Got 2 different impact socket sets. Which one should I keep? Sunex vs Amazon Denali (Photos inside)

[st185_cs]

A week ago I purchased a sunex 3/8 3342 impact socket set from home depot. According to HD the socket should have been delivered by friday, but I checked friday morning and the package hasn't still shipped. I really needed the sockets for the weekend, so I went to amazon and found a similar socket set with next day delivery, so I ended up buying it.

Sunex 3342



Denali 44 piece:




I tried to cancel the sunex socket set order from HD, but they shipped it anyways, and I received it today. Here are some photos comparing both sets. On every side to side photo, Denali is on the left and Sunex on the right.

Case: Denali is a clear winner. Case itself is made from a way nicer material, it has an actual hinge unlike sunex, which probably will break in half over time, and also sockets have a snugger fit on it, so the sockets won't be all over the place after transporting the case, which I often do.





10mm deep socket comparison











Will continue in next post...

 

[st185_cs]

19mm deep socket comparison (denali left, sunex right)












19mm shallow comparison

 

[st185_cs]

10MM shallow socket comparison

 

[st185_cs]

With my limited knowledge these are the pros/cons I can find:

Denali pros:
Larger diameter socket seem to be beefier than the sunex ones.
Lower price ($50)
Better value (Includes 21mm socket that I find to be quite useful and a 6 inch extension. Buying both as an addition to the sunex kit probably will cost me an extra $15-20)
Good quality case that will last a long time.

Denali cons:
"Conical" socket shape for smaller sockets seems to be less practical than sunex shape for tigth fit situations)
Swivel adapter seems to be garbage compared to sunex
Unknown brand/long time durability/performance

Sunex pros:
Small diameter sockets seem to be beefier than denali
Known brand
Small socket shape is better for tight fit places.
Swivel adapter appears to have a better construction

Sunex cons
No 21mm socket
No 6 inch extension
Terrible case
Higher price ($60)

Which one would you keep and why? I've had a 1/2 sunex set for a couple years and it's been great during all this time. On the other side, the denali set has me impressed with the quality, as honestly, I was expecting some china garbage, and actually feels way better than a neiko set I previously had and most HF ****, plus it's cheaper and includes the 21mm socket and 6inch extension that I will probably use often.

 

[m6z]

I'd keep the Sunex as that's what I have.

I'd assume the Denali sockets were considerably cheaper than the Sunex? Less machining and look to be a bit thicker.

Edit: I always throw the plastic cases in the trash, so I don't put a value on the better case.

 

[Clutchsmoke]

Sunex is a known commodity. These sockets from Amazon are a **** shoot.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Never heard of Denali. However, if it's made in China, I go with whatever option is cheapest and easiest to warranty which means Canadian Tire or Harbor Freight in my case. I would probably go with Sunex since they are a known quantity.

 

[ChevyEFI]

What matters: wall thickness. I like the thinner 19mm. I also like the reduced dia. of the hex end of the Sunex vs. the taper of the Denali. The countersink at the square drive is important for easier change-out.

Are the extra pieces filler. or are they useful? Extra ****, or extra weight is not a benefit. Are you going to carry the whole case? I did, for years, with my SK "has nearly all sizes" cases. In 3/8" impact, I would want slightly less **** to carry around.

If the Denali is better priced, I can't justify skipping it, based on your notes and pics.

 

[kbeefy]

I'd keep the sunnex just based on the name, but I can't fault anything with the Denali set aside from the garbage universal. Compensated for by the 21 and 6' extension.

I also toss the cases to save space.

 

[larry_g]

Nothing says that you can't keep them both.... Have one set in your tool box and another set to grab and go when necessary...

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ecotec]

I prefer the design of the Sunex sockets based on your pictures and measurements . I do not have either set, though.

I have 2 complete sets of 3/8”impact sockets with 3 sizes in each and a bunch of extras… but it is a muttly mix of MAC, Cornwell, Snap-on, GP, SK, Proto, and Matco… the majority being MAC and Cornwell.

 

[M635_Guy]

Nothing says that you can't keep them both.... Have one set in your tool box and another set to grab and go when necessary...

lg
no neat sig line

This man GarageJournals

 

[webscrounger]

Have no clue about Denali, they may be great, or not, probably just fine. I do have Sunex and use them with impact and ratchet. I like that they tend to be relatively thin for impact sockets which makes them more like using regular chrome sockets. JMO.

 

[boom_bap]

Lets not fund Jeff's space missions any more than we need to..

I'd keep the Sunex. I've got the 10-30 metric shallow and deep master set and its been great to me. Also have the 30mm 12 pt for toyotas, also holding up great.

Even if the Denalis turn out to be awesome, think about the kind of people you want to do business with/controlling the market place.

 

[Tools4Me]

I don't have any experience with Denali sockets. If they are made in China, go with the Sunex set, because Taiwan made products are almost always noticeably better quality.

