5 underrated Ryobi tools you didn’t know you needed

Published Oct 26, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. Ryobi is one of the most popular power tool brands around, especially with homeowners and DIYers. And while you probably have all the usual tools you'll see on the shelves of Home Depot, like drills and drivers, that's not all Ryobi offers. It's easy to buy some of the most recommended gear, but don't forget about these underrated Ryobi tools. As any Ryobi fan knows, the company makes a little bit of everything, especially on its expansive 18V ONE+ lineup. Plus, exciting new products are constantly arriving to help complete another task. Below, we've gathered a list of criminally underrated Ryobi tools that real owners and Reddit users swear by. Ryobi 18V Dual-Function Creeper Seat A mechanic creeper seat with lights and storage If you've ever crawled under a vehicle to do some work, you know how useful a good creeper seat can be. In typical Ryobi fashion, the company has an 18V ONE+ Creeper seat packed with additional features, and it makes for a great garage chair. The Ryobi 18V Dual Function Lighted Creeper/Seat is a multi-position chair and lay-flat creeper with a 400lb weight capacity, built-in lighting, and power from the 18V battery you already own. There's built-in tool storage, snap-on storage bins, durable caster wheels, and much more. This thing has a ton to offer all in a pretty compact package. More importantly, it's only $189, which is why a few owners on Reddit absolutely love it. This is a highly versatile tool, which is part of what makes it so underrated, but you also have to consider how much it would cost with a Milwaukee logo on the side instead of Ryobi. Yeah, break out the benjamins, a lot of them. Ryobi 18V Dual Function Lighted Creeper Seat Ryobi makes a mechanic creeper that doubles as a multi-position chair, with built-in lighting and storage. Check it out. Ryobi 18V Cordless Planer Wood jobs don't stand a chance Credit: Ryobi Another random Ryobi tool that's quite underrated is the 18V 3-1/4 in Planer. It's only $127, and while it's not the most common woodworking tool around, it's one of those items that can save you time and money and improve the fit and finish of projects. Ryobi's table saw doesn't get a lot of love due to a poor design in some areas, but everyone who has the Planer absolutely loves the cordless capabilities in an affordable package. It might not be the strongest planer in the world, but it is cordless, better than the outgoing model, has a built-in dust collector, and will make easy work of your next wood project. Ryobi High-Pressure Tire Inflator This should be in every garage Credit: Ryobi I've mentioned Ryobi's affordable little 18V high-pressure inflator several times because it's an excellent tool. It's constantly recommended on Reddit, and fans everywhere say it's one of their favorite purchases. For under $40, it's an invaluable tool everyone should have in their garage for car and bike tires, toys, basketballs, an air mattress, or for camping. Better yet, it's constantly on sale for $18. Even at the regular retail price of $39, it's an underrated item you should just impulse buy. The built-in display makes it easy to track your PSI, and you'll love the preset buttons to prevent overfilling a bike tire. And if you're worried about power, it'll handle up to 160 PSI, so it'll work fine on vehicles. Ryobi 18V ONE+ High-Pressure Tire Inflator Tool Type Tire Inflator Warranty 3-Year Manufacturer's Warranty With 160 PSI of pressure from any ONE+ 18V battery, this inflator is fast and capable. Plus, there's an auto-shutoff mode to prevent overinflation of car or bike tires. Ryobi 18V Dual Temperature Cordless Glue Gun Arts, crafts, home repairs, and so much more Credit: Ryobi Scroll around in the Ryobi subreddit long enough, and you're bound to see multiple people praising Ryobi's 18V cordless glue gun. This handy tool is regularly on sale for under $50, although the original retail price is $60. Even then, you'll use it so much that it'll pay for itself in no time. Ryobi's 18V cordless glue gun has two temperature modes: a low-temperature option for delicate tasks and a higher 320°F mode for construction-grade glue or larger jobs. I use this every year to hang Christmas lights on the brick around my home, make small repairs in the garage, and do other arts and crafts. It gets hot in under 90 seconds, and more importantly, there's no frustrating cable in the way. The next time this glue gun is on sale, do yourself a favor and buy one. Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Dual Temperature Glue Gun Color Green, grey Product Dimensions Glue gun, 3 glue cartridges, long nozzle diameter 0.1" (2.5mm) This glue gun heats up within three minutes and has an LED indicator. It has dual temperature settings of 130 degrees C and 200 degrees C. Get yourself a small Ryobi 1.5Ah or 2Ah Battery You'll love having a small and lightweight option I have over a dozen Ryobi 18V battery packs of various sizes, along with several 40V batteries. When I first started my collection, I quickly bought a few large 6Ah and 8Ah packs for bigger jobs. As time went on, I eventually received a few smaller 1.5Ah or 2Ah packs in combo kits, and didn't think I'd use them at all. Boy, was I wrong. Why use a tiny battery when I have several bigger 4 or 6Ah ones that'll last longer? Weight and ease of use! I use my Ryobi 1.5 Ah (the smallest battery it currently offers) on my 4-inch clamp fan constantly. I bust it out for the baby stroller, while camping, or in my truck, blowing on the kiddo in the backseat during the hot summer months. It's also great for lights, fans, and quick jobs. Ryobi makes over 350 items in the 18V ONE+ ecosystem, and a ton of them greatly benefit from a small, lightweight, extra-portable battery pack. Honestly, having a tiny battery is extremely underrated. Once you have one, you'll find it's perfect for quickly throwing into your drill for a random job, fans, lights, or anything else the company has to offer. Ryobi's smallest battery packs are often ignored, but they're pretty essential if you ask me. Underappreciated Ryobi tools that are worth buying When you have over 350 products that all run on the same 18V battery pack, it's easy for tools and products to get lost in the fold. Most homeowners and DIYers are looking for drills, impact drivers, saws, fans, and the like. But don't forget about some of these awesome oddball tools that'll make jobs easier than ever.