AmazonBasics Socket Mechanics Tool Set, 145-Piece

For those who are looking for a good budget mechanic’s set, this 145-piece set Amazon-branded set is good option. AmazonBasics is more known for their popular low-cost home electronic accessories and household items but they’ve now branched out to other areas which will almost certainly be a hit as well. Like other sets on this page, the tool bodies of made of forged chrome-vanadium steel and coated with a polished chrome finish for durability. You’ll get all the most popular socket sizes (all 6-point) in both 1/4 and 3/8-inch drives, 8 combination wrenches, and various bits and accessories. The two pear-shaped head ratchets have no slop or slippage which is surprising in an economy set like this. The molded case once again is the weak point. Don’t expect all the sockets to stay in place when moving. But for a good beginner’s tool set, you can definitely do much worse than the AmazonBasics set.

The AmazonBasics Mechanics Tool Kit takes the DEKOPRO approach to value and takes it up a notch. As with all other products in the AmazonBasics line, it’s a no-frills approach that Amazon hopes will provide you with everything you need to get started. It’s worth pointing out that although we’re interested in the 145-piece set in this review, you can get versions of the AmazonBasics toolset with both more or fewer pieces. Right down on the low end, you can buy inexpensive sets with just 40 pieces. At the high end, you can get sets with 201 pieces. The 145-piece kit we discuss here sits towards the upper end of the range. Most people who spend money on a cheap toolkit have low expectations, but because this particular set carries the Amazon brand, you expect a minimum quality. The AmazonBasics toolset is, therefore, under pressure from the start. There’s no doubt that this toolkit performs. It comes with a wide range of tools – more than you might expect at the price point. And the tools themselves have the industry-standard chrome vanadium finish. What’s impressive is the way AmazonBasics manufactures each item in the set. Despite being made in China, you don’t get raw cast metal tools. The manufacturer has taken the time to smooth everything off, giving you something that feels just as robust as a product from Dewalt or Stanley. Everything looks polished and premium. Just as with the Craftsman, the AmazonBasics tool set case isn’t quite calibrated perfectly to keep all of the pieces in the correct place. You need to be careful to open it at the right angle to prevent the contents from falling out all over the floor. Overall, the AmazonBasics set provides unbeatable value. Surprisingly, the tools themselves are good enough for a professional mechanic to use, so it certainly makes the grade as a home product. What’s more, you’re not paying over the odds for a bunch of tools, accessories or brand that you won’t use.

Positive reviews, includes deep and shallow sockets of many sizes

You'll have to explain the brand name to yer buddies