-inch cordless chainsaw (DCCS677) is the best model in Yellow’s lineup. As one of three battery-powered 20-inch chainsaws announced launching in the spring of 2022, it’s in a very elite class.

In designing the saw, DeWalt’s development team used the largest brushless motor in any tool they have, period. Along with a list of features that verify its professional pedigree, it’s also the first DeWalt chainsaw to come with a case.

Price: $349 bare, $449 with 4.012.0Ah battery and charger, $499 with 5.0/15.0Ah battery and charger

Best Hart Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Hart makes a strong statement with its 16-inch brushless chainsaw (HLCS021). For starters, a 16-inch chainsaw is no joke—you need a stronger motor than most DIY saws use.

A 360° tour around this model reveals a big step forward for Hart. Dual bar nuts are a nod to Pro-style design while the scrench conveniently stores on the handle. There’s an automatic oiler and the saw comes with a hard plastic case for storage. Overall, this is a much more capable cordless chainsaw than we saw from Hart’s initial offerings.

Price: $274 with a 4.0Ah battery and fast charger

Best Echo Cordless Chainsaw

Echo is moving away from its original cordless line to a new 56V Force system (the two systems are not compatible). Along with the initial launch, there are two chainsaw offerings: a homeowner-grade 18-inch model and a Pro-focused 12-inch top handle.

The top handle is our choice as the best Echo battery-powered chainsaw. As part of the X-Series, the DCS-2500T oozes professional design. It starts with a muscular brushless motor and builds out the drop protection (including a quickdraw harness ring) you expect from a professional gas top handle saw. It’s definitely not your least expensive top handle option, but it is designed with the demands of professional tree care use in mind.

Price: $429.99 bare, $499.99 kit with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Husqvarna Cordless Chainsaw

In the end, Husqvarna’s 540i XP is one of the best cordless chainsaws for professionals. Though not as powerful as the Greenworks Commercial 82V, its balance of 40cc power and weight makes it an excellent all-rounder for cordless cutting.

We also like the option to use a standard battery pack or switch over to a battery backpack for extended cutting.

Price: $589 bare (14-inch bar), $599 bare (16-inch bar)

Best Greenworks Cordless Chainsaw

Take the Greenworks model we recommended as the best value cordless chainsaw earlier, flip out the 16-inch bar for an 18-inch, and you get our favorite Greenworks chainsaw for homeowners. With performance that rivals a 42cc gas engine, its 18-inch bar offers excellent capacity you’ll get plenty of runtime from the 4.0Ah battery that comes in the kit.

Price: $279.99 bare, $429.99 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Makita Cordless Chainsaw

Makita’s cordless chainsaw didn’t take long to get dialed in really well and they make some of the best cordless chainsaws in the industry. The XCU08 top handle we recommended earlier is a sold choice for arborists.

For a rear handle design, go for the XCU04. It’s a 16-inch 36V (18V X2) model that’s reasonably lightweight at 11.1 pounds with batteries. Like Makita’s other cordless chainsaws, expect smooth cutting and exceptional balance. Its 32cc gas equivalence isn’t quite as strong as some of the competition, but its refined design makes up for it and then some.

Price: $299 bare, $329 with two 5.0Ah batteries and dual-port rapid charger

Best Milwaukee Cordless Chainsaw

Milwaukee had one of the first really great cordless chainsaws and the M18 Fuel 2727 is still an excellent choice. It sports a brushless motor that runs its 16-inch bar and chain to levels that exceed 40cc gas power. It has a quality build with metal bucking spikes and dual captured bar nuts.

Even though other brands have pushed the power boundary forward, we still highly recommend this saw. Now that Milwaukee has raised the bar with its self-propelled lawn mower, there are whispers beginning to ask if there’s a new high-performance chainsaw in the works for later this year.

Price: $329 bare, $499 with 12.0Ah battery and charger (also available with a 14-inch bar for $319)

Best Ryobi Cordless Chainsaw

Ryobi’s launch of HP Brushless tools has been impressive and it’s a game-changer for the 40V lawn care and landscaping line. The 40V HP Brushless 18-inch chainsaw is a fantastic example. With cutting performance far ahead of any other chainsaws we’ve tested from Ryobi, it earned our respect and recommendation.

While it’s not completely Pro-style with its plastic bucking spikes, property owners looking for a high-performance cordless option to replace gas can rely on Ryobi.

Price: $189 bare, $349 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Chainsaw Buying Guide | What We Look For

Performance is King

Thanks to advanced brushless motors, electronics, and batteries, voltage no longer tells the entire story. However, cutting speed with the torque to get through thick hardwood species is the number one priority for us.

Runtime is (Sort of) a Big Deal

Ideally, a battery-powered chainsaw balances cutting speed and power with runtime. Larger batteries are certainly helping. Advancements in battery technology are as well. Denser cells with more robust connections are able to more efficiently transfer energy from the battery to the chain, giving you higher performance without a drop in runtime that makes the saw irrelevant.

The other side of the conversation involves rapid chargers. Most brands offer them now and several include them as a standard part of the kit. With today’s cordless technology, two batteries and a rapid charger can be enough to keep you running continuously all day.

Triggered

Most chainsaws are similar in form and share all of the same basic operational features. Where the best cordless chainsaws differ in form is primarily in their switches and triggers.

All of the saws have a UL or similar test lab certification on them, but they’re not all the same. In use, some of the saws in our test have more defined two-step triggers while others can be easily activated with a single grasp around their lockout button and trigger. At the end of the day, we expect our chainsaws to have a trigger mechanism that will keep us from accidentally activating the motor, and all of our recommendations meet that requirement. From there, it’s just a matter of the feel or function you prefer.

The true two-step lockouts aren’t difficult to operate in normal conditions. In odd positions, such as reaching around a tree while limbing, sometimes the mechanical lockouts can be tricky to slide.

For select cordless chainsaws, the first of two (or sometimes three) stages of starting is an electronic power button.

Some electronic switch saws can be run with a single grab once powered on. You just have to be mindful of the auto timeout feature. It can be frustrating the pull the trigger to no effect when you thought the saw was ready.

Ease of Adjustment

Chainsaw bars need to be adjusted nearly every time you use the saw. A new chain stretches out pretty quickly. You need to snug it up at least a few times as it breaks in.

If your chain gets tight rather suddenly, it usually means the bar is not getting oil. Don’t loosen it until you make sure the saw is oiling properly.

Pro Tip: Get into the habit of loosening your chain at the end of the day. Cold weather can cause it to tighten as it cools and damage parts.

A saw’s bar will be designed for either tool-free adjustment or will require a screwdriver-wrench combination tool called—yep, you guessed it—a scrench. Tool-free adjustment is the quickest and easiest with plastic knobs and/or dials built into the saw. They loosen the bar, move the bar forward or back to properly tension the chain, and lock the bar down tight again.

Dual Studs vs Tool-free Adjusters

Saws with tool-free adjusters use a single stud to attach the bar to the saw, but manual adjusting models typically have two mounting studs. Some old-school users view dual studs as an indication that the saw is geared toward professionals, but we don’t think that’s a hard, fast rule. Not for modest-sized saws anyway. However, the biggest and strongest chainsaws made all have dual stud bar mounts.

Pro Tip: Be sure to snug the nuts evenly because torquing down on only one can loosen the other.

Aw, Nuts!

Lost bar nuts are a frequent occurrence during regular use in the field. To prevent this, some saws have the added feature of captive nuts that won’t come all the way off the cover no matter how much you spin them.

Pro Tip: Keep a spare nut on hand if the ones on your saw aren’t captuve—it’s not unusual to lose one in the field!

To keep your adjustment tool close at hand, look for models that have storage slots built into the saws.

Your preferences may vary, but I can appreciate both adjustment methods. We like the speed and convenience of tool-free adjustments for my small saws. For big saws, we feel more confident securing the business end of these powerful tools down with a wrench.

It’s not a deal-breaker either way for the saws in our test unless the mechanism itself is flawed. The best battery-powered chainsaw for you is the one that instills a sense of both confidence and convenience.

Bars and Chains

Most chainsaw brands don’t try to reinvent the wheel by making their own bars and chains. Instead, many use quality Oregon components, though Stihl makes their own bars and chains. Most cordless chainsaws use 3/8-in. pitch, 0.043-in. gauge chains while stronger models are moving up to 0.050-in. gauge.

Oiling Systems

Bar and chain oil is the lifeblood of a chainsaw as the saw cannot run without it for very long. Most saws oil readily, but we occasionally run across models that have issues after a while. If a saw oiled well out of the box, it usually just needs a good cleaning to unclog it.

Oil Visibility

Most battery-powered chainsaws have translucent windows that let you check if there’s oil in the tank, and most let you estimate the level pretty well. If yours has a small window or none at all, be sure to stop and check the oil level frequently. About every hour of working time or anytime you notice a change in performance is a good rule of thumb.

Oil Caps

The ease of filling the oil reservoir is a noteworthy convenience factor when considering the best battery-powered chainsaw. We don’t like having oily fingers, so being able to fill the tank while leaving our work gloves on is our preference. Look for oil caps with lugs that are easy to turn with gloves on and/or flip-up tabs that provide an even better grip.

Spills & More Spills

Chainsaws often leak oil while sitting because daily heating and cooling shrinks and expands a plastic tank like a rudimentary pump. Some saws are messier than others.

Wherever you store your saw, put a piece of cardboard underneath it to collect any oil. You can switch it out as needed and whenever an Amazon order arrives.

Be careful when filling your chainsaw. Some have a large section of the cap that goes inside the tank and displaces a surprising amount of oil when you fill it anywhere close to the top. Wiping gooey oil off a chainsaw is an annoying waste of time.

Another cause of spills is an oil tank with a filler neck that is too narrow. Bar and chain oil is thick and tacky. It can pour like molasses in the cold, so it easily “piles up” and overflows in a narrow neck.

Pro Tip: Only poke a small hole in the foil of your oil container or use a (clean) syrup bottle to dispense oil into your chainsaw’s reservoir.

Providing another challenge, plastic filters at the inlet of its tank can constrict the diameter.

Caps that cross-thread easily can also make the oil-fill process more of a chore.

Environmental Sidetrack: Try Biodegradable Bar and Chain Oil

The other part of this cleaner, greener, lithium-ion-powered story is you can pair your battery chainsaw with a biodegradable bar and chain oil made of vegetable-based ingredients, such as Stihl Bio Plus. Those barrels of useful wood waste also contain a few gallons of oil from the saws.

Aside from having to landfill all of your petroleum-preserved sawdust, it’s just good practice to minimize your exposure to petroleum oil on your skin, clothing, and the atomized portion that you breathe in.

Naked? Don’t Use a Cordless Chainsaw Like This Guy!

Back on Track… Bucking Spikes

For pushing a saw through wood more efficiently, chainsaws come fitted with bucking spikes (a.k.a. bumper spikes, felling spikes, or dogs). These spikes sit against the body of the saw alongside the bar and anchor the saw in place while the bar pivots through the cut.

The spikes allow you to apply a lifting motion of the rear hand instead of pushing downward. Holding the saw tight to the wood, the motor can exert its maximum pulling power. This saves you from some of the cutting vibrations and especially the jerking common to holding a saw away from your work.

Our battery-powered saws all have some semblance of spikes. Most aren’t as long or as sharp as those on large gas saws, but actual steel spikes are becoming more common. We prefer those to the simple plastic ridges on other models.

Pro Tip: Applying leverage with spikes adds control, but go easy and listen to the pitch of the motor. You can overload battery chainsaws with too much pressure, and the weaker models stall easily.

Balance

While it’s true that the comfort and feel of a tool are largely subjective, it’s also true that some designs work better than others. Most Pros and experienced homeowners can immediately tell.

For the best battery-powered chainsaw, a balanced feel in your hands and the ability to cut straight without introducing a twisting motion to overcome are both important ergonomic factors.

Holding a saw with your left hand on the front handle in front of you should have the saw balancing fairly flat. Being a bit front-heavy is okay, but a rear-heavy saw lifts the cutting end of the saw up towards you and requires more effort and vigilance to use and carry safely.

Cutting Sideways

Determining a good feel for felling cuts while holding the chainsaw sideways is more about the comfort of applying force to the front and rear handles as you grasp it from the side, and also the ease of operating the trigger while sideways.

Handles

In general, chainsaws with thicker handles are more comfortable to grasp in use because have more surface contact and soften that contact with your hand. Of course, rubber handle surfaces help too, not only for padding but also for the increased grip they provide.

Trigger Comfort

Most cordless chainsaw triggers are large enough for two fingers to fit on them. Some have an extra-long trigger with more room to vary your grip stance for comfort. The best feeling triggers retract flush with the handle instead of leaving a raised bump your fingers have to push against.

Weight

The dry weight of the best battery chainsaws can swell to well over 15 pounds. Experience shows that a saw’s weight is less important than proper balance overall as you only feel the full weight when you’re NOT cutting.

But carrying around and positioning a heavy saw can certainly be more taxing over a long workday. The catch with these saws is that the batteries are a major part of the weight. So the stronger, longer-lasting saws with high-capacity battery packs and longer bars that we prefer end up being the heaviest.

Battery Selection

While we do the majority of our testing with the kitted batteries, it’s worth looking at the full range a manufacturer has available for your cordless chainsaw. If you end up investing in the entire lineup, you’ll likely want to consider the biggest batteries you can buy for it to get all of your lawn chores done efficiently.

You might also want a lower-capacity battery to shave some weight when you don’t have a lot of work to complete.

“Current” State of Affairs

Voltage

Higher voltage means more power, right? There’s certainly an argument for that, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Power is measured in watts and that comes from multiplying the voltage times the current. You can make a 36V chainsaw with the same power as a 56V model. The lower voltage simply has to produce more amps (current) to get there.

That’s why you see chainsaws with 40cc gas performance at 18V, 36V, and 60V. It’s all about the combination of volts and amps.

Watt-Hours

Another thing that is interesting to note is the discrepancy between the amp-hour and watt-hour ratings on some of the batteries in our tests for their given voltage. We’ve covered the subject of battery voltage, storage capacity, and current output many times. To review simply:

Volts x Amp Hours = Watt Hours

It’s the same basic equation we use for power, just applied to energy storage instead of output. It’s an easy way to compare the available energy of one battery to another when they have different voltages.

We’re increasingly finding that manufacturers—perhaps to simplify things for consumers—are rounding amp-hours. Some calculate their watt-hours with maximum voltage while most use nominal. Unfortunately, this makes some comparisons more challenging and adds to potential confusion.

“Nominal” Differences

When you charge a lithium-ion battery, it will reach its maximum voltage. Shortly after putting it to use, it settles into a slightly lower voltage—its nominal voltage. The nominal voltage is where the battery spends most of its working life and is roughly 90% of the maximum voltage.

