Help Me Choose - Tekton vs Icon

[LB-1911]

I'm looking to purchase a 1/2" deep metric socket set. This is one area my sockets are lacking. I would like a set that covers the range of +/- 10mm to 24mm. I am focusing on Tekton and Icon at the moment. They are both around $50.

I'm not looking for any tool truck brands and I don't have time for estate/yard sales so please keep the discussion to something relative to 10-24mm for $50. COO not important on this purchase. I just use my sockets for DIY, I'm not a pro mechanic.

Does anyone have hands on feedback on the 2 options I am looking at?

From my home gamer perspective, I personally prefer Tekton for chrome sockets and Gearwrench/Sunex for impacts. I have all three in my box.

I recently purchased Tekton's 1/2" deep metric chrome sockets for $55 off Amazon. They are 10-24mm no skips. The fit and finish on them is A+++.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QQ3KNHF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

^

This is the exact set I was looking at.

Thanks for all the responses, I'm going Tekton since they're prime and would save me a trip to HF.

I have no issues with gearwrench as I have some of their products but they only go to 19mm in their $50 set.

Should serve you well.

 

[yrly]

Tekton no questions in my mind. Our HF finally got some Icon stuff and I was not impressed at all, reminded me of old Duralast stuff. The ratchets felt worse than Sears’ “ultimate collection” Craftsman ones. The wrenches seemed OK but nothing special. Couple that with HF always swapping things around? Who knows if there will even be an Icon tool to replace it with in 5 years.

 

[vssjim]

I have all popular brands including some smaller companies except no Sunex and I see the new Tekton stuff as very viable tool line. The Taiwan tools of today are excellent quality when it comes to being durable and fit. Tekton seems to me to be improving their line up of products constantly which is a positive. I never bought any of the MIT stuff or lines like them but I would put the Tekton new products above what I see from HF non ICON lines but time will tell. I will say the photo e mail warranty is a plus as with HF it would be an hour plus trip to warranty stuff.

 

[The Fall]

Tekton. The quality is there from what I've seen/ordered and they're mixing USA-made tools into the mix.

 

[sberry]

This is all the same stuff.

 

[visionguru]

ICON if you stops at 24mm.
Tekton if you need more sizes.

I think ICON is of better quality: shallow broaching, knurling, nice markings, which seems in line with Gearwrench and Snap On.
Tekton feels more like store brands, except the wide selection of sizes.

 

[2000-cvpi]

mit was and is a **** company. low budget questionable tools sold out of the back of semi trailers in the parking lot of tent sales at farm show, fairs and from low budget stores and maybe auto parts stores. yes, tekton has newer stuff and some made in usa stuff but i have seen individual sockets on a peg that are identical other than the packaging and stamping. i have some mit stuff and it is ok for what it was but no better than anything at hf.

The same **** company employees Americans at their Grand Rapids headquarters, they pay well, sell above average quality tools that aren't expensive or overinflated to stroke egos. And they are making and sourcing USA tools that are very nice. I have some MIT tools and they have held up fine. Not every company starts out at a certain price/quality point and there's no need to bash them for continually improving the quality of their products.

If I lived 15-20 minutes closer to Tekton, I would happily work there.

 

[lardy1]

I like how they continue to improve their lineup. I like their unheard of in todays world customer service. I like that they expand their domestic lineup. I like the ease/convenience of their website. But most of all...………..I like that they ACTUALLY DO these things without comparing themselves to Snap On every 15 seconds.

 

[finn]

I have never personally heard a bad review or report about a Tekton tool. Some of the old MIT stuff was marginal, but I suspect some of the reason for rebranding the company was to make a break with the past and move forward with higher quality merchandise and target a somewhat different market segment.

HF is probably targeting that same market, but they kept their old, **** products in the lineup. It looks like they are trying to sell a Benz along with their old Yugo lineup in the same storefront.

Go with Tekton.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I would go with Tekton. They seem to be a good buy for the price. You might also check out Advanced Auto. A lot of times the Gearwrench (and now TEQ) are 50% off. I bought several sets for $25 or less. I bought the deep 10-19mm 1/2 metric and then bought the larger individual sizes I needed.

 

[sberry]

I have pounded on Mit wrenched with a hammer and put cheaters on them. I somewhat intentionally tried to break one in the field in a fukkit moment, broke the beam with a 12 inch adjustable as a cheater after a couple tries. How good does it need to be? I really don't care what kind of company it is, lots of companies are shat, some polish it up.
Sure they had a few marginal pieces, it was cheap. Be a different issue if it cost 10x.

 

[sberry]

I agree that the right move is to improve the lineup, some of these tools can't get any cheaper. Only can drop the price so low.

