Walmart has strategically expanded their Hyper Tough line of cordless power tools in recent months, with this 12V Max FlexiClick-style 3-in-1 multi-head drill driver catching my attention.
The Hyper Tough multi-head drill looks to be a basic but serviceable power tool.
It’s aggressively priced for a replaceable battery power tool, with a kit price of $34.88.
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The Hyper Tough kit comes with the drill/driver body with built-in 1/4″ hex bit chuck, a 3/8″ keyless drill chuck, a right angle 1/4″ hex bit chuck, 1.5Ah battery, and charger.
Walmart’s image also shows a quick-release chuck attached to the drill, but it’s unclear if this is included with the kit bundle.
There’s a magnetic bit holder at the top of the drill/driver housing and to the rear of the gearbox speed selector switch.
The drill features 0-350/0-1300 RPM speed ranges, 220 in-lbs max torque, and 19+1 torque settings via the adjustable clutch.
The built-in bit chuck can be used for driving in screws and fasteners, the drill chuck is used with drill bits and similar accessories, and the right angle chuck can be used to access fasteners in tight spaces and corners.
Price: $34.88
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The removable and replaceable battery charges via a built-in barrel jack. Additional batteries are available for $17.88 each, and there’s a higher capacity 4Ah battery for $24.97.
Discussion
This looks to be a lot of kit for under $50, let alone just $35.
There are obviously some design compromises, but it looks like Hyper Tough or the OEM made customer-friendly decisions.
For one, the battery is removable and replaceable, which is important to a lot of users. The kit comes with what Hyper Tough describes as a 3-5 hour charger, which is at least better than “overnight.”
The belt clip can be positioned on either side of the tool, or at least it looks like there’s a second mounting position. Walmart’s language of a “double sided belt clip” and “all-metal belt clip (both side fixed)” aren’t perfectly clear.
One of the images shows a removable quick-change chuck attached to the tool, but it’s described as only coming with a drill chuck and right angle chuck.
It doesn’t look like the drill chuck can connect to the right angle chuck.
1300 RPM and 220 in-lbs of max torque isn’t top of the line, but it’s also not bad, especially for the price.
It’s $35, and backed by Walmart. From the online user reviews, it looks like Walmart launched this Hyper Tough multi-head drill driver towards the end of last year.
While it doesn’t perfectly match what everything I look for in a 12V-class cordless drill or driver, it could be a nice housewarming gift inclusion or similar. This isn’t a pro-grade premium-featured tool, but it looks to offer a lot for DIYers.
I bought a Hyper Tough cordless drill a few years ago for testing and review purposes, and it wasn’t noteworthy in any way. This, and some of Walmart’s other new Hyper Tough tools look to finally deserve some attention.
BigTimeTommy
Looks like the perfect kind of drill to buy to leave at a significant other/relatives/whoever’s home for basic stuff. Can’t see it being significantly worse than something like the Bosch pocket driver.
Jared
It looks amazing for the price. I wonder how well it works though.
The torque figure is ok and the speed is slow but likely usable – if they’re real. I’ve seen some Hyper Tough cordless tool test before though and the brand seems extremely hit or miss – e.g. sometimes the performance is so bad that the Chinese random-letter-generator-named companies on Amazon are an upgrade.
Still, small drills can be quite handy even if they’re a bit wimpy and that price is amazing. I want to believe.
Jared
P.s. I’m not persuaded this tiny drill was actually used with a hole saw for that picnic table umbrella.
Greg
it probably could get the job done, just probably needed to stop and cool down every 1/8th inch or so
Blythe
If you can really leave a 1” insert bit in the drill and then add the drill chuck over it, as the picture suggests, then it could be really handy for pre drilling and screwing operations
Michael F
I can see the value in this for the price, but for myself personally, if any of my three sons were buying their first house and needed tools as a housewarming gift, I’d still probably just pop for the extra cost for the Flexiclick or M12 installation driver. It just seems more thoughtful to buy them into a system they can expand as needed – the OMT from either system is an obvious next purchase and/or follow up gift.
