Several readers tipped me off about this Kobalt 20pc ratcheting wrench set at Lowe’s, with all of them describing it as a good deal.
Jason (thank you!) provided more details, writing:
Lowe’s has the 20-piece Kobalt ratcheting wrench set on sale for $59.98, until February 5th. That’s a pretty good value. Three bucks per wrench.
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Granted, they’re not reversible, but for someone looking for a cheap entry point to ratcheting wrenches, it’s probably the best deal out there.
I picked up a set last night, but have yet to try them out. My set is labeled, “Made in India.”
One of the most recent reviewer’s complained about them not looking like the pictures on the site. (The previous version had the red and blue distinguishing marks for SAE and metric, as pictured on the site. The new version doesn’t. The new version also has the “V-notch” on the open end for increased contact with the fastener, which the older version didn’t.)
Apparently, Kobalt has recently changed the wrenches up, at least aesthetically. I wonder if they beefed up the internals of the ratcheting portion, as well, that some of the older reviews complained about. That may have been the reason for the redesign.
Lowe’s has had this – and an earlier version – Kobalt 20pc ratcheting wrench set for $60 this year, last year, and in 2021. They likely had the same deal in 2022, but it doesn’t show up in my records.
A different Kobalt 20pc ratcheting wrench set was $50 in 2020, 2019, and 2018. I didn’t look further than that.
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It’s a typical holiday season promo for Lowe’s.
Still, $50 or $60 are good prices for a 20pc ratcheting wrench set. There were similar Gearwrench deals going back to at least 2011.
Is it a good value? Yes, I think so – if you’re in the market for non-reversible ratcheting wrenches. The holiday season is over, and it looks like Lowe’s Kobalt wrench deal is the last one left.
Personally, I’m not much a fan of non-reversible ratcheting wrenches unless we’re talking about flex-head wrenches, but the pricing can be attractive, especially for tool users on a strict budget.
I’m also not much a fan of the Kobalt brand anymore, as it no longer has a brand identity or direction, but at least Lowe’s still advertises a “hassle-free lifetime guarantee” on these tools.
It’s hard to beat the pricing of $3 per tool.
I can’t find any better or even comparable name-brand sets for the same $60. You can’t get even get close to 20 ratcheting wrenches for $60 at Harbor Freight.
Let’s dig into some of the product claims:
“Chrome vanadium steel gives a Dazzling look.”
High polish – giving a stylish look.
“Professional grade” – where enabling selection of wrench size and refined chrome finish avoids corrosion which is simple to maintain.
Hassle-free lifetime guarantee – facilitating the gain of leverage in limited spaces. Your piece [sic] of mind is provided by the hassle-free lifetime guarantee.
Steel material – steel material lasts a very long time as a sustainable building material. Low maintenance requirements and efficient assembly guarantee the user of an unmatched service life.
Aren’t all consumer-grade ratcheting wrenches made from steel?
Either there’s a lot lost in translation, or this is another example of Lowe’s leveraging AI in nonsensical ways.
Julian Tracy
Might have been Menard’s wrenches, but I also think I checked out some Kobalt that had the wrench tightening direction opposite every other ratcheting combo wrench. Really throws you off when you pick it up to use without thinking and you then have to flip it. Generally I don’t mind non reversing ratcheting wrenches, as they still offer 300% more usability than a regular wrench, and the chance you’ll get yourself stuck on something and not be able to remove it is pretty low. I do appreciate the better angle of approach of my reversing wrenched compared to the standard ratcheting.
S
I recently upgraded my main wrench set to a lever-type angled reversible ratcheting wrench set, from the harbor freight colored non-reversible wrenches.
It seemed no matter the situation, I always picked up the non-reversible wrenches the wrong way. So in that respect, having reversible wrenches is very nice.
But I definitely miss the easy color identification of all the sizes(less looking, I just know green is 1/2″ and 7/16″ is red), and the flat ratchet end came in far handier more often than the 5 degree angle does, though some of that is from my expectation of using a flat wrench for so long.
Unfortunately, they were just typical harbor freight wrenches. They were slightly softer than other brands, and wore a little faster. But 2 years of daily use 10 years of sporadic use before that, they earned their worth.
So the new set of Menards wrenches should fix those issues, but I still miss my colors. I just don’t have space for both, so the nicer wrenches win out
A W
I picked up the 20 piece Gearwrench set for $50 from TSC last holiday season. Not the best set but good value for the money.
Jared
I had non-reversing ratchet wrenches once upon a time, but didn’t care for them. I like the knuckle clearance from the offset of a reversible wrench and the convenience of a switch too much.
I would say “wait for a sale on the V-series reversibe wrenches”, and that IS what I would do, but even at those prices – it’s not in the same league as these Kobalt ones so the comparison is unfair.