I own quite a few Sunex impact sockets and I've never had any issues with them. The Sunex impact swivels have also been tested in youtube videos and they are very durable compared to most other brands. I like the female square drive lead-in chamfering on the Denali sockets, but that's not a big deal in terms of function, just a nice touch. In general I'm not a fan of any of Amazon branded tools, they are average quality homeowner grade tools for the most part. Sunex leans more heavily towards being a value oriented professional quality brand with their impact offerings. Sunex pliers, chrome tools, etc. on the other hand can be very hit or miss, so I pretty much avoid them.

I'm like you OP, I hate cases that have a flexible plastic hinge instead of a real hinge, but that Sunex case might still be the better option. If you ever decide to store your socket set more permanently in a tool chest drawer you can cut off the lid of the Sunex case and set the bottom part of the case into your tool chest and you instantly have yourself a nice drawer socket set organizer that's pretty compact.

I don't like it when sockets are individually "pinch fit" into a plastic socket case. I want my sockets to come out of their slots with almost no effort or resistance so I can change socket combinations around quickly and efficiently while working. It can be a bit annoying when a case doesn't want to let the sockets go and I have to grab a screwdriver multiple times to pry sockets out of the case before I can use them. It looks like the lid section of the Denali case might be that way, so it's something to think about when making your decision.

The Denali sockets have noticeably thicker walls, which can be an issue sometimes when working on things. If you don't have duplicate chrome socket sets with thinner walls (or if you are thinking of getting rid of your chrome socket sets and just using impact sockets for everything) the thinner walled Sunex set would be the better option.

 

[ecotec]

If you talk yourself out of both, the Grey Pneumatic impact sockets are pretty terrific. I have a few individuals in 3/8” and I have the shallow and deep sets in 1/2”. I also have a few of their universal impact sets and 1/4” sets in multiple flavors.

 

[Rinspeed]

That's a lot of pictures. I've never heard of Denali so I would probably dump them.

 

[autobon7]

This is a no brainer for me.....keep the Sunex. As a poster mentioned above......lets not continue to support Jeffs rocket missions.

 

[KnurledNut]

The clear answer here is to put the Sunex sockets in the Denali box, and send the Sunex back.



Disclaimer: This is a joke.

 

[j3rf]

I would keep the Sunex sockets.

 

[powertrip]

I emailed Sunex a few years ago before I made an impact socket set purchase about their crappy case hinge. I never got a reply and ended up with another brand since there are so many quality choices on the market. I caught a 44 piece Husky which is basically a Gearwrench set with a very good case for about $40. The case mattered to me so I understand your point.

 

[Ilikeike]

The clear answer here is to put the Sunex sockets in the Denali box, and send the Sunex back.



Disclaimer: This is a joke.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[71firebird400]

If I'm being honest, my Sunex sockets are as good as ANY impact sockets I've ever owned. The thickness of those Denali's is reminiscent of the days when all the cheap sockets looked like that and the only way to get a decent wall thickness was off a tool truck.

 

[Uofime]

Blow molded cases belong in the garbage. Get some rails and a bag for travel.
21mm 3/8th is useless you shouldn’t put more than 80ish ftlbs through a 3/8 drive and anything with a 21mm head that is torqued will have more than that.

 

[XJSuperman]

Toss one in the truck and one in the garage and call it a day.

 

[st185_cs]

Most of you are completely right, Sunex has a reputation and good quality, my 1/2 set has been great during the time I've had it. That's the reason I've decided to keep it.

My reason for keeping the case is the way I use my tools. I'm not a professional mechanic, I just work on my cars at home, where I normally put the open cases inside the tool cart. Yes, the case wastes space inside the drawers, but I take the socket sets to trackday events and similar stuff, so I just close the case and toss it in the trunk without having to individually take all the tools, put them in a bag, and then put them back and organize them in the tool cart when I get home.

The reason for the 21mm socket is that my milwaukee 2554 (m12 stubby) has become my go-to for lug nuts, it's really convenient to use. I have also an M18 mid torque, but it's bulkier so I prefer the M12 if I have to carry it. It works perfectly fine for properly torqued lug nuts, even though I'm using it with a 1/2 21mm thin wall socket and a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter.

As about keeping both sets, I could, even my wife told me to do it after she saw me comparing both sets and taking photos, but realistically, these tools don't put food on my table, they are just part of an already expensive hobby. $50 ain't much in today's money, but I don't feel like it's a logical choice.

Long story short, I'm keeping the sunex. My in laws came home yesterday to pick my car and my father in law saw the denali socket set. He used to have an old craftsman chrome socket set and gave it to me almost three years ago, so he doesn't have a socket set. He told me he would give me the money and keep them and I told him just to keep them, I'm not gonna take $50 from him especially after he gave me his sockets a few years ago. I just gave him the denali and a 3/8 ratchet I have and I'm keeping the 21mm and the 6 inch extension from the denali set.

 

[May Pop]

How much did his daughter cost you?