From the hammer to the socket wrench, men define themselves by the tools they apply. But which ones are actually worthy of prime placement on your tool belt? Hither, nosotros'll sure get through all the pliers, drivers and levels that are so versatile, they'll inspire even the most reluctant handyman to exit and fix something. Now let'southward get to work.

General Tools Digital Sliding T-Bevel
No structure is perfectly square, but this tool empowers you to mensurate and duplicate angles with electronic precision down to half of a tenth of a degree. There'southward fifty-fifty a button that lets you flip the LCD brandish when y'all're working upside-down to preclude misread numbers. $35

Kintrex Infrared Thermometer
How common cold is the air blowing from your A/C vents? What about the heat levels inside of your PC, or in the radiator of your car? This infrared thermometer (complete with light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation sight) takes out all the guesswork—in Fahrenheit or Celsius—with an accuracy of .1 degrees. $lxxx

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Coast LED Lenser P7 and P5R
At less than six inches long, this flashlight still manages to pour out 200 lumens of brightness that will reach a distance of 689 feet. Available in either battery-operated or USB-rechargeable, a one-hand focusing lens lets yous suit from spot to flood lighting without any bright or nighttime spots. $110 for battery-operated, $100 for rechargeable

Stiletto Hammer
This titanium hammer hits similar a 1-pound steel hammer, simply only weighs 10 ounces. And cheers to the metallurgical backdrop of titanium, it also transfers ten times less recoil shock. Translation: You'll have less tired arms and sore hands, allowing yous to bulldoze nails faster and longer. "These are the bomb," says Jodi Marks, author of Prepare it in a Wink and a frequent contributor to HGTV. "They're lightweight, and they accept great residual." $110

Komelon MagGrip 30-foot Record Mensurate
Virtually tool kits come with a 12- or 16-pes tape, which frankly just doesn't measure up to this thirty-pes beast. Even meliorate, the tip contains powerful magnets to make solo measuring that much easier—as long as you lot're working effectually iron and steel. $xviii

Stanley MaxGrip 10-inch Wrench
Save infinite in your toolbox with this double-duty wrench. It'southward adaptable, then yous'll get a firm catch on any size nut, metric or English. And it also has a locking grip to requite you lot an extra hand free for the residual of your chore. $21

Smarter Functioning for Active Trainers
Irwin Tools Fast Release Locking Plier
These adjustable vise grip pliers have a 1-handed, triggerless release arrangement that Irwin says is three times stronger than standard vise grips. We also love the curved jaw, which lets you grab hold of square, circular, or hexagonal bolts, and the thick, cushy grips that transfer less painful vibrations to your mitts. $17

Leatherman Wave
The Wave is Leatherman'due south best-selling multi-tool, and information technology's not hard to understand why. Along with interchangeable-fleck screwdrivers, a saw, a metal file, pliers, a wire-cutter, scissors, and the canteen opener no man should leave abode without, information technology also features a iii-inch bract that can be easily snapped open with 1 manus without having to open up the Leatherman'due south handles. $threescore

Survival Straps
What looks like a nondescript (if non stylish) wristband is actually a advisedly paw-woven bundle of upward to sixteen feet of 550-lb exam, military-class parachute cord (how much line yous get depends on your wrist size). Clothing it at all times—even if you're swimming in the ocean—and if you have the need to unravel your rope to MacGyver your way out of a tough state of affairs, tell your story to Survival Straps and they'll send you a new paracord wristband for costless. $25

Hinderer Farthermost Duty Pen
Even though you're non Jason Bourne, yous can withal defend yourself with a pen. Fabricated of lightweight but incredibly stiff titanium, this writing instrument was designed to serve double duty equally a discrete tool for fending off would-be attackers. What'south more, it uses Fisher Space Pen refills, which means it can write cleanly and smoothly upside-downwardly, underwater, and in the freezing cold. $237