The five worst gimmicky tools in 2018 are mostly coming out of the Sears/Craftsmen brand and stores. I went on a recent field trip to a Sears and found some great examples of gimmicky tools. There are many more gimmicky tools in 2018, but the top five ones to avoid are the:

1. Sidewinder Wrench by QualConnectTM
2. T Handle Driver from Craftsmen (948025)
3. Any Evolv Branded Craftsmen Junk (i.e., 98909)
4. Craftsmen Mach Bit Driver (944881),
5. Last but not least (any finger grip style ratchet).

It is not to say that these don’t work, rather that they don’t actually fill any need not already filled by better tools. A lot of these tools market themselves as “revolutionary or innovative” when really they are cheap junk that doesn’t work. Most of these tools you would never find in a professional automotive technicians toolbox, or if you did they would admit they were a mistake purchase.

Tools in 2018 You Should Avoid & The Real Tools You Should Buy:

Selling tools is big money. The power tool market alone in 2023 is expected to be upwards of 25 billion. One of the largest professional tool manufacturers (Snap-On) posted pretty insane numbers from last year.  From Snap On’s annual report “net earnings, as adjusted, was $593.1 million in 2017” link to article. Where money flows, gimmicky products will always follow.

Like any big market, companies want to pounce on uninformed buyers. I have found this leads to a number of tools that have no real value but are heavily marketed to be revolutionary. I took a field trip to my local Sears and asked for the help of several YouTuber to help me come up with a list.

Here it is. My list of gimmicky tools that exist in 2018. Just hope that if your sweet Grandma happens to buy you one of these, she includes the gift receipt.

First Gimmicky Tool I owned in 2018:

1. QualConnectTM Professional 3/8 inch Sidewinder Speed Wrench

I was given one of these once.

It is heavy, awkward, and while I carried it around for a year or so I used it once.

Then I realized it was worthless and never picked it up again. This is a great example of a tool trying to do more than it should.

The red handle part is so you can “speed” drive nuts and bolts. However, if you can fit this tool somewhere then you can probably just use your impact driver. At roughly $50, you couldn’t pay me $50 to carry this tool around with me.

The Alternative Tool to a Sidewinder Speed Wrench:

Having a set of good high-quality ratchets and extensions. Also having an impact driver with all the different drive attachments. Throw in a set of wobble extensions as well, and you will speed through any repair 5 times faster than anyone using the Sidewinder wrench.

1. Milwaukee Fuel 18v Impact Driver & Drill Combo Set. 

2. Ares Impact Grade Socket Adapter/Extension Set

3. ARES 70330 | 9-Piece Wobble Extension Set 

4. Most Importantly! You Need A Real Ratchet Set First. I recommend this set by Gearwrench. Click here to read why this is one of the best affordable ratchet sets in 2018.

GearWrench 81230F 4 Piece Full Polish Flex Handle Ratchet Set

Link to my review of the Gearwrench ratchet set here.

#2. T Handle Driver From Craftsmen

Surprise, you just don’t need this tool. It may work, and you may use it if you don’t have any other options. But really this

tool is not worth carrying around. The $30 to buy it should be spent on real tools you will use all the time. From the reviews on Amazon, many people remark tool works, but they never use it. To me, that is the definition of a gimmick tool.

On my field trip to Sears I found this tool for sale, the photo doesn’t do it justice either (it is HUGE). I would never carry it on my person, or even let it take up any drawer space in my toolbox. Here is a photo of it in person.

 

The non-gimmicky tool alternative to a T-handle driver:

1. To Start: Buy A High Quality 1/4″ Ratchet with Bit Driver & 1/4″ Socket Set.

I recommend the Powerbuilt 940478 1/4-Inch Drive Socket and Bit Driver Mini Ratchet.

Combine that with a nice metric 1/4″ socket set and you are well on your way. This set comes highly recommended by professional mechanics. GearWrench 80302 13 Piece 1/4-Inch Drive 6 Point Standard Metric Socket Set

 

Third Gimmicky Tool I Recommend Avoiding:

3. Craftsman Evolv Ratcheting T-handle Set

I don’t honestly really know where to begin. Just don’t buy this.

Hope that your grandma doesn’t buy this for you either.

The quality is junk, and once you have a good set of hand tools you will never use this.

Do yourself a favor get a good impact driver drill set, a bit set, and save your money on this.

These are the must-have tools for any beginner DIYer mechanic:

These first three were posted above, but they are essential tools for the DIYer mechanic. I added a couple other kits you should buy.

1. Milwaukee Fuel 18v Impact Driver & Drill Combo Set. 

2. Ares Impact Grade Socket Adapter/Extension Set

3. ARES 70330 | 9-Piece Wobble Extension Set 

4. Milwaukee 48-32-4021 Shockwave Impact Duty Driver Bit Set

5. GearWrench 80742 Master SAE/Metric Hex and Torx Bit Socket Set

More Gimmicky Tools in 2018 you should avoid:

4. Another Craftsmen Gimmick “Mach Bit Driver Set”

Better Alternative:

See above. But really buy anything else!

DON’T BUY! 

5. Finger Drivers Cal-Van Tools Master Set 

Here is a similar product I found at Sears:

Look. These tools have good reviews on Amazon. Maybe there is some use for them I haven’t found? I just know I have never seen one used by a professional mechanic.

I’ve had one before, and it sat in my toolbox unused forever. I had trouble giving it away and just had to leave it in my friend’s toolbox. I would only support you buying one of these if you already have a full set of quality ratchets, extensions, universals, and swivel sockets. This is absolutely not a must-have item.

Why is it a gimmick? If you’re wrenching on cars, you will very rarely be able to fit this tool somewhere that you can’t fit a regular ratchet. Save your money.

More tools that actually work well/are worth the money:

Posted Above: GearWrench 81230F 4 Piece Flex Handle Ratchet Set

Sunex 1814 12 Piece Metric 1/4″ Swivel Socket Set

1/4″ Long Wobble Extension Set (Capri Tool 1/4″ Wobble Set)

How to avoid buying gimmicky tools that don’t work:

There are lots more gimmicky tools to be found out there. I know I have missed a ton. It is also hard for me to write about them because I don’t want to give them any more attention.

I encourage people to make informed decisions when buying tools by asking the professionals first what they use. If you want to know what tools you need to build a home, ask a contractor. To work on a car, a mechanic. One thing that you should know by now, the last thing you should do is just trust the marketing on the package.

A good rule of thumb for buying tools. If the package has “As Seen on TV!” on it, it is probably junk. If it is covered in marketing claims like “Tested at 1700 RPM’s,” you can pretty much assume it is junk.

Be a smart buyer/gift giver for your friends and family:

For ideas of what tools to buy/give to the DIYer in your family. Read my other posts here, and get them a gift they will never forget. They will be using it all the time!

Or just look here and see if anything catches your eye for the mechanic in your family.

To wrap it up here are some more gimmick tools I found at Sears:

 

THE ABSOLUTE GOLD WINNER GIMMICKY TOOL SET. THAT IS A MUST HAVE!

 

All jokes aside. I hope you found this article helpful. I’d appreciate if you didn’t buy any of these gimmick tools in 2018. Maybe then manufacturers will focus on creating high quality long lasting tools again.

Link to my favorite screwdriver set of 2018 here. 

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