If you’re going to get my attention about something as seemingly basic as a screwdriver, you need to have some kind of special selling point, because at this point I’ve seen it all. Or at least that’s how it felt before I discovered Felo’s Ergonic screwdrivers.

The defining feature here is the multi-component handle, which combines an impact-proof plastic core surrounded by a flexible gel that is then coated with a squishy rubber-like (elastomer) material.

The result is a handle that actually conforms to your grip as you turn it, distributing the force across your entire hand to deliver optimal torque (up to 30% more versus traditional screwdrivers) to the tip, all while relieving hand/wrist strain. No more painful pressure points on your palm and fingers!

Pro tip: In the event you require even more torque than your hand alone can provide, each Ergonic handle has a hole through which you can insert a second screwdriver tip and rotate it for maximum power 🤘

On top of that, the handles are designed to be anti-roll, so you can set them on inclined or vibrating surfaces without fear of them getting away from you while you work.

Get a set of six Ergonic screwdrivers $43 on Amazon.

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You can use any old screwdriver for most jobs that require one, but when it comes to working with electrical systems of any kind, safety becomes paramount. If a circuit somewhere happens to be live when you go to work on it — and ideally that’s not the case, but things happen that way sometimes — then you need to be using tools that can protect you from harm.

To that end, Wiha’s SoftFinish insulated screwdrivers are officially rated for 1,000 volts (AC) and individually tested to 10,000 volts, so you can have peace of mind that working on a hot connection won’t be the last thing you do.

Obviously, any risk taken is at your own discretion; I’m not advising that you work on any live equipment if you can avoid it, and you should always do your due diligence by cutting power and/or discharging capacitors beforehand.

Even if you don’t plan to work on anything electrical, these screwdrivers are great because their grippy, cushioned handles provide maximum comfort and control on every job, with less hand strain and fatigue compared to lesser drivers.

This pack of five screwdrivers is $35 on Amazon and comes with a 1 x 80mm Phillips, a 2 x 100mm Phillips, a 4.5 x 125mm slotted/flathead, a 6.5 x 150mm slotted/flathead, and a 2 x 150mm square-tip.

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Taiwanese company mininch (“mini-inch”) first hit the scene in 2014 with a Kickstarter campaign for the original Tool Pen pocket screwdriver. Here’s how I described it shortly after it offically hit the market:

Remember those “pop-a-point” pencils back in grade school where you could remove the lead cartridge, insert it at the back, and a new cartridge would push out, ready for use? Same basic idea here, except its 6 cartridges are various hex bits (Phillips, flathead, etc) rather than writing utensils.

Nearly a decade later, the company has returned to Kickstarter with an enhanced design for the Tool Pen and its smaller sibling, the Tool Pen mini.

For these new editions, mininch made some upgrades to the internal structures and end springs to make the bit-swapping experience even better. They also have three new finish options to choose from:

1. Standard Anodized — Smooth, sleek, and corrosion-resistant
2. Hard Anodized — Durable, wear-resistant, and rust-proof
3. Stonewashed — Nonreflective and distinctive-looking

As of this writing (September 26th, 2023) the Kickstarter has already far surpassed its funding goal and still has over two weeks to go. Back the project at the $55 level or higher to receive an all-new Tool Pen of your own sometime in November 2023.

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A pocket screwdriver is an invaluable tool to keep around, whether it’s in your actual pocket or stashed in an easily accessible drawer somewhere. One way or another, it’s one of those things you’ll find yourself using all the time.

This particular pocket screwdriver from California-based K20 Tools is made entirely of metal (stainless steel and hardened steel for the respective pieces) and features two double-ended bits (one long, one short) that each have a #2 Phillips head on one side and a flat head on the other, and are strongly held in place by a recessed magnet.

Add this useful tool to your home or EDC collection for just $14 on Amazon.

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In my years of living and traveling in an RV, the tool in my kit that easily sees the most use is a teensy little screwdriver that lives in our top kitchen drawer. That thing is always being brought out to tighten up one thing or another, or when we’re adding/replacing things around the home, like putting in a new bathroom vent fan or mounting components for our new solar panel setup.

I really should just keep the CRKT Pocket Driver on me at all times, given how often I’d end up using it. It comes with four bits — Phillips #1, flathead, T6, and T8 — that store within the anodized aluminum body under a threaded cap.

It also includes a removable attachment that has both a keyring and a pocket clip on it, so you have multiple ways to wear or carry it.

Get the Pocket Driver for $29 on Amazon.

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It doesn’t get much slimmer or sleeker than SATA’s pen-style screwdriver, which can easily and discreetly be carried in a pocket or bag so you always have it when the need arises. The thinness of the ‘pen’ body also allows it to be used in more confined spaces than a typical driver

It comes with 24 interchangeable bits, including a few relatively uncommon ones:

• PH000
• PH00
• PH0
• PH1
• PH2
• SL1.5
• SL2.0
• SL3.0
• SL4.0
• P2
• P5
• T2
• T3
• T4
• T5H
• T6H
• T8H
• T10H
• T15H
• H1.5
• H2.0
• U2.6
• Y1
• Delta 2.3

All of these bits fit into an included carry case, and they’re easy to swap out at will.

Get the kit for $19 on Amazon.

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If you’ve got an upcoming project that will have you installing a bunch of screws (like assembling furniture) and all you have is an old-fashioned manual screwdriver lying around, you could save your wrists a lot of effort by picking up this 3.6V electric screwdriver from Hoto instead.

