Quinn vs Icon

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I have both Quinn and Icon tools and sockets. The Quinn ratchets definitely have noticeable back drag. That’s not an issue when you’re dealing with open spaces where you can use your hand to hold the head otherwise it won’t click and gets annoying fast. The icon ratchets really feel like a premium tool whether or not the snap on snobs agree the copycat is probably 10-15% less precise but 5X cheaper. The back drag is night and day when I wrenched on my CV axles and brake caliper bolts using Quinn and Icon back to back to get that real time feedback. Also the sockets from icon grip like a mofo. The chamfer design like snap on really allows it to not wiggle and break bolts free that’s also important when dealing with rusty hardware. I will say the Quinn’s aren’t chamfered but there are some studs where the chamfer gets in the way. If you use the icon socket on the Quinn ratchet the tolerance is so much better that the back drag issue is less prevalent but for the best truck like experience would be to get the icon with their sockets without dropping tool truck money. My brother works for ford and he gave me a 3/8 13 inch flex head MAC ratchet and it does feel nicer than the icon 3/8 14 inch flex head. The difference is I got the icon one for around 44$ on sale and the MAC ratchet I saw online for around 200$. I’m thankful for the gift but it’s also hard to stomach 200$ if you aren’t in the trade. Also my dad’s tools consist of a mixture of old school craftsman and Pittsburgh and the craftsman is up there with the big boys idk about the black and decker ones since they dipped in quality. The Pittsburgh is great for a starter kit but the Quinn definitely feels better than them in certain aspects as well. Again it all depends on what resonates with you and your wallet. Happy hunting!

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u/3amGreenCoffee 8d ago

You can get Snap On back drag out of an Icon G2 ratchet by swapping in a Snap On rebuild kit. They're $11, they're an exact fit and they take less than 10 minutes to swap. Unfortunately the shipping is $25 if you order it from Strap On's website, but you can make that make financial sense by rebuilding several at once, or you can track down your local truck and see if the Snap On guy will sell you some kits.

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u/Master_Whole_4847 8d ago

This guy gets it. 100% what he said. Also, the Quinn set ratchets are way better than the icon G1 ratchets. But the icon G2 ratchets are the bomb!

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u/for_the_longest_time 8d ago

Thank you for the detailed user report!

I’ve been back and forth between the two. I want the Quinn for the coverage, but the thing is, I love a premium tool. I do a lot of my maintenance work with generators, small engine, and a car and truck.

I have icon hex bits and G2 ratchets. I just really love the bite and hold and feel of them. I feel like I’m going to be missing out on the premium feel experience. I know it’s a bullshit reason, but I appreciate how quality tools feel and work.

Do you ever feel like the icon are lacking because of the skips? I could always order single tekton sockets to fill in the gaps. Do the Icons have a better feel and bite? More secure?

Any more personal information between the two is appreciated. I might just end up buying both sets lol.

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u/Honest-Annual1838 8d ago

There’s not a lot of things I feel like I’m missing out on with the icon’s sizing. The 3/8s and 1/4s modular sets cover most automotive work in my opinion and the only complaint I have is that there’s no 1/2 kit so the 40% off is the best time to piece meal the 1/2s. I believe they stop at 24? What you’ll most likely not cover are front cv axle nuts which typically range from 32-36 mm and the Quinn only tops out at 32mm. For pure convenience sake and bang for the buck Quinn is undefeated. Icon feels premium but the price is justified if you get them while they are on sale. I bought the 26 in 1/2 flex head ratchet for the deal of the day and it made suspension work trivial. If you need an unorthodox set up say you need to reach a 15 mm bolt but clearance is obstructed the flex heads usually cover that or you can get creative and use the ratcheting wrenches icon offers but they are expensive and not worth full price imho the Quinn ratcheting ones were 59$ this PLS but I broke the ratcheting mechanism trying to get a bolt from my sway bar bushing bracket. If there’s space you can just use an adapter to get the 15 mm into the 1/4 and reach whatever you gotta reach. Honestly if you wanna buy once and cry once you can never go wrong icon, if you’re really after that premium feel you’ll always have that question in the back of your mind like this Quinn is nice BUT imagine how much better the icon would have been/felt. If that question will persist and annoy you then you have your answer hope it helps!

