Here at AskingDad.com, we like to review some of the products that we have used. The hope is to give you as much information as you need to make a good purchase. Today, I am going to review a screwdriver that I have used many times over the course of a couple months, the Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver.
The Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver is a ratcheting screwdriver. What sets it apart from most screwdrivers is its Double Drive action. I will cover that feature a bit later in the review. I first want to talk about the rest of the screwdriver.
The first thing I noticed when unpackaging the Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver was how bulky it looked. I have some standard screwdrivers and even some ratcheting screwdrivers that are thinner. However, even though it does appear bulky, it actually feels quite nice in the hand. It has a nice weight as well, making it feel sturdy. The downside of the bulk is that it does get in the way when trying to maneuver the screwdriver into tight spots. This was especially tricky when putting together some furniture with it. In the furniture’s case, I ended up having to use an allen wrench that came with the furniture in some areas because the screwdriver simply could not fit. With that said, no screwdriver would have fit.
The bulkiness of the screwdriver handle is also not there just for show and form. It actually has a very practical purpose. The handle houses the various screwdriver bits that come with this particular Kobalt modal. The screwdriver bits include four differently sized Phillip head bits, four differently sized flat head bits, a 5/32 allen wrench bit, 3/16 allen wrench bit, and two differently sized star bits. These bits cover most of the most common screw heads that you will find in your house. The added feature that the handle holds the screw bits is also very nice and convenient. I never found myself trying to find other bits as the ones I needed were always on hand.
The final part to cover is the Double Drive action. Being the main selling point of this ratcheting screwdriver, you would expect it to be good, and I am happy to say, it is a really nice feature. To use the Double Drive action you need to hold the large black section of the screwdriver, and then use the screwdriver like any other ratcheting screwdriver.
When using this action, each turn of the wrist will tighten or loosen depending on which direction is set. This makes jobs about twice as fast. I like this feature so much, that it is quite a bummer when I have to use another allen wrench to reach some awkward angles that the Kobalt screwdriver cannot reach.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Double Drive action | A little bulky |
| Has most necessary bits | Tight spaces can be an issue |
| Convenient bit storage option | |
| Feels good and sturdy in the hand. |
Verdict
When it comes to the Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver, I can comfortably recommend it as a good handy tool to have around the house. Yes, being a little bulky, it may be a little unwieldy in a few cases. However, the many bit variations that this screwdriver comes with allows me to get rid of many duplicate screwdrivers and allen wrenches that I had cluttering up my house tool drawer. And while it may be a bit bulky, I still find it comfortable to hold. It has a good weight and feels sturdy. To top it all off, its double drive action makes tightening loose screws and putting together furniture a breeze. I find it to be a great screwdriver to have around the house.
Please note: This screwdriver was purchased for my use around the house. As such, it was not given to me as part of this review.
If you would like to purchase the Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver, You can find it for purchase here:
Kobalt 13-in-1 Double Drive Screwdriver
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