Hex means hexagonal. As we know, a hex key is used for driving screws and bolts with hexagonal sockets. With six driving points, they are easier to use and less likely to strip than their Phillip’s head counterpart.
Many companies out there, and they have a lot of different models of folding hex key sets. One with no experience might get confused about using and avoiding. Also, cheap products mean a waste of money.
Finding the best folding hex key set can be tough, especially when you have so many options and haven’t had a chance to test them. That’s why I tasted a few folding hex key sets and decided to review six best folding hex key sets that can really support you.
Editor’s Pick- Folding Hex Key Set
Best Folding Hex Key Set Review- Pick According to Your Needs
1. CARBYNE S2 Steel Folding Hex Key & Star Wrench Set – 25 Piece Inch/Metric/Star
This Carbyne 25 Piece hex & star wrench set is one of the best folding hex key sets available in the market. As they are expensive, they have impressive quality too. CARBYNE Folding hex has an amazing finish on the product.
It meets the ANSI specifications. In work performance experience, it’s a great toolset, and This 1.32 ounces lightweight key set is mainly used as a professional tool.
Material
This product has the best material available on the market. CARBYNE Folding Hex set is made of heat-treated S2 steel. The steel is stronger than chrome vanadium steel.
They have a magnesium phosphate finish which is corrosion resistant. As we can see, the material is strong, durable, and efficient. It will last for a lifetime if used properly.
Sizes
A total of 25 different sizes of keys are available at this set. There are 9-inch size keys, 9 metric size keys, and 8-star size keys. All over, the keys can open most of the screws.
Handle
The set has an ergonomic handle that provides great grip and supplies uniform pressure. They also provide comfort to the customer. This grip is very hand friendly and maintains space for those who have larger hands.
Pros
- They have a great build quality.
- Made out of heat-treated S2 steel.
- Durable and lasts for a long time.
- Have a lifetime warranty.
- Meet ANSI standards.
- Have a great grip.
- Very lightweight and easy to carry.
- Have different measure systems.
Cons
- Very expensive.
2. TOPLINE 25-Piece Folding Allen Wrench Set – Heat Treatment S2 Finish
In this hex key set, there are a total of 25 keys available. TOPLINE Allen Wrench Set has come with a great design and amazing quality. The set provides us with a great performance. It is lightweight of 5.3 ounces.
The chamfered edge of the keys helps you to guide the key in the socket smoothly. On the other hand, the comfortable grip makes it easy to the input torque. Also, the tough material makes it last for a long time.
Material
They are made with heat-treated chrome vanadium steel blades with a durable black oxide finish. Chrome vanadium steel is a very strong material and highly rust-resistant. They can withstand many forces applied to them.
This quality provides a strong body and a great work experience. The oxide finish also makes it more rust-resistant and corrosion-free. So the keyset is built to last for a long time.
Sizes
Size keys are printed on the keys. So, they are easy to identify. 25 different sizes of keys are available in this set. The key set has 9-inch size, 8 metric, and 8 torx size keys.
All of these keys are able to open most of the socket screws in the world combined. Also, it saves your space and works as an all-in-one package.
Handle
A great handle provides a great grip which is very important for a flexible work experience. This set has a reliable handle to work with comfort. The chances of slipping while working are removed. Also, it would not hurt your hand while giving much torque. The power delivery is smooth and effortless.
Pros
- Have a great design.
- Provide a great work experience.
- Very affordable.
- Have great customer satisfaction.
- Various sizes of keys are available.
- Made of strong material and durable.
- Have two-measure systems.
- Very lightweight. So, easy to carry.
Cons
- Its strength can break your nut or bolt.
3. Texas Best Folding Metric and SAE Hex Keys
Texas, this folding metric and SAE hex keys are made for great performance and are also well designed. They are so flexible and give us flexibility at many certain corners. And it is one of the best folding metric and SAE hex keys Texas as far I have tested.
