Ryobi

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Ryobi

159 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 29, 2025

  EAFC Air compressor/ Tire inflator

  In contrast to OPs ad for shitty Amazon brands I'll go corporate... I'm loving our Ryobi battery air compressor. Already have like 4 batteries for random DIY tools so this thing works just fine

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• #2Dec 5, 2025

  ~17 Year Old Cordless Craftsman Drill/Work Light kit

  Everyone is correct about pitching your old tools. For new tools, find whatever is on sale, or pick whatever colour you like the most. Dewalt, Milwaukee, bosch, makita are all good brands. If you’re just a homeowner looking to DIY stuff, buy ryobi. It’s the same company as Milwaukee. Tons of reliable tools to pick from at a good price point, and decades worth of used tools available on marketplace with backwards compatibility. They just aren’t as flashy or compact as the fancy contractor tools. 

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• #3Dec 5, 2025

  Is there anything you're convinced is "the cheaper the better"?

  This is a great point-the reason it doesn’t apply to cordless power tools for me, and I think a lot of people, is because of the battery economy. I recommend Ryobi all the time as a great consumer-grade line, but I don’t buy any Ryobi tools for myself because I don’t want to deal with having multiple different batteries when I already have so many Dewalt tools that I got when I used them for work.

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• #4Dec 4, 2025

  Something you didn’t expect to be BIFL but outlasted your expectations?

  My Ryobi trimmer is around the same age with multiple attachments. But I paid around $150 with said attachments. I just replaced the gas line to the tank. Because I loaned it to a neighbor with the limb saw attachment’s and they messed it up. Now it runs great again.

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• #5Dec 4, 2025

  Something you didn’t expect to be BIFL but outlasted your expectations?

  Ryobi drill that is has got to be at least 20 years old, but probably older. My roommate left it when she moved out. She got it from her boyfriend (at the time) about 18 years ago. Her boyfriend got it from someone else who owned it for who knows how long. It was all banged up and had not been stored in a great place. I figured I’d probably need to buy a new one because surely it wouldn’t work or it would be incompatible with the new batteries. Wrong. Put it a new rechargeable battery—now it works like new!

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• #6Dec 4, 2025

  Something you didn’t expect to be BIFL but outlasted your expectations?

  My Ryobi pressure washer. It has a Honda 160cc vertical shaft engine. I’ve changed the oil twice, maybe three times in close to 10 years, that said I use full synthetic. I feel bad about not being as diligent as I could be about maintenance but the damn thing starts first pull as if it’s a sense of duty, no matter the ambient temperature or how old the gas is, and octane doesn’t matter at all. It just runs. I’ve used it for everything you can think of and am nothing short of impressed with its performance. If you need 3000 psi of cleaning power and want it to thrive on abuse and neglect, the Ryobi Honda blend is the answer.

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• #7Dec 3, 2025

  Finally stopped buying cheap vacuums and invested in a better one, does it actually last?

  Can you return it? Seeing some highly concerning things about it on Reddit. Also you don't want stuff like an autoemptying base or fancy tech features since it's all gonna be another point of failure. Best bifl option is going to be a miele canister vacuum. If you absolutely have to have a cordless stick vacuum, get one from whatever tool brand you use (like the Ryobi one). Much cheaper than Dyson and batteries will be interchangeable and readily available. No stick vacuum is bifl.

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• #8Dec 1, 2025

  My grandmas drill that she gave me to use to hang curtains

  Yeah I started building out my collection with all Ryobi as someone who just uses them occasionally. I can get a wider variety of tools for a fraction of the cost and even if something were to break it doesn't hurt to replace. That being said I've never had a Ryobi tool go on me, including my drill that I've had for the last 10 years.

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• #9Dec 1, 2025

  My grandmas drill that she gave me to use to hang curtains

  I have nearly every ryobi tool and I’ve only replaced 1 in about 15 years. I own a small construction biz too. And I obviously paid a decent amount less than say Milwaukee. Tools snobs don’t know what they are talking about.

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• #10Dec 1, 2025

  My grandmas drill that she gave me to use to hang curtains

  I don't know what people are doing to their tools that breaks them. Ordinary homeowner type people, that is. I can't think of a single tool I've owned that just...died. I've got at least five different cordless drill/drivers from Ryobi and Bosch. Corded tools covering everything from soldering irons and hot glue guns to routers, drill press, and table saw. Decent quality name brands, cheap Amazon/Harbor Freight brands. I'm struggling to think of a single tool that I had to replace because it just stopped working irreparably. Hell, my Dewalt miter saw is at least 15 years old and it has a more-or-less permanent location on my deck, enduring whatever sun and rain have come and gone. Still cuts great. Take reasonable care of your tools, people. That's all it takes. You don't have to baby them; you can use them for tough jobs. They're well enough made to last the average person a long, long time.

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• #11Dec 1, 2025

  Unisex gift under $100

  Some ideas: - a Dutch oven (you can find good ones for $100 or under) - a Ryobi tool (you may laugh, but my husband and h use them equally) - massage gun - cast iron pan

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• #12Dec 1, 2025

  My grandmas drill that she gave me to use to hang curtains

  Me and my dad have had a Ryobi impact we traded back and forth for almost 20 years, Its still going. And it wasnt used lightly either. I fully expect it to be given to one of my kids.

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• #13Dec 1, 2025

  My grandmas drill that she gave me to use to hang curtains

  Same here, I actually got a Ryobi drill for Christmas one time and just kept getting Ryobi stuff to use the same battery. Not one of them has failed. In fact, I have abused the shit out of my drill even making smoke come out of it sometimes...it still chugs along.

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• #14Nov 4, 2025

  Which brands/products have gotten better over time?

  Chinese portable generators. Still not as good as a Honda/western made unit but they can be pretty decent for the price. I have over 3500 hours on a Ryobi inverter generator.

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• #15Nov 4, 2025

  Which vacuum should I go with for an apartment that’s mostly medium pile carpet?

  All great advice. I will say as someone in the flooring industry this is very good and well presented. As someone who appreciates the economy of the moment I’ll tell you a cordless stick vac by Ryobi with their 18v battery is a good start. The system is all about that battery being able to be used on all of their cordless devices. Great for someone starting out. While it isn’t especially equal in power to a corded vac, it does have the flexibility to do hard and soft surfaces, include a HEPA filter, convert to a handheld with an extension tip, come with attachments, and works pretty well on pile carpets and quality area rugs. I’ve actually bought two. (Not lazy, but I have multiple floors in my home so they complement the two upright vacuum cleaners as well.). Home Depot has good promotions especially with Black Friday coming up. They sell the cordless without a battery and then there are bundle promotions for the charger and battery combos. Shop it hard, and you can win with the best price.

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• #16Oct 9, 2025

  Best Dyson Cordless Vacuum?

  I have a Ryobi cordless vacuum (recommended in some Wirecutter list, I think) and I love it. IIRC the issue with cordless vacs is that they’re naturally less powerful than corded and more prone to failure/harder to repair – so to me, not worth a splurge. But there are also a lot of shitty cordless vacs on the market, and Ryobi’s is a good value for quality. The battery is a bit quick to die so I’d recommend getting a spare, but it does use the same battery as all their power tools, so that’s a nice convenience.

