Despite there being many pliers brands to choose from, many tradesmen in various fields swear either by Knipex or Channellock. So, which one is better?
In this article, I share my opinion on Knipex pliers and Channellock pliers with the hope that you will find the insights useful the next time you have to choose between the two brands. The information is based on my own experience with both pliers brands and the experiences of experts and tool enthusiasts in various trades.
Before I attempt to answer the question of which brand is better, here is a quick Knipex vs Channellock comparison showing their notable similarities and differences.
Knipex vs Channellock pliers: Key Differences and Similarities
| Knipex Pliers | Channellock Pliers |
|---|---|
| Color code: Red | Color code: Blue |
| Made in Germany | Made in USA |
| Water pump pliers use push-button adjustment mechanism | Water pump pliers use tongue and groove |
| Quite pricey | Relatively cheap |
Despite the differences, the Channellock brand shares a couple of similarities with the Knipex brand. First, both tool brands offer a wide range of pliers. So, if you like to have tools from the same brand, you can’t go wrong with either lineup.
Secondly, although Knipex tools are a cut above the competition, Channellock also manufactures great quality tools. In fact, they are the industry standard tools in many organizations here in the USA.
So, don’t be surprised when you find many tradesmen swearing by the blue handles. Some people really love Channellock pliers, mostly because they are generally more affordable and are homegrown. But that does not mean you settle for less.
Which brand is better between Knipex vs Channellock?
Right off the bat, Knipex pliers are of better quality but cost a tad more. And although it is worth paying the extra price for Knipex, there are situations where Channellock pliers emerge as the better option. These situations are such as when the budget is tight, the risk of losing the tools is high, and when performing certain tasks.
Tool Budget
Price is one of the key differences between Channellocks and Knipex pliers. Generally, Channellock pliers are cheaper than Knipex. And this is what makes them the better option when working with a tight budget.
Actually, the main reason why people choose the “blue handles” pliers from USA over the higher quality “red handles” pliers from Germany is the price. The price difference is so significant that you can get 2 or 3 sets of channellock pliers at the price of one pair of Knipex.
That said, you should always remember that whenever you choose channellocks over Knipex because of price, you give up on some quality. This is a tradeoff that can be costly at times.
So, my rule of thumb when it comes to choosing between affordable tools vs quality tools is that if a tool is your moneymaker, go for quality. High-quality tools last longer and have a better return on investment. Furthermore, isn’t it better to buy once and cry once than to cry twice because a tool broke and you have to replace it?
Pliers quality
As I mentioned, quality is one of the things that differentiate Channellock from Knipex. Knipex pliers have superior quality. They are forged from high-quality German steel to great German standards and workmanship. These pliers grip better and lock on a workpiece tightly to minimize slippage.
Moreover, unlike Channellocks pliers whose handle grips often slip off, Knipex pliers have comfortable handle grips that stay on the handles for a long time. They even come in different handle grips for you to choose from. You can either get your knipex pliers in plastic grips, rubber comfort-grips, or insulated grips.
High risk of losing tools
Another reason why you may inevitably choose Channellock pliers over Knipex is when the risk of losing tools is high. Knipex tools are high quality and quite expensive. Therefore, losing a pair can be a major setback and agonizing, to say the least.
Good thing is that you can avoid the agony of spending all your savings replacing lost or stolen pricey Knipexes by buying cheaper tools. Unfortunately, cheap tools are hardly good quality but Channellock pliers happen to be a cut above the rest. They are affordable and have decent quality. As such, you can use them for professional tasks and are easy to replace when you misplace or lose them on the job site.
Trade or task
Some tool brands are better for certain tasks than others. And so are channellocks and Knipex pliers. You can choose pliers from either brand depending on your trade or the task at hand.
For example, electricians find the Channellock’s tongue and groove pliers more versatile than Knipex’s cobra pliers. They use the channel locks to grip and turn conduits as well as ream pipes. On the other hand, Mechanics prefer the Knipex water pump pliers because they bite and grip better, are easy to adjust, and have a slim profile.
Channellocks make very good homeowner pliers. They are good quality pliers, easy to find in the hardware stores, and you don’t pay through the nose for them. You can use them to fix things around the house such as removing a dishwasher among other small projects where Knipex would be an overkill.
So, unless you have a big budget, Knipex pliers can be reserved for professional use and important personal projects.
Pliers size
Knipex pliers are pricey and the price even goes higher with bigger pliers sizes. So, the best tradeoff to ensure a good balance between quality and cost is to choose Knipex for small pliers sizes and Channellocks for larger sizes. This way, you will end up with high-quality pliers for your most-used pliers, which is what you should strive to achieve.
In a nutshell, both Knipex and Channellock brands make quality pliers but Knipex pliers have superior quality but are more expensive. They are simply the cream of the crop for most types of pliers.
On the other hand, Channellock pliers are fairly solid and good for the money. This makes them the better option when the budget is limited. Channellock pliers are also more reliable than most store brand and tool truck pliers.
So, there you have it! I hope you find this information useful the next time you face the Knipex vs Channellock dilemma. Although it is easier to go with one brand, I suggest getting the best of both worlds because as you have seen, there is a place for each of them.