 

[Brownsfan]

I use Tekton and Gearwrench in my service van , and use both daily. I have no issues. I prefer the Gearwrench ratchets but sockets are both fine. Wrenches I use gearwrench ratcheting. regular are older USA Craftsman. Thinking about replacing the Craftsman with Tekton and bringing the Craftsman back to the home box.

 

[Revere Cycles]

This is all the same stuff.

This is absolutely true. Tekton, Harbor Freight, DeWalt, and even Carlyle source their reverse ratcheting wrench sets from Hi-Five Ltd. in Taiwan. Just have one look at the selector switches, they're identical, I've even compared them with examples from my own collection to confirm.

Other suppliers include Easen Hardware and Infar.

Quality wise, I genuinely believe they are the same. All of the aforementioned products look identical save for the respective branding.

That said, Tekton seems to have a larger variety of tools, and you can buy sockets individually which is a better option when compared to the limited size sets of ICON and Pittsburgh Pro. That's important if you're chasing continuity.

However, the nearest stocking Tekton dealer is 40 minutes from my house. I have a HF location less than a mile away, and my nearest NAPA store is maybe 3 miles away in the opposite direction. I generally only buy USA or European made tools, but I do have some ICON tools to fill voids in my travel kits. I don't mind buying from HF or NAPA if I need a random size for a single project. But in my case, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy Tekton because Carlyle, DeWalt, Pittsburgh Pro, and ICON are identical.

 

[The Fall]

Some of the other Icon tools -- yeah, probably from the same Taiwanese factories. But those chrome sockets are some serious garbage. I followed up on them after asking around and the reviews/pictures I've been seeing -- the Icon sockets look like the no-name, garbage sockets you see in pawnshop loose bins. The ones that weren't for pro use but someone felt like putting miles on them and running them on an impact. Soft metal. I've got SKs that have seen heavy use, purchased two years ago. The most heavily used sockets (1/2" and 9/16") looks better than a one-month old Icon one.

I don't like cheap tools. But I've got some GearWrench and Chinese-made CMan sockets (seldom used 1/2" drive metric 6 points). They're not bad. But those Icon sockets look to be a big step below, even if they dress themselves up in Snap-on font.

Buy what you can afford. Avoid debt. But you get what you pay for with tools -- at least with the industrial tool lines (Wright, Proto, Williams) and SK. Good tools don't come cheap.

Between the two, Tekton all the way.

 

[dlefty]

I have been extremely happy with my Tekton experience so far.

Easiest shopping navigation experience for tools I have ever come across on their web site. Free shipping. 10% back every purchase. Ships and shows up quick. And the most important, the tools I have experience with from them so far has been A+ for my needs. Sockets, impact sockets, ratchets, and the air hose set up, very happy.

 

[seber]

I stopped at HF recently for a set of 1/2" metric sockets. Compared the Icon and Pitssburgh Pro. They are advertised as the same material and one can assume the same heat treat. Visually the only difference is a red line on the Icon. I can't see paying extra for a red line.

 

[jgromada]

I have some of both. I think both are fine quality but then again i'm not a professional mechanic who needs a weekly tool truck to replace the tools I've broken that week.

I have seen some of the YouTube videos dumping on HF while the tools was being abused into premature failure. That means nothing for me. Nor does a fancy name that others may fawn over.

I agree with comment that Tekton has a wider range of sizes, not sure how much that matters to most people. I don't see either Icon or Tekton going away if warranty considerations are your concern either.

 

[Mr_B]

For socketry out of those 2 Tekton best bet by a mile .
Couple things ICON worth a punt with a coupon but sockets and ratchets not one of them .
Made me cringe watching youtubers reviewing the ratchets, they quite simply a poor effort for the marketing points made and market is flooded with better at similar cost

 

[BrandoJames]

I don't see either Icon or Tekton going away if warranty considerations are your concern either.

I see Icon going away--I'll be surprised if that brand is still around three years from now. Every time I visit my local HF, the Icon floor space has shrunk. That means the product isn't selling enough to justify the floor space. Add to that a ratchet recall, negative reviews, and hard-to-find boxes. All the signs are pointing in the wrong direction.

 

[Cheapskate]

Every time I visit my local HF, the Icon floor space has shrunk. That means the product isn't selling enough to justify the floor space.

Or it could mean the ICON tools are selling so well them can't keep them in stock and aren't expecting another shipment for a while.

 

[jgromada]

I see Icon going away--I'll be surprised if that brand is still around three years from now. Every time I visit my local HF, the Icon floor space has shrunk. That means the product isn't selling enough to justify the floor space. Add to that a ratchet recall, negative reviews, and hard-to-find boxes. All the signs are pointing in the wrong direction.