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• #17Oct 2, 2025

  Power washer recommendations?

  Yeah Ryobi with the Induction motor is a solid call, especially for Price/Warranty. But I've also seen a lot of people happy with Sun joe SPX3000 if you want something affordable and electric (Dual Soap tanks) and you can add a driveway surface cleaner to it. But if you can stretch a bot past $200, Karcher k5 is worth too. More durable feel and the hose reel is actually super handy. Between those three you'll be covered just depends if you want to stay strictly under $200 or spend a little extra.

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• #18Oct 1, 2025

  Portable car tire inflator that's ideally cordless and has a dial/indicator to show tire pressure?

  Ryobi has a great inflater for $40. Most of our tools are Ryobi so the battery needed is not a problem.

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• #19Oct 1, 2025

  Portable car tire inflator that's ideally cordless and has a dial/indicator to show tire pressure?

  Ryobi One series. Can find the batteries anywhere.

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• #20Oct 1, 2025

  Portable car tire inflator that's ideally cordless and has a dial/indicator to show tire pressure?

  Do you already have a cordless power tool family you're a part of, i.e. Milwaukee 18v Fuel etc? If so, you're half way there, you can just buy the skin. If not, get the (lime green coloured) Ryobi 18V battery + inflator

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• #21Sep 4, 2025

  Brands That Used to Be BIFL — But Aren't Anymore?

  I have a lot of Craftsman hand tools that I use daily for work. I really don't have any issues with them at all. As far as power tools go, I use DeWalt at work (company supplied) and for home use I have Craftsman, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi for battery stuff. Usually if I need a new tool for the house I'll look at Craftsman first as they are usually cheaper and consumer grade is usually fine for what I need around the house. Milwaukee and DeWalt for heavy duty stuff.

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• #22Sep 2, 2025

  Best electric string trimmer (weed wacker) for home use?

  For the price, I don't think you can beat Ryobi. I got mine for $139 several years ago. It has been great. I need a new battery now, but that's to be expected.

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• #23Sep 2, 2025

  This 1980s Metabo jigsaw survived a fire in 2003. It's still going strong today

  The old light blue Ryobi tools are also good. 

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• #24Aug 7, 2025

  $2K Amazon Budget—Help Me Turn Digital Money Into Sawdust

  Don’t believe people when they tell you cheaper brand are useless. Unless you’re planning to become a carpenter, then Ryobi does just fine.

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• #25Aug 7, 2025

  $2K Amazon Budget—Help Me Turn Digital Money Into Sawdust

  You can buy Home Depot and Ace gift cards on Amazon. Assuming you can buy a gift card with a gift card, I would go that route. Milwaukee Home Depot hacks provide a lot of value, and $2000 will go a long way in Ryobi’s line up.

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• #26Aug 6, 2025

  $2K Amazon Budget—Help Me Turn Digital Money Into Sawdust

  A good place to start educating yourself is the project farm YouTube channel. He does excellent reviews, buying the products instead of receiving free items from manufacturers. Some companies don't extend warranty to tools purchased on Amazon, so shopping locally is the smart move. If you choose that option, use your Amazon card for consumables like blades and bits or non-powered tools like wrenches. Cordless is the way to go with most power tools. Your first decision is which company you want to purchase. DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita are the top brands. Batteries do interchange between brands. Ryobi and Rigid are both manufactured by the company that owns Milwaukee. Ryobi has a bunch of gadgety tools. Rigid isn't as refined as Milwaukee, but has a lifetime warranty, including batteries. They are the only company to have a lifetime warranty. The only way to get this warranty is to purchase tools from Home Depot. Bosch and Metobo are somewhat second tier, not always having the best/latest features. Though some Bosch corded tools are very good. The best jigsaw I have is a Bosch. Their corded miter saw is very nice. Between the big three they all have certain tools that are best in class, which makes it difficult to decide which brand to purchase. Your primary tools will be a drill, a ¼" impact for driving screws and bolts, a circular saw, and a sawzall(reciprocating saw). In addition, you will find a power miter saw useful. An orbital sander is handy. I prefer corded for the sander as batteries either don't last long enough or the batteries that last longer make the tool heavy and awkward. If you purchase a reciprocating saw, invest in carbon toothed blades. They last a long time and power through wood and metal faster than standard blades. They go through metal extremely fast. For a shop vac Rigid is top of the line. While they share the same name as the power tools, the vacuums are made by a different company, Emerson Electric. Continuing with the Rigid name, their plumbing tools are top notch. Again, made by a different company. Their pipe wrenches are excellent. It is handy to have two pipe wrenches, one to hold the stationary pipe and the other to tighten the fitting. If you have pedestal sinks where the plumbing is visible, a smooth jawed pipe wrench won't mar the plumbing fittings. Other top tier brands of tools include Knipex, Fein, Festool(makes the best power miter saw but is very expensive), and Wera.

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• #27Aug 6, 2025

  New Vacuum needed and suggestions?

  Yessss Ryobi are amazing

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• #28Aug 5, 2025

  New Vacuum needed and suggestions?

  Been doing some research on this lately and I'm coming down on two different - almost opposite - sides of the fence. Either like a miele or sebo bagged canister vacuum. Seriously, people rave about these things being absolute tanks and cleaning better than almost anything else. OR A stick vacuum from ryobi so i can use the batteries that already go with my tools and from what ive read the ones from tool companies are a bit more robust than their fan company counterparts... Not exactly BIFL but my thinking is the ecosystem could be bifl if they keep things standardised and whatnot.

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• #29Aug 2, 2025

  Looking for a stick vacuum like the one in the photo trusted models you’ve used for years?

  I’ll second the RYOBI for a few reasons. One, interchangeable batteries that match the rest of your stuff if you’re in the same product family. I’ve just bought all into their stuff and have like 5 batteries. Two, they’re rugged, but like any electronic, do break. RYOBI honored my warranty when I had an issue with one and sent me a brand new one.

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• #30Aug 2, 2025

  Anyone keep a “BIFL Roster”?

  For your power tools, Big Red and Ryobi are interchangeable. Same parts, same company, same tools.

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• #31Aug 1, 2025

  Looking for a stick vacuum like the one in the photo trusted models you’ve used for years?

  We've had a Ryobi One+ stick vac for a number of years. It has survived cleaning up behind 4 dogs and 3 cats without complaint.

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• #32Aug 1, 2025

  Cordless Tool System: Bosch, Makita, or something else?

  Festool. But realistically ryobi. It's cheap, it works. You should not get battery system "for life". As in 5 years they come up with a higher density batteries and make them incompatible. You just going to waste money.

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• #33Aug 1, 2025

  Cordless Tool System: Bosch, Makita, or something else?

  Say what you will, but my wife ran a high school theater scene shop for 18 years. All her tools were Ryobi because cost was the biggest factor in purchasing. I saw these kids beat the living hell out of Ryobi drills, saws, flash lights, drivers, etc. They all held up to stupid high school kids for well over 10 years.

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• #34Aug 1, 2025

  Cordless Tool System: Bosch, Makita, or something else?