Brands have to choose which one to display. When you see numbers such as 60V Max, that’s a battery that settles into a 54V nominal voltage. When you don’t see “Max” on the battery and packaging, you’re usually looking at a battery that is displaying its nominal volts.

We say “usually” for a reason. Some brands market their maximum voltage but don’t make it clear.

Some European countries regulate stated voltages more stringently, and it seems that it could only serve to help if the simple math all added up.

Buy Into a System

One other consideration for these saws is the system of battery-powered OPE to which they belong. Like other cordless tools, you can purchase some of our best battery-powered chainsaws as bare tools at significant savings over the kit. If you’re already invested in one of these systems, the overall winner may not interest you as much as seeing which model from your brand is the best in the lineup. Though not the best overall, it might be the best balance of performance and value for you.

Look at the Entire Model Lineup

If you haven’t bought into a system yet and may pick up more outdoor power tools in the future, check out the entire lineup from a brand. Make sure they can fulfill your wish list before going after just the chainsaw. For many users, the saw functions as a secondary tool when compared to the hours you spend with a string trimmer or mower.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Battery Chainsaw Reviews 2022 | Best Cordless Chainsaws appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The battery-powered blower landscape sure has changed since we did our first head-to-head review several years ago. There are a lot more options and the performance is leaps and bounds ahead. So who makes the best cordless leaf blower in 2022?

Best Cordless Leaf Blower Power

EGO 765 CFM Battery-Powered Blower

We had blowers from EGO, Ryobi, and Stihl all hitting more than 21 Newtons. But that was then and this is now. EGO’s 765 CFM blower is redefining the landscape by hitting more than 25 Newtons with its stock 5.0Ah battery. It touched 26 Newtons using a high-capacity pack. That’s legit backpack blower territory!

Price: $329.00 with a 5.0Ah battery and charger

More Heavy Hitters

Ryobi 40V HP 730 CFM Blower

With a standard loadout, few cordless blowers hit as high a Newton force as Ryobi’s 40V HP 730 CFM model. With its base configuration, we measured 20.0 N. But cut one notch back on the flexible nozzle (it’s designed to be cut based on your preference) and we measured an impressive 21.7 N!

Price: $229.00 bare, $329.00 with two 4.0Ah batteries and charger

Stihl BGA 200 Blower

Making the case for Stihl’s premium BGA 200, it hit an impressive 21.3 Newtons with both the AP3000 backpack battery and the 6.3Ah AP300 battery pack. Between the performance level and the extended runtime a backpack battery offers, there’s little doubt this is the best cordless blower for performance-minded Pros.

Price: $449.99 bare

EGO 56V 650 CFM Blower

EGO’s 650 CFM blower earns the brand a second mention in this list. With the 5.0Ah battery it comes with, we hit 20.3 Newtons. It was a little higher with a 7.5Ah battery. However, we held 23.2 Newtons with a fully charged 10.0Ah battery. Unless you have the backpack holster, we don’t recommend using this configuration because of the weight. However, that does make EGO’s 650 the second strongest cordless blower we’ve tested to date, sitting only behind… EGO.

Price: $219.00 bare, $279.00 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Quietest Cordless Leaf Blower

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM Blower

As battery-powered blowers have increased in power, their noise levels have crept up along with it. Reversing that trend, Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless 730 CFM leaf blower crushed it in our Newton force test by hitting 21.7 N. But instead of producing the 85–88 decibels most high-performance blowers do, it’s just 72 decibels in high and 76 decibels in Turbo measuring from our operator’s ear.

Let’s put that in perspective. The SPL (decibel) scale shows that a drop of just 3 decibels is half the sound pressure level. However, a drop of 10 decibels sounds half as loud. For Ryobi, running in Turbo mode hits your unprotected ear with roughly 8x lower SPL and half the perceived loudness. It’s incredibly impressive when you’re using it side-by-side with other cordless blowers.

Though it’s a few decibels louder, the Stihl BGA 200 is another model that’s quieter than most.

Price: $229.00 bare, $329.00 with two 4.0Ah batteries and charger

Best Cordless Leaf Blower Vac

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Jet Fan Blower Vacuum

Ryobi shook things up with the launch of its 40V HP Brushless blower vac. Other designs have a somewhat awkward side intake method of switching the nozzle around between blowing and vacuuming modes. Ryobi keeps everything in line and eliminates the nozzle switch. Instead, you just attach the bag, flip the switch from blow to vacuum, and you’re on your way.

It’s no slouch in the performance department, with the brushless motor delivering 600 CFM and 100 MPH. While that is a little low on the airspeed side, it’s plenty to handle the blowing and collection of fall leaves that’s the primary goal of this design. It’s also a solid mulcher, with a metal impeller reducing those leaves down at a 20:1 ratio.

Note that this blower vac launches in November 2022.

Price: $369 bare, $469 with two 4.0Ah batteries and a rapid charger

Best Cordless Backpack Blower

Stihl BGA 200 Leaf Blower

Cordless backpack blowers differ significantly from gas backpack blowers. Rather than moving air from the backpack through the nozzle, they typically maintain the same efficient inline design and simply use a tether to shift the weight of the battery to your back.

With that as the standard, it’s hard to argue with the Stihl BGA 200 as our top pick. It has the performance to hit one of the highest blower forces we’ve tested (21.3 N) and the runtime of a 42.3Ah (1522Wh) backpack power source. It’s expensive, though. The whole package including the backpack battery runs north of $1700.

Price: $449.99 bare

Best Cordless Leaf Blower Value

Greenworks Pro 60V 610 CFM Leaf Blower

Getting the most bang for your buck doesn’t mean dropping completely away from excellent performance. Greenworks’ Pro 60V 610 CFM blower offers the best value in our opinion. It pairs a top blower force of 19.7 N with a $199 price tag that includes a 2.5Ah battery and charger. While you can find cheaper battery-powered blower kits, you’ll have a hard time finding one at that price that pushes this much air.

Price: $199.00 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Budget Cordless Leaf Blower

Skil PWRCore 40 Brushless Leaf Blower

If you’re on a tighter budget, check out the Skil PWRCore 40 leaf blower. For $159.00, you get a brushless blower with 500 CFM and 120 MPH top airspeed that hit 12.0 N in our testing. The kit comes with a 2.5Ah battery and PWRJump quick charger.

Price: $159.00 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

More Best Cordless Leaf Blower Options From Brands We Trust

Best DeWalt Battery-Powered Leaf Blower

DeWalt moved to an inline design with the latest version of their FlexVolt blower and hit 17.0 N in our testing. The downside is that it’s loud—91 decibels at our operator’s ear. We also thought the tone of that sound was somewhat irritating. With a 9.0/3.0Ah battery, it ran for 12:12 in our tests.

The bare tool runs $229 and the kit with a 9.0/3.0Ah battery is only $70 more—not bad for a battery that retails for $239 on its own. Plus the battery works with DeWalt’s 20V Max and 60V Max lines of power tools and lawn care equipment.

Price: $229.00 bare, $299.00 with 9.0/3.0Ah battery and charger

Best Hart Cordless Leaf Blower

HART upped its blower game this year with several new battery-powered leaf blower options. That includes a couple that move into much higher-performance classes. The top of the line is the 650 CFM brushless blower. Combined with up to 160 MPH of airspeed and hitting 17.1 Newtons in our tests, it’s also part of HART’s Ultra-Quiet Series. It lets you balance excellent performance while keeping the noise levels down.

Price: $258.00 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Greenworks Battery-Powered Leaf Blower

Greenworks joins the 700 Club as one of the few battery-powered blowers to reach the 700 CFM rating. As the top-performing leaf blower on Greenworks’ Pro 60V line, it’s capable of 170 MPH top speed and is one of the elite blowers to hit 20.0 N in our testing.

Price: $299.99 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Makita Cordless Blower

We love the Makita XBU03 blower as a lightweight blower for quickly cleaning off hard surfaces. If it’s the highest performance you’re looking for, though, check out Makita’s ConnectX system. Using a 1200Wh backpack battery as an energy source, it tethers to the CBU01 blower and produces up to 622 CFM and 157 MPH. It’s part of a Pro-level system aiming to help commercial crews make a seamless transition from gas to battery power.

Price: $449.00 bare

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery Blower

Milwaukee’s leaf blower resume` got a big boost with the launch of the 2824. It boasts 600 CFM and 145 MPH. Using two batteries for power, the brushless motor hit an excellent 18.0 Newtons in our testing—much better than the 11.2 Newtons from the previous model. Dropping the ambidextrous cruise control slider to deliver 12N (the high end of handheld gas blowers), we were able to run continuously for more than 30 minutes. Designed for professionals, this one runs $299.00 as a bare tool.

Price: $299.00

Toro 60V Max Flex Force Leaf Blower

Toro has quietly produced an excellent line of cordless OPE and their top brushless blower is worth considering. Maxing out at 605 CFM and 115 MPH, we measured 19.0 N in our testing. Dropping down just a notch from the highest-performing battery-powered blowers, this Toro 60V blower earns a solid value score. The bare tool runs just $149.99 and you can get the kit for $219.99 which includes a 2.5Ah battery and charger. Plus, it’s Made in the USA.

Price: $149.99 bare, $219.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Masterforce 400 CFM Battery-Powered Leaf Blower

You can pick up the Masterforce 20V brushless 400 CFM leaf blower at Menards. It does a fine job considering it hits up to 100 mph and runs on just a single 20V battery. We find it to be a good fit for smaller lawns that mainly require hard surface cleanup after mowing and light fall leaf collection. If that sounds like your lawn and you’re looking for a lightweight alternative to gas or corded leaf blowers, this is for you.

Price: $139.99 with 4Ah FlexPower battery and charger

Cordless Blower Buying Guide | What We Look For

Blowing Force

How much blowing force a cordless blower has makes a big difference in how you’re going to use it. Some might be great for helping you with fall leaves, others might be good for light sweeping only. Air value (CFM) and airspeed (MPH) are helpful, but the numbers we see on the box are best-case scenario, sometimes with different nozzles.

We measure Newton force to get a single number that describes how much force is actually coming from the blower. At the end of the day, that’s the best way to compare the work a blower does.

Runtime

Runtime is another important area to consider. You might have less than 10 minutes of actual trigger time when you clean the driveway and sidewalk after mowing. But your fall leaf management might require 20 or 30. Understanding how much work you have helps you determine whether a blower meets your needs. Most people buy multiple tools that work on the same battery and having extra batteries extends how much work you can get done.

Noise Level

Cordless blowers are quieter than gas models, but that doesn’t mean that all of them are quiet. ANSI standards rate blower noise levels from 50 feet away to consider the hearing safety of bystanders. We measure from our operator’s ear so you know how much noise you have to deal with as the user.

Weight and Balance

Because most cordless blowers are handheld models, it’s good to know how much weight you’re going to muscle around. The balance is important, too. A well-balanced blower points down naturally at wide open throttle so you don’t have to work as hard to keep the nozzle at the best working angle.

Features and Design

Blowers are fairly simple compared to some of the tools we review. Here are some of the features that make using them easier or improve the performance:

• Brushless motor
• Cruise control
• Turbo mode
• Inline design
• Multiple nozzles
• Shoulder strap
• Rapid charger

In addition to the features themselves, we also look for things you might like or dislike while you’re using the blower such as uncomfortable seams or better grip.

Value

At Pro Tool Reviews, we know price is important. Most of us have some kind of budget we’re working under, but value is more than just an inexpensive price tag. Sometimes, the most expensive option is so far ahead or solves such a big problem that it’s also a great value. Other times, one of the best budget picks presents itself as the best value. Often, it’s something in between. Wherever it is, we want to help you get the most bang for your buck

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Cordless Leaf Blower Reviews 2022: Fall Update appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Arguably one of the oldest tools known to humanity is the hammer. The irony is that we’re still trying to come up with new ways to improve it! While it might be a prehistoric tool, it’s unlikely to go extinct any time soon since most homes (at least in the USA) are still constructed out of wood. While the best nail guns take a lot of the work out of driving nails, you still find a hammer slung from the hip of any framing contractor. For this reason, we looked at many of the current hammers on the market to select the best framing hammer.

The Best Framing Hammer – A Key Tool

In the years I’ve done construction, I’ve found many strong opinions on hammers. Actually, now that I think about it, hammers could be one of the most polarizing tools I’ve encountered. Everyone has their opinions on what makes a good hammer. Steel, wood, or fiberglass handle? Titanium or steel head? Straight or curved handle? Smooth or textured grip? In full disclosure, even I have to admit some bias. My framing hammer of choice for the last several years has been a Douglas 20 oz framer. This hammer is great because of the genius head to handle connection, the straight, chisel-tipped ripping claw, and the side nail puller. The fit and finish are second to none, and there is a certain balance that I appreciate. It is a beautiful blend of function and form. But is it the very best hammer? That’s a very good question. I’d like to find out.

Although I had some favorites, that’s not to completely diminish the other hammers in our lineup. Some of them definitely had some great qualities worth mentioning. Following are our recommendations on the best framing hammer for various applications.

Best Framing Hammer Overall

Stiletto Ti16MC 16 oz.

The claim to fame of the Stiletto Ti16MS framing hammer is its 16 oz. titanium head. This head, combined with a straight hickory handle, was the overall lightest hammer in the lineup. However, it still weighed more than the Stiletto 12 oz Titanium Remodeler hammer. The head is very classic in its style with a large strike face and deep milling.

There is a magnetic nail holder on the top of the head. At the base where the handle is inserted into the head, there is about a 3/4-inch extension of extra metal. This provides some strike protection to the handle. Quite simply, this hammer is a joy to swing, and over time your arm, shoulder, and elbow will thank you. While the $107 retail price tag is the second most expensive in the test, you can find it online for far less. And really, if you’re swinging a hammer all day long, I’m not sure you can put a price on comfort.

Pros: Lightest hammer in the test, Second largest strike face.
Cons: Cost.
Verdict: The heavy-hitter with the lightest swing.
Price: $99.99

Best Framing Hammer for Demolition

DeWalt DWHT51411 17 oz.

While I’m normally a fan of DeWalt tools, this hammer frustrated me. The thing that got to me was the oddly-angled head. What I found is that it never seemed to swing with the feel of a traditional hammer—often striking unevenly. Still, we loved the “Fubar”-like design that grips and twists 2x4s effectly when using a nailer (in your other hand) to secure studs. We also loved the integrated side nail puller.

Pros: Low price, nail puller.
Cons: Odd swing, no nail magnet.
Verdict: While it swings well and hits hard, the sticky coating on this handle will likely drive you nuts.
Price: $37.99

Best Wood-Handled Framer

Vaughan & Bushnell 2115C Dalluge 21 oz. Framing Hammer

The Vaughan & Bushnell 2115C Dalluge Framing Hammer features a 21-ounce waffled head. As a framing hammer, we love the simple design. The 18-inch hickory handle feels great in the hand and gives you a comfortable swing. The steel head also features a magnetic nail holder. Of all the hammers tested, this tool felt most like the quintessential framer.

