Home Depot launched a new line of Husky BITE wrenches, hex wrenches, and bit sockets, seemingly as a counter to the Craftsman Overdrive tools that launched at Lowe’s last year.
The main claim, at least based on images of the store packaging, is that new Husky BITE mechanics tools design “reduces fastener rounding.”
For the wrenches, Husky says that BITE delivers “45% more applicable torque.”
The Husky Bite combination wrenches have a non-slop open end and zero-offset 6pc box end. They are also advertised as having a 10% longer beam for greater length and leverage.
The Husky Bite hex wrenches have a similar tip shape, for fitting internal socket fasteners rather than 6pt hex bolts.
Here’s a closeup of the Husky Bite straight hex tip.
Husky says that the “gripping end” delivers “10% more applicable torque.” The tools have a ball hex tip on the long end.
The hex keys are color-coded, with silver for metric and black for SAE.
Home Depot is launching the Husky Bite lineup with 13 SKUs – combination wrench sets, ratcheting wrench sets, nut driver sets, and hex key and bit socket sets.
As a pricing example, the 10pc combination wrench sets are $50 each, and the 8pc ratcheting wrench sets are $60 each. The 18pc inch and metric hex wrench set is $30.
Discussion
That Home Depot’s newest Husky wrenches have a zero offset box end makes them an immediate deal breaker for me; my primary combo wrenches must have a standard 15° offset box end.
The hex key straight profile looks a bit aggressive to me, and also directional.
The metric sizing is unusual, ranging from 3 to 10mm. I’d rather have a 2.5mm size than 4.5mm.
As I mentioned at the start of the post, Husky Bite looks like Home Depot’s counter to Craftsman’s Overdrive tools at Lowe’s.
That’s not a bad thing, it just invites direct comparison. Which would you pick?
Given the launch timing, I expect to see these Bite tools appear at Home Depot stores in time for the winter holiday deals season. However, the premium pricing suggests they might be a step-up addition to Husky’s regular product line.
I haven’t seen any Husky Bite tools in person yet, but will look for them during my next Home Depot visit.