Great Neck’s new Essentials for the Home tools are designed to be more ergonomic and comfortable for women’s smaller hands and body frames. While not all decked out in pink, these tools do have a non-offensive feminine styling.
I’ve got to say, it’s GREAT to see new tools for women that aren’t pink and flowery. No offense meant to Katy over at Charles & Hudson, who happens to like pretty tools. Not that I have something against pretty tools, but more often than not, feminine styled tools cost more than ungarnished versions and deliver less.
I cannot tell from the photos alone, but it looks like the Essentials pliers underwent the most redesign while some of the tools look little different than their “male” equivalents.
Great Neck Essentials via Amazon
Product Info via Great Neck
These tools definitely look like a step up from the Cynthia Rowley branded hand tools. I’d be comfortable buying these for my mom or sister.
Heck, some women are put off by those flowery tools marketed to them. These would appeal to the few ladies I know that would like some smaller, lighter tools but dislike the almost pandering marketing of the other stuff. These look quite a bit more professional without being overtly industrial in appearance.
They are priced about right for casual home use, but I would be careful before using them for heavy duty applications. Then again, all the women I know who are tough on their tools use pro and industrial quality tools anyways.
I never understood why all of these beginner kits always include a hammer with a hollow steel shaft. One miss by an inexperienced user (exactly who the tools are marketed towards) and the shaft gets dented and the head eventually breaks off.
That’s a good question. Without knowing any better, I’d say it was done to keep costs down.