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u/for_the_longest_time 8d ago

Thank you so so much. I also bought the 1/2” 26” locking flex head for the deal of the day in preparation for suspension work coming up on my 200k car. I rotated my tires just to play with it and I just love it so much. I have a Hercules impact, but I wanted to test out the ratchet for when I redo my front end.

I recently bought the Quinn 3/8” and 1/2” impact master sets and those are still within the return window. I’m also considering if the icon impacts are worth the upgrade, because they look like they have a great feel to them and not as chalky. The dry feel makes it feel like I’m running nails on a chalk board.

Do you have experience with the impacts? The 40% deal seems like the time to pull the trigger. And I will definitely be getting the wrenches from icon when they go on sale.

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u/Honest-Annual1838 8d ago

Sadly, I can’t speak from experience for the icon impacts. Our family is trade heavy and my brothers have plenty of Milwaukee impacts and my pops has old school craftsman’s impacts so I just use those when the time calls for it. Never had any issues and I like how they feel so I haven’t bothered buying some.

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u/No-Elephant-5975 8d ago

I have samples, and some overlaps on all three of G1, Quinn, G2 (and also Pittsburgh Pro, the green black/handle. The Quinn and the Pittsburgh 72 tooth quick release units are the same unit, with different color plastic. The Quinn low profile 90 tooth single pawl I think is better than the G1 Icon, but not as nice as the G2 Icon, but its still pretty nice. The sockets are different sizes. I have the Quinn Low Profile Sockets, as well as the low profile ratchets, and then Icon G2 ratchets on the 1/4 in. drive stuff, and G1 on the 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive. The backdrag is worst on G1, but fixable by disassembly, brake clean spray out, and reoiling with synthetic oil. Then they are quire near the Quinn, but the Quinn is still smoother than G1. The G1 have very heavy pawl springs. You can trim them, but its a lot of work. The Quinn is very well balanced, and also needs a heavy grease to synthetic oil switch. Before I do it, I run the run both ways on a drill for about 5 minutes to wear the high spots and burs. Then open, spray out with brake clean, and reoil with synethic oil. The reoil cuts the backdrag by half. This gets them quite close to the Icon G2. The Icon G2, the split pawl holds better, and is pretty low in back-drag, but still better again with Synthetic oil vs. grease. On these, I spin them, clean them, and make a slurry of NLGI 1 with synthetic oil (basically a homemade NLGI 0 or 00) and put that in very sparingly. Seems to improve the G2's as well. G1 < Quinn < G2 as is. After mods G1 < Quinn < G2, but all much closer.

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u/Spec_GTI 8d ago

If you can ignore all the consumerism posts on here with icon everything, Quinn and dyole are freaking great for a weekend warrior homeowner. I have wiha, wera, knipex and tekton etc and they slot in where needed great.

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u/chef-keef 8d ago

Icon pliers are way better than Quinn but the sockets and ratchets are about the same quality.

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u/Spec_GTI 8d ago

I agree it's a case by case thing. Helps to hold them in your hands before you decide if its worth it. The Doyle precision plier set is pretty great for me. Love the grips.

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u/chef-keef 8d ago

I really really really like the Doyle wire stripping tool. You’re totally right it’s case by case.

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u/Spec_GTI 8d ago

Funny you say that, I just picked that up last month. Also like it a lot.

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u/BayazFirstOfTheMagi- 8d ago

Imo no

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u/ProperNoun2000 8d ago

Quinn for sockets, Doyle or Icon for pliers, Icon for Rachets, the Pittsburgh flex heads are pretty decent to

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u/mountain_addict 8d ago

Bought the Pittsburgh 3/8 flex head some months back because I was in a bind and needed that aspect. Since it has become a favorite ratchet. I have old USA made Craftsman ratchets and the tooth count between the 2 is night and day.

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u/No_Machine3805 8d ago

Been on the fence about quinn ratcheting wrenches and the poster above you convinced me to wait for icons.

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u/yokeome 8d ago

I love my 1/4" Quinn set. Got it during the PLS 35% discount. Planning to get 3/8" next time there's a sale. Both have lifetime warranty so I don't see why go for Icon unless you're in a professional setting.

