Best Housewarming Gift: CRAFTSMAN V20* Cordless Drill Combo Kit

If you have friends who just bought a new house, this would be an excellent housewarming gift: The Craftsman V20 kit. 

Our readers recommended this combo kit time and time again and we agree: it is excellent quality . . . basically everything you need to tackle around-the-house projects.

What We Liked

• Excellent tool quality at a decent price.

• Not too heavy.

• Easy to use.

• Great for small jobs.

• Good battery life.

• Enough power for most jobs.

What Needs Work

• Battery life, while good, may not be enough for industry craftspersons. In that case, we suggest the next pick.

Best For Beginner Craftsman: DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Combo Kit

If you are just entering the construction trades, this is the combo kit we recommend after talking with folks with extensive construction experience. We like the quality and battery life here. 

What We Liked

• 10-tool kit has just about everything one needs.

• Excellent quality.

• Tried and true brand.

• Decent battery life.

• Blades can be changed without tools.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Best Budget-Friendly: Milwaukee 2695-24 M18 18V Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit

Combo tool kits are helpful, but we realize they can get pricey in a hurry. Sometimes a simpler kit will do, like the this one by Milwaukee. We liked the included drill, driver and saw. And yes, there is also a work light. 

What We Liked

• Great quality.

• Nice weight.

• Affordable.

• Great gift idea.

What Needs Work

• May need extra batteries for bigger jobs.

Best For Heavy Duty Jobs: Makita XT288T 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 2-pc. Combo Kit

If you have bigger projects in mind than just doing around-the-house jobs (think building a she-shed), this kit by Makita would be an excellent choice. Yes, these tools are more heavy-duty in quality and durability than others . . . perfect for industry professionals or the do-it-yourselfer whose got a big job to tackle.

What We Liked

• Drill has excellent speed and torque.

• Long battery life.

• Lightweight.

• Great for putting in a deck or plumbing install.

• Includes two batteries.

• Carry bag is helpful.

What Needs Work

• Trigger on the drill is too sensitive, say some of our readers.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!