PB Swiss Tools is upgrading their premium SwissGrip screwdrivers after more than 20 years.
Goodbye PB Swiss SwissGrip, and hello SwissGrip EVO.
The new SwissGrip EVO screwdrivers, with EVO coming from evolution, look very familiar.
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As with the older style screwdrivers, the new SwissGrip EVO driver handles look to feature similar Santoprene soft-grip construction.
The differences are subtle, but they’re there.
PB Swiss Tools says that the new EVO screwdrivers feature:
- More Grip
- More Power
- More Control
They say that the new handle style delivers 25% more torque based on user tests.
We asked PB Swiss Tools if they’ll outline more of the differences besides what they’ve teased about on social media, but they haven’t gotten back to me yet. I also asked about whether other PB Swiss screwdrivers, such as the hard-handled MultiCraft, will be getting the same new handle shape.
The first EVO tools have started arriving at DRPD and presumable other online retailers.
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See Also: DRPD Tool Store – Secret Shopper Review
I bought my first PB Swiss SwissGrip screwdrivers nearly 17 years ago when Amazon was clearing them out. While pricey, the quality has been superb. I purchased more since then.
Short-term, the pricing hurts. A lot. Long-term, my only regret has been not buying more.
I’m not convinced that I need to replace my existing screwdrivers, but should I ever want to upgrade, the new design looks comparable, potentially better, and at the least inoffensive.
The new handle shape looks a little thicker or maybe more bulbous in certain areas, which is presumably where the greater torque and grip come from.
TomD
“Herd back” is probably a typo but also could apply to influencers 😂
Stuart
Whoops! Thank you – *fixed*
Matt_T
Looks more incremental than evolutionary IMO. Which isn’t a bad thing. I doubt existing users will upgrade but they’re unlikely to switch to a different brand either.
Stuart
Isn’t that what evolutionary change is, incremental changes?
MT_Noob
I’d love to see someone define the continuum of improvements.
“New” x (color, package, etc)
“Limited edition” (special colors, anniversary editions)
“New! Improved! x” (Evolutionary, incremental changes to functionality)
“Ground Breaking” (Revolutionary, game changing, totally new innovation}
“Light years ahead of the competition” (Probably a Father’s day / gimmick item)
“Quantum leap ahead” (Definitely a father’s day gimmick. And when you think of it, leaping from one quanta level to the next is actually the smallest distance change, not the largest.)
Did I miss any?
Stuart
I can’t do that, but what I can say is that in my experience PB Swiss is a minimal-hype company. They don’t do gimmicks.
Launching an incremental and modest design update after 2 DECADES and changing the name to SwissGrip EVO seems pretty innocuous to me.
CMF
Yes, usually stated as more evolution than revolution.
Derek
It’s more of a rounded triangle shape design now. I hope they feel as good as the original Swissgrip. I have a couple sets of the old grip but still want to get the other tips that I don’t have. Wish I heard about these years ago.
Nathan
So swissgrip clearance sale? I don’t know I need any I use a normal driver rarely but if I do I’ll consider it.
Daniel
PB Swiss drivers are excellent.
My absolute favorite drivers and will often reach passed my Wiha, Snap On and Kleins to grab the PB Swiss. Amazing grip and feel!
I’d definitely buy more, maybe we will find the original SwissGrips on clearance. I will be on the hunt!
Aaron Lipner
By the looks of it, it could mean that they just needed to make new injection molds after wearing out from 20 years so they changed to design to make it easier to make – new straight edges vs original curves.
This assumes it wasn’t a real high volume (< 50k per year) tool which could be based on the high price.
Robert
Stuart, where you say:
“ We asked PB Swiss Tools if they’ll outline more of the differences besides what they’ve teased about on SPECIAL media, but have not yet heard back.”
Do you mean:
“ We asked PB Swiss Tools if they’ll outline more of the differences besides what they’ve teased about on SOCIAL media, but have not yet heard back.”
?
Stuart
Yes – thank you! That these are special screwdrivers distracted me. =)
Robert
A seven piece set of these Swiss Tool screwdrivers is $83.
My question is: Are the precision machined tips of these as good at preventing cam out as laser etched tips? Say compared to Wera.
Ryan
They are not if these new ones are just the same. . I have both. The wera definitely have more bite. But i have never worn out a pbswiss. I have worn a wera #2.
On worn screws i use wera. But i prefer the pbswiss drivers over the wera any day. I like the handles significantly more.
Robert
Ryan, thanks for the info. The price doesn’t scare me off. But I use my screwdrivers in short spurts, so the anti-cam feature of my laser tipped Weras is more useful to me than the ergonomics of the PB handles.
William Adams
I just wish that they would offer a full set of hollow-ground sizes. (and I’m still kicking myself for sending back the parallel tip set which Lee Valley made a while back).
As it is, I mostly use Felo 1/4″ insert bits in the sizes which they offer, and when those don’t match up, reach for a set of Wheeler gunsmith bits.