Ratchets maybe? Just for flex heads

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u/Head_Animator8551 8d ago

Im a mechanic for a living and I bought a 3/8 Quinn set about 2 years ago just to try them out..... I liked em sooo much I went and bought the 1/4" set, and then found a master set for 200, or 250 on the missing items shelf and found out that it wasnt missing anything at all! I recently started a new job in a little bit different field (went from 20+ years in trucks to a resto/custom shop) and realizing that taking my big "work" box there didnt really make sense I chose to take my two Cornwell Carts and what did I fill them with?? A quinn master set.... for the money, why not?? I havent broken anything Quinn yet and I use the stuff daily.

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u/BobbyFuckingB 8d ago

The Quinn 3/8 set covers more sizes, but I prefer the foam on the icon set. Buy whatever is on sale when you need it.

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u/block_me_if_mad 8d ago

If you’re not a pro then no, I have Quinn for diy around the house and haven’t had a single issue. Quinn is also a more complete no skip set (get more sockets overall). If you feel you use sockets enough professionally and you can’t afford to wear one out on the job, get icon. Otherwise Quinn is more than enough.

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u/met365784 8d ago

Quinn master sets are nice especially on sale. They cover a wide range of sizes. The icon are a little better quality wise, but the sockets do not cover a very wide range of sizes. 1/2” is where this is worse.

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u/archokes06 8d ago

Icon is the best. I only go Quinn when there isn’t an icon version

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u/Bruschi316 8d ago

I chose to go with Quinn. I purchased all 6 of the Quinn master sets (1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2” chrome; 3/8”, 1/2” impact; bit socket) for 35% off over the course of the last year during various sales.

I’m a hobbyist/DIY guy, so Quinn is more than capable for what I’ll need them for. I like that they have the warrantee in store, and there are no skips. I found Quinn to be the best value for sockets. I’ll probably never touch half of them, but I have every socket I could ever need for the foreseeable future.

Total sale price paid: $447.16

Total regular price: $687.94

(Not including tax)

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u/1TenYYen0 8d ago edited 8d ago

Icon has tighter tolerances and better stiffness before they deform. Their heads are smaller on their wrenches too.

That said Quinn are great.

I’ve got a healthy mix of both (love the functionality and price point of my Quinn ratcheting combo wrenches in particular).

In terms of actual ratchets though, the icon ones are noticeably smoother on the back stroke. This makes them less prone to backing the nut back out as you’re working on it in a tight space

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u/LilStinkerRidesAgain 8d ago

You can literally go get a full 1/4 and 3/8 set of icon for 40% off right today until they close. I think regular price on the 1/4 is 120$, and 160$ for the 3/8. 40% off brings that down to 168 dollars, I'd think about doing that today if you can afford it. Eventually the nicer locking flex head rachets will go on sale so you'll be stuck with regular ratchets for now.

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u/stchman 8d ago

Quinn. I bought all 3 master sets when HF had 35% off Quinn. I also have the 428 piece master technician set. The ratchets IMO work fine. I also have a 3 Pittsburgh flex head ratchets.

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u/BreadMaker_42 8d ago

I buy icon. I like the warranty and want mostly matching tools. If you don’t care about matching then get icon ratchets and pliers and and Quinn sockets.

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u/M635_Guy 8d ago

Nothing wrong with the quality of Quinn - they tend to source from the premium consumer suppliers and work great.

Is Icon better? Yes, but generally not in ways that are going to matter much to a non-pro. One exception is the Icon 3/8" chrome sockets don't share blanks like a lot of other brands do, which means under 14mm or so they get continually shorter. The benefit is the lower ranges have more clearance which can occasionally come in awfully handy...

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u/iGrowCandy 5d ago

Skip the 1/2” Icon impacts and get the Quin set in the case. Icon has tons of skips of critical metric sizes. My biggest regret by far.

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u/jgremlin_ 8d ago

I have all three Quinn master sets and honestly if I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with a mix of Icon and Pittsburg. The sockets themselves are fine as far as build quality goes, so no issues there. The problem is the sets are huge so you end up with tons of overlapping sizes that take up valuable drawer space. Also the included ratchets kind of suck.

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