Gearwrench flex vs armstrong flex

[vandezand]

Looking to get a long 3/8 flex head ratchet. I have the Armstrong maxx in a regular 3/8 and want a 3/8 flex. Which do you prefer

 

[Dj.SammyOaks]

I have the Matco 3/8 locking flex and love it so id assume that the armstrong is pretty close. Armstrong has my vote

 

[vandezand]

I guess I like the long handle. I saw thr Gearwrench is 13 inches and the armstrong is 11. Are the matco heads the exact same head size?

 

[cheechi]

120xp is my go to flex head.

 

[JDon99]

I'd go with the Armstrong. It has the locking flex mechanism that GW does not have, plus it's made in the USA. You can always upgrade it to 88t specs later if you wish.

 

[hondacivic247]

I love my gear wrench flex head I got that in a 3 piece kit with a 3/8 1/4 and a bonus offset handle 3/8 flex all for under 110 I believe. I switched everything over to gear wrench from kobalt/craftsmans and love them and there sockets are top notch

 

[toolaholic]

I'd go with the Armstrong. It has the locking flex mechanism that GW does not have, plus it's made in the USA. You can always upgrade it to 88t specs later if you wish.

I'll second that. My armstrong locking 3/8 is my favorite ratchet.

 

[SASORacing]

Matco is way nicer, the Gearwrench doesnt even lock I think...

Matco has less backdrag, and is a thinner head.

 

[1950mercury]

Armstrong cause it locks

 

[paulsomlo]

Anyone know if a 3/8" fine tooth, locking flex with quick release exists? Been searching, but not coming up with anything.

 

[Askme42]

I'd go with the Armstrong. It has the locking flex mechanism that GW does not have, plus it's made in the USA. You can always upgrade it to 88t specs later if you wish.

This is what I did. Bought the armstrongs then bought an 88 tooth repair kit

 

[Askme42]

Matco is way nicer, the Gearwrench doesnt even lock I think...

Matco has less backdrag, and is a thinner head.

I have the armstrongs but man I love long matco with cushion grip. Been thinking about upgrading for awhile.

 

[SASORacing]

Armstrong and Matco are identical and made in same factory, only diff is cosmetics, and sometimes tooth count. Matco is worth more though/ better name and local truck man is convienient.

 

[Fedwrench]

I own the Armstrong, matco, and more than a couple of gearwrench versions. If I could only have one, I would choose the gerarwench 84 tooth all metal flex head ratchet. Why? I've never really used the locking head feature found on Matco and Armstrong versions. I like the smaller and thinner head of the 84 tooth model compared to the 120xp model. Be it 60, 84, or 88 teeth, they're all the same floating pawl design internally. You just can't beat the durability and affordability of the gear wrench 84 tooth flex head ratchet.

 

[BirdMobile]

I just received my Armstrong 3/8 locking flex on Friday of last week.
Love, love, LOVE it! It (and its 1/4 drive brother) is already on the short list of about 10 ratchets I would NEVER give up under ANY circumstances.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Get the best of both worlds. Armstrong locking flex and throw a 84T Gearwrench kit into it.

I actually do prefer the feel of the 84T Gearwrench over the 88T Matco I had.

 

[BK13]

Seriously, you need both.

 

[JDon99]

I personally like the feel of the Matco's handle over the Armstrong, but they are both fine ratchets.

 

[Farmall450]

I didn't vote;
I really like my 120XP flex head, but it's not US made.

It doesn't lock (idc about that personally)

It does have a higher tooth count (twice as much actually)

 

[SMKS]

Locking is a great feature and makes the Armstrong a far superior ratchet. The Armstrog is more expensive, but the locking mechanism is worth it to me. It's my most expensive ratchet by far, but I've never regretted getting it.

I've used the locking mechanisms quite a bit on mine and I'm just a DIY'er.

But, don't bother upgrading the 60 tooth mechanism, at least not at first. I did it, but in retrospect it wasn't really worth it. Anything 60 or more is adequate and a higher count will almost never make a difference. Much of the high-tooth-count craze is just a ******* contest between companies.

 

[cheechi]

Anything 60 or more is adequate and a higher count will almost never make a difference. Much of the high-tooth-count craze is just a ******* contest between companies.

I agree with this in spirit but I disagree with the number. I would say 72 or 80 would be the floor, not 60. I do notice a difference between my oldest 60t that I almost never use, and any of my other rats at 72+. From there, I don't notice much of a difference from the dual 80, triangle (dual 72), 120xp, or just straight 72t.

Other than back drag which I'm sure is not just due to tooth count but mechanism design, any of the rats I mentioned above give me the same usable flexibility in terms of swing arc in the real world. Usually I choose the handle I want to hold for the task I'm doing since all of mine are fine tooth.