Koken is so much better than nepros. Anybody who says that nepros is the snap-on of Japan has never used koken. Are nepros ratchets beautifully finished? Definitely! Are they a quality tool? Also definitely! But koken is better in several aspects. The quality of koken vs. what you pay is unbelievable!! Their ratchets and sockets are top-tier quality!! Honestly, i think they are better than the majority of the US made tools. The quality, craftsmanship, and affordability just can not be beat. Their sockets and ratchets are just superb quality and better than literally every other brand I've ever owned. Yes, it's better than snap-on. The value for what you get is unbeatable. Their sockets are seriously the best quality I've ever seen too. Absolutely gorgeous tools!! Japanese tools are next level.
For sure I'll be adding a koken zeal 3/8 in 1/4 body ratchet with button release and an isolating one at 160mm or 280mm length in 3/8. I mostly use quinn 90T slim heads and they have been great, but i want something smaller and less back drag for tighter spaces and less torque. Also zeal sockets are very low profile giving you the best combination when soace is tight.
The Koken ratchets look really nice. I wish more manufacturers would offer knurled grips. I would take me awhile to get used to the backwards reversing lever.
I'm looking to buy one koken 1/4inch to work on my motorcycle, you recommend the long flex version or the straight short one. There's not much hard to reach or small place where the small size is needed. It's for a do it all application. I use a normal sized 1/4 inch ratchet at the moment and it works fine
@@balinoob1837 I would get the long flex head one to complement the short straight one you already have. Working DIY on Toyotas I have found uses for the long flex head one but never really needed the short straight one yet.
@@matthotchkin3935 I would choose the z series because it is the latest version, compact, lower arch swing, and I like the internal design more. That being said I prefer the feel, sound, knurled grip, and price of the old school one. If I was young and strapped for cash I would get the cheaper one for that reason alone.
@@sngopho eBay mostly but some on Amazon. The cheap ones ship from Japan. Keep an eye on the Yen (Japan currency). These were bought at the lows. Looks like it is heading back down. Also as Koken and KTC get more popular the price goes up. Here is one for $44 good deal on Amazon free shipping but from Japan: www.amazon.com/dp/B078RYW52H/ref=syn_sd_onsite_mobileweb_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pf_rd_p=1123174d-9b50-4ab3-adda-9b0c121e1574&pf_rd_r=1WPK3NY0TFV382D6P1EN&pd_rd_wg=8AMrm&pd_rd_w=tRU4o&pd_rd_r=1d661d5b-ab7e-4eb0-b034-fc90aea67bfd&aref=KTwHopTeLR Here is a eBay one for $43 www.ebay.com/itm/375655994983?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D274397%26meid%3D3d1a412e33044913be26d4a76aa9d217%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D395667664610%26itm%3D375655994983%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA%26brand%3DKOKEN&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A3756559949833d1a412e33044913be26d4a76aa9d217%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABQIV5CFHpx8qL94DS2Mo1uCi5RlK%252B6oGF%252Bq%252FvM6onJsyCAS4bVm4MG2DxmngmQBYs7QTou1H5%252BktC9DZbAMWEM%252B%252BdlquESLSCZunJqt41Rd0Jpo%252B961Uv4rJCVp8%252FxvBjYTFcPW2x0AzQBMd5bCKYPH7mgXZVfSZSTXZoCt4nLgs5L0o7LkbDG52pzVycj8c5LZoUAu0j0uQZ7DpCpkBkK2xgxRPwVWfSH7VMj5j6KhD9%252BSdQMgRaHjZ1A02sKpSOI5AdwOhW2WCLf%252FwqmAYpTE8dioHV%252BvL24kApklU50LBA4UBJhhdW4j6sGw2SSb04Ke8UVdEW9s4%252B14wJjHO641UNuNWufzFN99e6IPk9DZWxlm5ZWjomcEnONohS8ShsG9hbM4Xj8u5am%252Bkz2ZaO2ISQBZS0TWDfX6wv3cixUEWd%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&epid=14014875063&itmmeta=01J9QHZ6C981A8M6A1TRYS8GKV It seems the $29 deals are gone. I found you get the best price if you keep an eye and don’t just buy the first one you see. Also keep an eye on the yen and you will see the prices fluctuate as the yen does. Good luck. These ones I got are awesome!
@@ToolsMethodsPhilosophies thanks for the links. Looking to upgrade my ratchet set and at $29 they are a steal for high quality Japanese tools. What would you recommend 1/2 or 3/8 for a daily driver?
Koken is so much better than nepros. Anybody who says that nepros is the snap-on of Japan has never used koken. Are nepros ratchets beautifully finished? Definitely! Are they a quality tool? Also definitely! But koken is better in several aspects. The quality of koken vs. what you pay is unbelievable!! Their ratchets and sockets are top-tier quality!! Honestly, i think they are better than the majority of the US made tools. The quality, craftsmanship, and affordability just can not be beat. Their sockets and ratchets are just superb quality and better than literally every other brand I've ever owned. Yes, it's better than snap-on. The value for what you get is unbeatable. Their sockets are seriously the best quality I've ever seen too. Absolutely gorgeous tools!! Japanese tools are next level.
@@victorhoyt4352 I completely agree with you. I got carried away and purchased a lot of Koken tools recently.
