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Socket & Ratchet Reviews & Buying Guides

Whether working as an automotive technician or simply tooling around in the garage, you need a good set of both sockets and ratchets. We test and review everything from impact sockets and deep well sockets to socket kits and full mechanics tool sets. With so many options, we focus on durability, usability, features and value. Can you easily identify the sockets without having to put on your reading glasses? Does the manufacturer provide both 6-point and 12-point designs? We try to answer all those questions so you know you have the right tools for the job. On the ratchet side, we really appreciate advances made in high TPI (teeth count) ratchets. These let you work in tight spaces when you don’t have much clearance to move. We favor quick-release heads as they make it so much easier to remove and affix sockets. We also like having handle length options to give us more leverage or access when needed. Even the feel of the handle matters—since no one likes hard edges. Our reviews gave our first-hand experience in using these tools so that you get a sense of the way the tool should perform if and when you buy it. From the type of steel used to the ergonomics and performance, we try to cover all the bases.

Kobalt 27-Piece Xtreme Access Socket Set Review
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Kobalt 27-Piece Xtreme Access Socket Set Review

by Clint DeBoer

The new trend in sockets, which Kobalt has fully embraced with its 27-pc Xtreme Access Socket Set, is the universal SAE/Metric spline drive that fits 6 & 12 pt, spline, star, square and even most rounded sockets. But Kobalt also utilized a new 4-in-1 solution that has the ratchet surrounding the socket, leaving the center open. Why is that important? With the center open , your bolt can pass right through, letting you use the same socket for both shallow and deep applications. Combined with the specialized drive system, this 27-piece socket set covers nearly all the bases for most general socket use.

Kobalt 154-Piece Socket Set Review
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Kobalt 154 Piece Socket Set Review

by Clint DeBoer

Tools. Everybody needs a good set, and Kobalt Tools is aiming squarely at the consumer market with their new line of sockets. This 154-Piece Socket Set includes all of the basic and extended sockets you could want for basic automotive and household uses. One of the things that is a constant annoyance is not having deep sockets for use with carriage bolts or other situations that require a deeper socket to clear the end of a bolt. With the Kobalt Socket Kit you have a solid 2 inches of depth past the ratchet.

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