  It is understood that Milwaukee is the best, but you really don’t need it if you are anything less than a professional. Even the goofy green Ryobi is a better option for 90% of people just doing weekend projects.

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• #35Aug 1, 2025

  Cordless Tool System: Bosch, Makita, or something else?

  People like to take shots at Ryobi, but based on your profile I think it eould be great. They have tons of products. I went in on DeWalt a few years back, and in hindsight Ryobi would have been just fine. I built two decks and did other home projects. Once you pick a brand you pretty much lock into their battery system. I think I have 11 tools and 6 batteries.

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• #36Jul 9, 2025

  Pressure Washer Reqs?

  If you want a gasoline Pressure washer get one with a Honda motor and a decent pump, some good ones are AR and CAT but they tend to cost more. If you just need a light duty pressure washer for washing cars and stuff get an electric Pressure washer from craftsman or Ryobi, they should have a warranty if it breaks. Hot Pressure washers can be 1000s, only used in commercial work, so not needed unless you use it everyday or do work.

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• #37Jul 7, 2025

  I’ve beat on this thing for 20 years. Toro 190cc 22” recycler with FWD

  Personally, I would look at an EGO or Ryobi over the Toro. I really appreciate the network and existing parts distribution system that Toro offers, but their batteries are not well regarded and don't seem to be built for longevity

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• #38Jul 6, 2025

  Disaster preparedness that actually is useful

  Some ideas: \-Get gas before hand \-If the power tends to go out get a generator. Keep fuel on hand. As gasoline goes bad maybe get a propane generator. Make sure it's a push start. Do not use it inside, put it on the balcony or porch. It's lovely to keep your fridge items cool and have the ability to charge things or run a fan. \-Buckets. Set them out in the rain to collect water. This will be for flushing if the water goes out. This can be boiled for consumable uses. \-Water. Always have a few gallons on hand. Use them periodically and rotate old and new. \-Always have extra pet food. I started keeping an extra bag at all times when Covid hit. It has been super helpful. Treats also. :) \-Get a small battery bank and possibly solar panels for charging. This won't run anything big. But it will charge phones, flashlights, computers... (charge EVERYTHING before an event) \-Rechargeable flashlights. Charge ALL of them before a large event. Charge a few regularly. \-Paper plates and disposable utensils. You won't want to use good water to wash dishes. \-Battery powered fans. This can be regular batteries or power tool batteries. Ryobi has a great fan and it's batteries work with all ryobi items, including flashlights. Mikita and others probably do too. CHARGE BEFORE AN EVENT \-Watch the weather and stock up on non-perishables sooner than the day before. (when possible)

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• #39Jul 3, 2025

  Best electric string trimmer (weed wacker) for home use?

  I’ve heard great things about Ryobi too! If you ever need something more for tree trimming or high-up stuff (like roof leaves or small branches), a telescoping pole saw like the [one from DOCA](https://blu-exc.github.io/redirector/?to=docasaw) might be worth checking out. Way more reach than you’d expect, and people like that you can use it handheld too if needed.

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• #40Jun 9, 2025

  The best vacuum money can buy?

  Ryobi battery powered. Life changing.

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• #41Jun 8, 2025

  What’s one item you bought that way outperformed its price?

  Ryobi 18V DIY tools

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• #42Jun 4, 2025

  These are the 25 most recommended vacuum cleaners on Reddit (based on 1,821 users, in the past year) wdyt?

  My Ryobi is awesome!

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• #43Jun 3, 2025

  Best Corded Weed Wacker

  All of them have issues. Use scissors!!!! No Batteries! No cords!! No gas!!! Seriously though, the O P has decided on corded. We have had one fora few years, don't need it often and aside from playing out and rolling up the extension their advantages are no messy 2 Cycle gas to mix (or buy premade but that's costly) . It's Ryobi. It runs flawlessly, is light, and is quiet and at 110-120V it has all the power we need. But now we have to trim further out and don't want to roll up 200 feet so we got a battery powered one. One of the latest and greatest with attachments, spare batt and so forth. Both are useful. Best idea of all since those all suck no matter what powers them... Rent a bunch of goats. Just like scissors, no batts no cord no gas. You don't even have to go outside. except to do more fun activities. But watch your step!!

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• #44May 10, 2025

  Brands you swear by that have Buy It For Life quality products

  I’ve had my Dyson battery powered vacuum for seven years, and it’s still going strong. And if something happens with the battery I can always mod it to use my Ryobi batteries.

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• #45May 8, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  We owned a Ryobi trimmer/edger model that you could not kill. Southern US state do almost year round use. Would probably still be going if I hadn’t let a neighbor borrow it. He ran over it with their ugly ass minivan and said that’s the way I gave it to him.

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• #46May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  Ryobi is by far the best answer for 99% of homeowners. They are inexpensive compared to the other major manufacturers like dewalt, milwaukee, etc. As long as you don't actively abuse them they aren't going to breakdown. And ryobi has damn near every tool you could want that uses the same battery.

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• #47May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  I’ve had my basic entry level 40V Ryobi string trimmer for 8 years now and it still runs like it’s brand new. I had to replace the head (like $15 part) because the bump to feed wore out, but that would have happened with many trimmers. Zero maintenance, just plug the battery in and go.

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• #48May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  my ryobi 40v is on year 4 of heavy use. worth every penny. it was inexpensive and batteries are fairly cheap.. and i didn't pay anymore for it than i did a gas trimmer

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• #49May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  I’ve been in the Ryobi system for 23 years. High recommend for the average homeowner.

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• #50May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  I have a Ryobi one+ 18v trimmer and it's been great. This is the 6th season using it and no complaints at all.

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• #51May 7, 2025

  Best Electric Weed Eater?

  I know Ryobi gets a bad rap and I'm sure it won't last literally for life but I just picked up a used 40v extendit trimmer and it's been pretty damn good so far.

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• #52May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  Lots of reviews out there. From what I understand : if you have a battery tool ecosystem go for that brand. If not then you have two who stand out. Cheap : Ryobi Best overall : ego

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• #53May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  Do you already have a battery system from dewalt, ryobi, rigid, milwaukee etc? If you do, that's the trimmer to get - the one with matching, swappable batteries. They all have a few different models. The biggest failure point will be the batteries.

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• #54May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  I also have a Ryobi, also because I already had the batteries for my drill and hand sander, and it does a great job. So easy to take out, do the job and put away with no cord.

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• #55May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  I have a 40v Ryobi and it does everything I want it to.

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• #56May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  I was hesitant to get an electric weedeater, but I'll be damned if every other year, I had to replace the gas powered ones I would buy. Then california banned them. Got a ryobi that uses all my old expand-it attachments, and it works great. I've even used their electric chainsaw to cut through some railroad ties just fine.

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• #57May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  I've got the Ryobi trimmer because I already had the battery system for my drills. It's been a no regret purchase.

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• #58May 6, 2025

  What’s the best electric weed wacker?? Suggestions needed

  Ryobi. 10+ years with no problems. I wouldn’t mind if it was a little more powerful but no complaints otherwise. It does what I need it to.

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• #59May 6, 2025

  Basic Gas Mower 5-6HP?

