Ever since Flex power tools showed up in Lowe’s, we’ve had the opportunity to review many of the top products in the line. In this article, we’re taking a look at some of the flagship products we expect any serious player in the professional trades to design well and see if Flex passes the test.
Flex 24V Battery System
There’s plenty of confusion between 18V and 20V max as it is (spoiler: they’re the same voltage), but 24V is different. Instead of using sets of 5 cells to create an 18V/20V max power source, it uses sets of 6 cells, making a 21.6V/24V max battery. It does have 20% more capacity that can be used for additional power or runtime. Adding an extra cell is one thing. However, Flex takes it up a notch with the advanced heat management of its pack design.
Flex was also one of the first to introduce a pouch cell battery and the first to offer it in high-capacity packs. The design of these batteries offers more available power delivery, much faster charging, and significantly longer service life.
Flex Power Tools Hammer Drill Review
Flex’s top drill model is impressive on several fronts. In high gear, it can hit 2500 RPM for some of the fastest drilling speeds we’ve seen. In low gear, it’s quicker than most at 700 RPM and reaches its peak torque of 1400 in-lbs.
In addition to two gears, there are also two working modes: standard and Turbo. In standard mode, the drill performs like other premium professional brands. Hit the Turbo button and you get the full potential of its speed and power.
The only downside is that this model isn’t as light or compact as some of the other options on the market. In most cases, Pros targeting the highest possible performance are willing to make that trade-off, though.
One last thing—pricing on this drill is really attractive. It launched as a kit at $249.99, but we found it at Lowe’s for $199.00.
Price:
- $159.00 bare
249.99$199.00 kit with 2.5Ah battery, 5.0Ah battery, and fast charger- $279.00 kit with 6.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery and fast charger
- $349.00 combo kit with Quick Eject impact driver, 2.5Ah battery, 5.0Ah battery, and fast charger
Specifications
- Model: Flex FX1271T-2B
- Power Source: Flex 24V battery
- Motor: Brushless
- No-Load Speed: 0 – 700 / 0 – 2500 RPM
- Max Torque: 1400 in-lbs
- Weight: 3.8 lbs bare, 5.9 lbs with 5.0Ah battery
- Length: 7.1 inches
Flex Power Tools Impact Driver Review
Like the drill above, Flex’s flagship impact driver has some impressive numbers. 4000 RPM with a 4450 IPM impact rate ensures fast driving with smaller fasteners. A monster 2500 in-lbs of torque means you can drive larger fasteners with ease compared to models with less torque.
Flex added something special with the Quick Eject feature. A button just above the trigger releases the bit so you can remove it with one hand without having to take the other off of the handle. It’s quick and highly convenient.
Just as we saw with the hammer drill, to get the higher performance, this impact driver is larger and heavier than some of its closest competition.
Price:
- $159.00 bare
$229.00$199.00 kit with 2.5Ah battery, 5.0Ah battery, and fast charger- $279.00 kit with 6.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery and fast charger
- $349.00 combo kit with Turbo hammer drill, 2.5Ah battery, 5.0Ah battery, and fast charger
Specifications
- Model: Flex FX1371A
- Power Source: Flex 24V battery
- Motor: Brushless
- No-Load Speed: 0 – 1900/2700/4000 RPM
- Max Torque: 2500 in-lbs
- Impact Rate: 4450 IPM
- Length: 4.75 in
- Weight: 2.8 lbs bare, 4.1 lbs with 2.5Ah, 4.9 lbs with 5.0Ah
Flex Power Tools Circular Saw Review
Flex has thee outstanding circular saws to choose from and we recommend digging deeper to see which one best fits the way you work. There’s no bad choice among them.
Looking at Flex’s cordless take on the classic 7 1/4-inch sidewinder style, you won’t find many surprised by simply looking at the specs. Its 5800 RPM and 2 5/8-inch cutting depth seem to be on par with what you can get from other brands. However, stack some OSB to see how hard you can push the saw, and you’ll find a lot of torque making for quick cuts in tough conditions. Its performance easily exceeds 15-amp corded models and is in the conversation with the best cordless circular saws available.
Price:
- $199.99 bare
- $299.00 kit with 8.0Ah battery and fast charger
- $399.00 kit with 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery and fast charger
Specifications
- Model: Flex FX2141-1D
- Power Source: Flex 24V battery
- Motor: Brushless
- Blade Diameter: 7 1/4-inch
- No-Load Speed: 5800 RPM
- Max Cutting Depth: 2 5/8 inches
- Weight: 9.2 pounds bare, 12.3 pounds with 8.0Ah battery
Flex Power Tools Reciprocating Saw Review
With both full-size and one-hand reciprocating saw models available, Flex has your demolition needs under control. For the quickest cutting, it’s the full-size model you want to get your hands on. With 3000 RPM, a 1 1/4-inch stroke length, and selectable orbital action, it’s a strong competitor against other models in the 12- to 13-amp corded class.
It doesn’t reach the same performance as some of the top cordless models that beat out 15-amp corded equivalents, though. It doesn’t have the weight those saws do, either. As Flex continues to expand the 24V system, we’re curious to see if they’ll target the 15-amp class.
Price:
- $199.99 bare
- $249.99 kit with 5.0Ah battery and fast charger
Specifications
- Model: Flex FX2271-1C
- Power Source: Flex 24V battery
- Motor: Brushless
- Strokes Per Minute: 3000 SPM
- Blade Stroke: 1.25 in.
- Weight: 7.4 pounds bare, 9.5 pounds with 5.0Ah battery
- Price: $249
Flex Power Tools Storage Review
Many brands have tool storage and Flex’s Stack Pack resembles what others have at first glance. Look more closely, and you see a heavy focus on durability. But it’s much more than that. Flex designed an entire system of accessories for both inside and outside the boxes that no other brand can come close to.
There are battery holders, cord wraps, level holders, and much more than we have space to talk about in this brief overview. Click the link in the headline above and see what it’s all about!
But Wait, There’s More!
While the focus of this article is on the basic “general contractor’s kit”, there are many more products Flex has and they are continuing to expand. You can click here and browse all of our Flex content, hit one of the buttons below to start shopping or visit Flex’s website to discover more.
The Bottom Line
Flex may not be as deep as brands that have been around longer, but their power tools are impressive in performance and strike a solid value with their pricing. Keep your eyes open, though. Flex has an expansion roadmap that promises to continue developing the lineup. As it stands, it’s clear to us that Flex is not only a brand targetting professionals but that it is making some of the highest-performing power tools available with meaningful innovation.
