Ryobi posted a new video to social media, where they smash a Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool box with a cinder block.
The Ryobi rep then drops the same cinder block on a Ryobi Link tool box, which remains unscathed as the cinder block bounces away and crumbles.
Ryobi should have opened the tool boxes to prove they were both empty, and they should have repeated the test a couple of times.
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Maybe the recent Link promotion will precede an announcement of some kind.
It has been nearly one year since Ryobi last expanded their LINK system with any new tool boxes, accessories, or wall-mountable storage products.
My local Home Depot stores recently featured Ryobi Link products in their holiday promotional displays, but they gave much more floor space to Dewalt ToughSystem, Milwaukee Packout, and Husky Build-Out systems.
I’m not convinced an expansion is coming, but it’d certainly be welcome.
It can get entertaining when tool brands bash each other’s products – literally in this case. It will be interesting to see if Dewalt social media reps take this as an opportunity to destroy some Ryobi tool boxes.
Or, Dewalt can just point out that at least their tool boxes don’t look to be topped with a giant Lego brick.
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See the test on Ryobi’s official Instagram channel post:
Grokew
Maybe someone else will repeat the experiment. And I certainly hope that the Ryobi box isn’t filled with spray-on foam or anything similar.
Eddie
The thing is i did have something break the lid of my toughsystem box like that but not nearly as bad cuz it wasnt a damn cinder block and dewalt replaced the whole box no problem. I even said it was just the lid. And they let me keep the old 1 so its now a tote. And it was the XL box. Will ryobi do that?
Steve
The new SK metal ones are going to get me into modular storage, probably in a big way. I can see a small stack for brake jobs, a small stack for inside-the-house tools, a small stack for oil changes, a small stack for hot tub tools and chems, definitely a stack for car detailing, etc. etc.
The various plastic sets from big Red, big Yellow, green, blue, whatever have never ever inspired me in such a way……..
Nathan
Hmm. Open that link box and let’s make sure it’s empty. Heck for that matter let’s make sure both boxes are tested exactly as purchased
Chris
But realistically, if I drop a Dewalt and Ryobi drill from 10 feet in the air, the Dewalt will still work. Tools are arguably more important than tool storage. People don’t park dump trucks on their toolboxes. (Except snap on, because they can 😉)
But tools are used and abused.
Munklepunk
I dunno, Ryobi is the high point of the tool world. Cheap, ugly, heavy, ungainly, too big, and if the words “I’ll upgrade when it breaks” are uttered within hearing distance it will outlive your great grandchildren.
IndianaJonesy (Matt J.)
As someone who still has blue ryobi tools kicking around my shop, I feel this deeply.
Dean
I got a ryobi drill from when the green ones first started coming out. Still runs perfectly off the same old batteries. Been dropped hundreds of times and also drowned once that I remember on a jobsite. I’ve got other stuff for work but this ryobi still kicks. Was using it to mix mortar up until about 5 years ago
Stuart
I’ve got to ask – “hundreds of times”??
Chris
By Chris ikr, I dropped my DeWalt impact driver from about five and half/six meters was certain I’d killed it but nope still working today 2 years on, I had a royobi jigsaw brand new, broke before I’d finished cutting out a sink
Steve
From looking at then both the plastic on the Ryobi seems thinner and more flexible, the Dewalt thicker and more rigid. I would bet the Dewalt has a higher crush strength when supporting weight without impact. The design of the Dewalt looks to have better design for supporting weight too.
Brad M
And the cinder block just happened to also crush the organizer that are on each side of the box too? Oh wait those appear to have been removed.
Shocking how Ryobi didnt want to have a close up review and explanation of why the Dewalt failed. Makes me believe they have something to hide.
Suppose the Ryobi also had its foam insert installed also.
JoeM
Makes sense… Ryobi model is flatter, which will distribute the impact across the surface more. DeWALT ToughSystem has structural ridges rather than raised superficial features.
That’s what I’d expect. Now perform the same test with the equivalent Packout and Ridgid boxes. That way there are equivalent comparissons for both systems. Packout and Ridgid can both show the difference between different levels of structure in the boxes compared to DeWALT, and both Packout and Ridgid have extensions and attachment points that assist in their stacking systems to compare to the features on Ryobi.
Interesting experiment. I can actually see the validity. Ryobi does kinda err toward the User/Homeowner end of the market. It’s more likely to suffer things like bricks and heavy blocks falling on it to survive being moved around the house. Step up a bit to Ridgid, and how it survives impacts while frequently being moved around (like a tradesman uses it.) Compared to Ryobi, it will show how the different polymers and structures deflect impact. Step up again to DeWALT, we compare DeWALT to both Ryobi (we’ve seen) and Ridgid, we get a closer look at how they perform as Heavy tool containers. Finally, adding in Packout, which has extensive amounts of both structure, and attachment points, would show how heavy impact use would match up across the board. Perhaps that is where we’d find the fail point Ryobi suffers versus the rest.
It’s not in question that the material of the ToughSystem box isn’t up to the task. They’re all systems meant for something specific, use any of them in the wrong way, they’re bound to fail drastically.
Stuart
I think it’s mostly about flexibility than anything else.
Strength and rigidity move opposite to flexibility and toughness. You want a balance of both. Pushing further into higher strength and rigidity will almost always lower toughness a bit.
The question is whether there’s any concern about the potential for real-world failure, and I don’t think so.
I haven’t heard of any widespread issues, and part of the motivation behind posts like this one is the draw out more readers’ and users’ experiences in case I missed hearing about anything.
Jason
Packout drop: https://youtu.be/6yZSoFvywB0
David Z
Why do you say “err” towards theuser/homeowner market? Did you mean they to focus on or targets them?
