GEARWRENCH 3 Piece 1/4", 3/8” and 1/2" Drive 90-Tooth Quick Release Teardrop Ratchet Set | 81310T

After doing a bunch of research, I settled on Gearwrench's 90 tooth 1/2" ratchet for my tool box. I'm a bit of a tool snob. While most of my tools are Snap-On, Craftsman, or Armstrong, I have to say, this Gearwrench ratchet fits right in. The price was a lot less than the $200 I had expected to drop and this thing is built like a tank for strength and a like a watch for precision.

I previously had a similar set that came with a big "mechanics set" - super nice quality and had them for 15+ years. But there are times when you are trying to ratchet in a tighter space - and you get maybe 1 or 2 clicks (sometimes none)...and it just gets super annoying because most of the times when you are in those tight spaces, it's not convenient or you are bent at a weird angle to reach something.That's when I knew it was time to upgrade. A few things that I really like about this set:1. They have a great solid feel to them - a nice weight. The ratcheting mechanism feels smooth. The on/off lever on the back is easy to flip, and they feel great in hand.2. The ratcheting mechanism - this is the main draw....90 teeth! You just can't appreciate how nice this is to have until you really need it!3. The on/off lever - I know this isn't new or specific to this brand - but my prior set had a knob on the back - so you never knew which position it was in. I always had to pick up the wrench and turn it to see which direction it was set to. Now I can just take a quick glimpse and go.All in all - this is a phenomenal set. I hope they last as long as my previous ones have. I am not a mechanic - just a typical DIYer. I don't abuse my tools, so I believe if I treat these well that they will last.

I have very specific tastes in ratcheting wrenches.I like stainless steel handles with no raised grip (so just a solid piece of metal). This makes it very easy to clean.I want at least 90-teeth to keep that arc-swing low for work in tight areas.I require the forward/reverse switcher to be a physical switch, preferably mostly inset to prevent accidental bumps.Said f/r switch MUST have counter-clockwise be indicated by the lever pointing right.From there, I usually prefer a press-fit socket retention method. And I own a set of these (which I adore) from Tekton.But sometimes you need a push-button retention ratchet. Because sometimes you're cramming a tool into a place where you really, really, really don't want that socket to fall off, but you still need to get a second hand on there to provide tension. It's a pretty specific use case, but when you need it, you need it.This ratchet fits all of my ridiculously-specific requirements, and still had a push-button retainer. So I had to get it, and I had to try it.And I loved it!It's every bit as good as my Tekton ratchets (which themselves are quite highly regarded by reviewers), and actually a little smaller in the head area (always a plus). The action is smooth, the swing doesn't feel at all sloppy, it cleaned up easily, and the push-button retention feels very solid while still releasing cleanly.This is a mid-grade tool. It's not Snap-On, and it's not No-Name. It's right in the middle.With love, it'll last a lifetime, but if you forget it by the side of the road someday, you'll only cry for a few minutes.For me, that's the sweet spot.Buy, wrench, enjoy.

I've been very impressed by this ratchet. The quality and value that gearwrench are putting out is superb. The look, feel and mechanism are all top notch. Full polish chrome looks great, it's very comfortable in the hand and the ratchet is smooth.I can take or leave the locking feature on a ratchet usually but for a 1/2" ratchet, or larger, it's a nice feature. It doesn't stick out too much, either, it's almost flush with the head but still easily pressed when you need it but harder to accidentally hit. I've had big sockets (38mm) fall off previous ratchets and it gets frustrating to say the least. This lock holds the socket on, and with the push of a button it easily drops off.The on/off switch is large, easy to read and can be switched with gloves without issue. I will say it feels a bit stiff but that's probably a good thing, I don't need a loose switch and it's not so stiff that I struggle with it but when compared to my current go-to ratchet, I can feel the difference.The 90 teeth make this great for some of those tighter spaces. The ratchet mechanism is smooth.Also, it 'meets or exceeds' ANSI. You get a full lifetime warranty. I've never had to use the gearwrench warranty but, based on their website, they make it VERY easy. You fill out the form, and they send you a free replacement at no cost to you. No receipt necessary which means if you decide to pass this tool on to friends or family, they're still covered by warranty. They don't specifically say they cover secondhand owners but it seems implied. Either way, they make the process as easy as possible and if they do as they claim, it's about the best you can ask for in customer service.