Pros: Magnetic nail puller, comfortable swing
Cons: None
Verdict: If you want a traditional “no-frills” framing hammer, it doesn’t get better than this.
Price: $65

Dead On Tools 24oz Investment Cast Wood Hammer

We’d call this one a runner-up. This 24-ounce hammer really felt easy to swing—despite its weight. From the black wood handle to the milled face, the Dead On Tools 24oz investment cast wood hammer means business.

We like the magnetic nail set and the confident straight black hickory handle. The hammer measures a full 18-inches from top to tail and it swings very naturally with excellent overall balance. If you’re all about the look this may be your tool!

Pros: Excellent balance, inexpensive.
Cons: No frills, non-replaceable head.
Verdict: This hammer is cool, but it’s not titanium and might have difficulty keeping its good looks.
Price: $99

Best Steel Framing Hammers

DeWalt MIG Weld Framing Hammers

Coming to market with a metal-handled hammer proves tricky since other well-established tools already exist. Where the DeWalt MIG weld framing hammer differs from others is its construction methods. Rather than a single forged handle and head, DeWalt uses three separate steel forges that it then mig welds together.

DeWalt does this so that it can heat treat each of the pieces differently. Combined, the hammer has good wear, toughness, and flexibility in all the right places. All in all, this hammer is comfortable to use. It exhibited decent balance as well. You can find these in sizes ranging from 12 to 15 ounces.

Pros: Light head with a large strike face, Attractive, Easy to swing, Size options.
Cons: Transfers more vibration than a wood-handle hammer.
Verdict: A heavy hammer that swings lighter than you might expect.
Price: $54

Douglas FR-20S or DFR-20S 20 oz.

This Douglas hammer was a gift to me from my brother who is a framing contractor in Alaska. He promised me that this hammer would become one of my favorite tools because of its balance, design, and features. He was completely right, as I’ve used this tool more than any other over the last 5 years since he gifted it to me. This hammer has a genius handle-to-head attachment system that is not only rigid but also provides handle overstrike protection.

Because of how it’s designed, it features one of the easiest-to-replace handles in the industry. The face features inverted dimples which help grip nails still but don’t mar delicate materials, and its built-in side nail pull and almost ruler-straight claw make it easy to do demo and disassembly work. This handle is relatively unchanged throughout the years except that the new model features an attractive red accent color. Unfortunately, Douglas cannot seem to keep this tool in stock. Neither can Vaughan who makes the similar (but titanium) 7180 Dalluge. If you can find one—buy it!

Pros: Stainless steel head, Excellent balance, Great fit and finish.
Cons: Cost and availability (they cannot seem to keep items in stock).
Verdict: In my opinion, this is the hammer to beat.
Price: Vaughan & Bushnell 7282 for $99

Best Titanium Framing Hammer

Stiletto TB3MC 15 oz Ti-Bone titanium hammer

I know we chose the hickory 16-ounce model as our top overall, but this model is titanium through-and-through. This 15-ounce hammer dates back to the beginning of the Stiletto brand. The Stiletto Ti-Bone III titanium hammer features a milled face (they have smooth as well) and an integrated 180º side nail-puller. The TB3MC hammer stands as one of my top four favorites out of the models I looked at.

It really drives hard—like a much heavier steel hammer. I’d put it around 24 ounces or higher if you want a comparison. The hammer features a removable steel face so you can purchase replacement heads (smooth or milled) without having to buy a whole new tool. It also gives you the strength of that steel hit with the weight of a titanium hammer.

It also featured titanium all the way through the hammer—not just at the head. The rubberized grip on the handle gives you a secure hold and doesn’t seem like it will peel or crack. We also love the well-placed thumb indent at the top of the coated handle.

Pros: Great price, Classic look, Nice balance.
Cons: Nothing to complain about here.
Verdict: One of my favorite hammers, and one of the best-looking in the crowd.
Price: Check out the 16oz titanium equivalent for $99

Best Budget Framing Hammer

Dead On 24 oz. Milled Face Straight Hickory Hammer

Dead On used to call this hammer the “Death Stick”. That inherently makes it cool (though not necessarily good). The steel head measures 24 ounces and includes a built-in magnetic nail set. You get a black curved hickory handle. This hammer falls in the middle for overall weight yet it had a balanced feel when swung.

The face of the hammer is not as aggressively textured as I like since it was investment cast and not finish machined. The strike face size is also the second smallest out of the hammers that I looked at. Finally, Dead On heat-treated the face area and claws to maximize life. You can find cheaper hammers, but for the price, we like this as our budget pick.

Pros: Cool name.
Cons: Smaller strike face, not very aggressively textured
Verdict: An aptly named tool whose name and look might be a bigger hit than the actual hammer.
Price: $34

Best Made in the USA Framing Hammers

Hardcore Hammers The Original 19 oz.

The idea behind The Original is certainly innovative. By slightly recessing the waffle, face wear by striking anything other than the nail is pretty much eliminated. However, the area surrounding the face is larger than I would like, so strikes anywhere other than near the dead center of the face are potentially nail-bending shots. Because of the face, it seemed to take an extra whack to really set nail heads flush with the wood. This tended to leave a decent circle imprint around the nail.

We did like the dual nail magnets on the top and bottom of the face. Hardcore Hammers also makes these tools in the USA.

Pros: Double nail magnets, lightweight steel head, hardened steel waffle face.
Cons: Small strike face area, Glancing blows tend to more easily bend the heads of nails.
Verdict: A hammer with a great idea that could use some tweaking.
Price: $105

Vaughan California Framer 19 oz.

The Vaughan California Framer 19 oz hammer has classic styling and size. If you like to wield a full-size hammer that hits hard, this American-made classic isn’t just a good choice—it’s a good value as well. I picked this hammer as one of my top four selections in this line-up.

Pros: Heavy head hits hard, No surprises.
Cons: Not much to complain about.
Verdict: This classic-style hammer hits hard and drives nails home as you’d expect.
Price: $46

Estwing Big Blue 25 oz.

This metal-handled Estwing hammer is probably the most identifiable out of our test. Time and time again I have seen these hammers beat to heck with faces worn smooth from use. Unlike wood-handled hammers, these metal Estwing tools have the distinction of being nearly indestructible. Perhaps that’s what makes them great for pulling nails and heavy-duty prying in addition to their nail-driving abilities.

While this hammer was the heaviest in our test, it still displayed good balance. The USA-made Estwing line of metal-handled hammers sits in my top four hammers list simply because of their durability and balance.

Pros: One piece handle and head, Reasonable price, Nice finish.
Cons: Nothing negative to note.
Verdict: This hammer is practically a staple tool in most contractors’ pouches and bags. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done.
Price: $49

So What Makes for the Best Framing Hammer?

To better understand some hammer technology (yes, there actually is technology involved), it makes sense to have a quick science lesson on the physics of a hammer.

Don’t worry, this won’t hurt much.

How Mass Plays a Role – WARNING: Math Ahead!

A hammer is a force amplifier that converts mechanical work into kinetic energy and back again. When swinging a hammer, kinetic energy gets stored in the hammer’s head. The kinetic energy equals the length of the swing times the force produced by your muscles (and gravity). When the hammer strikes the nail, the nail stops the head with an equal and opposite force.

Where this gets tricky is when you start to take into consideration the effect of the mass of the hammer’s head. The amount of energy delivered to the nail by the hammer is equal to one-half the mass of the head times the square of the head’s speed at the time of impact. The key here is that the energy delivered to the nail increases linearly with mass but it increases quadratically with the speed.

KE = 1/2 mv²

Let me summarize that for you: An easier-to-swing hammer delivers more energy to the nail. This forms one of the key arguments in the titanium hammers vs steel hammers debate.

Hammer Handles Matter Too

Lightweight hammer heads allow for faster swing velocity, but handle designs can also help the efficiency of your swing. That includes taking into account vibration-absorbing materials, length, and angle. Essentially, to find the best framing hammer, it will have to have a combination of certain head and handle qualities that make it feel “right”.

There are literally hundreds of hammers out there, so for the sake of time and practicality, we tried to limit the playing field to framing hammers whose head weights ranged in the low to mid 20 ounces, had long handles, straight rip claws and milled faces. Both titanium and steel models were acceptable. Our list of hammers is in no way inclusive of all that is available. There are many more manufacturers and models that I did not get a chance to put my hands on yet. Perhaps I’ll have to revisit this after I collect and evaluate all of the hate mail I’m sure to get following this best framing hammer review. (I did mention this was a contentious topic, did I not?)

Measuring and Weighing the Best Framing Hammers

I started out by weighing each hammer. Then I measured the face size using calipers, handle length with a tape measure and set up a grid to make comparing and evaluating the various tools easier. When I measured the face, I didn’t use the outer diameter of the head, but rather the area of the milled surface. In almost every hammer that space is smaller than the head’s full outer diameter. I figured it was more important to know the actual striking area of the hammer as opposed to the full head size.

It is also interesting to note that while some hammers might have a lightweight head, the handles sometimes added back enough weight to counteract any gains achieved in shaving off some extra steel. We point this out because a hammer’s weight is more than just the head. It’s the entire hammer (a number manufacturers do not always prominently advertise).

Manually Testing the Framing Hammers

I tested out each hammer with both bright and galvanized 16 penny (16D) nails. I drove the nails into spruce studs and some pressure-treated 4x4s. Since so much of a hammer’s function is dependent on the skill and technique of the user, extensive testing really is not necessary for the scope of this article. In other words—I didn’t have to drive in thousands of nails before drawing some conclusions.

In fact, I took lots of breaks so that I wouldn’t be swayed by a tired arm or a sore wrist. Perhaps in the future, when time and budget permit, I can develop a piece of scientific equipment to analyze things like striking force, vibration, and swing efficiency. While it would be cool to have statistics on these variables, this is ultimately a subjective topic requiring a subjective review.

Reviewing hammers is just like reviewing trucks. Some Pros are polarized on which brand they like. You can test, re-test, and crown a winning truck of the year (every year). Everyone still has their personal preference on what pickup they want to drive.

Maybe the best hammer test would have all of the participants blindfolded and I could hand them a random hammer to see what they really think. While they wouldn’t be swayed by brands, colors, materials, and logos, it might be one of the more painful tests we’ve ever run!

Value, Features, and Performance

After spending some time with all of the hammers I ended up with this list of what I felt were the best. I based this on their value, features, and overall perception of their performance. Of course, nearly any framing hammer will drive a nail. However, not all of them will do it well. In addition to my beloved “benchmark” Douglas framing hammer, I tested steel and titanium selections from Stiletto, Estwing, DeWalt, Vaughan, and others. I also looked at a cross-section of synthetic, steel, and wood handles.

In the same way that I prefer Ford trucks, I might also display a slight bent towards more traditional hammers. This entire experience remains largely subjective.

While I may prefer particular features, the best test of a hammer is picking one up and taking a swing!

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

The post Best Framing Hammer for Pros appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

This review started off as a sort of bait and switch. You see, I was asked if I would like to review “a tool belt or two” for Pro Tool Reviews. “Sure, send them over,” I said. Reviewing and choosing the right or best tool belt or tool rig isn’t hard if you’re picking from a few products. After all, I’ve been doing this for decades—I know tool belts!

12 Tool Belts Later…

A week or two later I arrived home to a massive onslaught of boxes on my doorstep. A “tool belt or two” somehow evolved into a dozen tool belts with the promise of more to come. Finding the best tool belt just got a lot more time-intensive.

If you read my articles, you know that I try to bring all of the tools and products I review to the toughest, meanest, and dirtiest testing facility of them all—the jobsite! So how in the world was I going to be able to wear, test, and basically beat the tar out of thirteen tool bags in just a few weeks?

Even if I gave a belt to each of my guys, I just didn’t have the time to wear these belts long enough. We wanted to get a real flavor for how they performed and held up. I decided the best way to approach this was to systematically go through each tool rig and cover important features and accessories. Along the way, my crew and I would test out as many as possible.

The Best Tool Belts and Rigs We Chose

Overall, my team and I looked at over a dozen different tool belts. Since choosing the right tool belt can make or break your day, we looked at a ton of models—including the following:

• AWP Classic Construction Leather Tool Apron (LT-428-2) – $50
• AWP TrapJaw Oil-Tan Leather Tool Rig (L-903-1) – $80
• Bucket Boss Builders Tool Belt (50200) – $50
• Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Tool Belt – $58
• DeWalt 12-Pocket Carpenter’s Suede Apron (DG5372) – $55
• DeWalt Carpenter’s Tool Belt (DG5472) – $80
• Jackson Palmer Professional Comfort-Rig Tool Belt – $44
• Klein One-piece Nail/Screw and Tool-pouch Apron (42242K) – $80
• McGuire-Nicholas 494 Suede Carpenter Apron – $31
• McGuire-Nicholas Oil Tan Apron (767-E) – $48
• Occidental Leather Adjust-to-Fit Tool Belt (9855) – $365
• Style N Craft 98444 19 Pkt Framer’s Combo in Top Grain Leather – $194
• Style N Craft 93414 17 Pocket Pro Framer’s Combo Tool Belt – $192

Best Tool Belt Overall

Occidental Leather Adjust-to-Fit Tool Belt (9855)

After wearing and testing these belts extensively, we picked the Occidental Leather Adjust-to-Fit Tool Belt (9855) as the best tool belt overall. Occidental makes this top-leather tool belt right in the USA. The belt feels already broken in—so you don’t have the deal with any stiffness. All 24 pockets seem perfectly positioned, and I had room for everything I needed to store.

Mind you—if you end up choosing this tool belt, it doesn’t come cheap. Its steep $365 price, however, includes a lifetime repair service (stitch & rivet) for their all-leather carpenter’s tool bags. Try getting that off a cheap tool belt!

Best Carpenters or Contractor Tool Belt

AWP TrapJaw Oil-Tan Leather Tool Rig (L-903-1)

With the Occidental Leather pick above in mind as our top pick, I thought a more practically-priced solution might be good to highlight here. I’ve worked with carpenters and contractors that work out of tool boxes or tool bags. They’re constantly picking up and putting down tools. Not only are these guys constantly looking for tools or having to fetch fasteners, but they also work less efficiently.

While others look and reach for tools—for me, choosing the right tool belt means access. I want my tools right on me in my tool belt at all times. The best carpenters tool belt for keeping the right tools on hand is the AWP HP General Construction Leather Belt Flip Pocket Tool Rig.

Our crew loved the supple bags. They found it perfect for holding just enough tools without being overbearing for carpentry work. It also has you covered with two large rings for hammers. You also get D-rings if you want to use suspenders. The bags slip along the main belt easily as well, so you can reposition them as needed. For professional contractors executing a variety of tasks, this $80 tool belt rocks the job site.