Good review 👍 In love with Koken since I bought first ratchet from them. Now just expanding my collection...
@@Thomas081285 same for me.
I love my koken tools. I dont buy any other brand now after using them. The 24 tooth knurling grip handles are my favorite too.
@@boostlee5236 I agree 100%
For sure I'll be adding a koken zeal 3/8 in 1/4 body ratchet with button release and an isolating one at 160mm or 280mm length in 3/8. I mostly use quinn 90T slim heads and they have been great, but i want something smaller and less back drag for tighter spaces and less torque. Also zeal sockets are very low profile giving you the best combination when soace is tight.
@@PaulsToolReview they can be pricey
@@ToolsMethodsPhilosophies I'm very aware. Rome wasn't built in a day, so I'll slowly add
The Koken ratchets look really nice. I wish more manufacturers would offer knurled grips. I would take me awhile to get used to the backwards reversing lever.
@@mlieser1230 For ~$30 I will take these low tooth count knurled grip ratchets any day. Thanks for watching!
super smooth. ko-ken is good!
@@indoorxoutdoor7357 agree 100%
There seems to be a quality control issues with the 1/4" Z-Series, both ratchets and sockets.
@@wsmc8275 what are the issues? I have not experienced any so far.
I'm looking to buy one koken 1/4inch to work on my motorcycle, you recommend the long flex version or the straight short one. There's not much hard to reach or small place where the small size is needed. It's for a do it all application. I use a normal sized 1/4 inch ratchet at the moment and it works fine
@@balinoob1837 I would get the long flex head one to complement the short straight one you already have. Working DIY on Toyotas I have found uses for the long flex head one but never really needed the short straight one yet.
If you had choose between z series and standard what would you go with and why?
@@matthotchkin3935 I would choose the z series because it is the latest version, compact, lower arch swing, and I like the internal design more. That being said I prefer the feel, sound, knurled grip, and price of the old school one. If I was young and strapped for cash I would get the cheaper one for that reason alone.
@@ToolsMethodsPhilosophies thanks that helps me with my decision
@@matthotchkin3935 glad I could help you make the decision
Made a part number error. First large 1/2 ratchet part number is 4749N-380 not 4747N-380.
Where do you buy at that price?
@@sngopho eBay mostly but some on Amazon. The cheap ones ship from Japan. Keep an eye on the Yen (Japan currency). These were bought at the lows. Looks like it is heading back down. Also as Koken and KTC get more popular the price goes up. Here is one for $44 good deal on Amazon free shipping but from Japan:
www.amazon.com/dp/B078RYW52H/ref=syn_sd_onsite_mobileweb_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pf_rd_p=1123174d-9b50-4ab3-adda-9b0c121e1574&pf_rd_r=1WPK3NY0TFV382D6P1EN&pd_rd_wg=8AMrm&pd_rd_w=tRU4o&pd_rd_r=1d661d5b-ab7e-4eb0-b034-fc90aea67bfd&aref=KTwHopTeLR
Here is a eBay one for $43
www.ebay.com/itm/375655994983?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D274397%26meid%3D3d1a412e33044913be26d4a76aa9d217%26pid%3D101429%26rk%3D10%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D395667664610%26itm%3D375655994983%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimPLMWebV1EmbeddedAuctionsCPCAutoManualWithCIIXAIRecallsUpdatedRanker0424NoIMA%26brand%3DKOKEN&_trksid=p2332490.c101429.m2460&itmprp=cksum%3A3756559949833d1a412e33044913be26d4a76aa9d217%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABQIV5CFHpx8qL94DS2Mo1uCi5RlK%252B6oGF%252Bq%252FvM6onJsyCAS4bVm4MG2DxmngmQBYs7QTou1H5%252BktC9DZbAMWEM%252B%252BdlquESLSCZunJqt41Rd0Jpo%252B961Uv4rJCVp8%252FxvBjYTFcPW2x0AzQBMd5bCKYPH7mgXZVfSZSTXZoCt4nLgs5L0o7LkbDG52pzVycj8c5LZoUAu0j0uQZ7DpCpkBkK2xgxRPwVWfSH7VMj5j6KhD9%252BSdQMgRaHjZ1A02sKpSOI5AdwOhW2WCLf%252FwqmAYpTE8dioHV%252BvL24kApklU50LBA4UBJhhdW4j6sGw2SSb04Ke8UVdEW9s4%252B14wJjHO641UNuNWufzFN99e6IPk9DZWxlm5ZWjomcEnONohS8ShsG9hbM4Xj8u5am%252Bkz2ZaO2ISQBZS0TWDfX6wv3cixUEWd%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&epid=14014875063&itmmeta=01J9QHZ6C981A8M6A1TRYS8GKV
It seems the $29 deals are gone. I found you get the best price if you keep an eye and don’t just buy the first one you see. Also keep an eye on the yen and you will see the prices fluctuate as the yen does. Good luck. These ones I got are awesome!
@@ToolsMethodsPhilosophies thanks for the links. Looking to upgrade my ratchet set and at $29 they are a steal for high quality Japanese tools. What would you recommend 1/2 or 3/8 for a daily driver?
@@sngopho the old school Koken knurled grip 24 tooth count ones in this video is what I recommend.