Favorite ratchets in 2020?

[Cantaloupeman]

I currently have a big USA craftsman socket set with 1/4 3/8 and 1/2. It's got the VJ ratchets. I love old craftsman, but can't help but want an upgrade. The sockets fit kinda loosely on their own, and the ratchets themselves have lots of mechanism slop and get jammed a lot.

I may or may not stick with the sockets, but I definitely want better ratchets. I just want something that's quality, doesn't have a lot of backdrag and isn't sloppy. I am really interested in the tekton 90 tooth, all of the GW ratchets, and possibly the carlyle ratchets. I have also considering going used. I have thought about looking for a craftsman RHFT, or older SK with the tooth upgrade kit. I know there are plenty of threads on this but many are old and outdated so I'd like to hear some opinions including the current market in 2020. Thanks!

 

[Iowafox]

I would honestly say go to NAPA and buy one of there Carlyle brand 3/8 chrome ratchets. I have 2 of them and there $20 ish and I have used mine hard and zero issues at all! I also suggest looking at Tekton and Gearwrench there pretty good as well! I have heard that the new Icon line from Harbor Freight is good as well. I was in the same boat as you and I have to admit that by far my most reached for and used ratchets are the Napa carlyle ones

 

[justintendo]

nothing wrong with the old usa craftsman sockets...the question is, how much are you looking to spend for ratchets? there are tons of good choices at all sorts of prices...also, are you willing to get nice pre-owned ones or do they have to be new?

the old tear drop craftsman ratchets are truly miserable..

 

[measuredtwice]

I have a couple Carlyle ratchets from clearance sales. I paid $18 and 20 for 2 of the locking flex head ratchets. They are a bit notchy and draggy compared to my other ratchets. They ship completely dry but it's still noticeable when lubed up with Super Lube. For the money spent, I think it is a good value for a locking flex head. But I would not pay their retail price which is about $50 more than I paid.

I've only seen old GW and Tekton. I can't comment on the current stuff.

If you don't mind low tooth count but you care about back drag, you might consider Koken from Japan. They use very light springs and the back drag is the lowest of any ratchet that I've used. That said, there are lots of other ratchets that don't have bad back drag. Koken just has ridiculously low back drag. For example, I have no complaints about the back drag on my Proto 90 tooth or Snap-On dual 80 but Koken has even lower drag. At a certain point, I don't think it makes much of a difference.

Here's an example from Koken. It is around $30 plus shipping on Amazon Japan. The example is a fixed head with knurled handle but Koken also makes flex heads and handles that are smooth chrome or plastic gripped.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B002P919PO/

Man, I really like knurling.

Not a big fan of mirror-finish chrome. Okay with satin chrome, rough sandcast, or gray industrial finish. But I just love knurling: the way it looks, the way it feels, and even the way it sounds --- knnnuuurrrling!

Favorite is the knurling on my Ko-ken ratchet handles...

View media item 90841
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Share pictures of your favorite KNURLING!

 

[lardy1]

Pretty hard to beat the ratchets from Tekton for the home gamer. One of the best deals out there, in my opinion.

 

[setfocus]

I guess it depends on how much you want pay

For cheaper but good ratchets... tekton 90t, gearwrench 84t and 90t, some carlisle, and even the HF Pitt Pro fine tooth seem to get good reviews around here. I've heard the older 84 and 90 tooth gearwrench's are better than the new 120 tooth, also heard some of the early HF Icon ratchets had issues

There are many good mid priced ratchets. SK round heads (love my long flexhead w/ double tooth mech) and LP90s (I guess early LP90s had really stiff reverse levers), the industrial bands like Williams, Wright, Proto.