Best Electrician Tool Belt

Klein Tools 42242K Tool Apron

Choosing the right tool belt for electrical work presented some unique requests. Feedback indicated that less is more. You want a place to keep your primary tools handy—but you don’t need 20 pockets and two steel hammer loops. In fact, no hammer loop suited our guys just fine. The best electrician tool belt for keeping your tools and meters close-by has to be the Klein Tools 42242K tool apron. The bags have a nice soft suede feel, so it’s easy to reach inside and grab screws or wire nuts.

You also get plenty of places to store marking tools and NCV detectors. A center steel tape holder is handy. Klein then gives you two large pockets and two small pockets to divvy up your gear. Overall, we think this tool bag holds just enough electrician tools without going overboard. The $80 price won’t break the bank either.

Best Framing Tool Belt

McGuire Nicholas 767-E Contractor’s Apron

Framers need their tools handy, but not too many. When choosing the right tool belt for a framer, you want ample room for key tools. That includes a framing square, hammer, marking tools, nails, tape, and a few other oddities. You also don’t want to break the bank buying a reliable tool belt. We chose the McGuire Nicholas 767-E Contractor’s Apron as our best framing tool belt.

We like that it has steel hammer loops on either side. That also might make it the best tool belt for left-handed people. The tape pouch sits right where we like it, and you don’t have a billion pockets to contend with. You get just enough to carry what you need. The only downside has to do with sizing. Since the belt has hard-riveted pockets that don’t slide, thinner framing pros may end up with an odd fit. Still, you really can’t go wrong with the $48 price.

Most Comfortable Tool Belt

Jackson Palmer Professional Comfort-Rig Tool Belt

This Jackson Palmer tool belt defies you to feel the weight—even when carrying heavier cordless power tools from its integrated tool hooks. This tool belt is our pick for most comfortable due to its incredibly well-built design. From the adjustable padded shoulder straps to the triple rear tethers, it distributes the weight between your waist and back. Iron buckles and reinforced stitching at key stress points just add to the durability.

Jackson Palmer also gives you large detachable pocket organizers with integrated tool compartments for your drivers, pliers, and more. We also like the rear-mounted hammer loop—which keeps that tool out of the way until you need it. This comfortable tool rig might be the best thing for anyone climbing or needing to carry a lot of heavier items. At $44 you almost feel like you’re stealing it!

Best Tool Belt for the Money

DeWalt DG5372 12-pocket Carpenter’s Suede Apron

This $55 suede apron wins hands-down as our pick for the best tool belt for the money. The DeWalt DG5372 12-pocket Carpenter’s Suede Apron features 5 main pockets. It also gives you 7 small pockets and sleeves to handle pencils and similar small items. The belt features dual soft handles above the main pouches. You can use them to easily adjust the belt while wearing it. It also works really well for collapsing and carrying the tool belt around when you move from site to site.

Best Canvas or Nylon Tool Belt

Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Tool Belt

I still feel that polyester and nylon (or even canvas) make the best tool belts for lightweight and simple comfort. Sure, you can get comfortable leather tool belts with shoulder straps and harnesses, however, a polyester or nylon belt just works. The synthetic material weighs less than leather yet it provides similar performance. The Carhartt Legacy Deluxe Tool Belt seems to provide a nice simple solution for anyone looking to save some weight.

This polyester-lined tool bag has nine pockets with a metal hammer loop and steel tape measure holder. You even get two removable pockets. Priced at just over $58, we really like the value this tool belt offers.

What I Carry in My Tool Belt

In my world of residential construction, I can be framing one day and installing kitchen cabinets and crown molding the next. I tend to load up my tool belt/bag based solely on the daily tasks at hand. Even with the varied applications, a few “permanent” tools reside within my tool belts. These are tools that have proven their worth over time, and each has a dedicated and very specific spot. The best tool belt you can find is one that holds every tool you need.

• My best framing hammer
• Stanley Fatmax (which I consider the best tape measure)
• Wooden folding ruler
• 2 nail sets
• Chalk line
• Swanson aluminum speed square
• Small combo pry bar/nail puller
• End cutters
• Needle nose pliers
• Torpedo level
• Scribes
• 2-3 carpenter pencils
• 2 fixed-blade utility knives
• LED flashlight
• Multi-bit screwdriver

Building Muscle Memory and Good Habits

Over time, repetition has trained me to develop the habit of being able to access and stow these tools in my belts without looking for the pocket. Call it muscle memory, but it’s a huge time-saver when you’re working or focusing on a task. You don’t have to stop what you’re doing to look in your belt to remove or stow a tool. Build good habits and you can speed up your work over time.

I wear a tool belt most of the time. While there are situations where a tool belt is neither feasible nor warranted for the situation, those times are few and far between. Wearing a tool belt for me equates to being efficient and methodical. It means having the necessary tools on my person to complete the task.

Don’t Baby Your Tool Belt or Tool Bag

I’m also really rough on my tool belts. Over time, my bags and belts usually fail at the tool pockets. This might be due to my insisting on stowing and using two fixed, open utility knives and a super sharp chisel. I’m a bit old-school on the utility knives. I prefer the speed of not having to operate a switch to open them. (Don’t tell OSHA!) I’ve even gone so far as to customize my knife and chisel pockets with pieces cut out of plastic bottles to reduce damage to the bottom. Don’t knock it—it works!

How We Go About Choosing the Right Tool Belt

Choosing the right tool belt requires more than one opinion. To solve this, I called an emergency session with my crew. I told them to bring their best tool belts, grab a coffee, and meet me at the shop. Some likely thought they were getting pink slips!

Once in the shop we sat down, loaded up each tool belt with our own “permanent resident” tools, and tried them on. We looked at each and every tool belt and discussed them based on their pros and cons. It was actually a lot of fun.

I encouraged everyone to load up tools and fasteners, actually wear the tool belts, and comment. We decided to look at each rig individually and talk them up…and down. This helped to avoid comparing them with one another right off the bat, which was tough to do. That being said, it didn’t take long before we were all choosing the right tool belt for ourselves!

When choosing the right tool belt, we looked at and discussed the following:

• Fit and finish
• Durability
• Quality (material, seams, stitching, and rivets)
• Customization
• Belt and buckle adjustability, material, and comfort
• Pockets and tool holders, capacity, ambidextrous use, fixed or adjustable
• Number of pockets, size, and usefulness
• Hammer holders and locations
• Which trade would best utilize the belt
• Price and value

Tool Belt Durability, Fit and Finish

There is a lot that goes into a good quality tool belt: material, seams, stitching, and rivets. Then you have the belt and buckle adjustability, material, and comfort. Also, some belts come in various sizes, while others claim to be “one-size-fits-all”. If your waistline is less than 34-inches you may have some difficulty with many of the single-size belts. They seem to always make the assumption that the average construction worker is, well, slightly above average in the middle.

When choosing the right tool belt for their neds, my crew agreed that oil-tanned leather tool belt rigs had the highest build quality. All of these style rigs were well-made. Some, like those from Style N Craft, AWP, and Occidental Leather have beefy rivets, excellent padding, and real thick leather belts. Others even included built-in loops for suspenders and handles for carrying or hanging up the belt when not in use.

A majority of the guys on my crew thought the oil-tanned leather belts with “fixed” bags had a disadvantage. These tool belts had the potential to become uncomfortable. They also severely limited your ability to individually customize them. Less adjustability typically meant less capacity for stowing smaller tools and fasteners. We surmised that these belts were designed and set up for a framer who carries and stores minimal tools, but who may load up on fasteners.

What About Nylon, Polyester, and Canvas Tool Bags?

I was the only standout who preferred a canvas, polyester, or nylon-style belt for its lightweight comfort. Even with a majority voting against me, I held my ground. I’m the oldest of the group and the only one, so far, with lower back issues. I tend to gravitate to lightweight nylon rigs for obvious reasons.

But you can also find high-quality nylon or polyester tool belts and rigs. I suggest that if you’re considering one, look at the thickness of the material. You also want to examine the stitching (Is it single or double?) and note any features that allow for customization. That might be handles, a padded belt, suspender loops, or hammer and tape holders.

Remember, you will likely wear your best tool belt on a regular basis. It needs to competently hold all of the tools you regularly use. Go with a high-quality, durable product that can take all the abuse that comes along with the territory—regardless of whether it’s made of leather or synthetic materials.

Not All Leather is the Same

Some of the leather tool belts we reviewed from Klein, AWP, and McGuire-Nichols all reminded me of my first tool belt. Unfortunately, that one didn’t last me that long due to pocket blowouts. Each of these tool belts uses soft (almost suede) leather with heavy rivets and mostly double stitching. We felt these belts were beefy enough to be called jobsite worthy, but most of the crew tended to lean toward the heavier leather models.

Belts, in general, also varied considerably. Both AWP belts featured top grain leather pouches, but the belts were two-ply, sewn together. This style of belt isn’t likely to hold up nearly as long as the thicker full-grain leather belts made by McGuire-Nicholas. Some of the belts using this style of construction also looked to be made of bonded leather. Bonded leather is stiffer and not nearly as durable. The best tool belt of all the models we tested had to be the Occidental Leather 9855. We also liked options from Style & Craft. Both appeared to use thick, pliable saddle leather.

Comfort and Fit

In addition to the material used in the belt, which varied from nylon to bonded leather to saddle leather, all of the models featured sturdy buckles. While a large metal belt buckle is durable, it’s also had the potential to dig into your belly when leaning over. Worse, it might scratch a finished surface. We all tended to lean toward the tool belts which let the wearer either spin the buckle to the rear or slide it behind one of the two attached tool bags.

The rivets on most of the belts were fairly low profile. There were no other sharp edges with the exception of the hammer loops and combo square holders.

The oil-tanned leather rigs were well-constructed and designed for the long haul, but they were also fairly heavy. Their main bag compartments, however, tend to stay wide open and thus maintain their shape—a plus when wearing gloves.

The soft leather bags have “low profile” main compartments that lay flat and can be adjusted by sliding them over the belt. In fact, many of the tool belts let you slide around the main compartments. This provides a huge advantage when you want to adjust the rig by sliding a bag off of your hip into the most comfortable position possible. Of all of the features, this one was almost a requirement!

Customization, Capacity, and Those Damn Lefties!

One consideration you need to keep in mind when trying to choose the best tool belt (or the right tool belt for your trade) is choosing one that offers you plenty of space to carry exactly what you need. Trust me, there are enough tool belts out there. In fact, even if you don’t like a particular belt from a manufacturer, chances are, they make another model that will be much more to your liking.

It’s important that your tool belt has room for all the essential tools you use regularly. A major disappointment was trying on a tool belt that didn’t offer a single pencil or marker holder. I’m sure you could store a half dozen markers in a larger pocket, but every trade uses marking tools. This was important enough to want a dedicated pocket located front and center on both the left and right belts.

Quantity Matters!

If you’re like me, quantity matters, so look for a belt that has plenty of pockets and compartments. That way you can make sure all your favorite tools can be easily carried around with you. Balance the capacity with weight. If the belt is too heavy or too bulky to wear, you won’t use it. That really means you’ve wasted your money. You want to choose a system that offers great organization so it makes the most of all the space. This will make it easier for you to wear the tool belt on a regular basis.

Personally, I really gravitate toward a belt that offers individual tool holders inside the main compartment. Only two tool belts offered this option: the Klein Tradesman Pro and the AWP 1L-903. The others just had large main compartments where tools tend to settle to the bottom in a cluster. I like organization and want them separated for easy access.

Customization is Key

Customization of the tool belts was also an important topic and one that resonated with my lead carpenter. He’s a lefty and prefers tool bags that offer access from either side. Ambidextrous rigs are simply a great idea and a lot of tool belt manufacturers seem to be going this route for a more universal appeal.

Permanently fixed bags like some from AWP, the Klein 42242, and all of the DeWalt and McGuire-Nicholas rigs seemed to be very restrictive and tended to limit the bags to a particular application or body shape. I also shy away from fancy hinged metal hammer holders as they seem somewhat fragile for the long haul. A simple metal or leather hammer loop is preferable—something my entire team agreed on.

Some tool rigs offer a tape holder in the front with a strap to lock the tape measure in place – I always find this annoying and cut these straps off. It mostly gets in the way—usually when I’m trying to “re-holster” the tape. If you end up in positions where your tape could frequently fall out, then you might want to experiment with the straps.

Matching the Trade With the Belt

We all agreed that these rigs would be good for the carpenter. However, with all of the belts we looked at, it really depends on the scope of your job and your working style. The lightweight, lighter leather and low-profile belts seem to be a great fit for trim carpenters, painters, and guys doing punch lists. The Klein was clearly designed and laid out for electricians but is really a nice belt for just about anyone.

Cinching It All Up

Choosing a tool bag is like choosing a girlfriend or buying a car. I would be very conceited to pick out yours, and I certainly would not want you to choose mine…We’re still talking about girlfriends, right? There are nearly endless factors for deciding to go with one tool belt rig over another. My personal decision emphasized low weight and having lots of dedicated pockets. I also wanted the ability to customize and orient the accessories within the bags.

I started out my career using a soft leather tool belt (it was inexpensive). Later, I gravitated towards choosing a heavier leather tool belt rig. Recently, however, I hung it all up for a lightweight nylon-style rig with a padded belt. I find the padding helps spread out and distribute the weight in a way that’s better for my aging (and some days, aching) back.

So what do I consider to be the ultimate tool rig? I’d like to combine the weight and capacity of the Bucket Boss rig with the comfort and evenly-distributed weight support that the Klein Tradesman Pro padded belt. Then, I’d want to somehow work in the longevity and durability of those very cool oil-tanned rigs. I’d be in heaven!

Comments from the Peanut Gallery

Following are some quotes we received from actual tradesmen regarding various tool belts we gave them to try out. These may influence you more than what we wrote above!

“I like the all-leather tool belts for comfort and durability. They have the right size pouches for nails, making it easy to grab a handful—even with a glove on. There’s also a place for my tape, a square, and a metal loop for a hammer. I’ve had mine over 20 years, and while I have been given new ones for Christmas or my birthday, I always go back to my old leather friend.”

“I’ve been a carpenter for 38 years. I started with a cloth apron, but it couldn’t carry enough tools, so I went with a leather rig with the tape measure in the front. It was heavy, but it worked fine except on humid days on the roof. Boy, you can experience lots of sweating! For the last 10 or 12 years, I’ve been using the canvas type. Light, no sweat, and the pouches are able to slide along the heavy-duty belt. I also like the ability to place the hammer holder in the back where it doesn’t whack me in the back of my knee with every step.”

“I need a quality belt that evenly disperses weight, so I currently run with the Occidental Leather Pro Leather Framer bags. This belt fits my needs perfectly, and I feel lost if I’m working without it.”

Comfort & Practicality

“Comfort and practicality are most important. You have to have good suspenders that don’t rub and that take the weight off the hips. It also has to be practical so that you can support and carry a wide variety of tools without it being one big jumbled mess.”

