Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-05)

We put the latest tools, outdoor gear, and tech through the wringer

every day in the Pop Mech Test Zone. Only the best of the best earn the

Editors’ Choice award. Every product here has been thoroughly tested

by our team, and each offers exceptional performance, durability, value,

or innovation—or a combination of all those traits. This is the stuff that

makes every project or adventure easier and more enjoyable.

▶ Thorogood

American Heritage

8-Inch Tobacco

Plain Toe Boot

With its tall, tobacco oil–

tanned, full-grain leather

upper, the Plain Toe cuts

the figure of a classic

work boot. But it felt

more like a sneaker, with

a shock-absorbing foot-

bed, an open-cell foam

insole, and a fiberglass

shank instead of the tra-

ditional metal. The soft

slip-resistant outsole

offers lasting comfort

and sure footing no

matter how much muck

builds up on your shop

floor. And if you find the

boot eventually needs a

tune-up, Thorogood will

replace worn outsoles,

insoles, and more (for a

fee). $195

◀ DeWalt 20V Max XR 5-Inch Cordless Random

Orbital Sander Kit

For a smooth, swirl-free finish, pick this DeWalt

brushless random-orbital sander. At its max speed

of 12,000 orbits per minute, it was our test’s fastest

machine. Yet it still sanded without uncomfortably

vibrating our hands, and its dust pickup was very

good, collecting nearly all that it produced in the bag

that locks on with a twist. For larger jobs, remove the

bag and attach a vacuum hose. $199 for tool, 2.0-Ah

battery, charger, dust bag, and case

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAKOTA GAMBILL May/June 2020 81