Reviewing the Black & Decker Ratcheting ReadyWrench

The chief strength of all-in-one tools is their versatility.  And the chief weakness of all-in-one tools is also their versatility.  In order to squeeze in those extra features, typically something has to give, be it size, price, or customization.  Therefore, when judging a multi-featured tool, the essential question is whether the convenience outweighs the compromises.

Black & Decker’s new Ratcheting ReadyWrench is a great example of both convenience and compromise.  In the convenience column, this single tool is designed to fit 16 sizes of nuts and bolts in a solidly built, simple-to-use tool.  Plus this update of the ReadyWrench includes a convenient ratcheting feature that makes the job go easier and faster.  In the compromise column, it takes a big tool to hold all those features and the large ratchet head and long length may make it hard to use in tight spaces.

To give you a better idea of how the tool works and whether you might want to get one yourself, I whipped up a short video review which you can check out below:

I think the convenience of the Ratcheting ReadyWrench would be great to keep in a utility drawer or glovebox for occassional use, where its size compromise and the limits of its socket options aren’t a big issue.  Just don’t expect it to replace a full set of sockets or wrenches.

Disclosure:  Black & Decker provided the Ratcheting ReadyWrench at no cost for me to review.  I have not been compensated to provide a positive review of the product, and my thoughts and experiences are my own.

Tagged as: review, Tools