There are some good Japanese ratchets, some brands are difficult to get in the States. I'm not really familiar with them, others can give you better info

My favorite are snap-on duel 80 but they are spendy... but I'm also an auto tech who's a bit of a tool snob

Matco and Mac also make some nice spendy ratchets

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[designer485]

Snap-On Dual 80, Wright contour grip, Proto 90t, Williams USA (if you are ok with 36t, these have the Snap-On 936 series internals), Bahco Dual 80 (same internals as Snap-On) or Koken Z Series would all be great choices. Treat yourself to at least a 3/8 drive Snap-On F80, you will not be disappointed.

 

[Cantaloupeman]

nothing wrong with the old usa craftsman sockets...the question is, how much are you looking to spend for ratchets? there are tons of good choices at all sorts of prices...also, are you willing to get nice pre-owned ones or do they have to be new?

the old tear drop craftsman ratchets are truly miserable..

Well the most I'd be willing to spend is if I bought a matco 88. I've heard great things about that ratchet and it would probably last my whole life. Doubt I'd be willing to spring for a dual 80.

From what I've heard the GW 84 tooth is very similar to the matco 88, and I certainly like the price more. I am not sure about the GW warranty though because I've heard they don't replace broken tools unless it is manufacturer defect related.

 

[vssjim]

Well the most I'd be willing to spend is if I bought a matco 88. I've heard great things about that ratchet and it would probably last my whole life. Doubt I'd be willing to spring for a dual 80.

From what I've heard the GW 84 tooth is very similar to the matco 88, and I certainly like the price more. I am not sure about the GW warranty though because I've heard they don't replace broken tools unless it is manufacturer defect related.

GearWrench's warranty is as easy as can be and it's fast. I have never had any problem's at all.
https://www.gearwrench.com/warranty-replacement-form

Tekton is handled the same way.

 

[seber]

I have both both the Matco 80 and Bahco dual 80. For about the same price there is no comparison. The Matco is better finished but the Bahco beats it hands down for back drag, ease of switching ( which I understand some people don't like) and just general feel. Feel of course is also subjective.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have inexpensive ratchets and I have truck brand ratchets. I think I'm happiest with my 90 tooth Tekton ratchets. Economical, durable, crisp action, good balance, nice chrome, little heft on the handle, hard to beat at any price point.

Gearwrench is replacing its 84 tooth series with their new 90 tooth series. Might be able to catch a deal on the outgoing 84 tooth stuff.

 

[jshillin]

I agree, for what you are looking for Gearwrench is fine. My little stubby gearwrench stubby ratchet gets used as much if not more than my Snap-on ratchets.

 

[measuredtwice]

Well the most I'd be willing to spend is if I bought a matco 88. I've heard great things about that ratchet and it would probably last my whole life. Doubt I'd be willing to spring for a dual 80.

From what I've heard the GW 84 tooth is very similar to the matco 88, and I certainly like the price more. I am not sure about the GW warranty though because I've heard they don't replace broken tools unless it is manufacturer defect related.

You didn't say why you wouldn't spring for a Snap-On dual 80, so it's not clear if it's price or another reason. But a Matco 88 may be more expensive than the Snap-On dual 80. Depends on what exactly you want. Both companies have some great ratchets.

I have both both the Matco 80 and Bahco dual 80. For about the same price there is no comparison. The Matco is better finished but the Bahco beats it hands down for back drag, ease of switching ( which I understand some people don't like) and just general feel. Feel of course is also subjective.

Good luck finding a 3/8 Bahco dual 80. They've been hard to find for a few years. The 1/4 might still be on Ebay for around $30.

 

[Fly YX]

Out of all the ones I have I like the Wright contour grips the best. Don't know why just do. This is what I have in my box at one of the jobs I have. I have a tool cart there that has the rest of my Wright ratchets 1/4 3/8 and 1/2.

 

[Citation]

I went down the ratchet rabbit hole a few years back. I had the late made in US RP, 32 tooth stuff. Sufficient but I did like the idea of a longer handle.
I ended up adding a few cheap but likable ratchets to my box.

I started by adding the Husky 72T Apex/Gearwrench based ratchets. They feel nice and have a longer handle vs the Cman. I also added a $20 Stanley extending flex head. Finally I added a set of Crescent branded Roto ratchets.