Unlike your typical cordless drill, this isn’t some heavy and unwieldy tool; it’s designed to be easily used one-handed with the press of a button (either forward or backward). And there’s no big case or chunky charger to lug around either, because it conveniently plugs in via USB-C to recharge its 1,500mAh battery — that’s enough power to drive more than a thousand screws on a single charge.

The neck of the screwdriver has a built-in ring LED light that illuminates what you’re working on without casting annoying shadows, and it has four torque settings you can switch between as the job demands.

This is just a super handy gizmo to have in your toolbox, and it can be yours for $45 on Amazon.

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The highly convenient — and let’s face it, utterly adorable — Insider Stubby screwdriver from PB Swiss Tools is a tiny tool with six different driver bits stored in the magnetic magazine hidden within its body:

1. Slotted/flat #3
2. Phillips #1
3. Phillips #2
4. Torx T15
5. Torx T20
6. Torx T25

With its pocketable form factor and comfortably grippy handle material, this will be a trusty little companion for all your future projects. Get it for $32 on Amazon.

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NEBO’s “Ultra Socket” tool combines a socket wrench, a ratcheting screwdriver, and a nut driver into one powerfully convenient little package. The reversible ratchet head tilts and locks at 0° (straight), 45°, and 90°, making it useful for all kinds of situations, and the grippy handle conceals a removable magnetic bit holder with enough bit variety to cover most screwdriving needs.

Also included with the tool are a series of both SAE and metric sockets (9 sizes each), along with a 600D polyester pouch to easily carry it all. This one tool can handle so many common jobs that you’d be crazy not to have it in your kit.

Get the full set for $22 on Amazon.

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The SDG1 and SDG2 titanium alloy screwdriver sets by MecArmy — the creators of this clever little watchband light — each feature a single mini-screwdriver with a circular or square-shaped bearing head (respectively) and a knurled grip, alongside 33 interchangeable bits, all contained in a waterproof 500D Cordura nylon pouch (with YKK zipper) that’s easy to carry anywhere.

That bearing allows the screwdriver to double as a spinning fidget toy. Check out this video to watch how ridiculously long the spinning action can go:

In the middle of the head is a slot where you can fit a ¼” hex key for increased torque, and two of those 33 bits included in each set are a 7mm and 8mm socket that should come in handy for certain jobs.

Each set comes with one screwdriver in your color of choice:

• SDG1 ($160):

  • Sandblasted
  • PVD Blue
  • PVD Black

• SDG2 ($150):

  • Sandblasted
  • PVD Blue
  • PVD Black

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Taiwanese company mininch (mini-inch) — the same folks behind the Xcissor Pen — have come up with a new product that’s already been nearly 1,400% funded on Kickstarter: the Spinner Drive screwdriver.

This modern take on a classic tool boasts some neat design features that might have you saying adiós to your old screwdriver. For one thing, it has a ball bearing hidden within the handle that allows for buttery smooth single-handed operation, made all the more comfortable with the index finger dimple/rest up top and the slip-resistant grooves along the body.

My favorite part though is the ergonomic spinner wheel attachment, which lets you generate a lot more torque with ease. It also makes the screwdriver look like a spaceship (*ahem*, Eric Geusz), which only wins it more points in my book.

There are lots of other goodies involved with this Kickstarter, and they’ve already reached nearly $100K in funding, and the company has a track record of delivering on their word, so I’d say backing this is a no-brainer. $39 is the lowest you can drop to get a Spinner Drive of your own after the project completes at the end of May 2019.

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A ratcheting screwdriver is a simple-sounding upgrade over using a typical screwdriver, but it’s one that makes all the difference. The first time you get into a tight space and quickly tighten or loosen an annoyingly placed screw with one hand, you’ll never go back to a non-ratcheting tool.

Wera’s Kraftform Kompakt 27 RA is a solid contender in this space. The ergonomic handle — though strange looking at first glance — is comfortable to hold and use, with a mix of both hard and soft portions. Pushing the button on the end reveals a carousel in the handle that has slots for six 1″ driver bits, making it easy to switch them out as needed but staying out of the way when you’re working. The ratcheting mechanism itself has 60 teeth for smooth operation.

This screwdriver is $41 on Amazon. Another solid alternative is the Williams WRS-1, which is a few bucks cheaper but the ratchet mechanism has only 26 teeth compared to the Wera’s 60.

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Alright, you guys know what screwdrivers do. I don’t have to explain that part. All you need to know about this six-piece set from Hand-Eye Supply is that it comes with three Phillips sizes (#0, #1, and #2) and three flathead sizes (1/8″, 3/16″, and 1/4″), all of which sport handles made from turned Maine hardwood. A convenient, thick canvas pouch with YKK zipper, reinforced bottom, and leather pull is also included.

This will make a great gift for the upcoming holidays. Get the set for $48 at Hand-Eye Supply.

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The Mininch Tool Pen — first seen on Kickstarter last year — is, well, a tool pen, but one with a unique design. Remember those “pop-a-point” pencils back in grade school where you could remove the lead cartridge, insert it at the back, and a new cartridge would push out, ready for use? Same basic idea here, except its 6 cartridges are various hex bits (Phillips, flathead, etc) rather than writing utensils.

The whole thing is made of solid aluminum and there are little windows on the side that allow you to see where each bit is within the lineup. For me though, the big selling point is its compactness and portability. Easy to toss in a pocket or bag so it’s always ready for use. (Not to worry, the cap keeps it from spearing anything.)

Comes in Metric and Imperial editions. Both are $60 at Mininch.

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