This tiny ratchet is stronger than it looks (and has a satisfying bonus feature)

I’m always on the lookout for a now toy — ahem, I mean tool — to add to my everyday carry (EDC) gear. New multitools, flashlights, and other cool tools are always on my radar.

A few weeks ago, I happened to come across something that, the moment I saw it, I just had to have it. It was one of those gambles: “it might be good, it might be on the way back to Amazon by the end of the day”. 

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It turned out to be one of the coolest, best engineered bits of kit I’ve handled in a while, and it even doubles as a fidget toy. It’s a mini 1/4-inch ratchet wrench by 711L. Yes, a tiny, yet fully-functional and reversible ratchet. It measures a very compact 2-inches, and on the other end, there’s a 1/4-inch adapter with a magnet for screwdriver bits, allowing the tool to be used in both orientations.

And don’t let the small size of this ratchet fool you. This thing it strong! According to the manufacturer, the ratchet can take 22 ft-lbs (30 Nm) of torque. In my real-world tests, I’ve put a socket on the end and applied as much pressure as I could muster, and the ratchet held up with no problems whatsoever.

I can’t see anyone breaking this tool by hand.

Also: The TSA-approved multitool myth: I tested it on a plane so you don’t have to

On the business end there’s a precision-machined, diamond-cut pattern that fits a thumb or fingertips perfectly, allowing for high-speed spinning of the ratchet in tight spaces.

Oh, and remember, you can also use this to drive small sockets. 

One question I had was how to carry it. I supposed I could put it into the iPod Nano pocket in my jeans (if I wore jeans) or just have it rolling around loose in a pocket. But a better option would be to attach it onto my keychain using either a small carabiner or keychain cable. 

It’s also a great little fidget toy. The ratchet is so finely engineered that there’s a tiny yet intensely satisfying click with every few degrees of rotation. If you’re into fidget things, but also want them to be practical, then you’ll love this!

I’ve also got the 8-piece bit set for this ratchet – for an extra $10, that was worth it. The only drawback is that there’s no bit holder for the bits. You either have to buy or 3D print one.

Why I recommend this product

The 711L mini ratchet is an absolutely great bit of kit. It’s not cheap at $25, but as far as mini ratchets go, it’s exceptional, and the fact that you can use the ratchet end or the handle to drive bits gives it a great level of flexibility and usability. It’s highly practical and is far more usable than any screwdriver on a multitool or Swiss army knife. You might have to get creative about how you carry it, but once you get that figured. it’s quite easy.