Your Current Favorite 3/8th drive Ratchet ?

I have several - and if I could have only one - it would be hard to choose. I have several of each type. Regular. Flex Head. Stubby.

Koken has low back drag and low lash. Really nice. The reverse switch direction is a bit annoying, but the price is reasonable.

Nepros is simply the very best. Smooth, tight, near zero back drag, and beautifully made. At a price that rivals Snap-on. But absolutely the best and a joy to use.

Wright - old school made in the USA. Rotate the entire head to change directions. Low tooth count. Loud and clicky. Love it but I don’t recommend it.

Ancient (c. 1975) Craftsman - still holding up. Works pretty well. Low tooth count but reliable. Love the button to release sockets. Pretty certain they will survive the apocalypse. I have bought a 1/2” at an antique store to complement the old made in the USA Craftsman 3/8” and 3/8” flex head.

Williams - made in the USA. Reasonably priced, at about $40, with decent back drag and good tooth count. The head is larger and may not fit into tight spaces. But it is sturdy, and rebuildable. No button to release sockets, you have to pull hard. The best value in the bunch of my everyday tools.

Tekton - I don’t use them every day, but I have a couple of Tekton socket wrench kits as emergency tools in the truck. Really well made for the price point.

If I was to recommend a reasonably priced ratchet - look at the Williams, and at Tekton. Both work very well and are inexpensive.

If you want something that is absolutely the best - Nepros. But be forewarned - it is so very nice that you may not want to scratch it by using it…

https://neprostools.com/collections/drive-tools/products/a000303

https://www.zoro.com/williams-38-drive-10-14-hand-ratchet-chrome-plated-b-52ehla/i/G7092648/

https://www.tekton.com/3-8-inch-drive-x-8-inch-quick-release-ratchet-srh11108
 
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rijndael said:
My favorites are the Icon G2 or my SnapOn Cynergy.
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Are the 100Ts finally working? I thought they were the ratchet equivalent of the new Tundra turbo? I've never been within 500' of one AFAIK, so maybe they're great??
 
I had a problem where it skipped if you applied off angle tension. They sent me a rebuild kit and it's working just fine. But, that was a PITA to install. Apparently there's a special tool to hold the ball in place, but I didn't get one.
 
The Power Torque stubby with the 3/8 square lug at the end of the handle from O'reilly AP gets used on every job I'm using a 3/8 ratchet on. Very low back drag and it works great as a secondary quick spinner after you've broken a fastener free with whatever fits. Cheap to boot.
 
I have quite a few, with only two of them being newer. I had a Craftsman V-Series flex head 96 tooth that broke. They replaced it with a 72 tooth long handle flex head. My other ones are older Craftsman, Williams, and Porto branded. I really don’t love any of those for everyday use, they’re just not fine enough tooth. I also use mainly flex head now. Ever since I got one, I hardly use normal head ratchets. However, I do use the older once’s with cheater bars.

I’ve used some of my friends Pittsburgh and Kobalt ratchets. They were fine.

Unrelated, but for 1/2 inch, I love my Proto and Williams ratchets. I have a long handle Williams that I especially like.
 
D60 said:
Are the 100Ts finally working? I thought they were the ratchet equivalent of the new Tundra turbo? I've never been within 500' of one AFAIK, so maybe they're great??
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If you’re referring to the swivel head ratchet like in post #2, they hold up great! I’ve put mine through quite a bit more than I probably should have for a 3/8” drive. Never had a skip or anything! However, I like my knuckles as I’ve gotten older and know when I’m at the limits of a 3/8 drive and potential punching immovable objects, that’s when I go straight for 1/2” breaker to at least break it loose and then go back to 3/8 the rest of the way.
 
I have a lot of “high end” ratchets. Snap-On, Nepros, koken, etc.

My Snap-On dual 80s are still the ones I grab first, there’s just something about them I can’t describe if if koken or Nepros might be better on paper or in some test.

So if I have to pick one it’s a hard handle(plastic), long flex head with quick release 3/8s dual 80.
 
JWC86 said:
I have a lot of “high end” ratchets. Snap-On, Nepros, koken, etc.

My Snap-On dual 80s are still the ones I grab first, there’s just something about them I can’t describe if if koken or Nepros might be better on paper or in some test.

So if I have to pick one it’s a hard handle(plastic), long flex head with quick release 3/8s dual 80.
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What got me about the Nepros was the balance; I believe they hollow our the fat end. Once when working in a tight spot, the ratchet seemed to work itself; back and forth, backdrag basically eliminated. Was it was really working? Yes, it was on another level. Just my experience.

The hard handle SO was my late brothers tool of choice, so it wins.
 
JeffKeryk said:
What got me about the Nepros was the balance; I believe they hollow our the fat end. Once when working in a tight spot, the ratchet seemed to work itself; back and forth, backdrag basically eliminated. Was it was really working? Yes, it was on another level. Just my experience.

The hard handle SO was my late brothers tool of choice, so it wins.
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I inherited a large supply of KTC tools back when I worked in the automotive industry, and they are amazing. Sadly, no ratchet's, but some breaker bars. I'm all in on their quality, but dang, their stuff is really expensive these days. That's one of the reasons I went with the Kokan ratchet posted earlier. Japanese quality, but somewhat more affordable.
 
JeffKeryk said:
What got me about the Nepros was the balance; I believe they hollow our the fat end. Once when working in a tight spot, the ratchet seemed to work itself; back and forth, backdrag basically eliminated. Was it was really working? Yes, it was on another level. Just my experience.

The hard handle SO was my late brothers tool of choice, so it wins.
Click to expand...

The Nepros 3/8 handles are indeed hollow, for balance as you said. They are beautiful tools!

My 1/4" flex heads Nepros are my favorite 1/4" ratchets.

The Nepros flex head tensioning design with the Teflon button is a great design.

That said, if I had to pick I like my dual 80s and I'm not even sure why lol.
 
My 40 yr old SK Wayne stubby. I have a whole drawer full of their classic ratchets from a family member who worked there for 40 yrs. Lots of the craftsmen wrenches they made for them as well as some sears and roebucks hand tools. This in addition to 3, 5 gallon buckets of odds and ends sockets.
 
NYEngineer said:
View attachment 320792
This is my go to. I have longer ones and shorter ones but this one is always first.
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Agree

Made here, works great. No support for the Chinese war machine.

I prefer those hard handles or no handle at all. Not a fan of soft touch handles.

I am intrigued with Koken ratchets though. I like their universal socket.
 
My 2 favorite 3/8 ratchets are my Icon gold plated and my CAT (Williams). The Icon was a silly impulse purchase but I use it like a normal ratchet, and I like the CAT because I could throw it across the room in a fit of rage and not worry about hurting it.
 
I have an old Craftsman and a newer Wright (newer being only 8 years). Use both and no favorites here. Both quality that will outlast me,
 
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