Goodie
Exactly. You can find a reconditioned Flexiclick at cpotools for only $80 more and know you are getting Bosch quality and expandability.
AC
how? can’t find it, looks like its $140 refurb?
Goodie
$117ish at this link. Equivalent in that it only has one 2ah battery.
https://www.cpooutlets.com/factory-reconditioned-bosch-gsr12v-140fcb22-rt-12v-lithium-ion-max-flexiclick-5-in-1-1-4-in.-cordless-drill-driver-system-kit–2-ah-/bshrgsr12v-140fcb22-rt.html
jayne erin defranco
Any hyper tough tool is ok with me…. I think a pro would just laugh….
mark
They definitely aren’t pro grade but you save soooouch money and still get the job done pretty solid in my experience with their hedge trimmer & rotary tool accessories like sanding drums.
Mike
$35 is pretty astounding if it’s any good.
My thoughts/questions are as much about this whole class of tools, like M12 and Bosch flexiclick:
At first glance, the most appealing part of this might be the right angle configuration. This use case implies limited or awkward access so having small overall size is important. These cases are few and far between enough to consider an off brand tool, like where even pros might not wear out a Ryobi specialty tool with occasional use.
I currently have a 1/4″ right angle adapter which, when attached to an 18v drill seems to work fine for the light duty tasks this type of tool is suited for.
Separate drill and impact combos have gotten very good and very cheap… not $35, but a pretty astounding value for what they are and can do.
Considering a workshop use case, I would think a separate drill and impact driver win: the 1/4″ chuck doesn’t give these interchangeable head tools an impacting function. Switching heads takes longer than just grabbing either the separate drill or driver. These separate tools can have a driver and a pilot bit left in just like interchangeable chucks, but no switching necessary.
For portable light duty applications, I usually keep a subcompact 18v drill (with subcompact battery) in my 15″ tote. It’s certainly light enough – the drill I mean, the tote is quite heavy but has lots of capability. I keep a 1/4″ right angle adapter in the tote, along with a 1/4″ bit set and a drill index.
I have at times kept a midsize drill, and or a subcompact or midsize/fullsize? impact driver depending on what I’m doing.
I’ve found that when doing that much drilling or driving I need a way to manage fasteners, so another (much lighter) tote carrying compact organizers beneath has been nice, or usually just grab these out of the rolling tool bag and dump fasteners from retail box into tool belt bags.
Obviously, carrying a separate drill and driver on a tool belt is possible but not ideal. With 1/4″ shank drill bits easy to find now, a good impact works well as a do it all, and switching from drill to driver bits is easy. Makita is especially easy, as you don’t have to touch chuck to insert bits, not sure if other makes have this feature.
What am I missing out on with the interchangeable head tools?
Goodie
The offset attachment is the real “killer app” for these tools. They enable you to drive a fastener in an awkward location very easily. Combine that with the on tool right angle attachment and you can reach into some very difficult places. I bought my Flexiclick on clearance a few years ago, and it fills that “compact driver” use case that you are describing very well.
With all that said, I defenitely get your point. This is all about convenience. A compact driver with a right angle adapter gets you 95% of the way there. My flexiclick may get me to 96-97%. Add in a flexible drive adapter for both tools and you’ve got all bases covered.
bob
looks great to keep in the kitchen drawer
Doug N
Great idea, but I find that I use the offset driver head more often than expected with my Bosch. Knowing that I wouldn’t buy a kit without having that attachment.
CA
I can’t knock it because I haven’t used it but I am skeptical…very.
Jason
Have the M12 so no need for it but if I was in the market for one that price point would make it so temping to try
Saulac
The battery looks familiar. I wonder if the batteries are interchangeable with anything else. Looks close to Bosch or Craftsman. The selection is pretty impressive.
