DRPD Tool Haul #3: Koken 1/4" Drive Socket Set and 1/2" Deep Sockets

[@ryanle1293]

If any of you have ever seen those socket clearence tests on the snap on trucks. Yknow, the one they have some kind of handle and a socket from mac, matco and snapon and only the snapon fits, koken zeal socket also fit in

[@Tools_and_Guitars]

As always, an excellent and detailed review. 👍 The quality and value you get with Ko-ken is really outstanding. I love my 3725Z (3/8 72t). Haven't tried their sockets... yet! And I will definitely get the 1/4 flex 72 at some point.

[@jasonplugowsky3086]

If you are going for fidelity in 1/4 inch go Nepros.

[@boosted2.4_sky]

LET'S GO 🏁

[@MrWesleyDP]

Given the outstanding quality and the remarkable price point, I feel like Koken could become a...well maybe not household name...but a pretty popular brand if they made a concerted push into the US. I see them pretty consistently on KZbin and various "Tool Nerd" type places so I know their name is out there but I really wish more people knew about them and we had more access in the US. My Nut Grips are awesome, given that eh...70%ish percent of the time I need install a nut or bolt it's in a "haha...have fun with that" kind of position. I am definitely looking to add the Wobble-Fix extensions at some point and one of the Z-Series 72-tooth ratchets, but I am sure there will be more. As a side note, I really wish someone would pair with Ernst to provide their rails.

[@boosted2.4_sky]

They have been making an effort in the USA... they are everywhere actually.... anybody I know who uses tools (which is a lot of people) knows about Ko-ken

[@lonestarmopars]

Ko-ken has definitely been growing the brand here in the US, but it is still more prevalent with "tool people." They almost have to rely on individual sales and social media generated stuff because outside of independent tool trucks, none of the big 3 are going to push them...Matco makes the most sense given they don't manufacture sockets like Cornwell, Mac, and Snap-On, but I don't see them pursuing it...it makes too much sense, haha. Similarly, none of the big box stores will want something of this quality on the shelf when they could just push their house brand. Plus, it would ruffle the feathers of the "battery" boys who also offer offshore stuff marked up 10x over because their name is on it. That said, as a mainly direct to consumer brand, I find that we get better service AND the company remains more receptive to feedback. Some of the stuff I've asked Koken and gotten genuine replies would be ignored, or laughed at here state side. You definitely need the Wobble-Fix...killer little extensions. If you want to slowly dive in, you could get the spinner handle with that configuration and kill 2 birds with one stone by getting to try the screwdriver handle AND the Wobble Fix extension! I'm waiting on a sale for the 1/4" and 1/2" 72T stuff...the iterations I wanted were gone and as much as I'd like to try them, I'd prefer to have something I would need. If you don't want to pre-order or try to find something in stock, you might land the 3/8" 72T pretty easy given there is old stock before the update. Tekton picked Ernst and Snap-On offers their rails, although I'm not sure they've ever been built in with a set. Again, not sure what other companies are doing here locally since Ernst is US based and manufactures here AND the price point is often less than the junk from offshore.

[@chadroy16]

nice. love ko-ken

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks....they have been pretty good to me in the few years I've been using them!

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars me too!

[@pets4489]

Brother it's been years. Why a glove still?

[@MarzNet256]

The metal rails are meh for the Koken Sockets. I paid about 10 bucks per socket for my 3/8 metric nut grip 8pc set and would have liked a better rail. I picked up a blue 3/8 Ernst rail for 7 bucks.

[@lonestarmopars]

I actually filmed a video about that a week or so ago...not sure when I'll release it, but there are some perks. Ernst is really tough to beat for the price, especially given it is made in America. Their little 8" Mag rails work really well for small sets.