Two of the most popular manufacturers of handtools on the market, Husky and Kobalt, have emerged quickly. Each company offers a similar range of tools and has many fans who rely on their tools every day.
It can be difficult to decide which product is best for you when there are so many similar products. We’ll be covering a little bit about these popular brands today and then pit them head-to-head during our Husky vs Kobalt battle.
Histories Of Company
Husky and Kobalt private label brands are manufactured for Home Depot (Husky), and Lowes, (Kobalt). In response to the hugely popular Craftsman line, both companies created private label tool brands. Sears produced Craftsman until recently.
Husky Company History
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Husky brand was established in 1924 as a manufacturer and distributor of wrenches. Stanley Black & Decker now owns the brand. Since 1992, they have been selling Husky tools exclusively at Home Depot.
Husky makes a complete line of hand tools today, including sockets, screwdrivers and ratchets. There are also pneumatic tools and storage solutions for tool storage.
Kobalt Company History
Kobalt was founded much later. Lowes incorporated the company in 1998. They began making hand tools that could only be sold in Lowes stores. The company’s product line expanded significantly in 2011. In addition to the popular hand tools, they now make a complete line of battery-powered lithium-ion tools.
Kobalt produces a complete line of hand and mechanics tools. You can also find pneumatic tools, powertools, and outdoor tools.
Parent Companies For Husky And Kobalt
The Home Depot
Husky’s parent company is The Home Depot. They have a variety of brands.
- Chem-Dry
- Behr
- Homelite
- Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
- Ryobi
- Ridgid
- American Woodmark
- Thomasville Furniture Industries
- Husky
- The Workforce
- HDX
- Hampton Bay
- Galcier Bay
- Commrcial Electric
- Home Decorators Collection
Lowes Companies, Inc.
Kobalt’s parent company is Lowes Companies, Inc. They also own several brands:
- Kobalt
- allen+roth
- Source for Projects
- Utilitech
- Reliabilt
- Harbor Breeze
Product Line Depths
Both Husky as well as Kobalt offer a variety of products. Below you’ll find the product lines of each brand.
Husky Product Lines
Husky sells power tools and outdoor power equipment as well as lighting, generators, storage, batteries, and other accessories.
These are the products that you can buy from Husky.
- Storage
- Air Compressors
- Paint Sprayers
- Nail guns
- Pneumatic Staplers
- Sets of mechanics tools
- Socket sets
- Ratchet Sets
- Wrenches
- Sockets
- Hammers
- Screwdrivers
- Nut drivers
- Claps
- Tool Belts
- Gloves for Work
- Knee Pads
- Work lights
- Extension Cords
- More
Kobalt Product Line
Kobalt offers power tools, outdoor power equipment and air tools. They also sell storage, batteries, hand tools, and accessories.
These are the types of products that Kobalt can sell:
- Combo Kits
- Brushless Drills
- Table saws
- Tile saws
- Miter Saws
- Jigsaws
- Circular Saws
- Reciprocating saws
- Band saws
- Impact Wrenches
- Rotary Tools
- Multi-Tools
- Lawn mowers
- Leaf Blowers
- Chainsaws
- String trimmers
- Batteries
- Plus!
Reputation Of The Brand And Cost Of Tools
We will now discuss the cost and reputation of each brand’s tools.
Reputation Of Husky And Affordability
Most Husky tools are considered average or middle-tier products. There are no bad things about them but they are also not special. There is a significant difference in the power, hand, and mechanic tools made by this brand.
The Husky power tools work well for home projects like small repairs and building jobs. Husky tools can be dangerous and not durable enough to be used for heavy-duty jobs and on fast-paced job sites.
Husky is more expensive than the other brands, but it’s not much. Although they have a variety of prices, the best thing about them is their ability to offer more tools and sets.
Reputation And Affordability Of Kobalt Tools
People often rate Kobalt tools as between average and high quality when it comes down to their quality. Some may find this surprising, as Kobalt isn’t a large brand. Although most people consider Kobalt tools to be quite good, they are likely to agree that they are not exceptional.
Kobalt tools are marketed to homeowners, DIYers, and basic repairmen. You won’t see large contractors using Kobalt tools because they arent strong enough to handle heavy-duty jobs.
Kobalt is the cheaper option of both brands. They come in a variety of price points, but one thing that makes them so attractive is the fact that they provide quality tools at a lower price. Kobalt offers both professional tools and affordable hand tools for homeowners, but they are slightly more expensive than the other brands.
Warranty Comparisons
Kobalt Warranty
All of the tools made by Kobalt are covered by a lifetime warranty. You can easily return any item if it goes wrong. It is important to remember that although you can return it to Lowes, they will still require you to follow their return policy. Usually, a receipt or identification is required. You will be charged the lowest price for the product if you don’t have a receipt.
The majority of Kobalts’ lithium-ion powertools come with a five year warranty. Some items, like hedge trimmers, have a limited warranty of three to five years. They also offer a lifetime warranty on their storage units.