“I think choosing the right bag really depends on what type of work you do. Each job could really use its own setup. For that, you need customization and floating bags that move along the belt. Take an impact driver, for example. That’s a tough tool to carry, and some manufacturers like McGuire-Nicholas, AWP, and Style N Craft provide a solution that.”

It’s the Weight!

“Weight is the biggest issue for me. I find myself using my suspenders for a couple of months. Then, when my shoulders get sore, I take them off for a couple of months until my hips and lower back start to feel it. Rinse, repeat. When I first started building, I used to load up my tool bags and fill up every pocket available with chisels screwdrivers, etc. I started out with affordable nylon bags, but I would go through them every couple of years. They just seem to fall apart and don’t age very well. 

Eventually, I went big and purchased a true leather rig for the long haul. I’ve had mine for eight years, and during that time I’ve also learned to work smarter. Now, I fill it with just the tools I need for the job. Weight is still a concern, and I’ve been trying to trade in my heavier metal tools for equivalent plastic, aluminum, and titanium models.”

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 350 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 750 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Tool Belt Reviews 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

The utility knife is quite possibly one of the most widely-used tools you’ll ever add to your arsenal, so why not make sure you get the one that’s right for you? From cutting boxes to scoring drywall to installing carpet, finding and using the best utility knife or razor knife can save you time and effort.

No matter what the task, you’ll have a knife with the quickness and features you need. Along with a hammer, pencil, and tape measure, a utility knife is next in line for the coveted “don’t go anywhere without it” spot in my tool pouch. But there are a lot of choices and preferences when shopping for a razor knife. Folding? Rugged? Retractable? Read on for our top picks.

Best Folding Utility Knife

Milwaukee Fastback Flip 48-22-1901

I’m not sure if it’s your first love, or something else. Our favorite folding utility knife remains the Milwaukee Fastback Flip. This best folding utility knife lacks extra blade storage (other versions have that) but it opens easily and has a super-quick blade change. Above that, the belt clip just works and it slides easily in and out of your pocket or tool pouch. This wasn’t the first folding utility knife, but it may still be the best. Pick it up for around $10 online or at your favorite Milwaukee dealer.

Best Retractable Utility Knife

LENOX 20353SSRK1

The LENOX 20353SSRK1 Retractable Utility Knife features a simple design that we love. You get a quick blade change that doesn’t force you to open up the handle. You can also open the utility knife to store or retrieve up to five blades within. At the front edge, a titanium-coated steel nose stays together and gives you a durable slot that braces the blade while you cut.

Sometimes a simple design just works. Why complicate things? This retractable utility knife even includes three LENOX Gold Titanium Edge utility blades—all for around $16.50.

Best Small Utility Knife

Gerber Prybrid

Apart from the minor annoyance of not including a pocket clip, the Gerber Prybrid knife impressed us with its style and simplicity. It actually packs quite a lot of functionality into a tiny space. More—it does that without sacrificing durability. You get a true utility blade for slicing and a notch for cord-cutting. The back end of the tool lets you pry, drive screws, strip wire, and open bottles. It’s kinda like carrying around a toolbox that fits in your pocket and only costs $20-25. This also makes for one of the best DIY gifts.

Best Snap-off Utility Knife

OLFA Aluminum Utility Knife

These OLFA aluminum utility knives come in two styles. The OLFA MPX-AL uses an auto-locking slide while the made-in-Japan OLFA MXP-L locks and unlocks with a metal ratchet wheel.

These also use snap-off blades—something OLFA invented. Each blade snaps into 8 segments, so it’s like having 4 trapezoidal blades without the hassle of flipping them around. At less than $30, these knives give you quality and always-sharp convenience like few others.

Honorable Mention: Lenox Fast Snap Utility Knife with Magnetic Blade Snap

We have to mention the Lenox Fast Snap utility knife simply because it’s one of the more innovative tools we’ve seen. From the shape and feel of the handle to the snapping mechanism and magnetic capture, this is basically tied as our best snap-style utility knife. Unless your jobsite has specific safety requirements about the kind of utility knife you can use, we highly recommend picking up this $10 product.

Best Fixed-Blade Utility Knife

Stanley Swivel-Lock

We picked the Stanley 10-399 swivel-lock as our best fixed-blade utility knife for several reasons. First, and foremost, the swivel-lock functionality lets you quickly pivot the handle open at the center. This lets you access the spare blade storage compartment within and swap blades when they get dull. The tool-free operation beats a threaded screw-based handle system by a mile. Almost unbelievably, this knife costs less than $4 at many retailers. Buy one for your whole crew.

Best Drywall Utility Knife

Irwin Drywall Utility Knife – 1774103

A good drywall knife emphasizes stability and ergonomics. With the Irwin 1774103, the fixed blade holds the knife steady without fear of it retracting on you during a cut. You also get quick and easy blade changes as well as onboard blade storage. We also like how you can choke up on the front of this knife for better control when dragging a cut toward you. Lastly, $13 is a great price for a no-nonsense tool-free drywall utility knife that should last many years.

Best Pocket Utility Knife

Milwaukee 48-22-1500 Fastback Compact Utility Knife

The Milwaukee 48-22-1500 Fastback makes a great pocket utility knife. More compact than the original Fastback, it works even better for easy carry in your pants pocket or clipped to a loop in your favorite tool belt. It keeps the press-and-flip function and tool-free blade change. It even has a small lanyard hole for tethering. For under $9 you can’t find a better EDC (every-day carry) pocket utility knife than this.

Best Utility Knife for Cutting Carpet

Crain Pivoting Carpet Knife 726H1

A carpet knife has to have the right angle to let you cut quickly and accurately. You want a no-nonsense knife with a fixed blade and tool-free blade change. The $16 Crain 726 carpet knife delivers. Not fancy, it’s quick, and the pivoting body opens quickly to let you replace the blade as needed to keep your edge sharp. It also supports various blade extension positions but clamps down tightly so you don’t get any slide.

Alternate Pick

• The Stanley 10-525 Adjustable Carpet Knife ($10.99) offers easy blade retraction. The Crain just offers a much simpler knife with fewer parts.

Best Utility Knife for Electricians

Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife (44218)

Clearly, you can grab any standard utility knife if that’s what you want. However, a nice hawkbill blade remains hard to beat. For that, we like the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife. You can swap the hawkbill for a coping blade—but both are replaceable. That makes this a true utility knife and you never need to sharpen the blades. Just charge it to the jobsite.

When we tested the Klein Cable Skinning Utility Knife, we skinned more than 50 cables with one blade. The 44218 runs less than $20 and blades run about $10 for a 3-pack. That should keep you skinning cables for quite some time.

Best Utility Knife for Roofing

Stanley Fatmax Xtreme 10-789 Twin Blade

Why carry two knives when one suffices? The Stanley Fatmax Xtreme 10-789 Twin Blade utility knife can carry both a standard utility blade and a hook blade. That covers most of what you may run into on the roof. They also made blade changes easy with a single release button on top. For less than $16, it’s like having two knives in one.

Most Unusual (and Handy) Utility Knife and Scraper

Toughbuilt Scraper Utility Knife

The Toughbuilt Retractable Scraper Utility Knife is the first tool we’ve seen with this sort of design, and it’s incredibly helpful. We’re often in need of a scraper, but that generally involves looking for a separate tool.

You can buy the Toughbuilt Retractable Scraper Utility Knife at Lowe’s for under $15. It includes 5 (proprietary) blades. When you need to pick up more, you can get a 30-pack for less than $10.

Best Utility Knife Blades

Irwin Bi-Metal Utility Knife Blades

We don’t like to skimp on utility blades. The best utility blades should last long enough to get the job done without requiring you to change them prematurely. We like the Irwin Bi-Metal utility blades best. They come in a 100-pack and serve as a great general-use blade for working on wood, plastic, or drywall.

Irwin makes these blades using welded spring steel and high-speed steel construction, which helps prevent shattering under stress. We’ve used these blades, and they tend to stay sharper for longer than the cheaper bulk carbon steel blades. You can get the pack for $27—around $0.37 per blade.

Best Utility Knife Brands

In our experience, the best utility knife brands include OLFA, Milwaukee Tool, Stanley, DeWalt, and Lenox. We could also expand on that with specialized brands like Klein and Crain—or budget brands such as Husky, and WorkPro. Lots of manufacturers make utility knives. Sticking with the top brands gets you a tool that’s likely been jobsite tested by hundreds or even thousands of Pros.

While more expensive power tools demand consideration of warranty, we don’t typically expect a decade of use out of our utility knives. Even the best utility knives function as consumables in our work experience. You certainly want the best tool for the job—and you don’t want to overpay. In the end, however, the best tool helps you get the job done quickly and accurately.

Which Utility Knife Do I Need?

Ask yourself some of the following questions when searching for the perfect utility or razor knife:

• How do I intend to use it?
• What are the basic kinds of utility knives?
• What’s the best blade type for me?
• Do I need to use a safety mechanism?
• What type of blade-changing mechanism do I want?

How Do I Intend to Use the Knife?

Depending on your application, you may prefer a folding utility knife. If you go through blades like there’s no tomorrow, you’ll want something with ample blade storage. This sounds like an easy question, but realize that utility knives are made in specific ways for specific tasks.

For those laying carpet, you’ll want a knife that is always ready and can handle quick, painless blade changes (which you’ll be doing at a rate of about—oh, I don’t know—once per minute, lol.) If you just want something for general use (opening packages, sharpening pencils, etc) then consider going with a standard knife. Models with a retractable blade can easily take a new blade when needed.

Alternatively, a folding razor knife might be the ticket for those wanting something different. Or, consider a smaller-profile knife with segmented, breakaway blades. Those qualify in this category as well. In either case, it’s important to match the knife to your intended use—or plan on picking up a couple of different tools.

Basic Types of Utility Knives

There are three essential types of utility knives. If you want the best utility knife for your application, understand each one. I’m sure you can come up with a few more that might deserve their own category, but for sake of simplicity, we’ll contain the descriptions to these four:

Retractable Knives

These knives are the most common utility variety and feature a sliding blade mechanism with variable depth. Actuation is typically through a button that is depressed with the thumb to expose the knife and control the depth of the blade (some knives are all or nothing).

Most retractable knives can accept multiple blade types, but this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Simple versions feature a straight handle and some kind of screw to separate the device and load spare blades, while advanced models may be more ergonomic in shape and offer quick-release blade changes.

Safety Knives

Some safety knives auto-retract or force you to squeeze a trigger to extend the blade. OSHA requires these tools on certain jobsites in order to meet various safety standards. Most users dislike using them as they violate every rule of ergonomics. However, when you have to use them, make sure you grab one that helps you work as efficiently as possible.

Fixed-Blade Knives

These knives are perfect for heavy-duty use and precision cuts. Since the blade gets locked into a single position, the knife experiences no “blade slop” or side-to-side wiggle which is common in standard retractable knives. Since the blade doesn’t retract, it’s important to carefully store these knives or even remove the blades when not in use.

These knives are most commonly found in the carpeting industry and they can typically accept many different types of blades. Apart from the common full-sized knife, certain hobby knives are also fixed-blade in design and can support ultra-sharp blades of various sizes and shapes that are used for precision cuts.

Folding Utility Knives

A variation of the fixed-blade knife includes folding knives. These feature the stability of a fixed blade with the fold-away protection of a retractable blade. They also give you a much more compact footprint.

Snap-Off Blade Knives

Snap-off blade knives feature segmented blades that are broken off in sections to deliver a brand new edge once the old one is too dull to be useful. They let you continue cutting without the need for a blade change. These knives started out catering to hobbyists where heavy-duty use wasn’t required. Now, OLFA makes segmented utility knives with heavy-duty snap-off blades that can hold up to jobsite use. Most blades come with anywhere from 8 to 13 segments.

Types of Utility Knife Blades

There are several blade types that will make each type of job much easier. Here are some of the more common styles you can buy:

Standard Utility Blades

These are the typical trapezoidal razor blades you see on full-size utility knives. Their trapezoidal shape gives you pointed edges for cutting materials of varying degrees of thickness and composition.

Round-point Utility Blades

These are identical to standard utility blades except for blunted points. This avoids accidental stabbing while still allowing for maximum cutting ability on a variety of materials. Some jobsites might require these for safety reasons.

Hook Blades

These blades are excellent on linoleum or carpet and allow for rapid cutting of those and similar materials. These blades come in a variety of sizes, and can also include blunt ends or single/dual-sided forms. A variant on this blade is the Linoleum blade which is typically single-sided and features a single arched blade hook.

Carpet Blades

These blades are typically rectangular and double-sided. Pros use them with specialty fixed utility knives that can accept them.

Snap-off Blades

Snap-off blades include standard wedge-type blades for smaller hobby knives and heavier-duty segmented blades. Some manufacturers offer these in varying thicknesses and materials, so pay attention to the application and materials you need to cut.

Scoring

These are almost always sold as a separate system but they are worth mentioning since they are used extensively in construction to cut various materials like cement board. These blades come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They let you score material designed to be snapped rather than cut through with a blade.

Best Utility Knife Features

Look for the following features in a utility or razor knife to enhance and expand upon the standard features you’d expect to find in a knife. Sure, you can get a straight-up blade with no frills, but some of these nifty features make using a utility knife something much more useful.

Folding Blade

A new trend is to treat the standard utility knife like a Kershaw folding pocket knife. As far as we can tell, this was pioneered by a company called Superknife and then quickly knocked off by many other manufacturers. Instead of the sharpened steel blade, you have a removable razor blade that is locked into a folding arm.

‘It typically locks away when not in use and makes for a great addition to throw into a tool bag—or your pocket for that matter. There are also utility knives with handles that bend but do not completely fold. This is mainly an issue of ergonomics, and these knives otherwise resemble standard, non-folding knives.

Quick Blade-Change Mechanisms

While some people prefer “old school” utility knives that require a flat head screwdriver to separate the body into halves to change the blade, our personal favorite are the models that use a simple button to swap blades.

With the simple push of a button, you can flip the razor blade around to the fresh side and continue use. Other knives feature a spring-loaded mechanism that can pivot or split the knife open and allow fast blade changes.

Onboard Blade Storage

Most utility knives offer internal blade storage, but increasingly, knives are coming up with more convenient ways to access those blades. While older knives had to be disassembled, new knives feature quick-release compartments and deliver much easier access to five or more spare blades.

String-Cutter

Some knives include a small slit in the body that accesses a small area of the blade just behind the head of the knife. This is perfect for slicing strings and twine without having to adjust the knife. It’s safe and easy to use.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Utility Knife Reviews 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

When we realized that, in all our years of writing, we never tackled the question of who makes the best work gloves, well…something had to be done. We quickly assembled the team and began discussing what made a pair of work gloves better than another. We wanted to cover every conceivable application as well. The best gloves for the trades. The best gloves for the money. Leather gloves. Gloves for using electronics. Honestly, this article took a long time to write.