Here is my advice. Don't bother getting a direct replacement for what you have. Instead look for ratchet types you don't have.

Even though in many ways the Husky 72T is my favorite ratchet in the box, I rarely use it. The roto head ratchets are my new go to. Check out one of the roto ratchet love threads to understand why. The Stanley is heavy and thus not used much but occasionally it's the perfect tool. It is the longest of my ratchets so it's my first choice for breaking bolts free.
The old Cman stuff still sees use as they are the lightest of my ratchets. Anyway, even thought the Huskies are a great upgrade, I should have passed and looked for different.

 

[setfocus]

Well the most I'd be willing to spend is if I bought a matco 88. I've heard great things about that ratchet and it would probably last my whole life. Doubt I'd be willing to spring for a dual 80.

From what I've heard the GW 84 tooth is very similar to the matco 88, and I certainly like the price more. I am not sure about the GW warranty though because I've heard they don't replace broken tools unless it is manufacturer defect related.

I've got both, the snap-on ratchet mech is better, less slop and smoother... most people like the lockingflex design of the matco better than snap-on design and the matco has a lower profile head

the price of both is about the same, matco may actually be a few $ more

from what I've heard, the matco 88t ratchet mech can be put in 84t gearwrench. Warranty seems to be kinda hit or miss with gearwrench. Tool truck brands have easy warranty, part of what you pay for IMO

 

[Iowafox]

Here is my advice. Don't bother getting a direct replacement for what you have. Instead look for ratchet types you don't have.

I agree with this alot actually. I say keep your old crapsman around and use them still. But get some that are longer, maybe a flex head and definitely a roto head in at least 1/4 drive.
I started off with the regular crapsman raised pannels and once I got serious into doing my own stuff I got better ratchets.
I started with the stanley ones and they always break on me I can't stand 3/8 and 1/4 there ratchets.
But now I have in 1/4 drive regular non flex, flexhead, and rotohead ratchets. By far my favorite is the roto head in 1/4 drive.
3/8 drive I have regular length Carlyle non flex or comfort grip the $20 one and love it so much I hae 2 of them. I also have a MAC tools round head flex head long ratchets (2 also), I have a stubby I made from a proto, and I have a long non flex Old snapon hard handle. I also have a old snapon bent handle flex head (sparkplug ratchet) on the way as well.
For 1/2 drive I have long fixed mac axis and standard sized proto and stanley fixed heads as well as the Mac tools round head flex head ratchet (2 of them as well).
I went big and it all started with wanting to try more stuff then the ones I had.
I say go out fondle a few find what you like and go with it. That is what most of us do I am sure and you can never have to many ratchets!!!!!

 

[lardy1]

If you're interested in roto heads, Cripe has had a pair of Crescent branded in 1/4" and 3/8" delivered to your mailbox for less than forty bucks. Those in the know tell us those are superior to the current Pittsburgh/Tekton/other importers models due to being able to disassemble them. There are several brands across the quality/price spectrum to choose from.

I bought some a couple years ago and find that I use them way more than I ever thought I would.

 

[Citation]

If you're interested in roto heads, Cripe has had a pair of Crescent branded in 1/4" and 3/8" delivered to your mailbox for less than forty bucks. Those in the know tell us those are superior to the current Pittsburgh/Tekton/other importers models due to being able to disassemble them. There are several brands across the quality/price spectrum to choose from.

I bought some a couple years ago and find that I use them way more than I ever thought I would.

I think mine came from Cripes via eBay.

 

[demarpaint]

I like my Proto J4750HTCF 1/4" 90 tooth flex-head ratchet.

 

[matt_i]

The three I added this year are the Wera Zyklop, not the swivel trunnion head but just the straight fixed ratchet.

Its a much smaller head as compared to any other ratchets in the drawer.

I haven't beaten it up to know if its torque rating is downsized but my guess is no.

