First impression of ICON G2 ratchets

[Nessism]

Yep. Agree. But let’s not get distracted by the active marketing here on GJ and elsewhere. How long have the icon ratchets been out and what generation are we on? Are the guts backward compatible? How many “generations” of toolboxes are there? I think I’d assume every unique sku is likely a different manufacturer.

To be clear, the first gen dual 80 ratchets had strength issues and an updated 80A config was released with a revised back plate. But of course you can get rebuild kits for both generations and probably will for a very long time. It’s also been a long time between models. So it’s not exactly like you buy a snap on wrench and it will never ever change.

But as I hinted earlier, this is all apples and oranges, comparing a tool manufacturer to an importer/distributor.

Just really trying to provide one possible explanation why HF is reluctant to offer rebuild kits or breaks up sets to replace a single member and why this may never change.

Money where my mouth is: I think the whole global distribution model is fraught with pitfalls for us. I need to choose major appliances and hvac systems for my barn build. What I’m learning is that premium brands offer lifetime warrantees, but they are parts only and they don’t maintain the parts for long. So if your new Mitsubishi mini split is DOA, you can get a replacement compressor. But in 5 yrs, you may need a whole new unit and the labor to install it could be staggering.

Because these are disposable pieces of **** all of them, I may buy cheaper brands and keep them 100% superficial so they can be easily swapped. No **** hard plumbing or electrical services. All of it will be accessible to a dumpster. This is the eco system we are stuck with and I’m just trying to recognize it and be smart about it.

My advice is similar to @zendriver I think. If you love your G2 Icon ratchet, buy 2 or 3.

More: like some freaky sci fi where evil people clone themselves for spare organs, you technically don’t need multiple (expensive) long flex heads. You could buy the cheapest model using identical guts and keep that just for parts. My toolbox drawer is currently all dual 80 and my 3/8” are all F80A. So I keep a couple rebuild kits on hand that can service all of them. So I’m not recommending doubling your ratchet drawer. Just keeping a few sad clones safe in cold sleep until needed.


(I think I succeeded in making this analogy really weird and a bit sad.)

I bought several Icon G1 ratchets recently, when they were discounted because G2 is taking over. These are excellent pieces. I suspect G2 is better still, but we are into the incremental improvement zone. I don't care if you can't get internal parts. HF will warranty any failures by handing you a new ratchet of whatever generation they are up to. That's good enough for me. All are good.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I bought several Icon G1 ratchets recently, when they were discounted because G2 is taking over. These are excellent pieces. I suspect G2 is better still, but we are into the incremental improvement zone. I don't care if you can't get internal parts. HF will warranty any failures by handing you a new ratchet of whatever generation they are up to. That's good enough for me. All are good.

EXACTLY!

Idk why people take so much pride in the fact that SO rebuilds their worn out junk. They come out and re blade a screwdriver with a handle that looks like a dog chewed on it but with HF I can walk in and get a whole new set. Rebuild a soft grip ratchet, cool the handle still looks like absolute ****.

 

[M635_Guy]

So I’ve been playing around with the Gen2s in store and I’ve tried out a few from the guys at work. I don’t get the hype. They’re heavy and all of them have stiff internals. I go back to my Matco Eighty8s or the Snappys and I just don’t see how you can sit there and tell me they are on the same level. I’m not saying they don’t perform, I’m just saying that they aren’t nearly as nice to use.

? Heavy? The weight difference between my Icon and SO equivalent is maybe an ounce and a half (it's a hair over an ounce less for SO with a grip vs. the equivalent Icon). I've got some of my ratchets spread in road kits, so grabbed the closest equivalents in my box:


(this is almost exactly an ounce less for the SO - I can't imagine the grip is more than a half-ounce more)

Matco is about the same as SO (with the locking flex head, but also with a grip):


What's hilarious is my Ko-Ken Z series is the heaviest, and I would have bet it was the lightest:

The spread from lightest to heaviest is 75 grams: a little over 2.6 ounces...