Champs
Wow, that color is even repulsive to cinder block!
BigTimeTommy
Who cares if the top looks like a Lego lol. Is that another insecurity from guys who try to hard to think they’re masculine?
Anyways, the DeWalt boxes are pretty good and a much better price that Milwaukee’s. If the Ryobi boxes are tougher and cheaper than DeWalt I’d be happy to have them, even if some goober on the job site notices it’s got an ugly green Lego on it.
Stuart
The aesthetics come up all the time by detractors. Like it or not, aesthetics do play a big part in product appeal.
Ryobi Link products seem overpriced to me. They don’t feel fragile, but I also don’t think they’re in the same league as Dewalt ToughSystem. I think ToughSystem is a better choice in every practical way that matters.
Rcward
The color is the biggest mistake Ryobi makes and continues to make. Terrible color choice
TonyT
IIRC, Ridgid’s modular tool boxes are cheaper than Ryobi’s, and much nicer too in my opinion. (And I have too many Ryobi tools, but no Link stuff).
Chuck
You know the hi-vis colored brand is doing something right when all the yellow guys are coming up with excuses to try to defend their product.
You know what let Ryobi beat Dewalt once in awhile, it pushes Dewalt to make better product.
Good job Ryobi
Grokew
If only the whole box was green, and not only the lid.
Michael F
This is the kind of content I was getting at in my comment on the article about the Makita framing nailer reveal. It’s just cringe when brands do things like this because there’s no transparency, no accountability, and it’s only possible because of the social media culture surrounding it. I guess I’m still too young to do the whole “get off my lawn” thing, but…I really can’t stand this kind of thing.
BigTimeTommy
Brands wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work. Most consumers are unable to think critically and won’t stop to consider the fact that these companies want to deceive consumers.
Anton
We all vote with our wallets. If you don’t like for whatever reasons — you just don’t buy it.
…although I think such videos do more harm to Ryobi than to Dewalt.
David Z
I kind of doubt they do any harm in the broad market. It is really just people on sites like this who argue/discuss about that post. Most others don’t care. And for Ryobi’s target market, they see the expensive brand getting some comeuppance and some entertainment. The folks that might analyze the post as is being done here, and knock Ryobi for it, probably aren’t likely to invest in Ryobi products anyway. So it’s likely a win within the target marget and irrelevant outside of it.
Electric 619
That’s crazy, cause that’s an experiment that exploits a known effect. I do believe if you let the box sit in uv light, it makes them brittle like that. But either way I don’t plan on letting a cinder block fall ony tool boxes. What a meaningless test.
Liam
If a block gets dropped on a toolbox it’s m your own damn fault. That really replaced the box for the one commenter speaks to the benefit of that company. And that the lid blew in shows that the demonstration was rigged as they add to the structural integrity. This is a bogus comparison.
Badger12345
Would be a good test for Project Farm. He does some pretty robust testing of tool related products that seem unbiased and practical despite the limitations of not having a Fortune 500 testing lab.
eddie sky
Eh. Didn’t Chevy do this about a Ford truck bed? Then you find out, Chevy has composite beds so…
First, no cinderblocks are going to be near/around any of my dewalt boxes. Second, like others said, without showing if empty or “foam” inside… plus who wears slipons instead of boots doing that!!!
Tyler
“Or, Dewalt can just point out that at least their tool boxes don’t look to be topped with a giant Lego brick.”
I’ll take the look of a gaudy green Lego brick over the look of a cracked lid any day.
Rcward
But it’s Ryobi. Can’t change that ugly green color and the Ryobi badging. Notice the block broke in pieces when hitting the Ryobi? Stupid “test”
Steven+B
Your headline summarized it well: amused, but not convinced.
Isn’t this like comparing powerlifters to see who can take a punch the best?
I don’t use toolboxes as a ballistic shield and the soft plastic that absorbs shock well often is the type that warps when weight is placed on it.
Also, both are readily available at Home Depot for over a year now. I can and have compared the two. Ryobi is “fine”…it’ll do the job if you really want it, but I personally find the DeWalt and Packout much more impressive. I noticed more flex and bend and warp in Ryobi toolboxes. Honestly, any modern modular toolbox will do the job. Ryobi just isn’t as high of quality as Packout or ToughSystem and isn’t really cheap enough to compete on price…especially compared to TStak or even Rigid. It’s just awkward…somewhat expensive, unimpressive-feature-set, mediocre quality, and their trademark variety of UGLY colors.
In fairness, Packout & ToughSystem 1.0 is UGLY too, but commands respect. When I see someone with a lot of Packouts, I know they’re a serious professional…or at least a serious spender. In fact, it’s been many years since I’ve seen any non-Packout toolboxes on a construction site. I don’t see a lot of serious tradesman in my area flying that horrible lime green color, but I see them hanging proudly in many garages when someone forgets to close their garage door…hanging nicely, gathering dust, in pristine, never-used condition.
I care about long-term warp. I don’t routinely drop cinderblocks on my toolboxes. So Ryobi…maybe focus on making your system more compelling or cheaper?…or at the very least, less ugly.
Philip+Proctor
Meh, I don’t generally drop cinder blocks on my tools
Don
Same… this is just publicity stunt… I’m not impressed.
Christopher
I have the Ryobi link tool box and rolling box that you can put it on top of. I’m not gonna say the test wasn’t rigged, but I’ll put this bit of fact out there for those who’ve never received the link boxes, those octagons on top of lid are about half hollow injection mold and half flat(if that makes sense) to lock to the lid it sits on, which could give a little cushion to the overall impact.
SAMO
It’s a concrete block. Much heavier than the cinder blocks form the 60’s that have not been made in decades…
Bonzai
Also I feel like you could freeze any plastic toolbox and make it brittle.