Husky’s new Total Socket wrench looks a lot like the hydrokinetics wrench we posted about quite a few years ago. But, unlike the hydrokinetics wrench, the Husky Total Socket looks more practical to carry and easier to use.
The Husky Total Socket wrench can adjust to fit inch and metric hex fasteners 3/16″ to 1-1/16″ and 5mm to 27mm in size. The wrench is double-ended, with the smaller side designed to fit 3/16″ – 19/32″ fastener sizes, and the larger side sized to accommodate 19/32″ – 1-1/16″ fastener sizes.
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A double-speed adjustment knurl, which slides back and forth along the geared middle section of the wrench, allows for quick adjustment.
The Total Socket is priced at just $9.88 and is available for purchase online with free shipping on $45+ orders, or free in-store pickup where available.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
First Impression
My first instinct is that the Husky Total Socket is just another gimmicky “44-in-1” type of tool, with most destined to sit unused in kitchen junk drawers around the country. However, I like its slim, simple, and functional design.
As mentioned, I think the Total Socket looks a lot like the HK1 hydrokinetics wrench. After posting about this wrench a few years back, I purchased one from Amazon. In theory, the HK1 is an excellent adjustable wrench, but in practice, I didn’t like using it, and so it now rests at the bottom of a bin or toolbox in storage somewhere.
Maybe Husky designed the Total Socket to be cheap and easy to manufacture, but to me it also looks slim, compact, and ready to travel.
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Last year I tested and reviewed Husky’s Double Speed adjustable wrench, and found it to be a decent wrench for the money. Husky’s then-new self-adjusting groove joint pliers also led me to view Husky in a new and better light.
For some reason the Total Socket is not sold at my local Home Depot, but I’ll be swinging by the next closest location later this week to pick one up. For $10, this will probably make a great addition to my portable tool kit.
Dave L
I bought a Swedish made version of this (that even has canted sockets) years ago. I have never used it. The problem with nearly all wrench combos like this is where they WON’T fit.
SteveR
Stuart–In reading the review, I picked up a minor glitch: You stated that the wrench opened from 3/16″ on up to 1-1/26″. The photo indicates 1-1/16″, so I’m thinking it was a typo. This doesn’t look like a socket wrench to me; there’s no square drive (1.e., 3/8″) upon which you would attach sockets, and there’s no ratchet mechanism. It also doesn’t come with sockets, so the name is misleading. If anything, it appears to be a hybrid between a standard (combination) wrench and an adjustable wrench.
Although I have several adjustable wrenches, I’ve never cared much for them; the head is often too large to fit into a tight space, and the thumbwheel adjuster is often loose/sloppy. I’ve fallen back on them many times, however, because I was too lazy to sort through a pile of loose wrenches to find the correct size for a (non-critical) job. Their smooth jaws tend not to damage delicate (chrome) surfaces. The bigger sizes also save your bacon when you don’t have the correct large socket (say 1-1/4″) to work with.
I just noticed that it is a two-ended wrench, which I don’t recall you mentioning; the other opening is largely hidden by the slider. I give it points for it’s two-headedness, as you would be able to fit this wrench into tight spaces and capture smaller nuts. Most wrenches like this only have one opening, so this is a step forward. It’s not ergonomic, and the thumbwheel adjuster looks like it would bear squarely on your palm during use. What would be critical is how tigthly the slider stays adjusted to the nut you’re trying to remove/install. I’m thinking (like your initial assessment) that it will end up in a kitchen junk drawer for occasional use or in a car tool kit for emergency use.
Stuart
Oops, good eye! Thanks for the correction!
It’s not a socket wrench, but Husky calls it the “Total Socket”, and I think of it more as a wrench than a socket tool. Hence, Total Socket wrench.
I presume that Husky cannot call the tool the “Total Wrench” because that name is already in use and possibly trademarked. It came up on Amazon when I searched for the term.
It is two-sided, which is both logical and practical to avoid too clearance and access issues as much as possible. I have added mention of that back to the post. I thought the image showed this clearly, but the smaller end doesn’t exactly look wrench-shaped so I can see how it could be missed.