I don't know what you are talking about. I visit two different HF locations somewhat frequently and am pretty friendly with the associates there. I specifically asked them about how Icon was selling and i have heard (3 diff people now) that it has been selling well and frequently as soon as they get a new shipment there are pulls for people who have things on hold. The one place gets 2 shipments per week and i would try and see if they had a ratchet i wanted. Took a while, as it kept selling out. Sometimes i think all this Icon negativity is wishful thinking. None of the stores i go to are "Icon storage" places so you can order the box there but do not stock. I don't think that was originally the plan according to one associate i had spoken to.

 

[BrandoJames]

Or it could mean the ICON tools are selling so well them can't keep them in stock and aren't expecting another shipment for a while.

I see. Meanwhile, HF has no problem keeping the Dayton floor jacks in stock, U.S. General cabinets in stock, the entire Pittsburgh line in stock...but they just can't keep Icon in stock. That's your story, you stick to it.

 

[BrandoJames]

Sometimes i think all this Icon negativity is wishful thinking. None of the stores i go to are "Icon storage" places so you can order the box there but do not stock. I don't think that was originally the plan according to one associate i had spoken to.

It's pretty clear that you've never managed retail. If Icon was the hot seller you claim, then HF would ramp up. The entire HF distribution chain--manufacturers, distributors and retail stores would ramp up quickly. HF has been in business a long time because they know how to get profitable products on the floor and sell them.

Your most profitable items get floor space. That's the iron clad rule of retail. Retailers calculate profit per square foot of floor space. And your retail floor space is fixed in the short term. So if Icon was booming across the board, that would mean more Icon boxes on the floor, less U.S. General boxes. That would mean more Icon tools, less Pittsburgh Pro. Floor space goes to the winners.

Here's the "Wishful thinking" in this thread: ignoring ratchet recalls, poor reviews, hard-to-find boxes, and shrinking floor space.

 

[jgromada]

It's pretty clear that you've never managed retail. If Icon was the hot seller you claim, then HF would ramp up. The entire HF distribution chain--manufacturers, distributors and retail stores would ramp up quickly. HF has been in business a long time because they know how to get profitable products on the floor and sell them.

Your most profitable items get floor space. That's the iron clad rule of retail. Retailers calculate profit per square foot of floor space. And your retail floor space is fixed in the short term. So if Icon was booming across the board, that would mean more Icon boxes on the floor, less U.S. General boxes. That would mean more Icon tools, less Pittsburgh Pro. Floor space goes to the winners.

Here's the "Wishful thinking" in this thread: ignoring ratchet recalls, poor reviews, hard-to-find boxes, and shrinking floor space.

You may be a retail expert as you claim, but i will choose to believe the people who work at Harbor Freight and i have spoken to. I see no signs either Icon or Harbor Freight are going away.

 

[BrandoJames]

I see no signs either Icon or Harbor Freight are going away.

I agree with half of your statement--Harbor Freight is definitely not going away.

 

[sberry]

Even if the brand goes away it will simply be replaced with another one, so what ??? Same stuff. All just a bunch of swirling around, every change brings something "new". Text on isn't anything new, got a ratchet like it 25 years ago. Just generic tools. It's good enough to work.

 

[Coach James]

If you took a bunch of Dewalt, HF, Icon, Tekton, Stanley, Kobalt, and C-man sockets, mixed them together and gave them to 100 DIYers, I doubt they could tell them apart unless they looked at the names on the sockets. I also doubt them would notice any difference in how they functioned.

The ratchets may well be a different story, but not s dimes worth of difference in the sockets.

Coach

 

[sberry]

If you took a bunch of Dewalt, HF, Icon, Tekton, Stanley, Kobalt, and C-man sockets, mixed them together and gave them to 100 DIYers, I doubt they could tell them apart unless they looked at the names on the sockets. I also doubt them would notice any difference in how they functioned.

The ratchets may well be a different story, but not s dimes worth of difference in the sockets.

Coach

I agree with this. Don't make any difference, it turns the bolt. The bolt doesn't have feelings.

 

[vssjim]

If the ICON stuff has coupons they are a good value but with out a deal the TEKTON stuff is hands down a much better value for sure. The TEKTON warranty if needed is better because HF is a half hour away with no traffic which is a big deal for some people.

 

[dthor68]

I was in HF last weekend and got to see the Icon stuff for the first time. It all looked and felt top quality. Not to mention, the price was very high. Again, same problem I have with Pittsburgh, they sell no individual tools. Everything they have is only available in sets. Am I the only person who has a problem with that? I can go across the street to Lowes and buy two different brands as sets or separately.

 

[lardy1]

You are not the only person that has a problem with that.

