RYOBI ONE+™ 18V LI Impact Driver Kit and Available Accessories
This review was created as part of a paid affiliate program with the Home Depot.
My first order of business with this and every product review is a disclaimer: I am not a professional contractor. I am a farmer and a fine furniture maker. When it comes to construction and renovation projects, I’m a DIYer and weekend warrior. That said, I doubt many professional contractors will be reading my tool reviews. My goal in reviewing tools and products is to provide honest feedback based on my own use and experience with these tools to other regular folks like me- wanting to get their hands dirty, try new things, and get the best value for their hard earned dollars.
Let’s talk about the RYOBI ONE+™ 18V Impact Driver Kit and my favorite accessories!
This impact driver weighs only 2.65 pounds, and every extra ounce really counts against you if you’re using the tool for long stretches at a time. This tool is about as lightweight, easy to use, and comfortable to hold as they come. The base of the tool has a magnetic bit holder which makes it super easy to carry extra bits or even a few extra screws or pieces of hardware, which comes in incredibly handy. (If you carry your extra screws in your mouth like I do, using the magnet strip will have your teeth thanking you in no time)! The 1/4” auto-load chuck makes it incredibly easy to change bits in a hurry. It’s LED light illuminates your work even in dark, tough to reach and see spots. The belt clip can be mounted to either the right or left side of the tool depending on which side you like to keep it on.
The Ryobi 18V One+ Impact driver has a 3-speed switch located on the rear of the tool, For those wondering about the power this tool offers, it produces 2000 in./lbs of torque and can provide up to 4,350 impacts per minute. I’ve used it to drive 4” deck screws and loosen lug nuts, and neither poses any challenge at all. It being brushless, the motor stays cool in use. All in all, this tool is a great value, Ryobi’s got another winner.
Ryobi offers a 40 piece accessory kit to accompany this tool at an $11 price point, and it’s got a good assortment of bits. The precision milled bit tips are designed for better fitment in commonly used fasteners. The 2” bits feature a “torsion zone” AKA the skinny part in the middle of the bit that claim to absorbe the high torque when you’re really cranking on stuff, and I don’t understand the science of all that, but I’ve seen some wicked cool demos that were good enough for me. Anyway, the skinny bit in the middle supposedly helps preserve the bit tips. At a $20 price point, you can get the 70 piece kit, with all the same bells and whistles, just more of them. The thing I really appreciate about both kits though is that they’ve got the socket converter, which, as I’m working on my antique truck, golf cart, tractor, mower, and all the other vehicles we seem to be accumulating here in Tennessee, comes in extremely handy.
One thing I so appreciate about Ryobi is their backward compatible batteries. It shows that the customer comes first as they are developing their tools. You’ll likely read my disclaimer about the incredible cost of batteries if you’re always mixing platforms, so my best advice is to pick a battery platform and stick to it. Ryobi has a huge assortment of tools (125 on this battery platform alone) from lawn and garden to home improvement and beyond, and their quality and production has come a long way the last few years. Add to that the 3-year manufacturer’s warranty, and you’ve got a great value in these tools. These tools are powerful enough to stand up to just about any task a DIYer or Weekend Warrior could throw at them, and are at a much friendlier price point than most contractor grade tools.