  Given Ryobi's commitment to keeping the same 18v battery design since the 90s and just updated the chemistry, I'd guess that they'll keep that approach. If this company has such an ethos for the 18v option I imagine they're a reasonably good bet in the future. I'm definitely now the most well researched on the subject, but I imagine folks have a similar outlook on longevity. Personally, I'm looking into kobalt 40v and 80v options because they're pretty common in my area. Another thing to consider is that battery adapters are an option now and in the future. Really, voltage is voltage. --- Battery tech is here and it's still improving immensely. Prices have fallen dramatically, there's more availability, and they're better than ever. Replacing and repairing electronics will only get more ubiquitous, so even if you had to refurbish the pack(s), you'd be able to do so more cheaply and easily in the future. Also, batteries are highly recyclable now- gasoline, not so much.

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• #60May 5, 2025

  Basic Gas Mower 5-6HP?

  Go electric and find a brand that uses LiPo batteries for extra longevity, it'll last longer than gas with waaaay less maintenance and cost less to fuel. Idk what the volts-to-hp conversion rate looks like for this offhand, but the best bifl take I have is to look for a brand that's committed to their batteries so you can easily replace or refub them in a decade or two. If Ryobi offered a 3-4 battery option that used the power tool batteries, I'd seriously consider that route because they've had the same battery pack setup since the 90s. Side note: if you find a good deal on old school Ryobi cordless tools at a garage sale, you can use them with a modern, lithium battery. - I worked on small engines a long time, don't waste your money on gas engines unless you have a niche scenario where you have to run a push mower for a whole acre in one go.

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• #61May 3, 2025

  Lawn Boy Commercial Series DuraForce 2 Stroke.

  I bought a 4 stroke Ryobi weed wacker in 2000 and still use it to this day. Not any heavier than the 2 stroke Craftsman I had before and I edged with it for 24 years until I found an edger put out on trash day. Just needed the carb cleaned and an oil change.

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• #62Apr 12, 2025

  Is Parkside a good brand for their electric tools?

  If you’re a homeowner and not a contractor buy ryobi. 

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• #63Apr 12, 2025

  Is Parkside a good brand for their electric tools?

  There is probably nothing better suited for homeowners than ryobi. 

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• #64Apr 9, 2025

  What is your current BIFL item you recommend to everyone?

  I think it’s Adam Savages strategy but I’m a tradesman and use it too, which is buy cheap tools till you break them or need more precise ones. Get ryobi power tools, if you’re a homeowner you’ll probably never need anything more substantial. When you do upgrade research per tool, no one brand is perfect. Certain Milwaukee tools are good but then sometime dewalt actually makes a better version. For cordless it’s sort of a pain since they all have different battery systems but for anything corded don’t bother going off brand just research the specific tool you need. For hand tools buy the absolute cheapest shit you can find. If it breaks buy a slightly more expensive version. Don’t get caught up in stuff like what’s the best hammer, no homeowner needs a $400 Stiletto hammer when the $10 no name will last a life time for your needs. Buy it for life depends on what kind of life you’re living

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• #65Apr 9, 2025

  What is your current BIFL item you recommend to everyone?

  Just build up a decent little set by going through Facebook Marketplace or however you find local stuff. You don't need a SnapOn wrench if you'll use it once a year. Get a cheap wrench, then as you use it more, you may need to upgrade to something nicer. I found a random bucket of tools on Facebook 3 years ago for $50 that included hammer, wrenches, ratchet, sockets, all kinds of general use stuff. Half of it doesn't have a brand name on it. Most of it is still usable. When you need to upgrade, even going to mid-tier stuff like Dewalt, Ryobi, Kobalt will work for MOST people. Then you can get into even nicer stuff like Bosch, SnapOn, Makita, Milwaukee, etc. People debate best brands - whatever. Some brands are better for their auto-tools. Some are better for construction stuff. I personally have all kinds of Dewalt tools because my brother gifted to me a combo with hammer and impact drills a few years ago, so I just keep it Dewalt to interchange batteries. Just know that whatever brand you go with, you'll all of a sudden start seeing amazing deals for all the other stuff except yours.

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• #66Apr 6, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  Ryobi's stength is that the batteries never change. Milwaukee's strength is that they always use the latest, best battery tech.

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• #67Apr 5, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  I’m a ryobi guy bc I can’t justify the cost of the cooler red tools but man I would buy a couple ryobi items if they came in black, the green is a bit obnoxious

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• #68Apr 4, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  When my fiancé and I first moved in together I talked so much shit about her having a Ryobi weed wacker….. until I tried it 😆 Wow is that little thing capable and easier on the tendinitis

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• #69Apr 4, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  Bought a very cheap Ryobi mower for a house we rented. Needed 3 batteries to mow the whole thing (but I only bought 2) so that wasn't great but the products were all very nice, very impressed overall. Was as loud as a box fan. Could have spent more and been happier but it was only for 2 years. The difference in noise was well worth the added hassle (that I do want to reiterate was because I was cheap

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• #70Apr 4, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  Haha, that's almost exactly my situation. Buddy builds cabinets and upgraded his full Ryobi set to something else, and sold it all to me at a steal...almost 20 years later, I've just bought a whole new set of Ryobi tools, and pretty much only because I can still use a few random tools from the last set with the same batteries. Couldn't be happier with them, honestly...but, I'm also not a "professional" by any stretch.

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• #71Apr 4, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  TTI manufactures the orange Rigid power tools under license from Emerson Electric that are sold exclusively in Home Depot. TTI isn't going to put their battery tech in a competitors tool, they want to keep the latest and greatest for their Milwaukee brand. Ryobi is the low end power tool for your every day family and has the same battery design for the past 29 years, which is a huge selling point for a lot of families that have those batteries and tools handed down from other family. Less focus on ergonomics and weight distribution as these tools will primarily be used for just short amounts of time here and there. Milwaukee is the high end prosumer level tools that are designed with ergonomics in mind, (usually) more premium parts, features and internal components. Milwaukee can't share the Ryobi stick design as it would incur too many design constraints around ergonomics and internal component layout.

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• #72Apr 4, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  Should see the Ryobi tools at my work place. They are beat the hell but still chugging along I think the last one we had break was a sawzall that had a rather catastrophic failure(*housing broke in half somewhere around the front grip*)

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• #73Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  I am not a professional so I buy and use Ryobi until it's not good enough, the same as I will do with specality hand tools from Harbor Freight. I've upgraded a few borken hand tools, generally that means I use them often enough to warrant the upgrade, but not had to so that with anything Ryobi yet. Were I a professional the story would be different.

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• #74Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  This. Ryobi is often the test bed for unproven tech where they don't mind if the product flops because they're really only using it to develop for Milwaukee. Then when Milwaukee gets it they put in a stronger motor and often better made versions of the Ryobi counterparts. Ridgid meets them somewhere in the middle. Often Rigid seems to have the older battery tech, but has the better Milwaukee mechanical components attached to Ryobi motors. But then again, Rigid seems more targeted to the at home plumber than Milwaukee is, where Ryobi is just targeted at homeowners in general. Gotta say, I have been impressed before with my brushless Ryobi stuff. Beside my hammer drill having it's anvil run ragged drilling holes in concrete for 10 hours a day for probably a whole year, it's really performed comparably to my dad's Milwaukee stuff.