Husky Warranty
Husky offers a lifetime warranty on all its hand tools and mechanics. The majority of power tools and Jobsite tools come with a limited warranty of two to three years. We would rate Husky slightly higher than Kobalt when it comes to warranties for the hand and mechanics.
The Husky Vs. The Kobalt: Which Tool Is Best For You?
Both Husky as well as Kobalt offer a wide range of tools. Both are aimed at the exact same consumer.
Both brands are an affordable alternative to national brands, without sacrificing quality. Both Husky and Kobalt offer the same quality products as Craftsman, which became the preferred brand for professionals and DIY homeowners due to their bulletproof guarantee and high quality.
Husky Vs Kobalt – Who Should Avoid These Tools
Both brands provide impressive performance at an affordable price. Professionals who have spent years searching for the best tools will likely find that Husky or Kobalt don’t meet their high standards for durability and performance.
Benefits Of Husky & Kobalt Tools
These two brands offer many benefits, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to purchase a new tool set or expand their existing collection.
Value
Both brands offer outstanding value and are often cheaper than similar tools made by national brands. Both brands offer identical tool sets at similar price points. Husky, however, tends to offer a few more features than the Kobalt sets.
Durability
Both brands offer great warranties. It is rare that you will need the warranty. Both brands are known for building tools that last.
Husky Vs Kobalt – Head To Head With Their Most Popular Kits
Although both Husky and Kobalt offer a wide range of products, they are best known for their tool sets.
Kobalt 227-Piece Mechanical Tool Kit
This Kobalt kit includes almost every tool you will ever need, with the exception of niche specialty tools.
The kit includes 117 different six and twelve-point sockets as well as three ratchets and four extensions. There are also thirty combination wrenches and a variety of Allan keys, insert bits and nut drivers.
They also include a blow-molded toolbox with metal latches to store your new collection. This toolbox is well-sized and includes an additional storage drawer so you can expand your collection without needing to purchase a new one.
These tools are covered by a lifetime warranty, as with all Kobalt handtools. No receipt required if something goes wrong with your Kobalt tool.
What We Like
- A stunning selection of hand tools
- Lifetime guarantee
- Included is a toolbox
- 90-tooth ratchets
What could be better?
- Husky doesn’t have as many options as Husky
Husky 268-Piece Mechanical Tool Set
Husky’s robust kit includes every common mechanics tool and more.
The kit contains a variety of standard sockets, 39 deep sockets, and a range of extensions bars in various configurations (eight-, twelve-, and six-point). You will also find three ratchets and four extension bars, as well as 40 Allen keys in both short- and long-arm varieties. There are also a variety of insert bits, nut drivers, and several nut drivers. This kit contains 41 pieces in total, which is more than the Kobalt comparable kit.
The kit includes a tool case made from blow-molded plastic that can hold all 268 pieces. Although it is not as well-designed as the Kobalt toolbox, it’s still useful.
If you’re a tool hound, like me, it is likely that you are removing all tools from their original boxes and adding them to your rolling tool boxes.
Huskys lifetime warranty covers every product in this kit, just like Kobalt. You simply need to bring the damaged tool to any Home Depot to receive a replacement.
What We Like
- For the same price, you get more tools than Kobalt
- Lifetime guarantee
- The tool case has stamped markings that indicate which part goes where.
What could be better?
- Kobalt is slightly higher quality than Ratchets.
The Final Word
You’ll be able to tell the difference between Husky and Kobalt when you compare them. Although Kobalt seems to have the best overall quality, Husky has a few more extras included in every kit.
It is difficult to pick our favorite brand because they are all so similar. There can only be one winner of the Husky vs Kobalt battle. The sets from Husky are my preference. The sets come with a few additional tools that the Kobalt kit doesn’t have.
Husky Vs Kobalt – Frequently Asked Questions
Is Husky and Kobalt one company?
Husky and Kobalt do not belong to the same company. Lowes Companies, Inc is the parent company of Kobalt. They also own several brands. The Home Depot owns Husky. They have a range of brands.
Kobalt is good quality?
Kobalt is often regarded as one of today’s best tool brands. You can choose between brushed and brushless options. The quality is excellent for DIYers as well as home users.
Are Husky tools worth the investment?
Husky tools have been found to perform poorly in comparison with other top brands. Husky tools are a great value.
Are Husky tools just as good as Kobalt?
Although Husky tools are generally comparable to Kobalt’s, there is a greater variety of products from Kobalt than the Husky line.
Is Kobalt more efficient than Husky when it comes to cordless hand tools?
Kobalt tools have a high quality design and are well-made. The Husky tools are similar. This will depend on what you need. Kobalt has a greater selection of tools than other companies, so they are a better choice if you have the right tool.
Are Husky batteries compatible with Kobalt?
Although Husky is in the same market as Kobalt, each has its own accessories (including batteries) to match their tools. This is how customers are loyal.
