E-Z Red vs Gearwrench ratchet

[53chevy5]

More curious than anything, our SO dealer handles the EZ and our auto parts store has GW. They both seem like decent ratchets for the money, just wondering if one holds up better than the other or both about the same.

 

[metaleltr]

Are you looking at a normal EZ red or the extendable? Mac dealer sells gw and EZ red just today I chose a gw 84 tooth over the extendable because the me hi sim is large and clunky and I didn't see much use for it. However I was just looking for a general purpose 3/8 ratchet.

 

[53chevy5]

I was looking at the extendable ez, but I assume the heads are the same as standard. Does gw make an extendable one?

 

[metaleltr]

No they do offer longer ratchets and flex head ratchets but not the extandable mechanism like EZ red. Stanley does offer an extendable ratchet, that actually has a flex head, but I would trust EZ red before stanley

 

[LXCam]

I have the complete set of fixed head extra long EZ Reds and couldn't be happier with thier product. I also have some GW rats which I've been perfectly happy with as well. But I do find myself reaching for the Reds far more often.

 

[malykaii]

I don't know who makes the ez red ratchet (I'll guess Kabo)... [but I'll say this] I have a harbor freight extendable ratchet. My co worker bought an EZ Red one from Mac. Aside from EZ being a flex head, the ratchets felt identical.

Even if they aren't from the same manufacturer, they may as well be identical. Meaning, I don't see how its worth paying EZ Red's price for a HF tool.

I say grab the GW 120xp 4piece set and a HF extendable ratchet.

 

[kctyphoon]

Funny, I was just on the ez red site and they look EXACTLY like the HF ratchets.. The internals look identical too.. They show a different option with maybe a flex head but I'd bet anything they are the exactly the same.You can go on eBay and find them under a dozen different names. My guess is they all come from the same place. Why not just goto HF and get the lifetime warranty... Only difference physically is ez red's have the OLD handle style that the HF version use to have.. HF has the new slimmer grips..

The 1/2" extending HF ratchet is bomb proof. Unfortunately HF doesn't sell the flex head version. But if you want a flex head in 3/8" you can buy their ratcheting breaker bar and double flex ratchet, and just swap the heads. You'll wind up with these.. You need a really narrow head 3/8 ratchet that second tool is perfect. You can make some crazy angles with it, or even remove the middle flex section for a stubby, narrow head , flex 3/8 ratchet

 

[Fedwrench]

I would sum the comparison between EZ Red & Gearwrench ratchets like this: If you want a strong and long ratchet reach for the EZ Red. Internally they use the classic Proto ratcheting design. Now if you want a wide variety of styles with a thinner head for access, reach for Gearwrench. Gearwrench uses the floating pawl ratcheting action which allows you to have a very crisp fine tooth ratcheting action that is quite strong at the same time.
Both brands will serve you well at a fraction of the truck version price but, shop around for the best deal.

Kabo used to make a lot of EZ Red ratchets and ratcheting wrenches but, lately I think EZ Red might have switched suppliers.