One of these days, I’m going to put together a full set of screwdrivers….
Stuart
Don’t they have a full range?
KokoTheTalkingApe
Their slotted tip screwdrivers all seem to be hollow ground. For ex., https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/tools/quality-hand-tools/screwdrivers/product/pb-38100
Greg
Stuart, if you see the old style on clearance anywhere, can you do another post about it? I have 17 drivers and would love some backups. They are by far the best drivers.
Stuart
I doubt we’re going to see any major clearances, but I’ll keep my eyes open.
DRPD says they’re having a mega sale: https://drpd.cc/collections/swissgrip-mega-sale/
Richard
Are these in general as durable as Wera or Wiha or more so? I use 2.5mm/3mm every day and have worn out a few.
Stuart
I’d expect them to be. I don’t have full-size drivers in such sizes, but in general my PB Swiss screwdrivers have worn well.
Josh
More durable in my experience. I have pb swiss at work and I haven’t worn one out yet in 10 years of daily use. I love their hex keys also.
Reed Prince
Bill Preston of DRPD wrote a detailed post over at Garage Journal about these. At least 25% more torque with the new grip, etc.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/howdy-from-drpd.488837/page-15#post-11286615
Matt_T
Thanks for posting that. It’s apparently the only image on the interlink that shows an end view of the triangularish handle. He also mentions in another post that the +25% torque claim is “conservative”.
Mr. X
Interested in seeing what the hype is about. I switched from Klein to Wiha about 10 years ago after 30+ years of Klein screwdriver use in the electrical trade. Really like the Wiha handle, but there are a few odd combinations of handle to tip sizes. And there’s the not quite #2 Phillips issue.
I might give the PB Swiss a shot for everyday use. Based on the cost, I don’t think replacing my entire tool box of Flat, Phillips, Torx, and Nutdrivers (metric and SAE) will be in the cards. I’ll need to REALLY impressed with these PB Swiss to restock my whole kit and pass sdown my Wiha drivers to my sons.
mark w
Pb is fantastic. Try out their bits too if you need something that lasts or color coded. DRPD has these like flip-open cases full of the pb bits best $40-45 bucks spent. Clips on the belt, in the tool pouch etc, opens up for access with single finger and without unclipping. Personally wera’s laser etched screwdrivers are my pinnacle tho for screwdrivers.
mark w
I’ve ordered from DRPD a handful of times always a good experience. Ships from California.
I’ve found on swiss products to be EXCEPTIONAL WITHOUT FAIL in their quality. But! I found their old handles too small diameter wise for my hands – hard to get a good cranking grip on them and felt straining. New design looks thicker! Very exciting. I love everything else from them, their bits are fantastic.
Their clear acetate handles have vanilla scent added to them for the smell and are very clear/pure. Have their red acetate trim puller tools, clear blue picks, impact-ready bit holder (lowest slip & strongest magnet of any ever I’ve tried) all extremely well finished, made in Switzerland, many tools individually serialized which provides insane inventory traceability. As an engineer in manufacturing I stare in awe of the quality they are able to pay for their factory with. So many lower the bar for lower end cost.
These tools make almost no compromises in their manufacturing, but sometimes you can tell they aren’t a giant company like Milwaukee who polishes the hell out of designs before going live. Can’t wait to see if they made great progress refining their main santoprene handle design here. Wonder if they’ll do the clear acetate(?) that is same physical shape as the santoprene handles next…. Hope so
mark w
Considering I’ve had this user experience myself with pb drivers, This change by PB Feels like them directly listening to their customers and refining their design in a totally no-gimmicks, all feedback way….and that’s pretty cool
Daniel
I’ve always bought my PB Swiss tools from The Tool Lady during holiday promotions.
Where do you buy your PB Swiss?
ITCD
I went through DRPD for mine.
Stuart
Barb (Tool Lady) passed away around 10-11 years ago. Barb put her heart into the store. I’m not sure what’s going on with the store now. I check every now and then but haven’t ordered.
I placed a test order with DRPD last holiday season and it was an excellent experience. https://toolguyd.com/drpd-tool-store-secret-shopper-review/
Daniel
Thanks, I’ll keep DRPD in mind for my next purchase.
I last placed an order on the Tool Lady website on their 2024 Memorial Day sale and all went well.
I think Barb transferred the store to some friends before she passed.
ITCD
One thing that stands out to me that wasn’t touched on was how the grip extends up into the end cap a little now. It might just be a side effect of the new design, but I’m kinda curious if this was deliberate to make handling the screwdriver by just the end during a long-reach situation easier by giving more grip?
Toolguy
ExxonMobil sold Santoprene to Celanese and PBSwiss changed their design shortly after. I have several Santoprene handles with virgin material. Seems like the putting recycled material is a cost saving measure and inferior product (compared to old). I would like to see new design with Santoprene.