Kobalt Impact Wrench Review 2020 (Updated Buyers Guide)
Owned by Lowe’s Companies, Kobalt Impact was launched in the late 1990s. Since then, it’s been sought out as a reliable and sturdy series.
We wanted to know which wrenches were favored the most by fans. We found many to choose from.
Read ahead to see which ones made it to the top of the list in our Kobalt Impact wrench review of 2020.
The 5 Best Kobalt Impact Wrench Product Review
You’re sure to find the best impact wrench from these 5 top choices.
Kobalt 24V Cordless Impact Wrench: Our Top Pick
The Kobalt 1/2-inch cordless wrench is our top pick. It features a brushless motor, which provides 650 ft/lb of torque.
You can depend on the 24V 4.0 Ah Li-ion battery to get the job done. It comes with a fuel gauge to let you know the battery’s charge level.
This highly efficient wrench comes with the option of two speeds. You can switch between the 0-1,900 RPM and the 2400 IPM using the variable-speed trigger.
Included with the wrench are one Kobalt 24V Lithium-ion battery, a charger, and a storage bag.
Another great feature is its built-in LED work light. This is best used in dimly-lit workstations or tight areas. The light also helps improve your accuracy as you’re working, thereby preventing accidents.
This impact wrench weighs 8 lbs and measures 11.5 x 10 x 8 inches.
Pros
- Powerful
- Reliable
- Built-in fuel gauge
- Built-in LED light
- Comes with battery, charger, and bag
- Comes with a 5-year warranty on tool and a 3-year warranty on the battery
Cons
- Reverse torque may slightly lag
- A bit pricey
Kobalt 24V 1/2-Inch Drive: Runner-Up
Our second choice for Kobalt Impact wrenches is the 24V 1/2-inch cordless. It’s a favorite among power tool enthusiasts who need a small yet powerful tool for various jobs around the house.
This wrench can tighten and loosen nuts and bolts in a flash. It has two operable speeds: the 0-2,500 RPM, and the 3300 IPM. It offers a torque of up to 200 ft/lb
Another terrific feature is its built-in LED light, which provides both pre-light and after-glow. This way, you can light up your work area before and after the drill is used. It’s helpful when there’s not enough light. You can also use it to light up narrow spaces in your workspace.
This wrench measures 9 x 6 x 3 inches and weighs a little less than 3 lbs.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Powerful
- Built-in LED lights in 2 modes
- 2 variable speeds
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
Cons
- Price is higher than other wrenches, especially since it doesn’t come with a battery
Kobalt 24V MAX Brushless Combo Kit (0672827): Best Value
This Kobalt 24V combo deal is one of the best on the market. What you get is not one, but two power tools. And not only that, but you also get a rechargeable Kobalt 24V MAX 2.0 Ah Li-ion battery as well as a Kobalt 24V MAX power tool battery charger.
Worried about where to store all these nifty tools? Kobalt’s got you covered. This combo kit also comes with a storage bag to keep all your tools and accessories protected. Plus, it makes it easier to take your tools to various work sites.
The first power tool is a 1/4-inch impact wrench. It comes with a brushless motor that delivers 150 ft/lb torque power.
You can choose between three-speed settings (0-850, 0-2,000, and 0-2,700 RPM), which makes it versatile and handy to have on all your projects.
The second power tool is a 1/2-inch drill/driver. It also features a brushless motor that’s durable and long-lasting. This tool offers up to 54 ft/lb of torque. You can select one of two speeds for maximum productivity.
Both tools have built-in LED lights. This feature makes your tool more versatile and enhances your accuracy.
These two power tools have similar dimensions of 12 x 10 x 7.5 inches. They both weigh almost 7 lbs.
Pros
- Multipurpose speed settings
- Durable
- Great value for the price
- Comes with a 5-year warranty on tool and a 3-year warranty on the battery
Cons
- Gears may start to malfunction after a while
Kobalt 24V 1/4-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench: Best Lightweight
What makes this 1/4-inch impact wrench stand out from the others is that it’s designed to barely leave a mark.
