Best New Tools for 2024 &#8211; September Update

Milwaukee MX Fuel Rocket Dual Power Compact Tower Light

A follow-up to Milwaukee’s M18 iteration, the new MX Fuel Rocket Dual Power Compact Tower Light offers tons of light output within a compact design. It puts off up to 15,000 lumens, which translates to around 2,300 square feet of light coverage. The dual-power design also carries over from the last model— you can use either an MX Fuel battery for up to 10 hours of runtime, or plug in an extension cord for all-day use.

Model: Milwaukee MXF040-1XC
3 brightness settings
Max output: 15,000 lumens
Weight: 50 pounds (w/ battery)
Packout-compatible

Price: $1,199 kit with XC406 battery and charger

Greenworks 80V Pro 17-inch String Trimmer

Between the performance, ergonomics, features, and price, the Greenworks 80V Pro 17-inch string trimmer offers excellent value, especially for homeowners. It has more than enough power for medium- to heavy-duty clearing tasks, as well as your weekly yard care. Greenworks rates this string trimmer for between 1/2-acre and 3/4-acre, which translates to up to 20 minutes of trigger time. You can also set your cutting swath down to 15 inches to put less strain on the motor and extend your runtime even further.

Model: Greenworks STB415
Power source: Greenworks 80V battery
Length: 70 inches
Gas equivalence: 30cc
Cutting swath: 17 inches
Brushless motor

Price: $249 kit with 2.0Ah battery, charger, shoulder sling, and 15 spools of line

Buy at Costco

Flex 15-Gauge and 16-Gauge Finish Nailers

Earlier this year, we reviewed Flex’s 24V 18Ga Cordless Brad Nailer, and since then, the brand has released a few more nailers onto its 24V platform. There are two 16-gauge models (an angled nailer and a straight nailer), as well as a 15-gauge model, and all three have some pretty impressive specs. Both 16-gauge nailers can drive up to 1500 nails per charge using the kitted 2.5Ah battery, and the larger 15-gauge nailer drives up to 1200 nails using the same battery. With all three models, you can choose between bump or sequential driving modes and set your driving depth tool-free.

Model: Flex FX4321 / FX4321A / FX4311B
Drives up to 3 nails per second
16Ga nailers drive up to 1500 nails per charge
15Ga nailer drives up to 1200 nails per charge
Depth adjustment lever
Tri-LED lights
Brushless motor

Price: $299 bare, $379 kit with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Ryobi 18V HP Brushless 15Ga Angled Finish Nailer

Another nailer announced recently is the Ryobi 15Ga finish nailer. This tool is compatible with 15-gauge nails from 1 1/4 inches to 2 1/2 inches in length. Using a 4.0Ah High Performance battery (sold separately), it can drive up to 1500 nails per charge. Compared to the previous iteration (P330), this model is 25% more compact and 20% lighter in weight. Like with most cordless nailers, you can choose between bump and sequential drive modes and set your depth of drive tool-free.

Available October 2024
Model: Ryobi PBL375B
Drives up to 1500 nails per charge
1 1/4-inch – 2 1/2-inch nail range
Tool-free depth adjustment
Bump and sequential firing modes
LED light
Available October 2024

Price: $279 bare

Makita 18V Multi-Surface Scanner

When you’re working with wet or dry concrete, if you intend to cut or drill, you need to know what’s below the surface. That’s where the Makita 18V Multi Surface Scanner (DWD181ZJ) comes in. It detects metals, wood, plastic, and shielded electrical wire embedded as deep as 7 inches below your working surface. Not only can it detect an object’s location, but it also displays the center, edges, and relative width/depth of an embedded object so you can drill or cut with confidence. To top it off, it’s IP54-rated, meaning it’s weather-resistant for use in tough jobsite conditions.

Makita DWD181ZJ
Detectable depth: up to 7 inches
LED light
Laser guide
4-inch illuminated color display
IP54 rating

Price: $1,589

Skil PWRCore 40 300-Watt Battery Inverter

If you’re in the market for a power inverter for powering small devices, Skil presents a compelling pick with its PWRCore 40 model. Running off of a single battery, it lets you keep up to four devices powered and charged with no hassle. Plus, the sub-$100 price point keeps things easy on the wallet for those who are already on Skil’s 40V platform.

