Which Bit Holders Brand Wins?

magnetic tips for secure grip on 1 inch insert bits, screw guide prevents wobble, impact rated, one of three lengths tested (2 3/8, 3, and 4 3/4 inches)

manufacturer claims super magnetic with good absorption, not easy to fall off during use

one handed quick change tool for standard impact bits, hexagonal shaft pressed into a round bit holder assembly

in length, compatible with Hilti's line of high performing drywall screwdrivers

quick release chuck for one handed bit exchange with both insert and power bits, free spinning outer sleeve, press in self locking mechanism, hexagonal shaft fitted into a hexagonal shaped bit holder assembly rather than the round holder used by most other brands

heavy duty magnetic bit and screw holder engineered for high torque and heavy load, retractable guide sleeve to eliminate wobble, heavy duty ring magnet

intuitive auto locking design, small profile quick release collar for one handed bit tip changes, two magnets to maximize magnetic transfer and holding power

locking mechanism for accessory retention, pull back on the collar to remove the bit, magnetism for fastener retention, slim 11 millimeter profile for tight spaces

highly durable, patented jaw design holds bits securely on six flats, designed for one handed quick release, described as the most user friendly of the locking systems tested, pull inward on the sleeve to remove the bit

claims 10 times the life of standard bits, extended torsion zone to absorb high torque, heat treated manufacturing, pull outward on the collar to install or remove the bit

magnetic drill bit holder, speeds up drilling, allows setting driving depth, requires some disassembly to change bits

same magnetic tips and impact rated design as the other two Ryobi lengths tested, constructed of two pieces pressed together (unlike the one piece short length)

convenient pickup and retention of screws, C clip securely retains 1 inch bits, one piece design engineered for maximum durability

same magnetic tips and impact rated design as the other two Ryobi lengths tested, constructed in one piece (unlike the two piece medium and long lengths)

ultra magnetic torsion impact bit holder, claims its magnet is two times stronger than standard bit holders, extreme torsion technology allows the torsion section to flex under load

uses a locking system

claims to make bits last 500 times longer, claims to be unstoppable and unbreakable, optimized tip geometry, helps eliminate cam out and promotes fastener retention

claims industrial grade heavy duty chrome vanadium steel, claims very strong magnetism, 2.4 inches in length

and 3/4 inch bit holder, sleeve provides finger protection, holds screws securely, magnetic bit holder

Indonesia

China

Germany

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

Taiwan

China

Taiwan

China

Vietnam

Taiwan

Indonesia

Taiwan

Indonesia

China

China

China

China

China

(as stated in the transcript for the middle of the three weights listed)

pretty light, constructed of two pieces pressed together

constructed of two pieces pressed together

constructed of two pieces pressed together

constructed of two pieces pressed together

constructed of two pieces pressed together

heaviest of the brands introduced to that point

by far the heaviest of all 19 entries

about three tenths of a second slower than the short Ryobi

held up very well with only a small amount of wear

running at 78.4F, the coolest of all brands tested, still looks as good as new

still in great shape afterward

tied for fastest of all 19 entries (with Bosch and short Ryobi), running at 93F, still looks as good as new

quite a bit slower than average, stayed cool at 85.1F, small amount of wear

slightly faster than average, no temperature issues at 88.2F, still in great shape

faster than most other brands, second place, still looks as good as new at 84.4F

slower than Makita Gold, still looks as good as new at 96.2F

tied for fastest of all 19 entries (with Wera and short Ryobi), stayed cool at 86.9F, still looks as good as new

slower than average at 88.6F, very small amount of wear

the slowest of the three Ryobi lengths, stayed cool, held up very well

tied for first place at the time it was tested (with Horusdy), slightly hot at 110F, still looks as good as new with no visible wear

tied for fastest of all 19 entries (with Bosch and Wera), moved into the lead at the time it was tested, looks as good as new

slower than Bosch and almost half a second slower than the leaders, the extended impact zone seems to have slowed it down, 88.5F

second place at the time it was tested (behind Horusdy), stayed cooler than Tomato Palace at 101F, experienced a lot of wear as the shaft began to spin inside the main body

on the first screw, 6.23 on the second, 6.64 on the third, losing speed with each subsequent screw, extremely hot at 222F, the hottest of all brands tested

about a second slower than Horusdy on the first screw, shaft began slipping inside the holder, very hot at 168F, soft metal with a lot of wear and tear

began well but slowed dramatically and started smoking; needed 7.86 seconds on the first screw, then gave up about 2 seconds into the second screw; a lot of wear and tear and extremely hot

first place overall of all 19 entries, shaft broke free from the main body

second place overall, shaft twisted quite a bit before finally snapping

third place overall, main body finally cracked, described as performing even better than the Wera

moved into third place at the time it was tested (later passed by Wera and Wiha), main body experienced a crack from end to end

fifth place overall, shaft finally broke

sixth place overall, more torque than DeWalt locking, shaft became disconnected from the main body

seventh place overall, shaft with a torsion zone finally broke

eighth place overall, shaft broke after quite a bit of torque

ninth place overall, no torsion zone design, shaft finally gave up

tenth place overall, narrow torsion zone finally broke

eleventh place overall, main body appears to be made of aluminum and broke

twelfth place overall, shaft broke free from the main body

thirteenth place overall, refused to break for a long time, the shaft twisted into the shape of a pretzel before finally giving up

fourteenth place overall, gave up a little sooner than expected, broke at the narrow torsion zone

fifteenth place overall, about 100 inch pounds less than Bosch, torsion zone gave up quickly

sixteenth place overall, shaft separated from the main body

seventeenth place overall, its unstoppable claim did not hold up; no external damage visible, so the narrator later cut it open and found an internal sleeve that stretches to limit torque transfer rather than a torsion zone shaft

eighteenth place overall, shaft broke free from the assembly very quickly

nineteenth and last place overall, tested on a fresh replacement unit since the first unit broke during the speed test; shaft broke away from the main body

fourth place in the magnetic pull leaderboard

fifth place in the magnetic pull leaderboard

barely edged out Milwaukee's 19 grams

first place overall in the magnetic pull leaderboard, just over 2 lb

weakest magnetic pull of any brand tested

about the same as Hilti

strongest magnetic pull recorded up to that point in testing

third place in the magnetic pull leaderboard

second place in the magnetic pull leaderboard, close to 2 lb

described as very weak

held easily

held easily

close to 1 lb, no separate lock/unlock states described

described as a very strong magnet, no separate lock/unlock states described

the transcript states 3000 grams in the unlocked position and separately 717 grams, in an order that appears inverted relative to how locked/unlocked figures are stated for other brands; kept verbatim as stated rather than reordered, see note

described as a pretty strong magnet, no separate lock/unlock states described

more than 3000, held via a retaining ring rather than a simple lock, described as very strong

very strong, held via a retaining ring

described as very strong, about 4 lb, held via a retaining ring

just over half a pound, no separate lock/unlock states described

described as not too strong, no separate lock/unlock states described