Best Locking Pliers: 18 Brands Tested Head to Head

Introduction

Locking pliers are one of those tools you only appreciate when you reach for a bad pair. To separate the good from the forgettable, eighteen brands of 10-inch locking pliers, nearly all with curved jaws, were run through a structured comparison covering grip on soft metal, front-teeth grip, grip on hardened steel, and how easily each pair releases its lock.

Prices ranged from just $7 for the Pittsburgh pair up to $48 for the Gedore, with every tool tested at the same 10-inch length so the results stay fair.

How the Testing Worked

Each pair was locked onto a grade two bolt with the adjustment screw tightened to 100 inch-pounds, then a torque calibration tool measured the maximum torque before the pliers slipped. The same method was repeated with the front teeth of the jaws, with much harder grade eight bolts, and with 1/2-inch socket extensions made of very hard tool steel at a higher 180 inch-pound screw torque. Finally, a push-pull force meter measured how many pounds of force it took to release the lock.

That last test matters more than it sounds. A pair that unlocks too easily can let go mid-job, while one that takes twenty pounds of force becomes annoying in daily use.

Best Overall: Malco Eagle Grips

At $35, the Malco Eagle Grips finished first in every single test. The claimed patented power ring provides increased thread strength, the pinned and embedded upper jaw creates a strong bond with the pliers body, and the adjustment screw was the smoothest of the entire lineup. They are also made in the USA and weigh 536 grams.

The numbers back the marketing up: 1,250 inch-pounds on the soft grade two bolt, 222 inch-pounds in the front-teeth test, over 1,100 inch-pounds on the grade eight bolt, and just under 410 inch-pounds on the socket extension test. Release effort sits at a reasonable 8.1 pounds.

With an average finish of second place across the scorecard despite winning every test outright, the Eagle Grips are the clear choice if you want the pair that simply does not slip.

Best Value: Irwin Vise-Grips

The Irwin Vise-Grips are the original vice grip brand, and at $26 they performed extremely well for the money. Irwin claims three times the gripping strength, a curved jaw designed for square, flat, round, or hex surfaces, and high-grade heat-treated alloy steel construction. They are made in Taiwan, weigh 522 grams, and the adjustment screw moves freely.

Results were consistently excellent: 1,129 inch-pounds on the soft bolt, 169 in the front-teeth test where they led, 913.6 on grade eight, and 308.5 on the hardened socket extension with teeth that held up really well. Release force is a very manageable 6.9 pounds, easier than the Eagle Grips.

If you are unwilling to spend extra for the Eagle Grips, this is the pair to buy.

Solid All-Rounder: Craftsman

The Craftsman pair costs $20 and finished with an average score around fourth place, making it a great all-around set. One caveat: only a straight-jaw version was available when shopping, which is worth knowing if you specifically need a curved jaw. Craftsman claims one-hand operation with an easy release mechanism, multi-zone bilateral grips, and high-grade heat-treated alloy steel. They are made in China and weigh 604 grams.

The straight jaws proved to be an advantage rather than a limitation, letting a bolt sit very close to the fulcrum. Craftsman delivered just over 92 inch-pounds early on, 772.5 inch-pounds to lead the grade eight bolt test, and 284.8 in the socket extension test where the teeth held up really well. Unlocking takes only 8.3 pounds of force.

How the Rest of the Field Performed

Milwaukee, at $32 for two sets, took third place overall on grip strength at 987.3 inch-pounds and has sharp teeth and very little wobble, though it lost grip early on the grade eight bolt. Klein Tools, CH Hansen, Tekton, and Tang Tools all posted respectable mid-field numbers, with Tekton and Klein Tools among the smoothest adjustment screws tested.

At the bottom, several pairs struggled badly. Pittsburgh at $7 could not generate enough torque to register on the tester in the first test and failed the socket extension test entirely, with soft teeth that suffered damage. Harden failed structurally in the socket extension test, and Gedore at $48 bent under 180 inch-pounds despite being the most expensive pair. Knipex, usually excellent in other tool categories, warped under load in the socket extension test. GripOn had the grittiest screw and consistently low numbers.

Buying Advice

If budget is no concern and you want pliers that grip anything, the Malco Eagle Grips are worth the $35. If you want near-identical grip performance for $9 less, the Irwin Vise-Grips are the smart pick, and they also unlock slightly easier. The Craftsman straight-jaw pair is a reasonable third option at $20, particularly if straight jaws suit your work.

Whatever you choose, avoid the cheapest end of the market. The Pittsburgh pair showed exactly why a low-quality locking pliers is worse than no locking pliers at all: soft teeth, gritty adjustment, and no grip when it counts.

Conclusion

Across four grip tests and a release test, the Malco Eagle Grips won everything, Irwin Vise-Grips offered the best value, and Craftsman proved dependable as an all-rounder. Match the jaw style to your work, prioritize a smooth adjustment screw and sharp teeth, and any of these three will handle tough jobs for years.