My wife and I are of the age where we go spend weekends with our moms pretty frequently. Both our moms are widows and usually our visits include a short (or not so short) to-do list of chores that probably call for the use of tools.

Realizing this, I’ve started keeping a few more tools than usual in the back of my vehicle. I’ve tried to put together a small tool kit to cover most or all of the projects. What I found I was most frequently needing was a drill.

I have a cordless drill, but decided a second one to keep in my mobile tool kit would be a good idea.

I’ve been testing a few tools from Hoto, which is a company I’m familiar with, as I’ve reviewed their Air Pump Master inflator.

Today we are looking at the 12V Brushless Drill Tool Set, 3.6V Screwdriver kit and their Precision Screwdriver Pen.

12V Brushless Drill Tool Set

I was in the market for a drill to keep in a tool kit in my car, and the Hoto 12V Brushless Drill Tool Set ($199.99, hototools.com), saved me a lot of time putting my own tool kit together.

The kit is built around a 12V brushless drill, which is nicely designed and fits well in the hand.

The drill has a soft grip and variable speed control. There is an LED screen on the back that displays information including the battery level, drill’s speed/torque level (from 1-30) and whether the drill is set to spin forwards or backwards.

Under the screen is the mode button that lets the user choose manual mode or pulse mode. Pulse mode operates the drill at a lower speed, which is suitable for beginners to get used to the drill.

The drill’s trigger is pressure sensitive, so the more you squeeze, the faster the rotation, up to the set speed level.

The drill chuck is easy to loosen and tighten by hand. The drill has an internal rechargeable battery that is not removable, so once you run it down, you’re out of commission until you recharge it, which is done via USB-C. Hoto includes a USB-C cable, but you have to provide your own charger.

The kit comes with eight drill bits and 10 screwdriver bits.

The rest of the kit consists of hand tools. Included is a 25mm adjustable wrench, needle-nose pliers, screwdriver handle that works with the included bits, claw hammer with a removable rubber cap and 10-foot self-lock tape measure.

All these tools come in a very nice hard case that has a built-in handle and closes and locks for storage and transport.

The kit is nice. My only problem is the non-removable battery. This is a drill kit for smaller projects. So grab this one if you need to hang a curtain rod or build a and not the one you want to use to drive the drywall screws in the new addition of your house.

It is perfect for all the chores my mom has for me to do.

3.6V Screwdriver Kit (Classic)

Usually, I just grab the cordless drill if I have some screws to remove or install, but Hoto sent over the 3.6V Screwdriver ($59.99, hototools.com), which is powered by a 1,500 milliamp-hour rechargeable battery. The screwdriver is quite simple. It has three speeds, and a rocker switch used to drive the screws forward or backward.

This one is smallish, and would be easy to pack in a backpack or computer bag or toolbox.

The speeds top out at 220 rpm, so even the longest screws will come out in seconds.

The kit comes with 12 screwdriver bits in an aluminum cylindrical carrying case that’s about the size of an energy drink can.

There is an LED light around the bit holder that conveniently lights up whatever you’re working on. The battery is charged by an included USB-C cable.

I used this screwdriver just today to change out batteries on some doors with smart locks where I work. Each door has three pretty long screws that have to come out to get to the batteries and the screwdriver made quick work of the project.

Precision Screwdriver Pen (Manual)

This one isn’t exactly a gadget. It doesn’t have lights or a battery. This is a manual screwdriver, but it’s perfect for precision work, like taking apart a laptop or tightening the screws on your eyeglasses.

The Hoto Precision Screwdriver Pen ($24.99, hototools.com) is about the size of a thick magic marker. It is made of aluminum and the cap pops up to reveal 24 bits stored inside the handle. That cap rotates freely, so one-handed scewing is easy and very controllable.

The cap and bits are held in place with magnets, but they’re not so strong as to make removing them difficult.

This is a simple tool that quickly earned a spot in the small case I carry around every day and I use it multiple times per week when I’m repairing equipment at work.

The bits included are Phillips, Torx, Slotted, Pozidriv, Square and Security.

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