My 50-year career as a carpenter spans an interesting period in the development and innovation of cordless power tools. I got started in the field just as Skil and a few others were putting out the first 6-something volt models that we pros might now consider cordless, powerless, and worthless, but back then they were something we had to have. We didn’t know the future then, knowing only that the freedom the cables provided and the little torque they muster made the world of hardware installation a better place to be.

Then Makita charged the cordless scene with an astonishing 9.6 volt power and kept coming out with one new tool after another. Over the course of a few years I purchased most of the tools they offered and over the course of a few more years my team and I wore them all out and soon replaced them with the next brand that took the market to the next level. Compared to Dewalt’s line of 18-volt tools, our weathered blue Makitas looked like old toys. At the time, everyone was in the game, from Milwaukee to Dewalt, but once you invested in a brand, you had to stick with it because of the initial investment. One charger and a couple of batteries took care of ten different tools, so we stuck to the Dewalt line instead of spending a small fortune to switch and say goodbye to all the old tools.

But just a year ago, all my Dewalt batteries and chargers seemed to finally die all at once and I had the opportunity to consider going into a new line. I had often seen the Ryobi line at Home Depot and was drawn to its affordability and wide range of tools. I was skeptical of their relative low cost and thought there must be something wrong with them since they were so much less than other options.

Then I hired a carpenter who had several Ryobi tools and I asked him what he thought and he said he had no problem with them so I bought a package that included a drill, saw, circular saw, and flashlight. They are $150-$200 less than the other brands, so I jumped in and gave them a try.

I use my Ryobi drill every day and don’t see any difference between it and my old Dewalt. I am not a researcher or writer for Consumer Reports and this is not an article about comparing all brands and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. I’ve only owned 4 brands of cordless power tools and have borrowed a couple more from time to time, so I guess I don’t know everything there is to know about what’s out there. But I know Ryobi is as cheap as they come and they offer a great selection of tools, plus I’ve learned that they get the job done day in and day out.

For the DIYer I would simply recommend going to Ryobi for the price and performance. As a professional trying to make an honest dollar off the tools I buy with my hard earned money, I have no interest in promoting Ryobi beyond sounding like an expert after you heed my advice and find out for yourself that I know what I’m talking about.