I purchased my first Irwin Vise-Grip GrooveLock adjustable pliers over 18 years ago, at least according to my Amazon shopping history, and I would absolutely buy them again.
In my opinion, these won’t beat more premium pliers such as the Knipex Cobra, but deliver a far better user experience than more basic tongue and groove pliers.
They continue to deliver a good experience at a fair price.
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Irwin has changed their GrooveLock pliers design over the years, and I think the new handle grips provided a substantial upgrade.
These are button-adjust V-jaw adjustable pliers, and the jaw profile works great for holding cylindrical materials and objects with flat, round, or uneven shapes. They are versatile, but remember to avoid gripping delicate or finished parts without an abundance of protection from the jaws.
Irwin GrooveLock pliers – including the one I bought in 2023 to test out – are one of the rare types of tools that suit the needs of beginners and many advanced users alike.
There are things that other pliers brands do better, but in my experience there’s nothing that the Irwin pliers don’t do competently.
I bought these pliers when expanding my tool kit long ago, and would do it again.
Last year I put together a home tool kit for a newly married distant family member – shown here is one of the drawers packed with some of the tools.
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I made sure to include a pair of Irwin GrooveLock pliers in the 8″ size. If I didn’t have to stretch my budget to buy so many tools for them, I might have gotten them the 2pc set instead.
The 2pc set comes with 8″ and 10″ pliers.
There are other sizes and styles, such as with straight jaws, but I feel that the V-jaw model is a good starting point.
Frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience with these pliers. Irwin GrooveLock pliers will continue to be a part of any new starter kit I put together for friends and family.
I have been tempted to try out the lower-priced Arrow 10″ pliers that popped up on Amazon, but Irwin’s are tried-and-true.
Purchase Price in 2007: $29.99 for the 2pc set
Price as of the time of this posting: $27.99
I find it surprising that the pricing hasn’t changed much over the years, and maybe that makes these an even better value today.
fred
This style pliers – in a set provide lots of capability for a user with a small tool kit. As you note they are not so good on grabbing/turning polished fixtures – but this style sure can grip all sorts of items and shapes.
SBD’s other brand (Dewalt) looks a bit less refined – but sells for $1 less:
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWHT70486-Push-Lock-Plier-inch/dp/B006FAJ5DC
MT_Noob
FYI typo – sown here is one of the drawers…
I’m think “shown” is what you meant.
Stuart
Thank you! *fixed*
Yadda
I have the 10 inch pliers. A regular go to for home repairs.
Jared
I think Irwin pliers have a worse reputation than they deserve. They’re not Knipex or NWS, but they’re generally perfectly decent tools.
LGonToolGuy'd
Saw these in Lowe’s before they started liquidating the inches of space Irwin is given. They’re more than fair for the prices you’ve indicated.
Bruce
Nope, I’ve broken both sizes of these. They simply aren’t strong enough. The split leg broke on both of them while turning bolts in the middle of their adjustment range.
S
The straight jaw versions of the Irwin channel locks are my go-to adjustable pliers.
I find the straight jaws to be much more versatile and forgiving of a tool. The v-groove work good. But in the years I’ve used the v-groove version, I always found they had to be adjusted nearly perfectly to work. One ratcheting notch either direction from ‘perfect’, and they tend to slip more than they grip.
So I found myself spending crazy amounts of time adjusting the tool to fit the application instead of using a tool to complete a task.
The straight jaw versions just grab as long as it’s within the opening of the jaws.
Terry Burton
Although I have several Knipex pliers I still reach for my pushbutton Irwin’s and even my Channellocks on an occasion. I’m happy with all of them. I’m a retired sparky who started off using Channellocks in the late 70s. Same goes for Vessel, Wiha, Wera, PB Swiss, Craftsman and others. I own them all but I started off using Klein screwdrivers and I still like using them. I guess old habits are hard to break. Tools are for men what pocketbooks and shoes are to the ladies.
MKY
Stuart –
“ I find it surprising that the pricing hasn’t changed much over the years, and maybe that makes these an ***every*** better value today.”
Stuart
whoops – thank you!
Jeff
I find the 6” version very handy to keep in my pocket. I actually reach for them more than my knipex and channelocks. I’ve never broken a pair.
Ray
“In my opinion, these won’t best more premium pliers”
Stuart
Hmm. Not sure what happened there. “won’t beat more premium pliers” and “are bested by more premium pliers” and instead we got that. Thank you, *fixed*.
David
I’ve never tried these, how do they compare to channel lock?
Stuart
Buying to last 50 years? Channellock tongue and groove. Buying for a shorter period with a better user experience? Go with button-lock adjustable pliers like these.
Premium pliers are expensive. I see these as a stepping stone that many users are unlikely to ever need to upgrade beyond.