Brand chasing has been the downfall of most people these days. What kind of truck do you drive or what brand of lawn mower do you own. Sticking our noses up at each other in an attempt to feel better about ourselves while putting someone else down. This goes equally the same when we talk about which tools we have in our garage.
I get brand loyalty to an extent is important to some people but I am always under the mindset of will it get the job done, will it continue to work for years to come and of course will it break the bank.
Below you will find my top 5 affordable tool brands and the value of each in terms of price vs durability. These brands work well for your everyday DIY’er but may not be the right tool for someone who actively works in the trades.
Ryobi
Ryobi has been producing power tools since 1968. Those of you that remember the original coloring of their tools might still have them hanging up in your garages. These tools can take a beating and continue to operate at their full potential.
With the newer tools taking on the lime green aesthetic it is hard for them to go unnoticed wherever they are. Ryobi is known for its affordability and they often have increased discounts during their “Ryobi day” sales event. If you are looking to start your very first power tool set they have amazing bundles that have a variety of different tools to match your future projects.
The ONE+ battery system that Ryobi has created allows you to swap out your single battery among any of their 280 different power tools. They also have a newer 40v battery that is interchangeable with over 50 different tools as well. With all of these great options to start it is hard to compete with Ryobi when it comes to which brand is best and won’t break the budget.
Ryobi is currently a mainstay at any and all Home Depots and can be found through the link below.
Hart
Hart power tools are newer to the game than most on this list. Starting back in 2007 they were bought by TTI and started to produce the power tools we see today. This by no means makes them untested and unworthy of anyone’s garage. Hart comes in a slick package of blue, white, and black and has a variety of different tools and bundles to help you start your power tool acquisition.
Hart currently has over 45 power tools that all operate on their 20v battery system. This is great for swapping out batteries between tools while working on your projects. They also have their own set of outdoor power equipment that all operate on their 40v battery packs which make doing yardwork outside a breeze.
Hart tool is an exclusive item that can only be found at Walmart which makes it very easy to find and accessible to millions of people worldwide. They also have well over 180 hand tools that can be added to your collection for situations that don’t require power.
Below is a link to the Hart tool website.
Ridgid
Ridgid has been around since 1923 and its main focus is on pipe fitting, plumbing, construction, and HVAC trades. They invented the modern pipe wrench that now is a mainstay in the industry. With that being said Ridgid does have over 30 18v tools that are all compatible with the same battery.
Compared to the other brands on this list it may seem like slim pickings for tools but they are backed by over 100 years of working with the trades and have many more accessories and non-power tools to go along with them. The price might be slightly higher than the rest but the proof is in the care and craftsmanship of their products which will hold up for years to come.
Ridgid can be found at many local hardware stores as well as big box locations around you. Here is a link that will take you directly to their website.
Black+Decker
Black and Decker have something that most of these other brands are starting to steer away from. Tools with cords. These lightweight and mostly inexpensive tools are perfect for everyday beginner DIY’ers or homeowners. The iconic orange and black are known in many places due to the inexpensive aspect of these tools. While you may not see them on many large job sites you can bet that most people have picked up one or two of these tools just for a single-use project around the house.
In 1917 Black and Decker submitted a pistol grip and trigger switch patent for a power drill which set the groundwork for the tools that we use today. They have now spent over 100 years innovating and perfecting different aspects of our everyday life with different tools and appliances. They currently have hundreds of different corded and uncorded power tools that are ready to go as soon as you get them home. With different bundle sets as well you can pick and choose which types of tools you buy for your project.
The common tone associated with Black and Decker is that since they aren’t as expensive as the other brands they will break faster and don’t provide enough power to get the job done. I am here to say that unless you are constantly at a job site and punishing your equipment all day every day this brand is perfect for you and is much more affordable than most.
Craftsman
Our final brand on the list has also been around for close to 100 years. The craftsman tool brand has always been synonymous with quality. Their power tools go along quite well with this term. While Craftsman has had its ups and downs over the last 30 years due to its big box store Sears being overtaken in most categories by Walmart, Home Depot, and many others. Craftsman itself has managed to pull through it and has continued to put out quality products.
Craftsman was recently bought by Black and Decker which in turn pulled them out of the Sears umbrella making them much more widely available to the public. They offer their v20 system lineup of tools which include over 100 different power tools that operate on the same battery. They also continue to offer their non-power tools and accessories as well.
The pricing on these tools is very similar to some of the others on the list which makes them a perfect addition to your garage. You can still find them at your local Sears at least for the next few years but you can also look at any Lowes or Ace hardware along with many others.
Final thoughts
It’s hard to determine which brand of power tools will best fit everyone. Buying tools solely on brand name and recognition doesn’t change the quality of the work being done. Buying tools should be a personal journey that you go on to find the right tools that fit your needs. Each of these 5 brands produces similar if not identical products but also offers many different factors that might sway you towards or away from each one. Expensive isn’t always the best but cheaper doesn’t always last.
Let me know if there are other power tool brands out there that deserve some recognition for not breaking the bank but also being of quality construction. These brands are ones that I have personally used in many different situations and have never had an issue with their operation or quality of work. Since I am far from a professional contractor, plumber, or handyman I know that there will be people out there who swear by the “Big Three” expensive brands. But for us average homeowners and DIY’ers these will do just fine.
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