Model: Skil PI0300C-00
Power source: Skil 40V battery
Peak power: 500W
Continuous power: 300W
Pure sine wave powers sensitive electronics
LED light integrated into carrying handle

Price: $99 bare; $119 kit with a 2.5Ah battery

Buy on Amazon

EGO 56V Mini Bike

Okay, we know that an e-bike isn’t technically a tool, but give us a break, this EGO 56V mini bike is awesome! We got it in the shop for some real tooth-pulling testing recently and it performed extremely well. It has a weight capacity of 220 pounds, measuring 61 inches from tip to taillight. Running on two EGO 56V batteries, this bike reaches top speeds of 28 MPH and a range of up to 20 miles per charge. To top it off, an IPX4 rating gives you peace of mind if you get caught in the rain.

Model: EGO MB1000
Power source: EGO 56V batteries
Weight Capacity: 220 lbs.
Ingress Rating: IPX4
Max speed: 28 MPH
Range: Up to 20 miles
Driving Modes: ECO, Normal, Sport, and Reverse

Price: $1299 bare; $1999 kit with two 7.5Ah batteries

Echo PB-5810 Gas Backpack Blower

With battery-powered technology becoming more powerful every year, it’s easy to sweep gas-powered equipment to the side in search of new advancements. However, there’s nothing like the dependency of gas when it comes to OPE, like blowers. Echo’s new PB-5810 backpack blower aims to prove gas is still king, with a 59.7cc pro-grade engine and convenient features like variable speed and cruise control. Plus, this blower boasts a 44% reduction in starting effort, which results in less user fatigue.

You have the choice between a tube-mounted throttle or a hip-mounted throttle, with the model numbers differing ever-so-slightly between the two models.

Model: Echo PB-5810T (tube-mounted throttle); PB-5810H (hip-mounted throttle)
Engine displacement: 59.7 cc
Air volume: 700 CFM
Airspeed: 200 MPH
Weight: 21 pounds

Price: $429.99

Hilti Nuron Cordless Jobsite Fan KCF 4-22

Hilti’s Nuron battery-powered lineup has grown quite a bit since its launch, now including many core tools. Among them is the Nuron jobsite fan, which makes it easy for Hilti pros to bring some airflow to the jobsite. This fan sees maximum airflow levels of 650 CFM and airspeeds of up to 10 MPH. Using a B 22-170 battery, you can run this fan for up to 7 hours and 43 minutes, according to our in-house testing— and that’s on full blast! Its confident performance and straightforward design make the Hilti Nuron Jobsite Fan a solid option to keep you cool in the summer heat.

Model: Hilti KCF 4-22
Max airflow: 650 CFM
Airspeed: 10 mph (measured at 5 feet)
Runtime: 7 hrs, 43 min. (with B 22-170 battery)
Brushless motor

Price: $109 bare

Buy from Hilti

Best New Tools – Pro Tool Innovation Award Winners

The 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award winners and finalists have been announced! With 233 products across 15 distinct categories, they represent the best new tools coming over the next year (some are already available). Head over to the PTIA website to see the entire list for yourself or click on the headings below to look at the individual category pages.

As for us, we’ve selected some of the most intriguing new tools—one from each category. There are so many more than just the ones listed here, though, so be sure to check out the pages to see the most innovative products on the docket for the next year!

Best New Tools: Accessories and Fasteners

CMT Orange Tools ITK Extreme Demolition 007 “License to Cut” Circular Saw Blade

Take one look at CMT Orange Tools’ 007 demo blade, and it’s immediately clear this blade is different. Large cutouts around the blade reduce overall mass, leading to faster acceleration and less overall energy use, helping you manage the battery on cordless saws. They also help reduce heat buildup during cutting.

A closer look reveals a tooth design that handles nail strikes more effectively by avoiding a full-on nail hit against a single tooth and brazing deeper into the plate. At the same time, a 5° ATB configuration offers stable, fast cuts in clean and nail-embedded wood.

