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Tool of the Year Awards is an annual tradition of celebrating the most notable new tools and solutions for pros and average Joes. This series spotlights the handiest products launched in the last 12 months across 10 essential categories, ranging from power tools to cleaning tools.
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When it comes to getting the most out of your power tools, the right accessories can be just as important as the tools themselves. A smart attachment can save time, improve accuracy, and make tough jobs safer and more efficient. Put simply, it can completely change the way you work.
After reviewing hundreds of products across every category for our Tool of the Year competition, we found the products that not only support your tools, they elevate them. From a rock-solid benchtop router table to a dust control kit that should have been invented decades ago, each winner here is a standout for durability, usability, and the way it solves real problems for DIYers and pros alike.
The Bauer Benchtop Router Table is a standout for stability, versatility, and compatibility with most major router brands. Its generous 32-inch-by-16-inch work surface provides ample room for maneuvering large workpieces, and the pre-drilled insert plate and throat plates make setup quick and easy. The legs can be clamped to a workbench for even more stability—one of our favorite features, particularly for working with heavier stock.
Users will appreciate the adjustable fence, featherboards, and integrated vacuum port for keeping the workshop clean and the air dust-free. Whether you’re edge-profiling trim or cutting joinery, this table provides a solid, dependable platform at a price that makes it accessible to serious DIYers and small-shop woodworkers alike.
Dust control tends to be an afterthought in workshops and on job sites, but the Mullet FitsAll Hose Kit makes it easy to keep work areas cleaner, whether you’re in a client’s home or your own shop. This adaptable system connects to virtually any power tool with a dust port up to 2.5 inches, as well as any wet/dry vac or dust extractor.
The kit includes a 10-foot kink- and crush-resistant hose, heat-resistant rubber bushings that can stay on your tools for speedy swaps, and rotating coupler ends that keep the hose from binding. We really like the translucent hose, which makes it easy to spot clogs and a vented coupler for sanding applications. It’s a simple, durable, and, frankly, long-overdue solution for better dust management.
Ryobi fans who work across both of the brand’s 18V and 40V platforms will appreciate the speed and convenience of the 18V/40V Dual Platform Charger. Designed to minimize downtime, it charges a Ryobi 4Ah Edge battery in as little as 15 minutes and a 40V 6Ah battery in just an hour—significantly faster than comparable chargers.
The active cooling feature helps extend battery life, while Energy Save Mode reduces power consumption when the charger isn’t in use. Wall-mountable or bench-ready, with LED indicators and slip-resistant feet, this dual charger is an essential shop companion for keeping your Ryobi batteries ready for action.
If you rely on an impact driver, a complete bit set is a time-saver and a frustration-avoider. The Toolant 52-piece set covers nearly every fastener type you’re likely to encounter, from hex and Torx to Phillips, square, slotted, and Pozidriv. Plus, it comes with nut drivers, a bit holder, and a socket adapter. The bits are made from durable S2 alloy steel with a hardened core, designed to withstand the hard-hitting torque of impact tools.
Each bit is clearly marked with a color-coded ring for quick identification, and the see-through case that makes it that much easier to find the right bit at a glance. But perhaps our favorite feature is the magnetic tip on each bit, which keep screws from slipping when working overhead or in other awkward positions. Whether you’re on a worksite or tackling projects around the house, having the right bit at your fingertips is a game-changer.
Milwaukee’s new 54-piece ShockWave bit set is for users who demand strength and precision in every fastening job. Its trademarked ShockZone shank design absorbs torque at peak load, so there’s less chance of the bits breaking during heavy-duty use. We really like how tough the bits feel under load, and they don’t cam out—even with stubborn fasteners.
This set includes a selection of Phillips, square, slotted, Torx, and hex bits, as well as nut drivers, double-ended bits, and a socket adapter. Milwaukee created this set within their PackOut storage and transport system for easy organization, so if you already have PackOut modules, this bit set will integrate seamlessly. Each piece in the ShockWave set is made from custom alloy steel that’s been heat-treated to deliver up to 50 times more usable life than standard bits.
I Was Dead Set On Stone Floors—Until I Saw These Options