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• #75Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  The big bummer about this is that for most people (non professionals), the Ryobi stuff is just fine, especially for some of the lesser-used tools you might get. Sometimes one brand will have one thing that they offer that nobody else does, or they'll have that thing at half the cost of everyone else. And it ends up making sense to get those one or two tools of this other brand that doesn't otherwise fit the system you've decided to go with. There are battery adapters too, for anyone who doesn't know. So, you can get that one-off Ryobi tool or whatever and an adapter, and then you can just use your Milwaukee or DeWalt or whatever batteries with it. It's all pretty silly, really.

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• #76Apr 3, 2025

  Meta: Can we stop with the "but its all made in the same factory" BS

  If you don't think there are cheaper and more expensive bearings, that HILTI uses the same bearings as Ryobi, then I've got a bridge to sell you. I literally have other people chiming in that work in various industries agreeing with me.

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• #77Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  > Somebody bought me a Ryobi drill for Christmas 15 years ago I got the same thing about the same time and it's still kicking ass. I have Milwaukee tools at home but for stuff where you need two to keep from constantly changing the bit like drilling a countersunk pilot hole then driving the screw, the Ryobi one has been there use for use with my Milwaukee one and while it doesn't have quite as much power, it's never had a problem.

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• #78Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  You should compare the cost of DeWalt batteries compared to Ryobi. If you time it right, you can get Ryobi batteries for next to nothing (or coupled with a tool/other battery)

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• #79Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  Somebody bought me a Ryobi drill for Christmas 15 years ago, and my subsequent tools I wanted to use the same battery, and that's how I became a Ryobi guy. None of my Ryobi tools, including that original drill has ever failed in my use, and I've abused some of those tools...made the magic smoke come out of an impact gun and it's still going. I will say the batteries are expensive and I've had a few stop holding a good charge. And a battery charger crapped out on me too.

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• #80Apr 3, 2025

  I’ve always been a Makita guy without knowing anything about the corporate side. My tools always just felt more solid and durable than coworkers’ Dewalt or Milwaukee. Then I saw this in r/construction.

  You can definitely get an adapter on Amazon that will allow you to use a Milwaukee battery on a Ryobi tool.

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• #81Apr 3, 2025

  Unpopular Opinion: “Researching Before Buying” as an Excuse for Overthinking

  I think a lot of the issue comes in with there's very little nuance on this sub even if someone gives context and a budget "Hi I'm a new home owner and rarely need to do some basic DIY, what tools should I get" - now the actual answer is basically anything will be a BIFL item for that person (or as long as the cordless battery lives) But people jump to recommending the most expensive Makita/Milwaukee tools Compare that to the DIY subs and unless you're a tradesperson you'll usually just get recommended Ryobi

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• #82Apr 2, 2025

  Vaccuum For A Broke College Student

  Get a used ryobi or dewalt one from eBay and buy a new battery if you want a wireless. 

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• #83Apr 1, 2025

  What to buy for upkeep of house as a 22M?

  Some decent screwdrivers. I seem to prefer the kind that flip around so you have 2 sizes of Phillips and 2 common. But that's preferences. Some people like the ones with lots of bits to fit everything. For my power and yard tools I use the Ryobi system. Considered DIY grade but they have tons of tools and small appliances that can all use the same batteries. Other makes are similar. But once you are tied to a battery system, you tend to stay with that. I used to use B&D cordless drills but every 5 years or so the battery would go bad and a new drill cost the same as a new battery. Got tired of that. Make sure you have a good plunger on hand. Be aware that toilet and sink plungers are different.

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• #84Mar 3, 2025

  Where Does "Buy It for Life" Not Make Sense?

  Tbh ryobi isn't the greatest tools out there, but their commitment to keeping the same battery standard and compatibility has been great, you can still use the old blue/yellow ryobi tools with modern batteries. Great for DIY

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• #85Feb 5, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I have DeWalt tastes on a Ryobi budget, but to be honest, as a DIYer, my Ryobi tools have been really good. Might be different if I was a pro, but I really recommend Ryobi to my fellow DIYers. Read the reviews for each tool first though - although I’d say the same about all power tools.

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• #86Feb 5, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Been in our house and I've done a lot of renovations since 2015. Complete bathroom renovations, trim molding, electrical, decks and so much more. I've found Ryobi to be good enough. A huge variety of tools that use the same batteries. Always get the bigger batteries. Unless a low requirement device you will not be satisifed blame the device. The batteries go on sale often so I picked up a few extra. I also bought the 6-bay SuperCharger which helps me always have a battery ready.

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• #87Feb 3, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  As someone who works In the trades my work tools are a mix of Milwaukee and hilti. My personal set is all Ryobi. More than enough for what I do around the house

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• #88Feb 3, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I would buy Makita 18V again because I really like the feel of their tools and you get what you pay for. That said, I would recommend Ryobi in your case because the tools in their lineup that matter aren't bad at all. Yea you definitely lose some ergonomics and power compared to Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt but if that's not a big deal for you, just go Ryobi. Also worth noting is that while you definitely should try to limit how many cordless platforms you get into, it's not like you have to settle with just one. Ryobi 18V coupled with some high-end tools from the big three can be a great combo

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• #89Feb 3, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi.  I abuse the hell out of their 20" 40v mower (like keep it out in the side yard in the sun and rain) and drills and saws.  I treat them like they're disposable but they just keep going. I've had to modify the mower to bypass the safety switches.  They go bad after a few years and it's easier to bypass the various switches than it is to keep them all clean.  I also use it to scalp the lawn every year which is really hard use (swapped out front wheels for smaller wheels so it can really get down to the dirt).  It does not like that one bit. I have done really terrible things with the drills...like used a mallet on the back to get through masonry. I mixed mortar with it today and got it to overheat and shutdown. Ryobi goes the distance.

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• #90Feb 2, 2025

  What’s one product you bought that has lasted forever and was totally worth it?

  I've got an old navy blue Ryobi drill that's as good as the day my dad got it. I think it's about 20 years old. It's seen light diy use, so nothing too heavy, but still. Solid tool.

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• #91Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I inherited a lot of Ryobi so that's what I use. No complaints. Most brand loyalty is tribalism.

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• #92Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  In my limited experience I would go either Ryobi or Hercules. I have been VERY impressed on the price to performance of the Hercules tools I have gotten recently but haven't had them for long enough to talk about durability. Have also had a bunch of Ryobi tools that I have absolutely beat the shit out of over the past 5 or 6 years that just keep kicking. I've left them sitting out in the rain, beating around in the bed of my truck, pushed them way past what they were made to be used for and they just keep on kicking. Tools have outlasted the batteries by a long shot though. One thing I will say is be wary of cheap knock off batteries on Amazon, I have had very poor luck with them

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• #93Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I was a high end residential electrician and AV guy and all my stuff was Bosch and Klein. Now that I am no longer in the trades and rarely need power tools all my stuff is ryobi. Lots of tools, cheap, good enough.

