Had to pick between a used set of Knipex and a new cheap set from Amazon for my truck kit

I was tightening a loose shoe on a trail ride last Thursday and my old pliers just slipped right off the nail. Ended up going with the cheap set because I could get them overnight, but they already feel a little loose in the jaws. Anyone else had to make a tough call between budget and quality on the road?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_ramirez4813d ago

Agree with your buddy's story but I have a different take on it. I've been using the same cheap cobra style pliers from a hardware store for about four years now and they still grip fine for most truck stuff. Not gonna lie, if I was doing electrical work every day I'd spend the money on Knipex but for roadside fixes and trail repairs the budget stuff gets the job done if you don't abuse it. The loose jaws thing is a bummer though, maybe you just got a bad pair in the batch.

robinson.leo13d ago

Did you at least get the Knipex after realizing the cheap ones feel like squeezing a hot dog? I bought a bargain bin multitool once and it snapped trying to open a beer.

cole_patel4113d ago

That "squeezing a hot dog" line is exactly how I described it to my neighbor after borrowing his cheap pliers once. He told me a story about a buddy of his who bought a no-name multitool from a gas station for like eight bucks. The guy tried to open a paint can with it and the pliers just gave out completely, leaving the can stuck and him bleeding on his garage floor. Ended up having to drive to the hardware store with a towel wrapped around his hand to buy a proper tool just to finish the job. I figure you pay for the peace of mind with Knipex, even if it stings the wallet at first.