TOOLS

FOR A

NEW AGE

Even during these unprecedented times, manufac-

turers have been rolling out innovations in every

category of tool. While we appreciate progress, it can

sometimes make the decision about what to buy even more dif-

ficult, forcing you to guess whether a certain spec bump will

make a noticeable difference, or whether a fancy new market-

ing name has some useful tech behind it. So we spent the past

year mowing, sawing, hammering, drilling, and wrenching in the

Pop Mech Test Zone, evaluating hundreds of tools to determine

what’s actually worth your dollar and what is truly groundbreak-

ing. During this process, we were pleasantly surprised to find

that some of our existing favorites still outperform and are

more helpful than the new stuff. And here they are, the 52 best

tools, accessories, and pieces of workwear (both old and fresh)

you can buy right now—with a book thrown in for good measure.

OUTDOOR TOOLS & GEAR

PAGE 57

POWER TOOLS

PAGE 62

ACCESSORIES

PAGE 66

DIGITAL HAND TOOLS

PAGE 68

HAND TOOLS

PAGE 69

SHOP TOOLS

PAGE 71

56 March/April 2021