Wera - 5022720001 Stainless 3950 PKL/9 Ball-point Metric Hex-Plus Ergonomic L-Key Set with Two-Component Storage Clip, 9-Piece

The gold standard. The hand feel, the engineering, the peace of mind. Do yourself a favor and try these out!

Excellent fastener fitment and tool finish. Handy holder as well. These are better imo than the plastic sleeves version because the plastic sleeve breaks or loosens over time.

The Wera Allen Wrenches are absolutely worth every penny for anyone serious about quality tools. From the moment you pick them up, it’s clear they’re built to last, with high-quality materials that can handle heavy use without wearing out or losing their precision. The ergonomic design is another highlight—comfortable to hold and easy to use, even during extended projects where lesser tools might cause fatigue or discomfort.What truly sets these wrenches apart, though, is their exceptional performance. The precision machining ensures a perfect fit and an incredible bite on screws, meaning they grip securely and won’t slip, even on older, worn, or stubborn fasteners. This level of reliability saves time and frustration, especially in tight or awkward spaces where slipping can be a real headache.While they may cost more than standard Allen wrenches, the performance and durability justify the price. You’re not just buying a tool—you’re investing in something that will last for years and make every job easier. Whether you’re a professional mechanic or a DIY enthusiast, Wera Allen Wrenches are a smart purchase that you won’t regret.

I have several road bicycles some of which are very expensive and unique (Colnago Master, Chesini X-Uno, Treks, etc). I bought this set because I did not want to take the chance and ruin European fasteners by an Allen not fitting tight and possibly rounding off a head. I also wanted stainless steel tools to match other tools in my tool box and prevent any surface corrosion that may build up on normal tools if not kept clean. The Allen wrenches fit perfectly. They are of high tolerance and of great quality. To date, no complaints nor have I rounded any fasteners.

TL;DR: for frequent heavy use in an industrial setting, buy a set and never look back.I bought a set of these in 2014 and used them heavily since then in the marine/offshore industry. These rarely if ever strip bolts like a cheap set will, and I've put some pretty long cheater pipes on the 8 and 10 mm keys in order to break loctite and such. They're particularly great for socket heads that have been painted over and are difficult to clean out, or haven't been touched in a very long time and have reduced strength from corrosion.The smaller keys have just the right amount of flex to serve as a warning that they're under way, way too much torque and it's time to stop and think things over. Still pretty sure I'd break just about any fastener that wasn't too soft to begin with before stripping its head, but I haven't felt the urge to test that with the smaller keys.They're more compatible with stainless fasteners, which can rust if contaminated by metal transfer from non-stainless tools. Niche, but one less thing to worry about with fasteners intended to operate underwater or in salt air.I don't use the ball end of these as often as the main end, but they're great for tight and awkward access situations and work a lot better than any of the other ball end keys I've tried. They still don't slip or strip very easily even with an appropriately sized box end wrench over the short end for leverage at up to around five degrees off-axis. If I had to use them like this more often I would want a better way to extend them as they're a bit too short to really apply much torque to.The round profile is much more comfortable to use for extended periods pulling high torques than a standard key's angular profile.All this, and they pretty much still look like they're brand new.Now for the minor complaints and nit-picking:The holder/clip is nice but loses some grip on the keys after a few years and some exposure to oil. Still not bad enough that I've felt the need to find an alternate way to store them though.They have a round profile outside of the tips. This means they can't be turned with a wrench along the length of the key for more torque while using the ball end. They also can't be used as a field expedient height gauge to check or set a gap. I've run into certain situations where I've had to cut a hex key down to fit into a tight space, and that's not possible with these.The 8 and 10 mm keys are over 7" long, which is the TSA's current arbitrary limit for tools in carry-on bags. Long story short, it's sub-optimal to try and fly with this particular set if one happens to be headed somewhere that checked luggage is often delayed, and will need them to be able to work on arrival, and one happens to run into that one screener with a fondness for rulers and rules.The only other real downside to these is having to watch them closely if you make the mistake of allowing someone else to handle them, so they don't "accidentally" disappear.About the pricing:Sure, they're not cheap, but I was going through cheap sets every six to twelve months, and the reduction in headaches from stripped socket heads would still have been worth every penny even if they hadn't turned out to be nigh indestructible.There's a version of this set with colorful rubber sleeves. I wouldn't bother because I'm pretty sure they'd last about a day under hard use and they're more expensive than this set last I checked.

I'm an industrial maintenance mechanic. Wera makes a number of high-end products that several of my co-workers use. I've used Wiha allen wrenches for years and thought I'd switch it up. These Wera wrenches are an excellent tool. They're the longest allen I've ever used, which might actually be a con if you're trying to get into tight spaces. But, the length gives plenty of leverage to get tough sockethead bolts out. The ball-end is great at getting a hold on fasteners at a bad angle. My favorite feature is the way they've formed the short end. It grips really, really well. My only complaint is they're so smooth sometimes I have a hard time getting a good grip on them. Wera makes other finishes and wraps for their allens, so that's not a terrible problem if I decide to buy another set. Overall, they're excellent tools. I rely on these every day at work.

I initially wanted the colored versions, but I went with the stainless version instead. I work around hydraulic fluid and didn't want to ruin the finish on them over time. So far, the laser etching has held up with a small amount of wear. The physical edges of the tips are IMMACULATE after all the abuse I've given to them!! ABSOULUTE must buy if you want a one and done set for your life. Strength, quality, craftsmanship, believe me I know they are not bargain bin pricing, but you must already know the difference if you're reading this. Sorry no photo since I wasn't at work to take a photo of them.