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• #94Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I'm a new construction plumber running Milwaukee professionally. That being said, ryobi and Hercules have both been looking pretty good lately. I have a few coworkers that are running both platforms and if I could go back before I invested so deeply I would probably look at Hercules, harbor freight has a great return policy as well

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• #95Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi is awesome. Just don't tell anybody you use them or you'll get called names. Personally, everything I have is Milwaukee because of the quality and I like red more than yellow.

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• #96Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  We use Ryobi, and one of the main reasons is that many of the batteries are interchangeable.

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• #97Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi.  Ive had my drill, impacter, circular saw for almost 10 years with the original 2A batteries that came with them. I also have a 5A, and two 4A batteries.  The only time Ive had issues is with the oscillating tool because a pin broke for the battery terminal, its an easy fix.  The weed eater is nice and I also have a chainsaw.  All 18v.  Get a set with drill, impacter and the circular saw. Grab some extra batteries that are ION+ and always keep them charged.  Charge them before they are empty and they will last awhile.  Lastly, never loan out your tools.

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• #98Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi 18v line hands down. I do some decently heavy DIY and exclusively use Ryobi for my battery powered tools. I also have a solid variety of Ryobi lawn tools too. My oldest tools and batteries are 6yo now with zero performance issues. Favorite/most used tools: Small shop vac (1 gallon I think?) Impact driver 6+ years Compact drill Lawn mower 6+ years of weekly use  Weed eater 6+ years Hedge trimmer Other tools: Pole saw Blower Palm sander Hammer drill Angle grinder Another drill Circular saw Dethatcher Probably more but it's early and I've been up since 4 with a sick kid so my brain has stalled  Things I've done with them: Build a garden shed Built 6 large raised bed gardens Removed and replaced the fascia boards around my house Built a baby crib that converts to toddler bed to full size bed Built a bed frame Built multiple iterations of work bench Demoed a bathroom  Demoed an exterior wall Mowed my lawn weekly for over 6 years  Are other brands better? Absolutely. But by and large the 18v line can do anything I need and I've never been let down.  Also they're widely available on marketplace in my city brand new and super cheap from people buying home depot return pallets.

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• #99Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi is perfect for the homeowner/DIYer. They have the largest ecosystem of tools that operate on the same battery. When I had Ryobi tools I could pull the battery from my drill and use it in the weed walker without sacrificing power or quality. This approach lead me to pick Milwaukee when I upgraded my tools. I don’t want to have to manage multiple battery platforms.

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• #100Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ego for heavy lawn care, ryobi for light duty DIY just demoed and rebuilt my deck with ryobi no problem. Heavy duty occasional use miter saw drill press harbor freight corded

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• #101Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I use Dewalt for cordless. Drill, impact gun reciprocating, saw blower grinder, etc.. but I bought most of that when I was working in a supply house so I got it cheap If I’m doing a project and need a specialty tool, I have no problem going to Harbor freight and buying the cheapest version I can get. The idea of being that this a one time use and if you break it doing your project, you can return it. That’s never happened though. For a homeowner hobbies Ryobi Makita rigid kobolt all very very good options. If you’re looking to buy a tool, that’s gonna outlive its current battery technology aka last forever. You can buy Milwaukee or Dewalt. As long as you’re not using it in a trade to make money and you’re just using it for your uses. They will last for an extremely long time. I still have my original 18 V NiCad cordless running off lithium with a converter piece.

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• #102Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi would be my suggestion, I went with Milwaukee but new tools get expensive compared to Ryobi.

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• #103Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Yeah I got sorted into the Ryobi house. They are great for occasional use. I’m sure tradies or workmen who use tools everyday use more durable brands but every time I go to use my cordless drill it spins up even when I haven’t charged it in ages.

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• #104Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  None of this will be BIFL unless it’s a hand saw and screwdriver. Don’t waste your time with anything in the specialty section especially snap on. You don’t really need Milwaukee or Dewalt but makita could be a good fit because they have a cheaper line but the battery system works on their nice tools. It’s like ryobi but you do have the option to buy nice tools. To be frank Ryobi works just fine aswell. If you’re just hanging shelves and fixing fences buy wherever you want. Harbor freight is fine.

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• #105Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Never thought I'd find someone with my same division. Milwaukee for all the things I care about, Ryobi for all the things that I only use occasionally. If the Ryobi fails to perform, I'll buy the Milwaukee version.

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• #106Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  two of my Ryobi tools are so old they're dark blue. they still work great.

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• #107Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I had to make this choice last year when I purchased my first home, and went with Ryobi. I choose them because of the Direct Tools Outlet store near me that sells Ryobi and Rigid tools at major discounts for factory blemished and refurbished tools. I started with a 6 piece set that included battery, charger, drill, driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, flashlight, multi tool. From there I have added a few batteries and another charger while getting items I needed for particular projects (cultivator, Hammer drill, laser level, caulking gun, angle grinder). My next tool is going to be a table saw.

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• #108Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  For me the only issue that I have had is the size of the impact driver and cordless ratchet. Don’t get me wrong both my Ryobi impacts and my cordless ratchet work great, but if space is an issue I have to grab my work bag with my M12 series. Actually now that I think of it my only M12 stuff I have is the ratchets, tiny impact driver, and heated vest (which is amazing). I use Ryobi for most everything else that’s not plugged in. The nice thing about Ryobi is their huge catalog with each tool having multiple levels. But the thing I will stress is to use the right tool for the job. A hammer drill for instance has multiple different types that are different internally to do different things. Also good accessories really help any tools. My 30 year old Craftsman table saw has Forrest blades and it cuts like a dream, and my Ryobi sanders use 3M Cubitron sandpaper. Good accessories will help with any tool perform to the best they can. As for your specific tools you are looking at, I own everything but their pressure washer. That I have a Powerhorse from Northern Tool, so I can’t give you any advice on that. But the other stuff I own and use and are more than happy with. My caveat with the shop vac is don’t expect the Ryobi or any battery powered one to compete with a good plug in model (which if you need one Ridgid and Craftsman make top notch wet/dry vacs). If you have anymore questions let me know.

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• #109Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Nah. I’m an elevator mechanic, my company supplies Milwaukee tools and those are supposed to be some of the best but we’re changing out batteries so much that the biggest failure point is the little connectors at the bottom. At home I’ve got cheap ryobi tools that I’ve had no issues with and I use mine more than most.

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• #110Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Is there any line of tools that Ryobi is just not great with? Probably in the market for the following: - Hammer Drill - Leaf Blower - Drill (been mainly using my rigid impact driver for most of the drywall drilling I've done) - Orbital Sander - [Right Angle Die Grinder](https://www.ryobitools.com/products/33287202997?queryID=a07c07f8726b59c8809ae61da8807e3c&objectID=51791185576299) (at least I think that's what I'd use? I recently had to cut off the metal faucet to put in a new one and the job would have been much easier if I could have just cut it off. ) Either that or the 12V Cordless Rotary Tool Kit.

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• #111Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  If you are an occasional DIYer, go Ryobi. Tools are pretty good, inexpensive, and they have a massive ecosystem. For heavy DIYers I do think the DeWalt/Milwaukee/Makita tier is worth is, but you pay a pretty big premium for the improved performance and reliability. I use my tools enough to justify it, but most people don’t. As a DeWalt owner, I’ve also found myself investing in a few Ryobi tools that DeWalt either doesn’t sell or sells for much more.