I wouldn’t choose these if I was wrenching a lot – but I’d rather have some ratchet wrenches than none.
Travis m
These wrenches are junk and Lowes guarantee is far from hassle free, unless you bring the item back within 6 weeks of purchase. After six weeks, I was told to go through the manufacturer. Lowes is the walmart of home improvement but with a worse return policy.
Michael David Ebersole
Mine did not last a year 2 of them the guts fell out. Junk
Michael Phillips Phillips
Was interested until I saw the red/blue markings weren’t on the wrenches themselves. Helps when your looking for a wrench and you can see red for SAE or blue for metric.
Dave P
I’m with you Stuart, about the “flat” non-reversible ratcheting end wrenches. About all that they are good for is tightening up the little axle bolt on a bike–otherwise, its skinned knuckle time.
However, I despise the flex-head ones that you hint that you like. They may start out firmly holding their position, but invariably they loosen up and become floppy with regular use. Complete garbage–almost all brands of them.
Spend the money for a decent set of reversible ones and save you knuckles or don’t buy them at all–and you need to get a pretty good and fairly expensive set, too. I bought a set of Gearwrench ones a long time ago and was pulling hard on the 1 and 1/8″ wrench, and the gearing slipped/stripped. NOT GOOD when pulling hard on a decent-sized wrench.
My advice–at least for anyone who really USES end wrenches a lot and really tightens thing up TIGHT with them is, don’t buy ANY of the ratcheting ones unless you’re willing to spend some decent coin on GOOD REVERSIBLE ones.
Mr t
I agree I hate thee flex head ratchet and wrenches. They do end up just being loose and floppy. Very annoying to use
Stuart
Better ones can be tightened.
Dave P
Most don’t stay tight. The ones that do run out of threads after a few tightenings and still end up loose. I have lots of experience with these of many brands (before I gave them all away).
Tdot77
Get some little wave washers and\or some thin shimming washers from McMaster Carr to tighten the heads up if you can’t just tighten the head or squeeze in a vise.
Nathan
I normally tell people not to buy stuff like this. Spend a bit more and get a reversible angled set.
On the flex hed I mostly agree and you can often retighten them. But given a choice I prefer a locking flex head but rare.
Bob
What wretches do you recommend.
On ratchet type?
processwrench
Anyone have suggestions for a good flex head (locking perhaps) reversible wrench set? I didn’t mind the look of the V-series long arm double box style, but i don’t think they are reversible.
Nathan
Most flex heads aren’t reversible because of the flex head. Idea being flip it over and flex the other way
Not sure if still made but a popular wrench was made by mountain tools supposedly out of Taiwan. Was a locking flex head double ratchet box end wrench and they did have a reverse switch on the as a pin on the side of the head. Only ones I’ve ever seen that I know of. Almost bought a set
Every now and then I shop for a set only to find something else to spend 170+ on
Major Kobalt
I didn’t realize that they made changes. I’ll have to go pick up a set and compare them to my old ones.
Honestly, the just Kobalt Holiday Deal last year as the Kobalt 24v Starter kit in the Casestack case that came with a free tool, all for $79 dollars plus tax on some days and $99 dollars plus tax on others.
Dana Kilner
I quit buying Kobalt tools when i figured out that the hassle free warranty is not at all true. I have 4 lowes stores within about 20 min of me. When i needed an exchange last year, was told by the store, have to bring all of set in otherwise we do not exchange – call kobalt and they will send it to you so ok i can somewhat understand that. Called Kobalt, they said we dont do that, go to the store they are required to. Went back to the store and store manager informed me, i know what they told you, but i will not exchange it, it comes out of my budget if i cant return the whole set since i dont carry that item as an individual piece. I asked if i take the individual piece off that i need and give you back the other 2 as well and you send all three back – isnt that the same thing? The manager responded nope, not going to do it. Other three stores – same response. Threw extension away and ordered a williams off of amazon. Yeah i had to wait 3 days to get it but that was the “I am through will your product” moment
DeBo
You can get yourself into trouble in tight spaces with non reversible ratcheting wrenches but for most applications they are fine
Abe
I don’t know anything about the quality of these wrenches, but everyone is saying non-reversible. Can’t you just flip them around and then they are reversible?
Stuart
Yes – you can flip to reverse. Reversible wrenches have a direction selection lever, and typically an angled box end.
Don
Almost everything Kobalt is not worth buying as it just doesn’t last even in the most minimal use. Pay a little extra and get better products.
Jonathan
What’s the use for the SAE wrenches? All my vehicles use/used metric, and I’ve owned a lot of different brands the last 20 years.
[email protected]
The problem with kobalt is in a few months they will make a minor design change and change the part number. When you take it back for warranty they will deny it because they no longer carry it.