Stan
Honestly, this reminds of several gimmicky products, wrench related in this case, but I honestly can’t see this working that well. Reminds of the Irwin (not American Tools) locking wrench pliers. Sounds similar to a good idea, but if you have clearance issues, then this tool is more or less useless.
I much use a standard six point or twelve point box end wrench, as SK and Wright both make exceptional variations of this tool. But also those products are 100% American made as well.
In this case, the same can’t be said about this product, but it’s been decades since there were American made Husky sockets/wrenches.
Yadda
Not much inovation here. These “box” type wrenches have been around for decades, maybe even a century. Craftsman had a version they called the “Pocket Socket” and it came in two or three different sizes. Other versions have been around even longer. A vintage tool search on ebay would locate them. I too, like the gimic and the price will be even better after the holidays when they get marked to half price.
jesse
It appears to be just like the Craftsman Pocket Socket. Just do a Google image search.
Bart
I received a couple of those Craftsman “Pocket Sockets” as a gift many moons ago and they were used maybe once or twice. They were utterly useless for anything that had to be broken free, as you could never get it tight enough to keep it from slipping.
Its bulk, and lack of offset also made it impractical for most jobs where there was any kind of clearance issue.
At least now, I have enough tools that I don’t have anyone buy me any of these gimmicky pieces of junk any more.
DB
I have a Craftsman Pocket Socket.
I got it in the usual way: a Christmas present from my mother. (Along with RoboGrips and a few other similar tools over the years.)
It’s pretty much the same concept as this tool. But it was superficially more functional — the two jaws extended below the handle, giving either knuckle room or access to a recessed fastener. Despite this, it was never the right tool for any fastener I encountered.
Dave
If it does not slip and slop, I can see carrying one of these in my tool pouch. At that price point, I may just have to give one a try.
Daniel
Like said above if its not to sloppy might work in my tool bag I carry at the FD. Good for quick little non emergency runs.
Robert W
Craftsman updated the “Pocket Socket”. Chromed steel instead of black oxide and no plastisol on handles.. Ten inch 4967613, eight inch. 496713. Best used as chisel holder or It’s only one low torqued bolt, I don’t know the size and its under the car or on the roof. Channelock No. 906 snaps to ratchet, has three jaws like drill chuck and is equally useless.
Stuart
The Craftsman Pocket Socket looks interesting, but seems to be a long-ago discontinued product.
Stan
Stuart, every now and then I find these sold at eBay. Prices vary, but considering this item is USA made discontinued, some prices are better than others.
Brian14
It’s an interesting & simple idea – I’d be interested in hearing from someone who tried using one extensively. But since it only seems to grip 2 sides of a fastener, that limits its usefulness for anything other than light stuff.
Nice initial review.
Andrew W
I see this as an addition to a mobile or emergency kit where something like this is better than nothing where it’s not practical to take a full set of wrenches. For that reason I am contemplating getting one. while it grips two sides of the fastener, it looks like they attempt to drive the sides, indicated by the cutouts in the corners. I wonder if that would help keep the wrench on the fastener?
Stuart
I think the corner cutouts are more for providing a quicker and easier fit and to help prevent fastener damage.
Nathan
I saw this double set of Husky Total Socket adjustable box wrenches in the Holiday specials area for $12.97. It’s not clear if the current price represents a discount or not, but I hadn’t seen them before and it was nice to be able too search them on toolguyd and get the take on them from others.
The set has a smaller and a larger wrench to better handle different sizes of heads.
It seemed like a pretty nifty idea to me, and one of the reviewers on HD.com thinks they are better than an adjustable wrench, but I can definitely see the disadvantages of this style.
Stuart
I saw that too. Figured I would save the past for after Black Friday.
I finally packet up my Total Socket a month ago or so. Almost a year and I haven’t used it since the review. It’s not a bad tool, but a regular adjustable wrench or tool like the Knipex Pliers Wrench (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/knipex-pliers-wrench/%3C/a%3E%29 well often suffice when combo wrenches aren’t available or preferred.