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• #112Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I am a blue collar guy with tons of power tool experience. Nice tools just feel better , are stronger and smoother than cheaper ones. You are not likely to notice any of that. I bought a set of ryobi tools to take to mexico. There were so cheap I would not be upset if they got stolen. Some of them kinda suck, some of them are pretty good. They ALL get the job done. In the old days it was not safe to buy cheap tools, now most of them are fine

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• #113Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Real answer is what tools do you need? Almost everyone makes a good drill, impact, and sawzall. I now have an unholy amalgamation of battery systems. Framing nailer, you need ryobi, ridgid, or Milwaukee. Plunge/tracksaw you might want Bosch, makita or Milwaukee, but not ryobi. 1/2 impact for cars, Milwaukee, ridgid, ryobi. Tree lopper(amazing tool) only dewalt. I haven’t run into anything “bad” The other trick is sometimes the tool on sale is cheaper with the batteries than the one that is on the platform you have. I have a ridgid framing nailer because it is the same as the ryobi and Milwaukee and was 200 dollars cheaper with the batteries, then bare tool on the other platforms.

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• #114Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I bought a used bag of Ryobi tools (blue ones) for $45 and it's been awesome. Bought new batteries that's it.

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• #115Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi for 13 years now, bought drill and ID from a roommate. I like it better than my Milwaukee m12 gear

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• #116Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Exact same experience here. All of my major stuff is Milwaukee and I’m very pleased. I do more than the average DIYer but I’m not in the trades - I just love working with my hands. Built a two level deck over the summer. Have a few Ryobi things that have been fine for stuff I don’t use a ton, like a hedge trimmer.

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• #117Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I have had the same ryobi impact for 10+ years. Just did a huge addition with it. I recently bought a set of Hilti drivers and rotohammer. I definitely think the light on the hilti impact is incredible. It drives smoother. But 10 years and thousands of screws out of the ryobi, still kicking.

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• #118Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I would go for Ryobi, Craftsman, or Kobalt if you just want one system. All of them have wide variety and they go on sale all the time. If you want some compact tools, Skil 12V are very good and really cheap

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• #119Feb 2, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Because you’re already in the ridgid world, I’d say stay there. If you want to have access to the widest range of used tools I’d go Dewalt. If you’re a low impact user starting from scratch but wanting a lot of the lesser used tools, go Ryobi.

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• #120Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I bought into the Ryobi ecosystem and it's been great. Very affordable for 90% of Milwaukee. My heavy duty impact has worked for everything I've thrown at it working on cars

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• #121Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I started with Ryobi because I work at a machine shop and we beat on our Ryobi tools and they hold up well. I also use Direct Tool Outlet to get really good deals on new tools.

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• #122Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi for most, Milwaukee fuel 12v if you’re rich.

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• #123Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  When my husband retired he bought Ryobi everything except the lawnmower. Now that I have to do gardening and maintenance myself I really appreciate how easy these tools make it.

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• #124Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Still have my Team Green battery from 2009, and about 14 more. So far the battery is 👨‍🍳💋

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• #125Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Everything I own is ryobi but for my bday, I was gifted a snap on digital torque wrench and it’s my favorite tool

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• #126Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  For a frugal DIYer I highly recommend Ryobi. First, there are always deals and resale sites. But they also have 2-3 levels of the most popular tools. So for example you can get the cheapest impact driver and if you find you like using them, go get the brushless version later.

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• #127Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  It depends on where you shop. Ryobi for Home Depot kobalt for Lowe’s. I use kobalt and haven’t had any issues.

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• #128Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Pro tip: Ryobi has not changed their batteries interface since sometime in the 90's. I look for the older blue tools. I've picked up older Ryobi's at garage sales and estate sales that only needed new batteries. My best find was a 6 piece set for $40. Which included 2 drills, a circular saw, sawzall, jigsaw and a chainsaw. I've passed similar deals more than once.

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• #129Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Get the battery adaptor and throw the makita battery on the ryobi tools that you use less often. I do this and save money on the tools I don't use as much but still have milwaukee for the ones I use often.

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• #130Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi is perfect for weekend warrior stuff. Plus they have an insane amount of tool options. I sometimes use my tools heavily so I opted for Rigid Brushless tools and love them. Pro-tip - there's an adapter for $20 that allows Ryobi tools to accept a Ridgid battery! I bought a couple and they just snap into the Ryobi tool and can just stay there. Ridgid also has great battery warranty as long as you register the tools. With my Ridgid Tools/batteries/chargers/Ryobi adapter combo, I can purchase any tool from either the Ridgid or Ryobi lineup!

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• #131Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I bridge the gap, i have my main tool (drill, driver, circular saw, vacuum) in Milwaukee. Then I got a battery adaptor and have other tools I use less often in Ryobi. Like nail gun, leaf blower, ect.

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• #132Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I spent decades with Ryobi, but decided to switch to DeWalt when I needed more torque on a drill. Love that new drill. I went all-in, buying several tools. Then found myself buying Ryobi when there wasn’t a DeWalt equivalent. That’s the thing: Ryobi makes a wider variety of “just good enough” tools. And you can find them online at at the Big Box. Ryobi is probably the answer.

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• #133Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Also on team Ryobi. Great and reliable tools. Won’t hold up to daily heavy use forever like Milwaukee, but won’t blow a hole in your budget either.

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• #134Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I have makita. I’d invest in Ryobi if I could do it all again. Less expensive tools and I don’t need the quality I get by spending more money on makita.

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• #135Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Believe it or not, Walmarts new Hyper Tough stuff, with the black logo seems to be pretty good. Torque test channel on YouTube tested some of their impact tools and they performed fairly well compared to the big brands and at a good value. [one such video](https://youtu.be/bcXwUx96_Ac?si=iqSKHGShDksZIUTi)[their impact driver seems to work fairly well and only $45](https://youtu.be/qBNplsklWvY?si=ZNLjSy0F5sxdz-vT) Bauer from HF is a good value option for what you need, but as others have said Ryobi is probably what you want to go with. They’ve got a huge variety of tools on their 18v platform, and they’re a great value. Direct tool outlet regularly has good deals on Ryobi tools, will definitely have everything you’d need

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• #136Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi is the best answer for homeowners. They have a wider selection of tools than most brands, they are MUCH more affordable than most brands, the overall quality is pretty good, and they have an unparalleled battery platform commitment. 20 year old ryobi tools can still run on brand new ryobi batteries.

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• #137Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  this decision will be your equivalent to the sorting hat in Harry Potter placing you in a house. Choose wisely..... all kidding aside personally I went dewalt, I have family members that use Milwaukee any Ryobi. Your mileage will vary but if you are going light use, id say look out for sales. Places like Home Depot and Lowes will do sales on all the major brands where you can save a few dollars or get extra batteries.

