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While longtime Harbor Freight fans will already have their favorite products, if you’re new to the retailer, it can be hard to know where to start. Unlike many other large power tool retailers, Harbor Freight does not stock big-name brands, instead offering its own range of in-house tools covering a variety of segments and price points. Some of those brands have a mixed reputation, with some products worth buying and others that consumers shy away from. Also, some brands are usually more consistent with the quality and performance of their products.

Confusingly, this consensus does not always correspond to any kind of product pricing structure either. In some cases, you really do get what you pay for, and in other cases, many DIYers would be better served by purchasing products from one of the retailer’s cheaper brands than from a pricier premium brand. Every regular Harbor Freight shopper will have their own opinions on which brands are best for their needs, but we’ve selected six of the retailer’s current brands that receive consistently positive feedback from shoppers across all of their products.

It may be expensive, but for mechanics looking for Harbor Freight’s highest quality automotive tools, the Icon brand of tools is hard to beat. It is aimed at the most demanding users, including professionals who often rely on tool trucks to buy the latest tools. However, some of its most popular products are affordable, such as its magnetic tool mat, which can be picked up for less than $30.

Its G2 series of ratchets is one of the brand’s most well-reviewed tools, with many real-world comparisons that make it an attractive alternative to Snap-On tools. While not all of its products receive positive reviews, most of Icon’s line of tools, tool chests, and diagnostic equipment receive surprisingly consistent reviews from consumers. The main downside is that the price points for Icon products are much higher than Harbor Freight’s entry-level offerings, making them too expensive to afford most casual wrenchers. However, if you have an open budget and want to stock up on tool truck style products, Icon is your Harbor Freight brand.

Another professional Harbor Freight brand that is consistently well reviewed by buyers and testers is Hercules. Some Hercules power tools are more powerful than their Milwaukee counterparts, while others offer the same performance at a much smaller price. Hercules currently offers a wide range of power tools that include everything from saws and grinders to sweepers and fans, and Harbor Freight regularly expands the product line with new products.

Like Icon, Hercules’ prices may be enough to put off some buyers. Casual DIYers won’t need the level of power and durability offered by the brand’s best tools, but buyers looking for a cheaper alternative to professional-grade tools from big-name brands should find Hercules’ prices very attractive.

Although Hercules sells a variety of corded tools, the bulk of its lineup is made up of cordless tools. The product’s cordless tools are divided into two main lines: its 12V and 20V lines, mounted similarly to Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 cordless. The Hercules 12V line is more compact and affordable, while the 20V line offers higher power.

While Hercules power tools offer high power at a premium price, Bauer’s less expensive Harbor Freight brand is aimed at consumers looking for affordable tools. Bauer’s current lineup includes a long list of high-quality products that cover a wide array of home improvement, automotive, and everyday DIY tools. The price difference between Hercules and Bauer is huge: for example, a Hercules ½-inch 20V cordless drive kit with a 2Ah battery and charger will set you back $97.99, while the same kit from Bauer costs $54.99.

The difference in maximum torque between the two tools is huge – the Hercules drill/driver delivers up to 1,200 in-lb while the Bauer drill/driver only manages 450 in-lb. However, for most DIYers, Bauer’s offering will still be powerful enough to handle any task they will need. It’s also worth noting the difference in warranty coverage between the two brands, as Hercules offers a five-year warranty on tools such as the drill/driver, while Bauer offers just 90 days of standard cover.

The current range of Bauer tools includes hundreds of products, and there are definitely a few tools that don’t live up to the standard set by the entire range. It’s good to check what reviewers on the Harbor Freight website have to say about any given tool before buying, but it’s especially a safe bet for shoppers on a budget.

Rather than boasting a spread across multiple segments, some of Harbor Freight’s brands offer a more focused set of products. The Daytona is one such brand, with only 29 products in its current range at the time of writing. This brand specializes in car jacks, selling a variety of floor jacks and jack stands as well as wheel dollies.

Many of its products receive high praise from reviewers on the brand’s website, and many variants of its signature floor jack are available with unique features. One notable feature is the Rapid Pump, designed to lift heavy-duty cars, trucks, and SUVs quickly using a dual-piston system. Daytona’s floor jack looks similar to Snap-On’s far pricier floor jack, and that’s no accident. The two jacks are very similar in design, to the point that Snap-On once sued Harbor Freight. Thanks to the faithful of Harbor Freight, the lawsuit was dropped, and Daytona continues to sell its floor jack today.

Daytona is listed as Harbor Freight’s premium jack brand, and wrenchers on a tight budget can look to its cheaper Pittsburgh-branded jacks instead. However, the Pittsburgh brand is not featured on this list, as it has a very mixed reputation overall. While many of Pittsburgh’s brands are well-liked, several of the worst-rated products in Harbor Freight’s entire range are sold by the brand.

If you’re a beginner looking to learn how to weld, Harbor Freight’s Titanium range of welders is a great choice. They are more affordable than many competing products, yet reviewers are impressed with their performance. Group comparisons by the likes of Project Farm also saw Titanium welders rated as among the best cheap welders out there. Reviewers are similarly optimistic about the brand’s plasma cutters, and the brand also sells a number of accessories such as gloves and helmets so readers can buy all the essentials at once.

Titanium welders are not the cheapest offered by Harbor Freight, and their Chicago Electric welders are less expensive. However, Titanium welders undoubtedly deserve to be paid more due to their increased capabilities and the consistency of the product range. The cheapest welder in the Titanium range costs $149.99, while on the other end of the spectrum, the brand’s Unlimited 200 Multiprocess Welder offers pro-level features but costs $749.99.

Off-road enthusiasts will find a lot to love about Harbor Freight’s Badland brand, which is best known for its rugged line of winches but also sells all-terrain jacks, cables, and a variety of other off-road accessories. Many of these accessories are highly rated by consumers, however like all good Harbor Freight products, they are not as expensive as the big name brands. Badland isn’t without its less-than-stellar offerings, but a quick check of its store page on the Harbor Freight website should be all it takes to avoid a few poorly reviewed products in its lineup.

In general, Badland has earned a good reputation among buyers, although not all brands at Harbor Freight can claim the same. Haul-Master also offers a range of truck accessories, but it has a high percentage of products that have received mixed reception from consumers. While Haul-Master buyers need to be more careful to avoid buying a dud, buyers of Badland products can shop safe in the knowledge that almost every brand of the brand has received a guarantee of approval from the dealer’s customers.