 

[AA/FC]

MIT has been around since 1956. They have an annual revenue of over $23 million. I think it would be fair to assume that with the successful launch of Tecton brand, it will be around for a very long time.

Harbor Freight has been around since 1968 and does 5 Billion a year.

I'm NOT saying Harbor Freight is better but I think back to those old MIT tools and cringe. They were REALLY bad. But then again, some (most) of the **** that came out of HF was pretty cringe worthy, too. Both brands are of similar quality today and either one will do just fine. Sears offered a lifetime guarantee on their Craftsman tools and they're gone today. I can't buy a tool based on how long I THINK the company will be around.... Unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball to tell me the future.

Buy whichever brand YOU like better.

 

[Davefr]

If you took a bunch of Dewalt, HF, Icon, Tekton, Stanley, Kobalt, and C-man sockets, mixed them together and gave them to 100 DIYers, I doubt they could tell them apart unless they looked at the names on the sockets. I also doubt them would notice any difference in how they functioned.

The ratchets may well be a different story, but not s dimes worth of difference in the sockets.

Coach

That's true. I wouldn't be surprised if these Icon and Tekton SKU's come from the same Taiwan factory.

I'd choose Tekton since they're making an attempt to keep most of their products sourced in Taiwan & USA. And unlike HF, they seem dedicated to top notch customer service.

 

[BrandoJames]

I wouldn't be surprised if these Icon and Tekton SKU's come from the same Taiwan factory.

Many of us would be surprised because we haven't seen Tekton sockets deteriorate in a shop after one month of use. We haven't seen Tekton ratchets recalled immediately after launch.

And we haven't seen Tekton claim that they're "Tool Truck Quality".

 

[sberry]

Service is good at HF too. Sure it could be better, they could double the price to get it. If most of it was any cheaper they would have to pay customers to carry it to the car.
Tools got better and cheaper. First real battery drill I bought, a 9.6 was 150$, just bought one as good or better for 50. Sears hand tools are as good as they were in the 80's, cost less today. That is revolutionary. Bought a set for a job in 90 maybe, 300 then, now 200. Sears didn't raise prices, they kept going down till they met hf and Walmart, some it they made cheaper junk didn't look like the last model or wasn't what was expected. I bought a grinder, 6 months later,, had to order in those days, I buy 3 more, when they came it was totally different and resembled a kids toy. Another grinder last an hour and got a sol story. Just junk it was obvious no one ever tested or used.
Instead of making SK level,, which it a trend for icon they mase a Sears tool lower than 5he Cman it competed with on the same shelf. Dumb **** put another brand of appliance in the store next to the Kenmore,, then put it on sale. Duh

 

[sberry]

They should have bought SK put it on the top shelf and Cman under it, they would have made extra money on SK sales and had a comparison to Cman,,,, but no,,, put a wrench on sale cost 1/2 the cman.
I think Hf is doing exactly what it should, getting a little better tools and raising prices a little. Bring Icon and let it be compared to Pitts. Let someone else sell stamped India.
Or if they do carry it make it such junk no one buys it, they buy Pitts.
I was in a jamb up out of town, the junk was so bad at Menard the Allen looked like a deal. I spent up vs look down. It did exactly what the marketer intended

 

[sberry]

Many of us would be surprised because we haven't seen Tekton sockets deteriorate in a shop after one month of use. We haven't seen Tekton ratchets recalled immediately after launch.

And we haven't seen Tekton claim that they're "Tool Truck Quality".

You the guy can't decide about 120$ for hammers that could be Text on for 26? What does that say about it all. All this is sd on fear,,, gonna spend another hundred dollars cause you worried about value on 26.
We tried some 5$ hammers. They were not very good, they worked 5 bucks worth but it wasn't so bad that the 10$ sent me in to a panic, we looked for something a little better, now the Text on and similar are better for similar money. We didn't need to spend 120 to fix the issue and we did get to abuse a couple cheap tools along the way.

 

[lardy1]

I ordered these on the website yesterday afternoon with their standard free shipping. They were on my porch when I put the dog out at 5AM.



One of many reasons I like them.

EDIT: She corrected me. It was around eight thirty.

 

[BrandoJames]

You the guy can't decide about 120$ for hammers that could be Text on for 26? What does that say about it all. All this is sd on fear,,, gonna spend another hundred dollars cause you worried about value on 26.

What in the world are you talking about. This isn’t a Tekton v Proto thread. If you had posted this on the Proto Hammer thread (where it belongs) , I’d reply that there’s a qualitative difference between a steel hammer (Proto) vs a fiberglass hammer (Tekton). Maybe you should debate the issue instead of the person. You’re getting really close to an ad-hom attack here.