Whether you are a mechanic by profession or just love heavy-duty trucks and vehicles, you are likely to own an impact wrench. But if you do not have a good quality impact socket, then you are not going to make the full use out of it.
An impact socket is a lot different than normal sockets, as it is able to withstand greater power, shock, and vibration. An ordinary socket will shatter under such power.
With the advancement in technology, impact wrenches have become advanced. To complement them, the best impact sockets also have gained new features and functions. Let's take a look at them and review the five best products in the market!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Impact Sockets
- OUR TOP PICK: Stanley 97-126 11
- RUNNER-UP: GEARWRENCH 29 Pc. 84935N
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: DEWALT DW22812
Comparison of the Best Impact Sockets
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Our Top Pick  |
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Best Budget Option  |
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| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
What is an Impact Socket?
An impact socket is very different from an ordinary socket that you may use. Impact sockets are only used for impact wrenches since they work with high torque power. In professional garages, impact sockets are important components, especially if you are going to use high-power tools such as electric wrenches. For electric, air or manual wrenches, normal or ordinary wrenches are not appropriate to be used.
What is a Deep Impact Socket?
For areas where bolts in joints are far deep inside where it is difficult for a normal socket to have access, a deep impact socket is what works the best. These are not very commonly found in the market for sale and are only used in professional garages. Bolted joints such as those in automotive exhausts are examples of where deep impact sockets are widely used.
What is a Flip Impact Socket?
Flip impact sockets are the most commonly used for wheel rims, wheels and lug nuts. These are dual-sided, which makes them perfect for lug nuts and allows simultaneous use.
How to Choose Impact Sockets
Before you go ahead and look at the reviews of the best impact sockets, you will need to know the key factors that need to be present in a good quality unit. Let's take a look at these features:
Clearly Labeled
Even the most experienced professionals and mechanics sometimes ae unable to tell between different sockets. Therefore, it is important that the ones you are choosing to buy have clearly labeled heads that you can quickly refer to when using. This saves many safety hazards and also ensures efficiency in performance.
GEARWRENCH 29 Pc. 84935N clearly labeled each socket
Good Brand Reputation
While material quality is an important factor to consider, you cannot tell whether a socket is made with good quality steel just by looking. Therefore, brand reliability comes into play. If the socket you have chosen to buy has a good brand reputation, then you can make use of valuable customer feedback.
Sturdy Storage Case
No matter what brand and size of impact sockets you choose, make sure they come with a storage case. Storage cases are essential even if you are going to use the sockets very few times. A storage case will prove to be highly beneficial in the long run.
Review of the Best Impact Sockets
Let's move on to an important section of the article, which contains in-depth reviews of the five best impact sockets. Make use of these reviews to find the best, most suitable product for yourself!
Best Overall:
Stanley 97-126 11
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The feedback by the buyers of this product is highly satisfactory and positive. Users and buyers have found these sockets to be highly affordable and yet provide great quality performance. It has proved to be a long-lasting product as well; some buyers have used these sockets for many years now. The only complaints that we came across were regarding some issues with the delivery of missing pieces in the set. However, other buyers reported that the case that comes with these is also highly functional, sturdy, and provides great support.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason why this particular set of 11 sockets impresses us is that it is packed with all the essential features at a considerably affordable price. The sockets all come with an organizer/bag that makes storage a piece of cake for all kinds of users. Plus, they are perfect for rigorous professional use as they are industrial-grade quality!
Who Will Use This Most
We would recommend this product to anyone who needs a deep impact socket for deeper bolted joints. This is a great choice for beginners as well as it is budget-friendly. Meanwhile, professionals can also make great use out of its industrial-grade built.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this is a great product for absolutely anyone. It will feed all purposes and will last for a long time. All these great features come at a good price, which is another plus point.
Runner-up:
GEARWRENCH 29 Pc. 84935N
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have found them to be highly satisfactory in terms of durability and longevity. The sockets had also not rusted for a long time, which added great convenience and value to the buyer's money. Some buyers reported that damaged products were delivered to them, but their complaints were solved by the manufacturer's customer support, adding to the brand's reliability.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We were impressed by the mold case quality of these sockets. The case ensures security and safety for your product while also ensuring comfort and ease of management. Moreover, we also found the corrosion-resistant built of these sockets highly impressive. This makes them highly reliable and durable, which is an important factor.
Who Will Use This Most
With 29 pieces in a set, we think these sockets are best for professionals and mechanics. They also come with an industrial-grade case as well, which will be really useful for professional garages. It's slightly pricey as well, so we don't recommend this for home use or beginners.
Bottom Line
Undoubtedly, this runner up product is a great buy for anyone who wants quantity and quality both. It's a bundle of highly versatile and essential features that ensure high-quality performance, such as rust-resistance and clear labeling.
Best for the Money:
DEWALT DW22812
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers of this affordable set of 10 sockets find the product to be highly durable and sturdy through their course of use. They also reported that they were very easy to take out from the case and then put back in, which added great convenience. Plus, many buyers used them for professional purposes and found them highly sustainable.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The most important reason why we have added this product on our list is that it is packed with highly reliable and great quality features that are offered at such an affordable price. With ten sockets in a strong and helpful case, this is a rather affordable alternative. It has also impressed us with its versatile compatibility, along with an intelligent design that features recessed corners for better torque distribution.
Who Will Use This Most
We highly recommend this affordable product to be bought and used by beginners and first-timers. It is cheap but has great features, which also makes it a suitable product for professionals as well.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, these sockets are going to add great value to your money with their great range of features. They are built with highly durable material that can sustain all kinds of impacts and usage. Plus, they are also very affordable and include a storage case for more user-friendliness.