Price: $13.97

Best New Tools: Automotive and Metalworking

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Insider Extended Reach Box Ratchet

While you’re applying Neosporin to your busted knuckles, Milwaukee’s automotive team has been working on a way to keep them from getting that way in the first place. By inserting the socket into the ratchet head instead of onto it, the M12 Fuel Insider drops another 3/4 of an inch and significantly improves your ability to access tight areas. That by itself is enough to make it a winner in our eyes, but Milwaukee’s product team took it further. The ratchet is compatible with all three standard drive sizes, 1/4″ hex bits, is pass-through capable up to 15mm, has an extended reach, and a high speed drive of 350 RPM. We’re guessing it’s going to be a while before anyone can top that!

Price: $299

Best New Tools: Concrete and Masonry

Hilti Kwik-X Dual Action Anchor

If your work involves setting adhesive anchors, you’re going to love Hilti’s Kwik-X Dual Action Anchor System. To put it simply, the Kwik-X system can be stated as “drill, drop, drive, done.” No joke.

Just like you would with any other anchor, you start by drilling the appropriate-sized hole for it. But instead of reaching for your vac or hole blower, you skip the cleanout step completely. The way you get around it is by using Hilti’s SafeSet procedure, which includes using a hollow bit and vac to remove dust while you’re drilling.

Next, you take the adhesive packet and drop the entire thing into the hole, package and all. You don’t need to squeeze it out, and you don’t need to use an applicator.

Finally, use your impact wrench to drive the fastener in place. As it turns, it breaks the packet open and displaces the adhesive to fill the gaps. That’s it, you’re done. It’s a huge time-saver and makes getting new crew members up to speed easier while reducing the risk of errors along the way.

Price: $59.20

Buy at Hilti

Best New Tools: Cordless Tools

Flex 4-Port Simultaneous Rapid Charger

You’d think battery chargers would be a fairly boring category, but this year’s vote was tight thanks to several outstanding options. Flex came away with the win for their 4-Port Simultaneous Charger. Each of the four ports can charge at a rate of 280 watts, and can run at that pace simultaneously. That’s better than any 4-port charger we’ve seen so far, and keeping your power tools operating without interruption for charging is the number one concern our team has for its charging needs.

Price: $289.99

Best New Tools: Hand Tools

Malco Adjustable Siding Gauge

We’ve seen some impressive ways to make siding installation easier over the years, but Malco’s Adjustable Siding Gauge is the best. By setting the pair to the same detent and clamping them onto the already installed siding, it’s your second and third set of hands to hold pieces up to 16 feet in length and exactly the right height, leaving you with both hands to fasten them properly. Best of all, it makes a 2 – 3-man job one that you can do by yourself, and it’ll cost you less than you’d pay your helper for the day.

Price: $75

Best New Tools: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing

Ridgid RP 115 Mini Press Tool

For common 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch press fittings, you’ve got to see what Ridgid’s team has come up with. The RP 115 is less than 15 inches long and is 2.5 inches wide, giving you easier access to tight connection spaces better than other models. It’s also just 5.5 pounds, including the battery press jaws, making it the lightest cordless option you have available as well. This lightweight, compact press tool is a fatigue-busting solution for press connections from a name you can trust.

Price: $1805

Best New Tools: Networking and Technology

HOVER App

Visualizing what the final results will be is a challenge for every home contractor and client relationship. HOVER can help bridge that gap with its design functions, and give your clients more confidence that they’re getting the home of their dreams before the groundwork even starts. When it’s time to crunch numbers, HOVER can help you build your estimates more quickly and even order materials once the contract is signed. There are even applications for homeowners, such as help with insurance claims and brainstorming future upgrades. When it comes to exterior design, HOVER is a high-tech solution in a high-tech world.

Price: $25 – $199 per design (membership program also available)

Best New Tools: Outdoor Power Equipment

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Log Splitter

2023 marks the year log splitters make the jump to battery power from mainstream brands. Ryobi’s 40V HP Brushless Log Splitter uses a kinetic drive to split logs with 12 tons of splitting force. With a capacity for logs up to 10 inches in diameter and 20 inches long, it’s capable of splitting up to 150 times on a 4.0Ah battery and has a cycle time of just 2 seconds. With a frame designed for easy transport to and from your log pile, getting ready for fireplace season has never been easier or more convenient.