You’ll notice only minimal scratches as you’re installing and removing fasteners, bolts, and nuts. It can deliver up to 150 ft/lb of torque in both reverse and forward motions. It’s reliable, sturdy, and functional.
One of its dependable features is its brushless motor. It gives it just the right amount of power without the annoying vibrations. Plus, it comes with a built-in LED light.
The Kobalt 1/4-inch weighs a little over 3 lbs with dimensions of 8.5 x 6 x 3 inches. It’s compatible with all the Kobalt 24V MAX rechargeable batteries.
Pros
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Portable
- Budget-friendly price
- Comes with Kobalt’s 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- May lose its torque after a few months of use
- Size is bigger compared to other impact wrenches
Kobalt Air Impact Wrench: Best for Noise Reduction
The great thing about this Air Impact wrench is that there’s nothing it can’t do.
It has four power settings. For quick and efficient switching between speeds, you can use the large power adjustment dial. This wrench also works in reverse. You can easily control the direction of the torque with a simple forward/reverse button.
Since it’s air-powered, you don’t have to worry about whether or your battery is charged. But you do need to have an air compressor plugged in at all times.
Looking for another great feature? There’s a built-in muffler to reduce noise levels as you’re working.
This Kobalt wrench is made of high-quality materials. It’s assembled with great care to provide the best durability It’s designed for reduced weight and less fatigue, making it a great tool to have on all job sites.
The Kobalt Air Impact wrench weighs almost 5 lbs with dimensions of 12 x 11 x 1 inches.
Pros
- Built-in muffler
- Lightweight
- 4 power settings
- Easy to use
- Large power adjustment dial
- Torque direction is easily controlled via a push-button
Cons
- No built-in LED light
- Requires an air compressor
What’s an Impact Wrench?
An impact wrench is a power tool. It’s a socket wrench that supplies a high torque output. It’s different from the old-fashioned socket wrench where you had to do all the work of twisting and turning yourself. This impact wrench does all the work for you.
Impact wrenches have a rotating mass where they store energy. This energy can come from rechargeable batteries, or with the help of compressed air. The energy is then swiftly transported to the outer shaft.
Types of Impact Wrenches
The way experts classify impact wrenches is by the power source used to operate them. The two most common power sources are electricity and compressed air.
Corded
Corded impact wrenches must be plugged into the wall. The motor is located at the rear end of the wrench.
While corded wrenches provide improved torque control and higher speeds, they’re prone to overheating.
Cordless
These depend on batteries to power their rotating units. They’re portable and lightweight. You can take them anywhere, especially in tight, narrow workspaces.
Brushless motors provide an added boost to cordless wrenches. They provide more productivity, efficiency, and prevent the tool from overheating.
Even though they’re portable, the batteries tend to die rather quickly. Plus, they’re the most expensive out of all the types of impact wrenches.
Air Impact
Air impact wrenches, or pneumatic, are powered via compressed air tanks. They’re straightforward and easy to use. They rarely malfunction or overheat, which is great in terms of safety.
Their major drawback is that they constantly need a supply of compressed air. This is easy to set up in a repair shop. But it’s not so easy when you’re doing simple jobs at home. It’ll always be a burden to walk around while carrying it, even if you use a small tank size.
The Verdict
Our review of the best Kobalt Impact wrenches lists tools that are built to be solid and long-lasting. Even though each one has a couple of unique features that make it stand out from the rest, they’re generally designed for heavy-duty, high-torque jobs.
Out of the 5 Kobalt Impact wrenches we reviewed, we chose the Kobalt 24V 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench as our top pick. It offers many great features and has several reliable functions. Plus, it comes with its own set of accessories, which makes this wrench a great investment.
Our runner-up is the Kobalt 24V 1/2-Inch Drive Cordless Impact Wrench. This wrench offers a high-impact torque, which makes it great for all sorts of jobs. It also comes with several handy extras. It’s lightweight, easy-to-use, and comes at a budget-friendly price.