Best Impact Swivel Sockets:
Sunex 3657
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers report that these rather affordable sockets are very similar to higher-end pricier products that they used before. Moreover, users also commented that they measure exactly as claimed, which ensures great reliability and peace of mind when buying these. Some users experienced breaking up of the sockets when used with really tough bolts. However, most buyers were satisfied with their lifetime warranty and sustainability.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The most distinctive feature of this product is its radius corners. The corners are specially designed to make the sockets durable as they ensure minimum contact with fasteners, which reduces wear and tear. Other than that, we also feel like the red, vibrant, and solidly built bag is another cherry on top of this brilliant product!
Who Will Use This Most
Buyers of this product have mostly been professional mechanics and users. Therefore, we think that it will be a great choice for professionals. With its affordable price range with extraordinary features, we also think it's a good choice for beginners and first-timers.
Bottom Line
Sunex sockets are an amazing product overall. They have laser-etched precise labeling, which makes them easy to use even for professionals. They also have great durability considering they are made with high-quality metal that is also resistant to rust and corrosion. The radius design also decreases wear and tear.
Best Deep Impact Sockets:
TEKTON 1/2-Inch Drive Deep Impact Socket 4885
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers who have used these sockets highly appreciated the quality of performance. Many professionals also reported that they do not break or damage even rusted bolts and take them out very smoothly. There were a few problems experienced by buyers who received missing products. Other than that, buyers also reported that the case it came with was of exceptional quality and fitted all the sockets perfectly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The most distinctive feature of these sockets is their phosphate black finish. This coating provides a great look that sets them apart from regular sockets. Plus, it also ensures longevity as the coating is resistant to corrosion and rust. Therefore, we have added this product to our list of best impact sockets.
Who Will Use This Most
We think that this product is beneficial for both professionals and beginners. With its easy-to-view laser-etched markings, it will be very convenient for beginners. Meanwhile, the sturdy storage case will help professionals keep their garage organized.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, these deep impact sockets by TEKTON are highly reliable and durable products in the market. They come in sets of 14 and have a 6 pin design that ensures longevity and minimum wear and tear. These are definitely the best deep impact sockets.
Why Do I Need New Impact Sockets?
While you might be wondering why you need new impact sockets and not just simply invest in normal sockets, here is a list of benefits that will help you make a better decision:
Softer Steel Construction Allows Better Resistance to High Power
Softer steel is more ductile and therefore sustains more impact and power than an ordinary socket. An impact socket is able to withstand and is more compatible with high torque power, which makes it a great choice for people who want to use electric, hydraulic, and other powerful wrenches. High quality steel construction also allows them to withstand constant exposure to high impact and shocks.
Compatible With Both Powered and Manual Tools
Whether you need to use a powered or a manual tool, impact sockets will always work for you. This makes them versatile and suited for more than one occasion and purpose.
Lesser Chances of Socket Shattering and Causing Injury
When ordinary sockets shatter under lots of pressure or impact, they are able to cause injury or a safety hazard for you and the machine both. Therefore, you need to prevent such incidents from occurring and use an impact socket to avoid any shattered steel pieces from hurting you.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Before you go ahead and buy the best impact socket for yourself, go through the following aspects that you must consider before the final purchase.
Size
By size, we are referring to both the size of the whole package and the size of each socket. The size of the package means how many sockets you will get, and this totally depends on how you plan on using them. Furthermore, the size of a socket changes as its features and functions change. There are ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, and ½-inch socket sizes available. Of these, the most common and relied upon and widely used size is the 3/8 inch.
Durability
The durability of the sockets is always going to be the number one consideration when you are buying impact sockets. They should be made with high quality, soft, and ductile steel that will not be impacted if used with high torque power. Durability can also be determined by the brand's warranty policy and reliability in the market.
Type
You will find deep, shallow, and extra deep sockets most commonly. It depends on where and how you need to use the sockets. You will need to measure the depth of bolt join, nuts, and lugs that you will be using the socket on to decide the right both.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you have finally decided to invest in a new impact socket, make sure you consider the important factors that include durability, brand reputation, and size of the package. Ease of storage and type of socket are other important factors. Make sure to perfectly match your use and need for impact sockets with the ones you are buying.
People Also Ask
You might have picked up the best impact socket that you think is perfect for your use. But before that, we want to clear out any and every confusion you may have left behind. Here are some very common questions that all impact socket buyers have. Take a look.
Can Impact Sockets Be Used as Regular Sockets?
Yes, if necessary, impact sockets can be used in place of regular sockets. However, it also depends on the kind of wrench you are using in order to match the size of the socket with the wrench being used. Use them in place for regular sockets only when you don't have other options.
Are Impact Sockets Stronger Than Regular Sockets?
Definitely yes. Impact sockets are specifically designed to be more powerful and sustainable than regular sockets. This is the key difference between them, as they are made with different kinds of softer steel than the material used for making regular sockets. They might have the same mechanisms to work, but their purpose and built is entirely different. Regular sockets cannot be used in place of impact sockets.
Do You Have to Use Impact Sockets With an Impact Driver?
It's highly unsafe and dangerous if you are using regular or chrome sockets with impact drivers. They can easily shatter and damage your vehicle and tools and also hurt you! Therefore, it is necessary that you use impact sockets, particularly with impact drivers as they sustain the pressure and power.
What is the Difference Between Impact Sockets and Normal Sockets?
First of all, all impact sockets are different in terms of color from normal sockets. Impact sockets have a carbonized coating which makes them "black," which allows them to be distinguished easily at first glance. Secondly, they are different in terms of metal quality. Normal sockets are made with chrome vanadium whereas impact sockets are made with chrome molybdenum. Third of all, the two types of sockets are different in terms of their locking pins.