Price: $999

Best New Tools: Pneumatic and Nailers

SST MegaFlow 3-Stage Air Filter and Regulator

The SST MegaFlow 3 Stage Air Filter and Regulator is a classic example of “see a problem, solve a problem” engineering. If you’ve used compressors or air tools for any length of time, you know that contaminants cause problems eventually. By incorporating a 3-stage filter on the intake end, the SST MegaFlow ensures you’re getting more time between maintenance and longer service life. Plus, the visible cartridges make it easy to see when filter changes are due, and the high-quality construction ensures it will be around for a long time. It’s a fantastic solution to a common problem.

Price: $349.99

Best New Tools: Test and Measurement

Fluke Advanced Pro Wire Tracer

Fluke’s 2062 Advanced Pro Wire Tracer gives you a big advantage when you’re tracing wires. With the ability to trace energized or de-energized wires, you can avoid disrupting other work that’s going on in an occupied space. Multiple modes allow you to work in residential, commercial, and industrial structures without having to switch tools. Plus, the 2062 has a 3.5″ color screen that helps you visualize where the wire is running and avoids losing track of the run. It has everything you need to trace wires, find breaks, detect shorts, and identify breakers, all with the protection of a CAT IV 600V rating.

Price: $2899.99

Best New Tools: Tool Bags and Storage

Craftsman V-Series Rolling Tool Cabinet

Craftsman is stepping up its storage game in a big way with the Pro-focused V-Series. It’s all about the build. I-Frame construction and heavier gauge steel set it apart from less expensive homeowner models. That gives it a much higher 3000-pound total capacity, and it has suspension-loaded casters to ensure it’s able to handle the load and still roll effectively. Best of all, these professional toolboxes are still well under the price you’ll pay from the tool truck guys while maintaining the quality Pros demand.

Price: $999-$1799

Buy at Lowe’s

Best New Tools: Wall and Flooring

Graco Ultra QuickShot Cordless Paint Sprayer

Graco is continuing to expand its line of impressive cordless paint sprayers, this time with a solution designed to make small jobs quicker and easier. The Ultra QuickShot features an easy-filling 32-ounce cup and connects to a 6-foot hose that only contains an ounce of paint when loaded. In a brilliant move, the pump sits on a holster you wear, leaving only the weight of the gun in your hands, giving you outstanding control in tight or awkward spaces and making it ladder-friendly when you have to climb. Rather than manufacturing a proprietary battery, Graco goes with the popular DeWalt 20V Max battery as a power source, making spare and replacement batteries easy to get hold of.

Price: $1399

Buy at Amazon

Best New Tools: Woodworking and Carpentry

Ridgid 18V SubCompact Barrel Grip Jigsaw

Ridgid combines the control of a barrel grip style, the ease of a compact design, and the convenience of a cordless power source with the 18V SubCompact R86346. It’s packed with just about every feature you’d hope to find on a jigsaw: adjustable speed, orbital action, lever action blade release, a dust port, dust blower, and tool-free bevel adjustments. Combined with a brushless motor and a fast 3200 SPM stroke rate, it’s a fantastically well-rounded jigsaw.

Price: $179

Best New Tools: Workwear and Safety

Truewerk XP WerkPant

If you’re a fan of the T1 WerkPant (who isn’t?), then you’ll love the Truewerk XP WerkPant for those days that your knees are in contact with the ground or against equipment you’re working on. With built-in knee pads that retain the movement and flexibility Truewerk is known for, it’s an excellent upgrade to keep the T1’s primary characteristics while saying goodbye and good riddance to your strap-on knee pads.

Price: $99

Buy at Truewerk

Bonus Category: Household Products

Greenworks Commuter E-Bike

E-commuting is becoming more popular and today’s brushless motor and battery technology is making it a legitimate option for many people. Greenworks is entering the space with a commuter E-bike that has an excellent 20 MPH top speed and a competitive 25-mile range. Considering it only takes 40 minutes to charge, you can make longer commutes to work without a problem. What really caught our attention was the price. Just under $1900, Greenworks is offering a quality, full-feature E-commuter for about half of what you’d pay from name brands like Trek.

Price: $1899.99