Jack D
Hands down, that ticks off all the boxes on my “what to buy a twenty-something when moving into their first apartment”…and the price point leaves out any worry over how long it will will last them.
Thanks for sharing, Stuart! One question: are there any other hypertough tools that run on the same battery from? Not that you’d need a huge selection of items like Ryobi, but perhaps a handful of things like a dust buster to round it out and make it even more tempting to that target audience?
mark
I’ve seen stuff like orbital & finish sanders, angle grinders, and similar tools under the hyper tough name at my local Walmart
Jack D
Me too, but I’m not sure that those run on the same 12v battery form…I’ll have to drop by the tool section my next trip…
Mr B
They have quite a few 12v Hypertough tools: drill, impact driver, multi-head driver, impact wrench, cut off tool, small recip saw, Dremel type rotary tool, OMT, router, a short and long reach ratchet, and a $35 kit with basic tools like drill, bits, hammer, pliers, screwdriver, tape measure, level.
The main tools missing seems to be a circular saw and jigsaw.
Jack D
Yeah, I just took a look this afternoon and there’s quite a bit there. Even an oscillating multi tool for just under $50…not a bad system at all for a young homeowner/renter on a budget…
Vards Uzvards
I never paid much attention to that aisle, but it looks like there are quite a few Hyper Tough 12V tools, and also 2Ah and 4Ah batteries.
https://www.walmart.com/browse/home-improvement/hyper-tough-12-volt-tools/1072864_1031899_1574888_3801931_3874082_2984025
Greg
Ryobi had a multihead setup (driver only) available in one of it’s usb lithium battery platform options, it’s $49, so probably the nearest competition to this walmart offering. Would be interesting to see how the two compare in real world use, not just on paper.
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287220700#
mark
I got a hyper tough hedge trimmer for 3-5 small broadleaf (not conifer/evergreen). Think the tool+batt+charger kit was $60?
It has enough power to cut anything a hedge trimmer should but definitely isn’t impressive in the size diameter it can cut. But looking at typical Milwaukee/DeWalt/ego etc. the hyper tough is an incredible deal for low-demands homeowners it’s feeling like these days.
Modern “old craftsman” ha, we can dream at least.
mark
Typo: “small broadleaf *hedges”
Zac
Hyper Tough has a decent line of tools that take the 12v battery. I think most of the tools come with an 1.5 ah battery but they also offer a 2 and 4ah battery sold by itself for a good price, along with a standard slot charger. They offer some brushed and brushless drills and drivers. The basic brushed drill $20 and that’s with the battery.
I’ve looked into them since I noticed them in the fall as something small for inside the house or for my kids. They seem to have almost as much dedicated shelf space as Hart at my local store. So for me they are more available and cheaper than something like HFT Hercules 12v line.
My store went through a remodel and clearanced out sections to reduce inventory as they rearranged the isles. Each tool was about $10 cheaper from its original price. I wish I would have bought a few things then, at least for my kids to share. They are 7, 5, and 4, and love borrowing my tools and leaving them scattered everywhere.
John
This looks exactly like my Ridgid 12V drill/driver from years ago. I love the form factor of that little kit, although this is less of an advantage than it once was due to the prevalance of compact 18v tools these days.
Ray
I have the Hyper tough 12v multi tool and the impact wrench , they are both perfectly fine.
Been a professional carpenter for 25 years , the multi tool is comparable with the 4amp battery to the m12 brushed impacts. I’ve done head to head comparisons on the job.
For 2 years I used the Hyper tough 20v impact and hammer drill installing literally millions of dollars of curved staircases and bookmatched veneer wall panels. They performed just fine and batteries and chargers are easy to come by for short money. Makes it easy for me to just buy a new helper a drill and know we have matching batteries for short money.
We did plenty of wonderful work years ago with tools that wouldn’t hold a candle to this.