We’ve had great experiences using Mechanix work gloves like these—their durability and comfort are unmatched. These have a Velcro wrist strap to stay tight and secure while you work, plus they work on touchscreen devices and are machine washable for easy cleaning.

We love the compact size of this little level and angle gauge, which comes in handy while working in cramped areas where longer tools wouldn’t fit. Its large digital readout is easy to read from across the room, and the screen even rotates if you need to use it upside down.

This Cargo Holder from Little Giant is a perfect add-on for anyone doing ladder work. We like having the entire tool array directly in front of us and at our disposal when working at upper-ladder height. The deep, separate pockets and elastic loops for holding tools and supplies help keep things handy and safe.

DeWalt’s 20-ounce axe is the perfect take-along on your next camping adventure, or if you’re just splitting wood for kindling in the backyard. Scalloped edges along the face of the axe head keep it from lodging in wood. And I like the solid single-piece construction for long-term durability.

How many times have you removed screws from a project, only to spend an inordinate amount of time searching for them when it’s time to put things back together? This magnetic wristband keeps parts in sight and organized, right across the circumference of your wrist, making your days of peeking under the fridge for that errant chandelier screw a thing of the past.

You can give the gift of humor with a side of purpose this gifting season, thanks to this unique drill bit holder. It's shaped like a pair of dentures, holds 28 drill bit heads, and includes a mini screwdriver.

As much as we love the classic Sharpie, these Milwaukee markers are superior for writing on dirty, wet, or grimy surfaces. You get four in each pack; they can clip onto your hard hat, and since they’re also designed to dry quickly, you don’t have to worry about smearing.

This “creeper” seat provides both comfort and ample tool storage, perfect for automotive work in a garage. Its segmented tray keeps frequently used hand tools, fasteners, and other small accessories within arm's reach, and the four casters roll smoothly across a garage floor.

Anyone with a power drill will appreciate one of these handy little gadgets, which keeps up to six bits organized on the tool itself instead of in your pocket. It fits on either side of the driver and is compatible with all major power tool brands, including Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ridgid, Bosch, and Ryobi.

Sure, flashlights are great, but a headlamp provides hands-free illumination for extended DIY tasks under the sink, inside a crawlspace, or up in the attic. I use this Coast model all the time, and its rechargeable battery, adjustable angle, and user-friendly controls make it a convenient and comfortable option.

Instead of driving to a mechanic to find out why your check-engine light has turned on, use this handy little device to find out exactly what’s wrong first. It plugs directly into your car and immediately displays the diagnostic code, as well as an explanation of what it means.

Few things are more frustrating than dealing with a stripped screw head, which makes this Alden extractor set especially useful. I have this exact set in my toolbag and have used it several times to drill out and extract stripped or broken screws from old cabinetry.

These handy gloves take the onboard LED system to a new level. Forget about setting up a clumsy work light or giving up a hand to hold a flashlight. Let your hands be the light you need during those tricky tasks that beg for just a little more illumination. Bonus: The gloves are fully rechargeable.

Preventing long-term knee issues is important for everyone, and these NoCry knee pads do just that. Their gel core and foam cushions provide maximum comfort while you work, and the breathable design reduces sweat and overheating. Plus, unlike other models, they don’t scuff up your hardwood floors.

That temperamental lighter stick can be a pain when lighting your fire pit, wood stove, or grill. Reach for this powerful butane torch instead. Compact and powerful, the blue flame comes on like a plumber’s torch at the click of a button, and can go from caramelizing crème brulee to soldering a pipe fitting in a pinch.

Fresh off its inclusion in our Popular Mechanics 2026 Tool Awards, this compact Klein set proves that smaller tools can still earn serious respect in the workshop. The 20-piece kit packs a low-profile micro ratchet, impact-rated bits, and a magnetic holder into a slim case that slips easily into a glovebox or tool pouch. It’s the kind of clever, space-saving tool that becomes indispensable the first time you have to reach a fastener in a painfully tight spot.

Most precision screwdriver kits feel overly utilitarian, but this HOTO setup actually feels like a product that somebody put some real thought into. The clean design, USB-C charging, and smooth electric driver make it perfect for everything from tightening sunglass screws to tearing into laptops, cameras, or gadgets around the house. It’s one of those tools you wind up using way more than expected.

I’ve carried a flashlight like this for years, and once you get used to having one in your pocket, there’s really no going back. The Streamlight MicroStream is ridiculously compact, surprisingly bright for its size, and tough enough to disappear into a glovebox, tool bag, or jeans pocket without a second thought. It’s one of those simple tools that winds up getting used constantly.

Forget wrestling with a tape measure across a room. Bosch’s pocket-sized measurer delivers fast, dead-on accurate readings up to 100 feet with a bright backlit display that’s easy to read even in the dimmest garages and workshops. It’s compact enough to live in a tool bag full time, but useful enough that you’ll end up measuring everything from flooring layouts to backyard projects.

Compact cordless inflators have become one of those “keep it in the truck forever” tools, and the Fanttik earns its spot pretty quickly. It’s small enough to stash under a seat or in a toolbox, but powerful enough to handle truck tires, bikes, sports gear, and emergency top-offs without dragging out a full-size compressor. The digital controls and preset pressure settings make the whole process nearly foolproof.