And FWIW, the Matco is easily the worst of the four. The locking flex action is balky, even after a replacement (the original one was extremely hard to lock/unlock). The mechanism is nothing to write home about. The K0-ken is easily the best - amazing mechanism. The Icon and SO feel essentially the same. The G2 feels different to any of them, and while it's still well behind the Ko-ken, it is second in this group for me. I only have a 14" G2 flex head. HF only recently announced 10" that would compete with these, but given the number of ratchets I have I doubt I'll get one.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

? Heavy? The weight difference between my Icon and SO equivalent is maybe an ounce and a half (it's a hair over an ounce less for SO with a grip vs. the equivalent Icon). I've got some of my ratchets spread in road kits, so grabbed the closest equivalents in my box:


(this is almost exactly an ounce less for the SO - I can't imagine the grip is more than a half-ounce more)

Matco is about the same as SO (with the locking flex head, but also with a grip):


What's hilarious is my Ko-Ken Z series is the heaviest, and I would have bet it was the lightest:

The spread from lightest to heaviest is 75 grams: a little over 2.6 ounces...

And FWIW, the Matco is easily the worst of the four. The locking flex action is balky, even after a replacement (the original one was extremely hard to lock/unlock). The mechanism is nothing to write home about. The K0-ken is easily the best - amazing mechanism. The Icon and SO feel essentially the same. The G2 feels different to any of them, and while it's still well behind the Ko-ken, it is second in this group for me. I only have a 14" G2 flex head. HF only recently announced 10" that would compete with these, but given the number of ratchets I have I doubt I'll get one.

Here’s the beauty of GJ, we can totally have different opinions and be happy with them. I’m just not a fan of the G2 ratchets. I was using one again at work to give it another chance and I just don’t like it. To me it feels heavy and rough. I prefer my Matco and Snap-on ratchets 1000% more. And I’ve never cared for the Koken 72 tooth stuff either. But I get that other people feel differently and that’s cool. I’m just not jumping on the Icon train.

 

[pfbz]

Here’s the beauty of GJ, we can totally have different opinions and be happy with them. I’m just not a fan of the G2 ratchets. I was using one again at work to give it another chance and I just don’t like it. To me it feels heavy and rough. I prefer my Matco and Snap-on ratchets 1000% more. And I’ve never cared for the Koken 72 tooth stuff either. But I get that other people feel differently and that’s cool. I’m just not jumping on the Icon train.

See now I really dislike the Matco ratchets... Heck, I'd rather use most Pittsburgh ratchets than a Matco.

But love Snappy dual 80's, Icon G2's, and Koken Z's. So yeah, I guess there is a ratchet for every preference.

 

[M635_Guy]

Here’s the beauty of GJ, we can totally have different opinions and be happy with them. I’m just not a fan of the G2 ratchets. I was using one again at work to give it another chance and I just don’t like it. To me it feels heavy and rough. I prefer my Matco and Snap-on ratchets 1000% more. And I’ve never cared for the Koken 72 tooth stuff either. But I get that other people feel differently and that’s cool. I’m just not jumping on the Icon train.

Fair. I'm amazed at how ratchets are so variable to individual tastes, but it's clearly a thing.

 

[AEAdam]

When someone thoughtful or experienced says a ratchet feels “heavy” I would assume they are talking about polar moment of inertia (J) and not mass.

I really like the soft grips on ratchets because they are very lightweight and SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the ratchets’ polar moments. Adding weight to the end of a ratchet handle will make the tool harder to change directions and make it feel heavy or clumsy.

Elsewhere, there’s a thread on the plastic Pittsburgh ratchets. I have one. I think it’s that’s one thing people like about it. It’s a light tool, but who cares about that. Mine has low back drag and a super low J.

People probably like 1/4” ratchets for the same reason. I know I do.

 

[Yarpo]

See now I really dislike the Matco ratchets... Heck, I'd rather use most Pittsburgh ratchets than a Matco.

But love Snappy dual 80's, Icon G2's, and Koken Z's. So yeah, I guess there is a ratchet for every preference.

That is the beauty of it these days. Between the 4 of us, we would have completely different preferences haha

My matco 88s are favorite ratchets, followed by my Snap Ons, and then probably my GW 84Ts. Not a huge fan of the Koken either

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

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[zendriver]

The fun thing about having a whole bunch of Harbor Freight tools, as you don’t have to buy any other brands, so you really don’t know what you’re “missing”.

Maybe they have a better “feel”