Best Finds From the National Hardware Show 2022: 10 Clever Tools and Gear Worth a Look

Introduction

The National Hardware Show is where smaller tool makers get their shot, and this year’s floor had no shortage of clever problem-solvers. We walked the aisles and pulled together ten finds that stood out: ladder accessories that keep your drill within reach, a one-handed caulking tool, a fire starter that burns on water, a paver clamp that spares your back, a full generator and pressure washer program, and a few oddballs like a measuring clamp and a magnetic shower speaker. Some of these are niche, but each one solves a real, specific frustration.

BoxTown All-In-One Ladder Bumper Caddy

BoxTown’s All-In-One is a hard plastic caddy that covers the bumper of an extension ladder and gives you pegs to hang drill guns and other tools while you are up on the ladder. Instead of climbing down to hunt for a dropped driver, you leave it secured right where you are working. The same unit can also be mounted to other surfaces such as a work van, a wood shed, or a tool rack, which makes it a two-in-one: it holds your drill and doubles as a carry handle.

It is widely available, stocked in over 2,500 Ace Hardware stores and typically priced around $8.99, with BoxTown products also listed at Lowe’s and on Amazon. For that money it is an easy add for any DIYer or contractor who spends time on ladders.

BoxTown All-In-One XL Pro

The XL Pro is the bigger sibling, designed for combination and king combo ladders. Those larger ladders notoriously lack anywhere to put things, and this version solves that by giving you a secure spot for a drill gun up top, plus side storage you can grab from while working. BoxTown designed its whole lineup so the same logic carries across ladder types, so if you own more than one ladder, the family of accessories stays consistent.

BoxTown Ladder Roller

The Ladder Roller mounts to extension ladders and A-frames so you can roll the ladder along the ground instead of hand-carrying it long distances. Anyone who has shuffled a heavy extension ladder across a driveway or around a job site knows exactly how much effort this saves. It mounts above the ladder and lets the rails glide, cutting down the strain of repositioning.

Caulking Finger

The Caulking Finger came from a paint contractor who spent 30 years wearing his finger out smoothing caulk and finally built a tool to replace it. The idea is simple: wet the tip, slide it across the bead, and you get a clean, smooth result without ever touching the caulk. When you are done, you stick it in a holder, spin it around, and it cleans itself off. It is a small, cheap fix for one of the most annoying repetitive tasks in finishing work, and the kind of thing that makes you wonder why it did not exist sooner.

Insta-Fire Fire Starter

Insta-Fire specializes in fire starter with genuinely unusual properties: it floats on water, will not be blown out in 20-plus mph winds, is safe to hold in your hand while lit, and leaves no environmental residue after burning. That combination makes it a natural fit for camping, emergency kits, and scouting use, where reliability in bad conditions matters more than anything else. If you have ever tried to light a fire in wind or rain with conventional starter, the appeal is obvious.

Safer Paver

The Safer Paver is a tool that lets you pick up and lay down a paver block with one hand, gripping the block right out of the middle. It handles everything from a 4-inch block up to a 36-inch block, which covers most of the landscape and hardscape range. Laying pavers is otherwise a two-handed, back-straining job, and this clamp makes it a one-person task. Anyone planning a patio or walkway project should give it a look.

Westinghouse Generators

Westinghouse is relaunching with a full outdoor power program built on the brand’s long heritage in electricity. The lineup covers a world-class generator program, a best-in-class pressure washer line, and modular, portable solar panels that can charge a power station. That mix is aimed squarely at life outdoors and life on the go: power outages, job sites, camping, and everything in between. The brand is distributed through all the usual retail channels, including Amazon, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walmart, so finding one locally is not a problem.

Mighty Measure

The Mighty Measure solves a problem every tape measure user knows: getting an accurate reading around a bend. You clamp it over your tape at the bend point, glide it into place, and get the measurement right every time instead of guessing. It fits the tape you already own and works with standard clamping action, which makes it one of those rare accessories that costs little and removes a daily frustration for framers, remodelers, and serious DIYers alike. It is available through distributors such as Obvious Solutions in America and via the maker’s own website.

Stealth Mouse

The Stealth Mouse is exactly what the name suggests: a quiet, stealthy computer mouse, and the people demonstrating it clearly loved it. It sits outside the traditional tool category, but on a show floor full of noise and clatter, a genuinely quiet peripheral is a nice palate cleanser. If you work in a shared space or late at night and hate loud clicking, it is worth checking out.

Little Speaker Bluetooth Magnetic Speaker

The Little Speaker is a small Bluetooth speaker with a magnetic backing that sticks right to the back of your phone, your phone case, or anything metal: a refrigerator door, a car bumper, a barbecue grill. The box includes two adhesive metal rings you can stick on a wall, which turns any shower into a place with music. It is water resistant, and despite its small size it puts out sound that holds up. For the price of a small accessory, it is a fun, flexible upgrade for kitchens, showers, and outdoor cooking.

Overall Buying Advice

The common thread across these finds is that each one targets a specific, repeatable annoyance rather than trying to do everything. If you work on ladders, the BoxTown lineup is the cheapest quality-of-life upgrade here, starting around $8.99. If your pain is finishing work, the Caulking Finger and Mighty Measure are small tools that pay for themselves quickly. For outdoor and emergency preparedness, Insta-Fire and the Westinghouse power program cover fire and electricity from opposite ends. And if you just want something fun and practical, the Safer Paver and Little Speaker are the standout picks. Match the tool to the task you actually do most often, and most of these will earn their keep.

Conclusion

This year’s show proved you do not need a flagship product to make an impression. A ladder caddy under ten dollars, a clamp that lifts a 36-inch block with one hand, and a fire starter that floats are all smart, focused ideas. Check availability through the makers’ sites or mainstream retailers, and pick the one that fixes the job you hate most.