After the 3/8" showed up and I used it, it was followed by the 1/4" and the 1/4" mini.

 

[Jtels85]

NAPA Carlyle Power 90’s with the yellow and blue comfort grip handle. By far my favorite ratchets!

If you’re partial to Craftsman, their 84 tooth thin profiles can still be found online for around $80 for the set of 3. Those are my second favorite! Very smooth and comfortable.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Carlyle long handle flex head here. I liked the Pittsburgh pro till the heads got floppy and i had to wait till the store had a replacement. Carlyle head is way smaller to. I have a 1/4in drive tekton swivel head i like so far but i think it’s a hf copy

 

[m6z]

I like my Carlyle/Icon/Gearwrench 90t comfort grips.

 

[qqzj]

Get the Husky 144 position 3 piece ratchet set from home depot for $70. Hard to beat the price. They're made by GearWrench. Slightly longer than the ratchets coming with socket set.

For flex head, get whatever version you like from GearWrench. They have a lot of choices. But also look at the 3/8 1/4 dual flex head from harbor freight. It is a diamond in the rough!

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[visionguru]

Get the Husky 144 position 3 piece ratchet set from home depot for $70. Hard to beat the price. ...[/URL]

I was about to say the same. The Husky double 72 teeth, 144 position ratchets are quite nice. There was an out-of-package 1/4" in the Home Depot nearby. I played with it a bit the other day. Frankly, I was very impressed about the smoothness. I think it's smoother/light back drag than my Snap On, Gearwrench, and Carlyle.

My favorite is till Snap On, but the favoritism is mainly based on certain feel, little to do with performance or durability. I think for a home gamer or start-up mechanic, any ratchets on the market should work just fine.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If anyone is looking for a new SK ratchet, they have a one day sale today (12-17-20). The discount code is SKHOLIDAY30. You can order straight from the SK website.

 

[anndel]

Carlyle, Tekton, Gearwrench are great ratchets and I have them in my emergency truck box. Wrenched cars and antenna towers with them BUT I love my Snap-ons in my shop and they stay there.

 

[ike]

Not the new 90 tooth Gearwrench for me!

I'm waiting for Apex to release their next model before I commit to buying a new ratchet.

I have 60 tooth, 72 tooth, 84 tooth, 88 tooth, and 120 tooth Apex ratchets, but I'm not buying the new 90 tooth, I'm waiting for the next big thing this time around! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me five times, well, I'll wait for the next model!

 

[Iowafox]

Carlyle long handle flex head here. I liked the Pittsburgh pro till the heads got floppy and i had to wait till the store had a replacement. Carlyle head is way smaller to. I have a 1/4in drive tekton swivel head i like so far but i think it’s a hf copy

The Tekton and pitts pro swivels are the exact same. Tekton offers a few of the same ones that is at HF. I believe they did that for the fact that those ones are the best budget ones and tekton realized it and just changed the handle color.

 

[measuredtwice]

Here's the Bahco 1/4 with the same innards as the Snap-On Dual 72.

I have both the Bahco and Snap-On ratchets and the mechanisms appear to be the same. The Bahco is nothing fancy but it has a good mechanism. The box says it is made in Spain.

$26.65 + $4 shipping

https://www.ebay.com/itm/153335056969

Amazon has them for a few bucks more at $35.51 shipped.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MHEFJ2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Shootinok]

The Tekton and pitts pro swivels are the exact same. Tekton offers a few of the same ones that is at HF. I believe they did that for the fact that those ones are the best budget ones and tekton realized it and just changed the handle color.

Are they the same?
Agreeing they appear similar (and I do not have a Tekton to compare) but the pictures appear to have the R and L designated correctly on the back.
I have two PPros and I contend they are backwards.

My favorite - if based on the most grabbed 1st - is a Craftsman
USA model 44995 then a Carlisle 90 tooth.




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[Iowafox]

Are they the same?
Agreeing they appear similar (and I do not have a Tekton to compare) but the pictures appear to have the R and L designated correctly on the back.
I have two PPros and I contend they are backwards.