The Texas hex key set allows us to tighten or loosen the hex keys by adjusting the bolts that hold the tool together. It determines the resistance of each tool to fold in and out.
Material
These are made for high-grade alloy steel for better performance. Their surface is in black finish. Alloy steel is very lightweight but strong. It provides toughness, durability, and economy. All of these qualities make this keyset perfect for your light and heavy-duty use.
Available Sizes
17 sizes are included in this set. This quality gives us great flexibility and backup. The set includes 9 sets of inch size and 8 sets of metric size keys. The various key sizes make it a very handy and useful tool. Moreover, the portability makes it an excellent choice.
Handle
The main thing about the handle is grip. They have an ergonomic handle that provides great grip and supplies pressure. Holding it in hand, it fits perfectly in your palm. Therefore, applying torque while tightening or losing a bolt becomes effortless.
Pros
- They are made of great materials.
- Full fill ANSI specifications.
- 9.9 ounces(0.62pounds) lightweight and very easy to carry.
- Multiple keys are available.
- Have a great design.
- Multiple measure systems are available.
- Promised for 100% customer satisfaction.
- Very affordable.
- Have a great design and performance.
Cons
- Keys are tight. So, it’s hard to pull the keys.
4. MulWark 17pcs Folding Allen Wrench Set
MulWark made very flexible keys for their customers. They provide us with a great performance. This Allen key set combines 9-inch keys into one handle and 8 metric wrench keys into another. So, we will never lose keys from your key set.
The alloy steel is very strong, and the chances of breaking while tightening fasteners are very low. The chamfered edge helps to insert the key head into screws smoothly. Also, the handle provides a good grip and allows you to input torque much more efficiently.
Material
Allen keys are made of strong alloy steel. These are very high-grade alloy steel. As we described before, the alloy steel is cheap, lightweight, but strong. They are tough and durable and can work in harsh conditions. Therefore, these keys provide a great performance.
Sizes
17 keys are available in the set. These 17 blades have 17 different shapes with 2 different measurement systems. All combined, the key set is well efficient. They save your space and help you do your job with ease.
On the other hand, the printed size on the keys helps you to find the right key for your fasteners quickly.
Handle
They have an ergonomic handle that provides great leverage and torque to help us tighten fasteners much better and faster. They provide a great grip also. Also, it helps to work with the desired angle. In tight spaces, the angle helps to work faster. All over it is a perfect and excellent product.
Pros
- They have a great design
- Provide us with an impressive performance.
- Very lightweight at 11.2 ounces. So, they are easy to carry.
- Made of strong material.
- They have two measure systems.
- Multiple keys are available.
- Very affordable.
Cons
- Doesn’t match ANSI specification.
5. Craftsman CMHT26004 Hex Key set – 25 key, 3 Pack & Folding
This item is one of the familiar items to the customer for its availability. Craftsman’s hex key set is available in almost every workshop store. It has a great design, impressive performance, and weight of 1.01 pounds. They are also made of strong material and have long durability. They have a chamfered edge.
Material
Folding hex keys are made of chrome vanadium steel. Therefore, they provide great performance for their customers. They have durable composite construction.
The chances of breaking while using are out of the question. Also, the anti-rust property makes it last a very long time. Moreover, the material gives strength and durability.
Sizes
25 keys have different sizes. Like other products on the list, it has 9 standard sizes, 8 metric sizes, and 8 torx size keys. The keys are chamfered, which allows for easy entry. Also, the key size is printed, so finding the right size is fast.
Handle
Their grips are made of rubbers. Rubber handles allow for a secure grip. It makes the key set anti-slippery and comfortable to hold. A comfortable grip allows security and control. So you can efficiently control your torque and avoid any unwanted injuries.
Pros
- Have a great design.
- Durable enough.
- Chamfered edge helps to guide the wrench for smooth and easy entry into the hex key.
- Easy to carry.
- Made of strong material.