Of course, we had to start with our favorite gloves—the best work gloves overall. After much deliberation amongst our office staff, there could be only one choice…and you may not like it.

Best Work Gloves Overall

Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves (15-Pack)

After having tried every kind of work gloves imaginable, we came to a simple conclusion: Fancy, padded work gloves wear out just as quickly as cheap gloves. Plus, they often increase the bulk on your hands while removing the dexterity found in simple fabric nitrile-dipped gloves. For men working every day on the jobsite, the best work gloves turn out to be a pair of lightweight coated fabric gloves that you can buy in bulk.

We buy the Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves in a 15-pack for about $9.88. We keep two boxes in our work truck—a clean box and a dirty box. When we get to the jobsite, we grab a clean pair. At the end of the day, when they get dirty, they go into the dirty box. At the end of the week, we take the dirty box, toss any ripped or torn pairs, and put the rest in the washing machine.

Not only do these gloves provide ample basic protection, but they also let you pick up stuff like screws. They also work really well with touchscreen devices like your smartphone. While other companies add this in as a feature—these cheap gloves do it out of the box…literally. And they do it for less than $1/pair. Trust us, you won’t go back. We have more picks, but they have to do with other applications that might require more than basic protection—so please read on!

Also Recommended

• G&F Products Latex Double-Coated Work Gloves (12-pack) – ~$14.50
• Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves (10-Pack) – ~$6.88

Best Work Gloves for Using Smart Devices

GRX Palmwick 733 Nitrile Coated Gloves

We can’t help but like the same gloves as above for smart device use, but the GRX Palwick 733 gloves from Lowes offer even better performance. They also deliver ANSI A3 cut protection—which is a nice perk. Even when we messed up these gloves with dirt and sawdust, they continued to let us answer our phones and even send short text messages without major issues.

Honestly, these $9.98 gloves have performed better than some gloves which claim, specifically, to work well with touchscreens and smart devices!

Best Work Gloves for Winter

Milwaukee Winter Performance Gloves

Milwaukee Winter Performance Gloves place their focus on general protection and warmth. They include a reinforced layer between the thumb and index finger as well as a nylon pull loop for easy removal. With 60g of insulation, these gloves handle the cold better than most.

More than that, they don’t lose focus on the fact that when you work you also tend to sweat—even when the outside temps are low. For that, Milwaukee includes their terry cloth sweat wipe on the thumb. You also get a handy SmartSwipe section on the knuckle that lets you access your phone or tablet without having to take off your gloves. They run about $30 per pair.

Also Recommended

• Milwaukee Winter Demolition Gloves – $34.99
• Mechanix Wear Winter Gloves (Synthetic Leather) – $18.98–$30

Best Work Gloves for Hot Weather

Ironclad EXOT Tactical Operator Impact Glove

We picked the Ironclad EXOT Series Tactical Operator Impact gloves as our best work gloves for hot weather for a number of reasons. Clearly, you can go with thinner, breathable materials for summer gloves if you don’t need much protection. However, if we’re talking regular protective work gloves that breathe—then Ironclad Tactical Operator gloves make a lot of sense.

These protective work gloves incorporate a breathable back that lets air flow through where it’s needed (and evacuates heat). You also get a handy terry cloth sweat wipe on the back of the thumb. The synthetic leather doesn’t shrink, so you can toss these gloves in the wash when needed. Finally, they offer this glove in a version with touchscreen capacitance capability (~$30) so you can use your smartphone.

And these tactical gloves also just look plain cool—plus they come in either black, green, or brown and cost about $25.

Also Recommended

• Ironclad GUG General Utility Gloves – ~$16.59
• 212 Performance Nylon Multipurpose Gloves – ~$20–$35

Best Work Gloves for Electricians

Youngstown FR Fire-rated Leather Gloves

When it comes to picking the best work gloves for electricians, a couple of things come to mind. First off—are we talking about insulated gloves for linemen? In this case, not really. Those gloves possess very standardized specifications that limit conductivity and insulate against high voltage and current power lines. We want to focus on the residential and commercial electrician running lines in homes, warehouses, industrial buildings, etc.

Electricians need gloves that aren’t too thick and which can still pick up screws. You want protection, but not at the expense of being able to get your hands around tools and do the job. Real leather gloves also perform well when pulling cable, stripping wires, or simply using the hand tools of the trade. For that reason, we really like the Youngstown FR Fire-rated Leather Gloves with Kevlar cut protection. Wait—leather and Kevlar? Yes, please.

As an all-around glove, these provide everything from basic arc flash protection to cut resistance and general durability when working with cables and wire. A pair runs you about $49, but they seem to hold up well.

Also Recommended

• Dexterity Flame-Resistant Arc Flash Glove with Neoprene Palm – ~$20
• Makita Leather Palm Work Gloves – ~$25

Best Work Gloves for Handling Wood

Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves

The best work gloves for handling wood should be good for splinters without losing the tactile feel needed for tools and fasteners. Around here, we love the Firm Grip Nitrile Coated Gloves for most general construction work. That includes handling lumber and most of our power and hand tool use.

Are we overdoing it by including these twice in our list? Nope. Once you jump on board with inexpensive nitrile-coated gloves we think you’ll get hooked. At $10 for the 15-pack, we sure did.

Editor’s Note: Don’t wear gloves when operating table and miter saws. Gloves can get snagged in a blade since they extend further than your hand. Once snagged, they can pull your hand into the blade and cause serious injury. It’s much better to operate these tools with your bare hands. Similarly, you also want to avoid wearing loose-fitting gloves while running circular saws.

Best Work Gloves for Landscaping

Milwaukee Leather Performance Gloves

For landscaping, nothing beats a nice pair of leather gloves. You want something that can handle thorns—at least we do when we work near or around holly bushes. And don’t get us started about bougainvilleas! For this, we would normally recommend a standard gardening goatskin glove from any number of suppliers. They usually cost about $24. But then Milwaukee leather performance gloves came out. And, well, we’re tool guys—so why not have a glove that does double duty?

Perhaps the toughest leather (for gloves) comes from goats. Consequently, we love goatskin leather gloves. They maintain a less porous surface than most, and they resist abrasions and punctures. That makes them perfect for most gardening tasks.

They also feel good—and they let you feel what you’re working on. You also get built-in SmartSwipe touchscreen compatible knuckles and a built-in terry cloth sweat wipe. When these Milwaukee Leather gloves came out, we thought they’d cost a whole lot more. At around $26/pair, you really can’t go wrong.

Best Work Gloves for Warehouse Work

Maxiflex 34-874 Ultimate Gloves

At less than $14 for a three-pack, the Maxiflex 34-874 Ultimate Gloves provide ample protection for warehouse work. You don’t get significant cut protection for handling metal, however, we find that just having the simpler nitrile coating works wonders. These gloves also last a bit longer than some of the more disposable recommendations we’ve made so far.

If wearing gloves is a part of your job, these provide excellent dexterity, breathability, and protection, without overdoing it or breaking the bank. They also give you longer-than-normal wrist protection which helps when lifting materials like pallets. You can get 3 pairs for $20 or 12 pairs for around $55.

Also Recommended

• Maxiflex Endurance 34-844 – $18.50 (6-pack)
• Ironclad GUG General Utility Work Gloves – ~$30 (traditional styling with impact protection)

Best Work Gloves for the Money

Klein Tools 60188 Leather Work Gloves

While we clearly favor our best work gloves pick at the top, I have to butt in and simply talk about a pair of gloves I really enjoy. While I definitely lean toward disposable gloves for saving money, I do enjoy the Klein Tools 60188 Leather Work Gloves. They fit really well, and I love the goatskin leather, They have a breathable back and a padded palm. You can also access your smartphone to take a call or navigate a website—even though Klein doesn’t advertise this as a feature.

At less than $20/pair, they aren’t the cheapest gloves you can buy, but mine have lasted for months. I love the fit and feel, and they function as my go-to gloves when I just want a bit more protection than my nitrile gloves provide.

What to Look for in the Best Work Gloves

When shopping for the best work gloves you need to look at several key areas. We always start with the big ones and work our way down.

Why Wear Work Gloves?

Before you pick a pair of work gloves, figure out why you want them. It may be a job requirement, or it may be for protection. Then you have to figure out what you need protection from. Impacts? Cuts? What material are you handling? Do you need several pairs for different applications or a glove that serves multiple purposes?

Asking these questions helps set up the right work gloves for you. You can’t simply take someone’s recommendation. A glove that protects your palm from being crushed but lets your fingers get sliced by sheet metal does you no good! Consequently, cut protection on its own may not “cut it” either (pun intended).

Work Glove Material

We love the fact that work gloves now come in various materials. To include everything would require its own article. For now, realize that gloves come in various leathers, synthetic blends, woven fabrics, and other materials that include rubber, nitrile, latex, and vinyl. Some combine these materials to achieve various goals.

The material only natters insofar as it serves to provide the grip, protection, and feel that you need. Doctors don’t operate with leather gloves! In the same manner, you need a material that provides cut protection when handling certain materials. Nitrile (alone) doesn’t stop the sharp metal edge of AC ductwork from cutting you.

A great example is gardening. Leather rules the day here, but synthetic products now exist that offer similar puncture, tear, and cut protections that didn’t exist even 10 years ago. These bring a potential for more breathable gloves for when you need to work in hotter climates (like Florida!)

Cut Protection

If you haven’t already, check out our article on ANSI cut ratings for an explanation on cut protection levels. When handling sheet metal, HVAC duct, roofing metals, or similar items, you need a glove that provides cut protection. Just how much depends on the job or the kind of work you do.

Newer gloves combine materials like Kevlar and similar products into woven fabrics to provide cut protection alongside breathability. We also see those gloves getting the nitrile-coating treatment so they deliver even more protection and grip.

Impact Protection

One thing our top recommendation for best work glove doesn’t provide is much impact resistance. For that, you need to go with something that has PVD-reinforced padding on the back of the work glove. The best padded work gloves also tend to include reinforcements for the thumb and palm. These gloves work well when you need to deal with heavier items that might crush or otherwise impact your hand or fingers while working.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

The post Best Work Gloves Reviewed for 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

Finding the best bubble level doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration in spite of the vast number of options out there. In general, there are plenty of reputable choices. Sometimes, you just need to know what other Pros are using to validate your thoughts. Known also as a spirit level, here are some of the most popular models along with some things to look out for.

Best Bubble Level Features to Look For

• Accuracy – a bubble level is only as good as its ability to give you a truly level measurement. We prefer to use levels with 0.0005″/1″ accuracy or better. On a 48″ level, that gives us a maximum error of +/- 0.024″, or 3/125″. However, less expensive and smaller levels like torpedo and pocket models often fall short of that mark.
• Visibility – the most accurate bubble level in the world doesn’t mean diddly if you can’t see the bubble. Different colors and high contrast help a lot.
• Durability – bubble levels do most of their work on jobsites where the environment isn’t as forgiving as the living room where you’re trying to hang a picture. You’ll want to avoid plastic.

Optional Features

• Magnetic – magnets are great for acting as a third hand when you’re working around steel.
• LED lights – battery-powered lights really help the visibility of a spirit level when you’re working in low light or varying light conditions.
• Digital levels – some Pros enjoy the convenience of a digital readout rather than just a vial, especially when you’re working toward specific grades like on wheelchair ramps.

Best Bubble Levels for Professional Users

We cover all sorts of levels, looking at each type and application for the best performers. Some recommendations attach to quality while others have to do with particular features.

Best Premium Box Level

Milwaukee Redstick MLBX48 – $95

There are only a few players in the premium level class and our favorite is the Milwaukee Redstick level. Their Sharpsite vials give the level excellent visibility compared to standard vials. But it’s what you can’t see that sets it apart – an all-metal backbone. The backbone has multiple ridges moving along the interior of the box which gives it outstanding durability compared to other box levels.

There’s no compromise in accuracy with an Excellent 0.0005″ rating. Like its competitors in the class, the additional innovations also drive up the price. Fortunately, you can grab a case to protect your favorite bubble level. There are also multiple level sets in the Redstick line to help save some money if you need more than one size.

Best Bubble Level Set

Stabila Type 80 AS-2 Levels Set – $130

The Stabila Type 80 AS-2 bubble level set includes a 12″, 24″, and 48″ spirit level. We love this kit because it provides three boxed aluminum levels that resist slipping. Stabila has excellent accuracy—±1/32″ out to 72-inches in normal position.

We like the integrated wall grips and have always loved Stabila acrylic vials with fluorescent fluid for easy readability. Rubber end caps, an electrostatic powder coating, and an included special-edition zippered case round out the reasons why we think any Pro would love this kit. We almost forgot to mention it only costs $130!

Best Box Level

Empire Level E105.48H – $50

If you’re willing to give a little on visibility and strength, a standard box level is where you turn. For a 48″ model, you’re looking right around $50. In this class, we turn to Empire Level and their True Blue vials. The blue coloration gives you a bit better visibility than standard yellow vials and their levels are pretty tough. Bump up in price point another $10, and you’ll get even better visibility with Empire’s UltraView LED lights on your level. For the 48″ class, we recommend going with the EM105.48 to get you excellent accuracy and durability with outstanding visibility.

Best I-Beam Level

KaPro 13-62-24 Project I-Beam Level – $10.99

I-beam levels don’t have the same durability as a box level or billet aluminum bubble level. Still, they’re less expensive and weigh less. Case in point: The KaPro 13-62-24 Project I-Beam level. This 24-inch level cost just $11 and you get the same excellent visibility and accuracy as most box levels.

You can pay more and get better durability…but why? KaPro makes much more expensive levels—including digital models. For a great I-beam for rough leveling on the jobsite, you really can’t beat this tool.

Best Budget Level

Stanley 42-480 I-Beam Level – $15.99

For the budget-minded Pro, you might have to give up a little accuracy to save money on a bubble level. That’s the case with the Stanley 42-480 I-Beam level. You get Good durability with lightweight aluminum construction and protective end caps. The traditional three vial system gives you Good accuracy at 0.0015″ and visibility is Good as well. There’s also a groove for working on pipes.

What sets this level apart for us is that it’s only $15.99 – pretty much a steal for a Pro 48-inch I-beam level.

Best Torpedo Level

Klein Lighted Billet Torpedo Level – $39.97

You typically store torpedo levels in one of two places during the workday: your tool pouch or your pocket. We love that the Klein 935RBLT torpedo level has an angled nose to help it slide into both more easily. Aside from that, Klein gives you level, plumb, and 45° vials with LED lights for low light situations. You can easily see the bubbles in these level vials at night. And since this is a go-to tool for plumbers and electricians, those low-light jobs are more frequent than many other trades.