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• #138Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I've gone in on the Milwaukee M18 Fuel system. Previously had DeWalt (the 20v Max line) with roommates and left it when we moved out, hence the switch. The Milwaukee stuff feels much better to me. It's probably overkill for my use case, but I also don't think it'll ever die on me? Also tends to have pretty good resale value and be in-demand, so I feel like the long term cost of ownership is lower too. Not that DeWalt isn't, but I see much lower prices on used dewalt gear. I've heard great things about Ryobi / Rigid / etc. too for most home DIYers, so I guess it depends a bit on what you're doing

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• #139Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  People bash ryobi, but they work very good for the average DIY guy, my dad has been invested in ryobi since the early 2000s it’s all he’s ever used and he owns a 3 story apartment complex and run and maintains it almost entirely on his own.

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• #140Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  This is the best summary, IMO. I've had a bunch of Ryobi and DeWalt over the years and agree with your assessment here. Ryobi will be plenty for most DIY and overall cheaper than most. Their 40v mower is great too if you have a small yard.

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• #141Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  agreed. either pony up for milwaukee if you're a pro and need the performance or stick with ryobi imo. rigid is cool if you really like air tools OR if you really like their warranty. if i was to use rigid i would use air simply because air can't die from being in storage and having a compressor is surprisingly useful. hercules is also worth considering if you're a fan of harbor freight and really value their easy to use warranty. i am flipping an entire house right now using nothing but ryobi. i bought all of it used off marketplace and none of it has let me down.

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• #142Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I'd go Milwaukee or Makita for any corded tools, they'll last a lifetime. Anything with a battery is only going to last a few years so I'd go affordable over quality if it's only getting light use. DeWalt has always been okay, Ryobi has been drastically improving the quality compared to a few years ago and would also be a solid choice.

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• #143Feb 1, 2025

  Looking to consolidate battery powered lawn and power tools, what are the pro and cons of each major manufacturer?

  Agreed. I have Ryobi for tools (saws, drills, etc ) and Kobalt 80v for lawn. Ryobi does lawn, too, in both 18v and 40v. Ryobi has a huge product line, so you can probably get any tool from them if there's a battery version. Milwaukee is probably the top mass-produced line in terms of quality, but it's priced accordingly. No lawn tools I know of from them. Lots of people like Ego lawn tools. They use a 56v battery. Take your time, check around and decide what works for you.

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• #144Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I like Ryobi, I use their 18v ecosystem and am pretty happy with it

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• #145Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi , for so many options when you have a battery, cheap tools from DTO. Low chance of getting stolen, reliable, brushless option is basically Milwaukee.

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• #146Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I love that Ryobi even has a cordless glue gun that uses one of the smaller batteries or that the lawnmower and snowblower run on the same batteries. It's just affordable for people doing small things around the house.

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• #147Feb 1, 2025

  Looking to consolidate battery powered lawn and power tools, what are the pro and cons of each major manufacturer?

  Ryobi and Kobalt are great. Really seems like the only downside is lacking the standard battery to interchange. No other specifics come to mind.

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• #148Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  The answer is to not feel constrained to one ecosystem. For a situation where you're going to buy a bunch of batteries and need everything to work together (e.g. a contractor/company), this makes sense. For a DIY-er it's unnecessary. The tradeoff is to buy a premium brand (DeWalt/Milwaukee/Makita/Bosch) for your heavily used tools (e.g. drill/driver) or where there is a real quality/functionality benefit. Then buy a budget brand for all the other stuff. I have DeWalt as my main stuff, but there is no way I was paying a price premium to buy a DeWalt caulk gun and 18g nailer for the few times a year I need rhem, so I bought Ryobi.

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• #149Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I second this. The Ryobi ecosystem is very broad and useful. The 18V lawnmower is perfect for my needs, and the cooling fan mister is perfect for the kids summer sports. That said, they do sell battery adapters that allow you to use your batteries on different brands with some degree of success

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• #150Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I feel like Ryobi one is a great system for around the house. All of my tools are going on years of use with no issues. Have a cordless blower, sawzall, light, air compressor, drill, impact driver, vacuum, shop fan, weedwacker and hedge trimmer. All treating me well. I wouldn't keep buying their tools if they showed any signs of unreliability

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• #151Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Honestly if you are just a DIYer or weekend warrior I would say go with Ryobi. They refuse to change their battery style so even the new batteries will work with the old tools. They are owned by TTI which also owns Milwaukee and you see that exchange at times. They also have a (and I can’t stress this enough) huge catalog of tools from lawn and garden equipment to soldering irons. Direct Tool Outlet is their outlet store that you can find at some outlet malls and you can get factory refurbished or factory blemishes (which 7 out of 10 times is just a damaged box that Home Depot won’t sell) for the fraction of the price. Lastly on top of this their batteries are cheaper than Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, and others. Unless you are building houses or fixing things for a living there isn’t a need to go to Milwaukee or Dewalt or for that matter any of the professional tools.

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• #152Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I sorry I missed that last part. 12V is pretty outdated. Most of their stuff is 18V these days. You might be able to find old 12V tools for pretty cheap that would be fine for your application if you’re really trying to save a buck. If you’re lookin for something more modern, I use ryobi at home just because they’re cheap and I don’t use them all that much. So far they’ve worked great for me. Home Depot does bundle deals all the time and there’s a tool outlet store that sells them for really low prices near me. Haven’t had any of them break on me yet and I bought mine about 5 years ago. Not sure if I’d consider them bifl but they work for what most home owners need.

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• #153Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi the the best mid range tool for DIY I've been in the trades for 16 years and have used every brand available on Canada. Ryobi nailed the homeowner market for range of tools / quality / power / price

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• #154Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I went Dewalt, and looking back I wish I went Ryobi. The Dewalt stuff has been great, but honestly I probably would have been just as happy with Ryobi and saved money. Unless you’re using a given tool at least every week, the quality difference between Ryobi and something more expensive probably doesn’t matter.

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• #155Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi is easily the best of the mid range brands. All my personal cordless tools are the Milwaukee 12v line.

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• #156Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  Ryobi. Cheap and reliable enough. Quality is way above what people think it is. If you refuse Ryobi then rigid. Get air powered stuff it's cheaper and no batteries to worry about. Rigid has great warranties.

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• #157Feb 1, 2025

  Which tool brand ecosystem would you invest in for 2025 and why for the occasionally frugal DIYer?

  I’ve used Ryobi for years and never had an issue. Occasional DIY and regular household maintenance.

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• #158Jan 5, 2025

  Has everything we buy reduced in quality over time? Has anything increased in quality or stayed high quality and durable?

  Rechargeable batteries. Back with the NiCad or NiMH they did not last, they were bulky and heavy. I’ve got two Ryobi batteries that I use in a varied of skins as my vacuum cleaner, drill, air compressor and whipper snipper, and a few others. All using just two medium sized batteries which I’ve had for a number of years now.

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• #159Jan 1, 2025

  BIFL Request: Snow Blowers, does electric hold up?

  I have had a Ryobi 40v 21in( single stage ) for the past three winters. It handles the Midwest winter just fine. I did have to replace a battery that wouldn't hold a charge. oem batteries are still available. From and bifl standpoint. Batteries could get sketchy should you need to go third party, if/when Ryobi redesigns them. There are plenty of Ryobi units on eBay, so parts are findable. I also found a corded toro 16in on marketplace, and that is my backup and potentially a more bifl option.

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