My favorite - if based on the most grabbed 1st - is a Craftsman
USA model 44995 then a Carlisle 90 tooth.




Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

HF rotohead 3/8
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-e...MIw7_azsTW7QIVCm6GCh277w_2EAQYASABEgJp2fD_BwE

Tekton 3/8 rotohead
https://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-...Vw66GCh3Y_Q31EAQYAyABEgK5WfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have the HF pitts pro in 1/4 and took it in with me to home depot a few weeks ago and they are a exact copy. Down to the molding lines on the handles. I can say with almost 100% certainty they are the same just changed the plastic handle colors.

 

[Jacobs976]

Out of all the ones I have I like the Wright contour grips the best. Don't know why just do. This is what I have in my box at one of the jobs I have. I have a tool cart there that has the rest of my Wright ratchets 1/4 3/8 and 1/2.

Hey what's the black handle ratchet on the far left? Looks interesting.

Edit: Found it. Vintage Sidchrome. Shame it's an Australian only brand unless you pay 50-100% in shipping depending on retail or used. Actually like the look of it, not enough to go retail or pay shipping but it's interesting. Guess I'll be going to the flea markets if I ever go on vacation.

 

[M635_Guy]

HF rotohead 3/8
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-e...MIw7_azsTW7QIVCm6GCh277w_2EAQYASABEgJp2fD_BwE

Tekton 3/8 rotohead
https://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-...Vw66GCh3Y_Q31EAQYAyABEgK5WfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have the HF pitts pro in 1/4 and took it in with me to home depot a few weeks ago and they are a exact copy. Down to the molding lines on the handles. I can say with almost 100% certainty they are the same just changed the plastic handle colors.

I agree they look essentially identical other than the handle colors. I thought the Pitts-Pro was fine (other than the 1/4", which didn't feel very beefy and had a bit of backdrag) for the $$. But for the ones I use the most (1/4" and 3/8") I wound up choosing the Icon models, and they're outstanding. I've since acquired a SO roto, and while it's a great tool, I still reach for the Icon first most of the time.

So... my answer to the thread is going to be the Icon 1/4" Roto. 2020, among many other things, was the year of going down the Ratchet Hole for me. I got rid of some really old cheapo ratchets that were really bugging me as I worked on the family cars, and got a bit...carried away. My set currently includes Carlyle, Craftsman, Icon, Pittsburgh Pro, Snap On and Tekton. The good news is I have a great set and really enjoy working with all of them except the Sunex set that came with my mobile/travel socket set (i.e. the set that has a decent case and doesn't live in my cart). I love the Snap On ratchets, and have made several used ones a present to myself over the year, but the little Icon roto is the one I'm enjoying using the most.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

My Capri is by far my favorite. I think they are always a looked over brand but lots of videos on YouTube about them almost like Tekton or Gearwrench but I feel they are slightly better. And they are having a Christmas sale right now so I got it cheaper than one would of cost at Harbor Freight. Also like my Matco locking flex head but the Capri is my favorite this year. I agree on the old Craftsman I broke the selector switch off mine today have a replacement on the way from Craftsman directly didn’t even have to return the old one.


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[TheToolEnthusiast]

Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro Flex 72-tooth Flex Heads

Craftsman Gunmetal 120-tooth ratchets

Both types work pretty well for the money and can be found on sale frequently.

 

[Ton ton]

Nobody likes erection ratchets? I am still trying to find one in a brick and mortar store.

 

[Wamsutta]

Well the most I'd be willing to spend is if I bought a matco 88. I've heard great things about that ratchet and it would probably last my whole life. Doubt I'd be willing to spring for a dual 80.

A Matco BFR88G is $115.95
A Snap-on FH80 is $130.00

You'd be saving yourself $15

 

[d.mcfarland]

Nobody likes erection ratchets? I am still trying to find one in a brick and mortar store.

Probably going to be hard. No pun intended.