There’s also a V-groove cut into the top to ensure you can work with pipe easily and magnets for work around steel. The Klein Lighted Torpedo Billet Level gives you Excellent durability, Outstanding visibility, and Very Good accuracy.

Also Consider: Empire Level EM71.8 Magnetic Billet Level

If you want another excellent option, go for the Empire Level EM71.8 magnetic billet torpedo level. You get graduated markings for slopes of 0.125-inch, 0.25-inch, 0.375-inch, or 0.5-inch per foot. The build quality is superb and we love the readability of the True Blue vials. You can pick up this bubble level for around $19.89.

Best Pocket Level

Milwaukee 4-inch Pocket Level (48-22-5102) – $19.99

Pocket levels are great for quick checks or work in really tight spaces, but the single vial system has some significant limitations. The Milwaukee pocket level handles that with a rotating, lockable vial. You can dial in a specific angle working in 2° increments or find the common angles of 15°, 22.5°, 45°. and 75° on the opposite side of the dial.

You get excellent durability, very good visibility, and good accuracy in this small package. For less than $20 you really can’t go wrong.

Also Consider: Kapro 246M Handy Level

If you can forgo the rotating dial, we also like the compelling Kapro 246M Handy magnetic level. It features a compact aluminum frame with shock-absorbing end caps. Pick up this tiny level for around $11.99.

Best Basic Mason’s Level

Kapro 930 Smartcast – $42.90

Mason’s levels have to be tougher than most. It’s not just the concrete, it’s the way masons tap them to level brick and block during construction. For a basic mason’s level that’s flat-out tough, check out the Kapro 930 SmartCast. It’s a cast aluminum non-standard I-beam style that gives you gradient measurements up to 2° and has rubber strike pads on each end. Excellent visibility, durability, and accuracy give masons confidence in their work.

Pick up this level in 16, 24, or 36-inch lengths. Pricing falls between $42 and $47.

Best Adjustable Expandable Level

Milwaukee RedStick Expandable Level – $209

Some jobs require flexibility—like placing tubs or windows. We love the flexibility and features of the Milwaukee RedStick Expandable Level. It provides rock-solid accuracy and stable measuring and marking. We also love the magnetic model for steel studs.

Grab the size you need and you can leave several other levels behind. The 48-78″ version of this costs $209. It’s worth every penny.

Best Concrete Screeding Level

Milwaukee MLCON48 Concrete Screed Level – $99.97

Some mason’s levels move beyond simply checking for level construction and taking some trowel tapping abuse. Milwaukee’s Redstick concrete level lets you take care of screeding and smoothing duties. The square edge on the base acts as your screed while the round edge lets you smooth concrete.

Milwaukee also designed this level with materials that clean off easily at the end of the day…or even the next day. Sharpsite vials give you excellent visibility to see level, 1/8″, or 1/4″ grades. Less than $100 gets you tons of durability and accuracy at 0.0005″.

Best Digital Level

Empire Level E105.48H – $129

If you’re one of the Pros looking to make the jump to digital levels, you’ll love the Empire Level E105.48 (or Empire EM105.48 if you want the magnetic version). Moving from $60 standard box levels to the $170 price point is what it will take. You maintain Empire’s Excellent accuracy with a digital readout. The best part is that it’s an auto-calibrating system – just turn it on and get to work.

Dual digital displays are backlit to all but negate the need for checking bubbles. However, batteries die and you can rely on Empire’s Excellent visibility with standard level and plumb vials if you need to. Wrapped in an IP65-rated housing with Excellent durability, this is our favorite digital level to turn to.

Also Consider: Johnson 1760-4800 Digital Level

If you’re in the market for a digital level, we liked the 48-inch 5700-4800D Johnson digital level. The 1760-4800 is the updated version. This tough and accurate tool has hi-tech features that function as an apprentice. Our reviewer used it to rebuild the roof of a carport, set a new door in an old house, and much more. Pick it up for $184.

Why a Bubble Level?

Bubble levels have been around for a long time. Even though cross line lasers are a sexier option, the bubble level still trumps them in several areas. Lasers lose visibility as soon as you step into the light, limiting their usefulness outside. And while a laser is more accurate, it’s better for longer distances than what you’ll use a spirit level for. There’s also the convenience factor – you usually go for your spirit level when you’re making frequent checks for level and plumb work. Cross line lasers take more time to set up.

What Are the Criteria?

There is a wide range of classes for levels out there. Admittedly, we didn’t cover every single option (post levels, for example). To make our list, each level had to hit our base accuracy standard of 0.005″/1″ (1/2000″), have high visibility, and durable metal construction.

Rating Key

• Outstanding – best in this class
• Excellent – not the top, but close
• Very Good – solid, nothing to be ashamed of here
• Good – It’ll work, but we wouldn’t want to go any lower

See Some Brands that are Missing?

We reached out to more manufacturers than are represented here, but some declined to participate even though they make excellent bubble levels.

Disagree With Our Choices?

That’s okay! We know personal preferences take a front seat in determining the best spirit level for you, and every Pro is different. Do Pro Tool Nation a favor and tell us what your top pick is and why you love it. Feel free to put it in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Bubble Level Buying Guide for Pros 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

We have tested so many cordless drills that we’ve literally lost count. From filling our shop with 50 drills at one time to testing new models as they come out, we constantly have our hands on the latest models. Choosing the best cordless drill for you depends on your highest priorities: performance, durability, price, value, weight, size, and the list goes on!

Even though we’ve tested a TON of drills (I wonder that the actual weight of all of them adds up to…), not everyone gets a trophy. To make our final list, the drill has to stand out from its competition. There are other models we still recommend, they’re just not in this group that we call the best.

Best Cordless Drill

Flex 24V Max Hammer Drill with Turbo

The Flex 24V Max Hammer Drill with Turbo Mode earned a final rating of 9.8 to stand at the top of the charts. It finished in the top 3 of every test we ran, but it’s still compact at just 7.1 inches long. At $249 for the kit including two batteries and backed by a 5-year warranty, its value proposition is also very attractive value. 

While it is on the heavier side and its list of compatible tools isn’t as broad as DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee just yet, its performance and design set it apart in a tough competition among cordless drills.

Price: $249 kit with 5.0Ah and 2.5Ah batteries

The Best 18V Cordless Drill is the Best 20V Cordless Drill

When it comes to the creme de la creme, are you looking for the best 18V cordless drill or the best 20V cordless drill? Yes!

18V tool and 20V tools have the same voltage. They both operate on 5-cell systems that combine to make 20V max when they’re at a full charge state and settle into an 18V nominal state once you use them a bit. Learn more about the specifics here.

That said, there are some brands that really do have more power. Hilti’s 22V, Kobalt’s 24V, and Flex’s 24V are all 6-cell systems. They run at 24 maximum volts and 21.6 nominal volts. Whether they design the tool for more runtime or more power, the extra cell really does offer an advantage.

We’re also seeing a resurgence in higher voltage systems. For example, Makita’s 40V max XGT is a 10-cell system, operating at 40 maximum volts and 36 nominal volts.

Best 18V/20V Max Cordless Drill

DeWalt 20V Max Power Detect Hammer Drill DCD998

Rating third overall behind Flex’s 24V Max and Makita’s 40V max XGT hammer drills, DeWalt’s performance was excellent. It placed in the top 3 in all but our 2 9/16-inch self-feed test, and its 3-speed gearbox offers an advantage when you have medium-load applications to tackle. Power Detect gives the drill a boost when you use an 8.0Ah of higher battery, and it certainly showed in our testing.

Price: $299 kit with 8.0Ah battery

Best Cordless Hammer Drill

Metabo 18V Cordless Hammer Drill SB 18 LTX-3 BL Q I

If we take away everything else and just look at concrete drilling performance, the best cordless hammer drill is Metabo’s SB 18 LTX-3 BL Q I. With 3800 RPM on the top end, it smoked the competition with both 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch concrete bits. It’s a larger, heavier model and it doesn’t come cheap, but it’s well-built and its LiHD battery packs are some of the best available.

Price: $399 kit with two 5.5Ah batteries

Best 12V Compact Cordless Drill

Bosch 12V EC Brushless Drill Driver GSB12V-300N

If you want to get your hands on the best compact cordless drill or the best lightweight drill, you have to look at 12V models. Unfortunately, my beloved Bosch PS32 drill driver has been discontinued, but Team Blue still earns our top 12V ranking with their 12V brushless hammer drill. Boasting 300 in-lbs of torque and 1750 RPM, it’s high performing and still has the comfortable handle design we love on Bosch’s 12V line.

It gets even better, though. If you don’t need to drill in masonry, you can get the drill driver version—the GSR12V-300. There’s also a Chameleon version (AKA FlexiClick) that comes with interchangeable heads to deal with a variety of situations. That one is model GSR12V-300FC.

Price: $179 with two 2.0Ah batteries

Best Value Cordless Drill

Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Hammer Drill HD529402

When it comes to getting the best cordless drill value, we often look to the Prosumer class—drills that perform close to premium levels but at a lower price. There are trade-offs, of course. They might not be as compact or have as nice a fit and finish, but they get the job done well and are a big step up from your average DIY model.

There are some higher-performing cordless drills in the same class, but Skil’s HD529402 kit is a pretty sweet deal at $99. It’s a 2-speed model with 1800 RPM on the top end 450 in-lbs of torque coming from its brushless motor. Sweeting the deal, the 2.0Ah battery doubles as a USB power source and the kit comes with an upgraded PWRJump charger. As far as value goes, it’s awfully tough to beat.

Price: $99 with 2.0Ah battery

Best Budget Cordless Drill for Home Use

Hart 20V Brushless Drill Driver HPDD25B

If you’re looking for the best budget cordless drill for home use, look no further than Hart. Their 20V brushless drill driver is just $79 as a kit with a 2.0Ah battery and charger. With its 1800 RPM top speed and a 500 RPM low gear for when you need more muscle, it can handle most of the household tasks on your to-do list.

If you find you need something with higher performance, Hart also has a 20V brushless hammer drill kit that moves you into Prosumer-level performance for $148.

Price: $79 kit with 2.0Ah battery

More Best Cordless Drill Recommendations From Brands We Trust

Best Bosch Cordless Drill

Along with its solid build and excellent ergonomics, the Bosch GSB18V-755C 18V hammer drill features kickback control and comes Connected ready. If you want to enable the smart features by pairing the hammer drill with Bosch’s app, simply pick up the Connected Module for about $19 at your favorite retailer and install it in the handle.

Price: $299 kit with two 4.0Ah Core18V batteries 

Best Craftsman Cordless Drill

Even though it’s been around for a while, Craftsman’s CMCD721 is still their top-performing hammer drill. Its brushless motor delivers 2100 RPM and 400 unit watts out of power (read more about UWO vs torque here) to go with a comfortable, lightweight design. Plus, they’re assembled in the USA using global materials by folks in South Carolina. Don’t need the hammer drill mode? Grab the CMCD720 for the same performance in a drill driver instead.

Price: $179 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries

Best Hilti Cordless Drill

The Hilti SF 10W-A22 is the only brushed drill to make the list. Don’t let that fool you—it’s a drill that can challenge the top position. The lowest of the 4 speeds gives you what we think of as a “mixing” mode with 310 RPM. On the highest gear, it tops out at 2100 RPM. With 1062 in-lbs of torque available and kickback protection, one of the few downsides is that it lacks a hammer drill option.

Price: Starting at $229 (bare tool)

Best Kobalt Cordless Drill

Kobalt made the move to an advanced hammer drill with the launch of their XTR lineup. Highlighted by high performance at a great value, the KXHD 1424A-03 is more compact than Kobalt’s previous model. It also boasts an impressive 1200 in-lbs of torque, 2000 RPM on the top end, and includes kickback control. 

Price: $199 kit with 4.0Ah Ultimate Output battery

Best Makita Cordless Drill

Makita brings their 40V max XGT hammer drill to the competition. The GPH01 is compact at just 7.1 inches long. Still, it packs 1250 in-lbs of torque and pairs that with a top speed of 2600 RPM. Plus, it has kickback control to add a measure of safety as well as an electronic clutch for controlling torque. The 40V max battery is only slightly larger than a 5.0Ah 18V LXT pack. That makes the transition to XGT’s higher performance levels easier. If you’re interested in the 18V XPH14 hammer drill, click here for that review.

Price: $399 kit with two 2.5Ah battery

Best Metabo HPT Cordless Drill

Metabo HPT’s 36V MultiVolt hammer drill has the advantage of using a 36V battery that also works with their 18V tools. Plus, you can add an AC adapter if you’d like to have corded power as an option. Add in solid ergonomics, the safety of kickback control, and a lifetime warranty, and you get a hammer drill to watch closely through our performance tests.

Price: $349 kit with two 4.0Ah batteries

Best Milwaukee Cordless Drill

Milwaukee’s 2804 is the third generation hammer drill for the M18 Fuel line. It’s quite noticeably the most compact model in our test at just 6.9 inches. Hiding inside that small frame is a brushless motor producing up to 1200 in-lbs of torque and 2000 RPM. There’s also a ONE-KEY option if you’d like to explore Milwaukee customizable controls, tool-tracking, and inventory management. Look for the 2806 model if that sounds good to you. 

Best Ridgid Cordless Drill

Ridgid took a step back from the size of their Octane line with their updated 18V brushless hammer drill. Much more compact and lighter, it pairs with Max Output batteries to produce 2100 RPM on the top end and up to 800 in-lbs of torque. 

Best Ryobi Cordless Drill

Ryobi made a huge leap forward with the introduction of their 18V One+ HP Brushless line. It started with legitimately compact tools and then hit the high-performance end with stronger, yet smaller tools. Our top choice in the Ryobi realm is the 18V One+ HP Brushless hammer drill (PBLHM101). With 750 in-lbs of torque and 2100 RPM on the top end, it actually beat several premium models on the Test Track.

Editor’s Note: Think you know everything? Our How to Use a Drill article might still manage to show you a thing or two.

Cordless Drill Buying Guide | What We Look For

Performance

Performance is our number one priority when we test drills. After all, if the tool can’t do the job you need it to, it’s useless to you!

We test in concrete, wood, and metal. We look to see how a drill’s performance changes as it moves from light-duty to heavy-duty tasks. While we do tests to find each drill’s practical limits, not every drill is capable of doing every job. You won’t find us testing 12V drills with a 2 9/16-inch self-feed bit.

Then there’s the PTR Drill Test Track. Made up of a series of real-world sections, it tells us a lot about a drill’s performance. It starts with 20 drywall screws, showing us the drill’s control. Then it shifts to 10 holes each. We use a 1/2-inch twist bit, 3/4-inch spade bit, and 3/4-inch auger bit to cover medium-load jobs. Finally, it wraps up with 1-inch and 2 1/8-inch hole saws to put them under a heavier load. The clock doesn’t stop until the final hole saw breaks through, so bit changes and human error have an effect.