- Have different measure systems.
- Have a great grip
Cons
- Doesn’t meet ANSI standards.
Best Folding Hex Key Set Buying Guide – The Resources & Tips You Need To Know!
There are a few elements you need to look at before purchasing anything. This section will try to discuss which features to look for before buying a folding hex key set.
Material
It is the most important thing in a hex key. As the work of a hex key is to deliver power and torque, the key must be strong and durable. You don’t want to buy a hex key that won’t last more than a few uses.
Generally, stainless steel, chrome vanadium steel, and different grades of steel are good for hex keys. They are strong and rust-resistant.
Measure System
In a set, different measurements of keys must be available. Otherwise, that set won’t be efficient. You might need different measurements of keys to use on a different bolt. If it isn’t in a set, you will have to end up buying another one.
Different Sizes
There must be many sizes of keys available in a proper set of folding hex key sets. This quality is very efficient because all of your bolts or screws will not be the same size.
Grip/Handle
The handle of the hex key must be hand-friendly. Because if you feel pain in your hand while working, you won’t be able to work longer.
Working Angle
Most of the hex keys have a parallel working angle. This is fine. But in tight spaces, we need some angle between the head and the key. Some keys offer this kind of feature, which is very much useful.
These are the main things to look for in a folding hex key set, but some other things must be mentioned. Such as the cost and carrying capacity are also important factors. You should look for those qualities too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who makes the best hex Bit Set?
Ans: Many companies make hex key sets that are good enough. From my perspective, I have mentioned some folding hex key sets, which are good enough in this article.
Q. Is a hex key the same as an Allen key?
Ans: A hex key and Allen eventually are the same thing. People get confused and find the difference. But the truth is there are no such difference between them. These are basically the different names of the same product. Some call it hex key; some call them Allen key/wrench.
Q. What are the strongest Allen keys?
Ans: Generally, all Allen keys are strong enough to handle the pressure of bolts and screws. But people always find the better one.
If I have to choose one, I will go for the TOPLINE 25-Piece Folding Allen Wrench Set. Because of my personal experience and Amazon’s choice for the best folding Allen hex key set with thousands of happy customers, the economic TEKTON hex key wrench set has 30 tools (15 long arm wrenches and 15 short arm wrenches) ranging from sizes 0.028 to 3/8 inches.
Q. Is Torx better than hex?
Ans: It is a difficult question to answer. There are many sectors where the hex key is better. Again, there are many more where Torx is better.
But the Torx design allows for a higher torque to be exerted than a similarly sized conventional hex socket head. It does not damage the head or the tool. In order for a hex head to work and not strip out, it requires quite a bit more depth for the head. The Torx requires about 30 to 50% less depth. So, they are well suited to applications that require a thinner bolt head to prevent clearance issues.
In this case, we can say Torx is better.
Q. Why do some technicians use Allen keys to fasten joints?
Ans: There are many benefits of using an Allen key. Because they produce a lot of qualities, among them, their lever arch mechanisms allow us to apply increased tightening torque. The key does not risk getting out from the screw. When technicians use an Allen key to fasten joints, they are less likely to get out of the screw. That’s why some technicians use Allen keys to fasten joints.
Related Topics-
- How To Fix a Garbage Disposal Without An Allen Wrench
- What Size Torque Wrench For AR15
- How to Measure Socket Drive Size
Conclusion
The folding hex key sets mentioned in this article are one of the best, in my opinion. They are flexible, durable, easy to use, and comfortable. I have used many hex keys, but very few of them were up to the mark.
If you try them, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Also, the buying guide will help you to compare a good hex key with a bad one.
I hope you found this article useful. Thank you.
Martin A. Sims is a technician at a reputed automobile service center for the last 5 years. After studying at San Mateo College of Silicon Valley on vehicle engineering, he has started his career at age of 24. now he is spreading his knowledge among beginners around the world through thewrenches.com.
