Lowe’s quietly added a new Kobalt bit ratchet multi-tool to its hand tool lineup, and it reads like a direct answer to the “meme tool” wave that Harbor Freight kicked off a few years back. It is a 1/4-inch hex bit ratchet with ten screwdriver bits and a built-in pry bar, all packed into a case sized for a keychain or glove box. Price: $15, according to ToolGuyd, which spotted the launch.
What’s In the Kit
- 1/4-inch hex bit ratchet as the core driver
- Ten screwdriver bits covering Phillips, slotted, square, and possibly Torx styles
- Built-in pry bar for pulling nails, opening paint cans, and cutting packaging tape
- Keychain-sized case sized for EDC carry or a glove box
The pry bar is the differentiator here. Bit ratchets with keychain cases are everywhere on Amazon, and most are near-identical copies of Facom’s original design. A pry bar molded into the body is something the common clones don’t do.
The Meme Tool Context
For anyone who missed the trend: Harbor Freight released a copy of Facom’s compact bit ratchet set a few years ago, it went viral on social media, and the category picked up the nickname “meme tool.” Retailers noticed. Lowe’s now builds the search term into its own store, and Kobalt has several compact ratchet kits that lean on Wera-style designs.
What makes this one interesting is that it is not another clone. ToolGuyd called it refreshingly original, and the tool world does not hand out that phrase often for a $15 Lowe’s launch.
Value Check
At $15 this sits above the $10-and-under clones but below premium ratchet sets. Expect the ratcheting mechanism to be the make-or-break: cheap mini ratchets tend to skip under load, and the review comments on similar tools always come back to that one question. If it holds up, this is an easy stocking stuffer or glove box kit. If it skips, you are out $15 and a lesson.
Shoppers who want more capacity should look at a full mechanic’s tool set instead, since a mini ratchet will never replace a proper socket wrench for torque work.
Where to Buy
The kit is listed at Lowe’s. Check the Kobalt multi-tools section on lowes.com or your local store, since inventory on new Kobalt hand tool launches tends to start thin and build through the season. We could not verify a direct product page at time of writing, so check the store listing for the exact model number before ordering.
This is a hand tool with no battery platform, so it works alongside any system you already own, including the Kobalt 24V Gen-3 cordless line. If you are shopping this category, our Klein 2-in-1 adjustable wrench ratchet review covers the other end of the compact hand tool spectrum, and the 2026 holiday gift guide has more stocking-stuffer ideas in this price range.