Size and Weight

Most of the time, the more compact and lighter the drill, the better. It helps you work in tighter spaces with less fatigue. For the most part, we want to use the smallest, lightest drill we can that still gets the job done.

Ergonomics

There’s something to be said for a drill that just feels right in your hands. Balancing the weight certainly comes into play. However, most of us find that certain brands’ handles fit better in our hands than others. Try picking up a few different ones next time you’re in a home improvement store. See what works best for you.

Features to Look For

There are a lot of features to consider. Not all of them are necessary, but they can make getting the job complete easier, less fatiguing, or safer. Here’s what we look for:

• Multiple speeds: 2 speeds is a must, more is generally better
• Kickback control: stops the motor if the bit binds up
• Side handle: absolutely necessary on drills with higher torque
• Smart controls: helps with inventory management and tracking, some offer customizable controls
• Brushless motor: longer runtime, better performance, and longer motor life
• Interchangeable chucks: switching to a specialized chuck can get you out of a sticky situation
• All-metal chuck: better durablity
• LED light: nearly every drill has one, but our favorites put the light(s) around the chuck
• Belt hook: usually reversible, they’re super-helpful when you have materials to carry or your climbing a ladder

Price and Value

Most of us have some sort of budget we’re working with when buying a cordless drill. Staying under budget while getting the most bang for your buck is key.

That’s not all that goes into it, though. Consider what other tools are compatible with the same batteries. A deep line ensures you can easily add more tools without having to buy a different battery and charger.

Warranty plays a big part as well. Some are as short as a year (or even shorter, but we typically don’t recommend those). Others stretch out to 5 years—and still others offer a lifetime guarantee. Also, keep in mind how you’re going to get service after the sale if you need to use the warranty. Having a convenient service center close by can save you the cost of mailing in a tool.

Finally, consider where you’re going to get new batteries or expand your tool collection. It’s convenient to shop online, but being able to walk into the store and grab what you need when you need it is a big deal. If you’re a Pro, keep in mind the dealer relationship. Whether you’re in a situation where the dealer comes to you or you go to the dealer, having someone that’s willing to help you out when you get in a jam can save you time and money.

Why Cordless Drills?

Few power tools are as basic for both professionals and homeowners as cordless drills. At its core, these are hole-making tools. They help us hang pictures, run wiring and plumbing, create pilot holes, and a host of other projects that require a hole in wood, metal, or drywall.

But the best cordless drill does more than that now. Drill clutch settings give us control over screw driving. Hammer modes let us drill smaller holes in concrete and masonry. In short, cordless drills let us drill and drive in almost any material without the need for a cord.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves, and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

Pro Tool Reviews consults with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications.

Our site will provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The post Best Cordless Drill Reviews 2022 appeared first on Pro Tool Reviews.

In Our Search for the Best Cordless Jigsaw, We Discover Several Great Options

While some folks think of jigsaws only as woodworking tools, they’re versatile tools that find their way onto almost every contractor’s jobsite at some point. Choosing the best cordless jigsaw is about more than just the convenience of no cord. They’re just as strong as corded models and some have incredibly rich feature sets.

Best Cordless Jigsaw Overall

DeWalt 20V Max XR Jigsaw

Whether you want a top handle or barrel grip style, we picked the DeWalt 20V Max XR as the best cordless jigsaw overall. Its cutting speed wasn’t as fast as some of the others, but its vibration control was better, and it kept the blade deflection down to nothing on tough cuts. For the top handle model, the lower height gave us a feeling of better control.

With both versions, the controls seem well-placed and easy to reach without having to move your grip. This was especially noticeable on the barrel grip where many of our testing team’s hands couldn’t reach the on/off switch on other models. While there are a couple of trade-offs to consider, DeWalt gave us the best overall cutting experience.

Price: $199 bare, $349 kit with 5.0Ah battery

Best Cordless Jigsaw Cutting Speed

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Jigsaw

Not everyone needs to cut through 2x and other thick materials, so the fastest speed isn’t always a high priority. However, there are several that make quick cuts, and Milwaukee showed us the greatest cutting speed. Keep in mind you need to engage orbital action to get the fastest cuts, and that’s going to leave you with a rougher edge. Even with orbital off, Milwaukee’s 3500 SPM and brushless motor make cutting in any material faster.

Price: $199 bare, $239 kit with 5.0Ah battery

Best Cordless Jigsaw Accuracy and Control

Makita 18V LXT Jigsaw

To get the best accuracy and control, you need a combination of line of sight (a dust blower really helps), tracking, and deflection control. Good vibration control is also a big help to keep your hands from getting tired. No other saw did this as well as Makita in our testing, with both the top handle and barrel grip designs excelling.

Price: $289 bare

Best Cordless Jigsaw Vibration Control

Hilti Nuron 22V Cordless Jigsaw

Hilti’s Nuron cordless jigsaw includes AVR (Active Vibration Reduction) and put on a clinic for what vibration control can be. Its top speed of 3,000 SPM is a little lower than some and it’s using a brushless motor. However, that AVR tech makes Hilti a smooth operator.

Price: $234 bare tool

Best Cordless Jigsaw Value

Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Jigsaw

There aren’t many jigsaw kits running around, making it a little more expensive to get into cordless jigsawing if you don’t already have the requisite battery and charger. That helps the Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless Jigsaw kit come across as a solid value at $169 since it includes a 2.0Ah battery and PWRJump fast charger.

It’s not a barebones kind of value, though. In addition to its brushless motor, it adds a tool-free bevel adjustment and unique push-up blade release that’s easier than other shaft-mounted designs. This is one of the saws you need to cut a little slower with to get the highest-quality results. That’s a pretty easy trade-off to make for the cost savings in our opinion.

Price: $169 with 4.0Ah battery

Best Budget Cordless Jigsaw

Hart 20V Orbital Jigsaw

At just $64 for the bare tool and $89 for the kit with a 1.5 Ah battery and a charger, there’s no better way to get started with cordless jigsawing on a budget than with Hart’s 20V jigsaw. With selectable orbital action, a variable speed slider, a lock-on button, and more, it has a surprisingly rich feature set for its price.

Even better, at the time we’re writing this, you can get the jigsaw, two 4.0Ah batteries, and a charger for just $99!

Price: $64 bare. $89 with 1.5Ah battery

Best Cordless Jigsaw Blades

Cut quality comes down to the blade—so we wanted to start there. You have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing the best jigsaw blades. We consistently turn to Bosch thanks to its deep history of both jigsaw and blade development. They have a full range of standard and specialty blades to cover just about anything you might ask your jigsaw to do. For an excellent general-purpose set, check out Bosch’s 10-piece wood and metal blade set (T5002).

• 11–14 TPI basic metal cutting blades (2)
• 17–24 TPI basic metal cutting blades (2)
• 12 TPI basic scrolling blades (2)
• 10 TPI clean wood cutting blades (2)
• 5–6 TPI fast wood cutting blades (2)

Price: $13.99

Best Cordless Jigsaw From More Brands We Trust

Best Bosch Cordless Jigsaw: 18V JSH180B

Bosch’s cordless jigsaw is a little slower in cutting speed than the others, but this is a smooth operator. Its vibration control is excellent, and we like that it has a lower height for a top handle saw that gives us a better feeling of control. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles to this one. Overall, it feels well-built, and its $159 price tag is very reasonable for a Pro-level model.

Price: $159 bare

Best Hart Cordless Jigsaw: 20V HPJS01

HART now has a brushless jigsaw as part of its 20V lineup and it takes things a step further than its brushed counterpart. It boasts 3350 SPM on the top end with a full 1-inch stroke length. It has a nice feature set to go with it, including three orbital modes, a variable speed dial, tool-free bevel adjustments, a lock-on switch, and more.

Price: $128 bare

Best Flex Cordless Jigsaw: 24V Brushless FX2231-Z/FX2221-Z

Flex has one of the fastest cutting cordless jigsaws with a 3500 SPM stroke rate. It departs from traditional variable speed dials with 4 electronic speeds and an effective automatic mode. It also has a button to turn off the LED light if you’d rather not use it. The only big feature they left off was tool-free bevel changes.

The barrel grip version’s design is ergonomically better than most thanks to an on/off switch that’s easily reachable without taking your hand off of the tool.

If you register your tools, chargers, and batteries by 12/31/22, you’ll get a lifetime warranty on all of them.

Price: $199 bare, $358 with 2.5Ah battery

Best Kobalt Cordless Jigsaw: 24V Max Brushless KJS 324B-03

Kobalt is a solid value pick with a design that competes with some of the best Pro models at a much lower price. It has a brushless motor, blade release lever, tool-free bevel adjustments, selectable cutline blower, and 3+1 orbital selection. You really only miss out on dust collection and a variable speed dial. At $129 for the bare tool and one of the more affordable battery programs available, it’s a compelling choice for value shoppers, though it doesn’t have a kit option for folks that are new to the system.

Best Metabo HPT Cordless Jigsaw: 36V MultiVolt CJ36DAQ4

Sadly, Metabo HPT has discontinued its 36V MultiVolt jigsaw. Aside from its excellent performance, variable speed dial, and an automatic mode that worked better than most, it was also the only cordless model that had an AC adapter option.

Price: Discontinued

Best Ridgid Cordless Jigsaw: 18V Octane Brushless R8832B

Ridgid’s Octane Jigsaw is another high-value pick with the most complete feature set of all the saws we tested. It carries a svelt $149 price tag for the bare tool. The design team simply didn’t leave anything off of the saw. It has tool-free bevel adjustments, a selectable cutline blower, blade release lever, variable speed dial and trigger (including an off mode), lock-on button, 3+1 orbital selection, and shoe cover. It even offers dust collection and a separate button to kick the LED light on and off.

You need to cut a little slower to control deflection in thick or hard materials, and it’s not as fast or smooth as some of the others. It’s still capable of leaving you with Pro-quality results, though. Also—don’t forget that Lifetime Service Agreement if you register the tool.

Note that Ridgid has been replacing the Octane tools with a new brushless line. We haven’t seen an updated jigsaw yet, but we’d bet there’s one coming.

Price:

Best Ryobi Cordless Jigsaw: 18V One+ HP Brushless PBLJS01B

When Ryobi gave its cordless jigsaw the 18V One+ HP Brushless upgrade, it improved the rest of the features along with it. In addition to a new brushless motor, it now has tool-free bevel adjustments, a blade release lever, and a shoe cover. All that comes with a price increase, however. You can still find the previous model for around $69 as an excellent choice for beginners. The 18V One+ HP Brushless model—our pick—is a better bet for more serious users at $129.

Price: $129 bare, $159 with 2.0Ah High Performance battery

What is a Jigsaw Used For?

A jigsaw uses an up-and-down reciprocating motion to saw through wood, metal, PVC, and other materials. Primarily a woodcutting tool, it uses a narrower blade that gives you the ability to cut curves better than other types of saws. It’s also useful for completing cuts into corners thanks to a straight-blade design.

Contractors often use them for cutting out countertops for sinks or cutting out drywall if they don’t have an oscillating multi-tool or drywall cutout tool. With those cutouts, you often drill a hole inside your waste area large enough for the jigsaw blade to fit, making the start of your cut easier.

There are plenty of other ways to cut with a jigsaw, and these are just the main ways we use them. Any other ideas? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Top Handle vs Barrel Grip Jigsaw

At the risk of starting an argument over top handle vs barrel grip jigsaw designs, here’s the skinny: it mainly boils down to personal preference. Shocking, we know!

We prefer top handle jigsaws when we’re cutting with one hand. If you’re in a situation where you can’t clamp your material securely, it’s a big help. When cutting with two hands, your second hand simply moves to the front pommel of the saw.

Some people feel they have better control with a barrel grip. It puts your hand in a lower position and your second hand can rest on the front or top of the saw.

Hand size can come into play as well. Guys and gals with smaller hands tend to prefer a top handle in our experience. However, 12V barrel grip jigsaws have a narrow enough grip area that even those folks can enjoy using them.

Regionally, the US tends to be in favor of top handle models, and that’s what every brand we tested makes. However, the following brands offer both:

• Flex
• Bosch
• DeWalt
• Makita
• Milwaukee
• Skil (12V only)

Cordless Jigsaw Buying Guide | What We Look For

Performance

Any jigsaw worth buying has to be able to effectively cut what you work on. If you custom-build stair stringers, your saw better be able to cut 2x well. As a woodworker, you need to cut hardwoods without burning them. Having selectable speed or at least a variable-speed trigger can help quite a bit.

Brushless motors help with both cutting performance and runtime. It’s not as critical as it is in some power tools, but it’s a nice boost to have.

Also, look for a selectable orbital action. It increases the aggressiveness of the blade’s attack with an elliptical motion and cuts more quickly. The trade-off is a rougher cut.

One quick note about automatic speed control—this feature takes some time to get used to, and some of our team flat-out refuse to use it. However, those who do really like the consistency of its start and performance through the cut. Kicking in with a soft start, it ramps up the speed based on the pressure you put into the cut.

Accuracy, Control, and Deflection

Because a jigsaw’s primary job is cutting curves, control is important. A big part of that is the design of the saw and how it fits in your hand. Another part of it is using a quality blade that’s the correct size for the curves you’re cutting.

Keep an eye on the blade itself. The saw needs to keep it running straight up and down to control deflection and drifting. Most models have a guide behind the blade, but we’ve used some jigsaws that allow the blade to pop out of it easily and take your cut off-course.

All of the jigsaws we recommend are capable of cutting 2x material with no deflection. However, you need to slow down with some of them. DeWalt, Flex, Makita, and Milwaukee all handle faster cutting with no or minimal deflection better than the others.

Keep in mind how close the front of the shoe gets to the blade as well. When those edges creep in closer, you can get both sides of the shoe to stabilize on your material when you need to make thinner cuts.

Visibility

You can have the best control possible, but it won’t mean diddly if you can’t see your blade contact your cutline. Most jigsaws do a great job of keeping the blade area clear enough to see. LED lights and a cutline blower drastically improve your visibility.

Vibration

Once you have performance, control, and visibility down, you can narrow your choices by selecting ones that have lower vibration. Your hands will thank you and you’ll feel like you’re fighting the saw less when the operation is smoother.

Price and Value

Of course, the price has a huge bearing on your choice and we all want to stay on budget. What the tool offers for the money is a large chunk of the value. Keep in mind the warranty and if the line has all of the other tools you might want to add to your collection down the road. Take a look at the jigsaw that’s available on the battery platform you already have first. You may be able to save a chunk by getting the bare tool.

Features That Can Make Using a Jigsaw Easier

• Selectable orbital action
• Variable speed selection
• Automatic speed control
• Soft start
• Cutline blower
• LED lights
• Dust collection adapter
• Tool-free bevel adjustments (or onboard tool storage if it’s not tool-free)
• Housing-mounted blade release lever
• No-mar base plate cover
• Lock-on switch (standard on most barrel grip saws)

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