Knipex 98 2402 Phillips Screwdriver Review: A Serious Handle for Overland Tool Kits

Introduction

Building a tool kit for a multi-week overlanding trip forces a certain honesty about every item you pack. The guiding idea behind a maximum-minimalism approach is simple: weight is the biggest enemy, and any tool that does not clearly fit a fastener on the vehicle you are actually driving should probably stay home. That mindset led to a closer look at the Knipex 98 2402 Phillips screwdriver, a tool that earned a place in the kit for reasons worth explaining.

This is a “screwdriver for cross recessed screws”, which is Knipex’s way of saying Phillips. It is also a first impression of Knipex as a screwdriver maker, a brand better known elsewhere in the tool world.

Who This Product Is For

The 98 2402 makes the most sense for anyone assembling a deliberate, weight-conscious tool kit rather than tossing a full set into a drawer. If you are building a kit for overlanding, expedition travel, or vehicle-based work where every gram is scrutinized, picking individual tools instead of complete sets is the whole game.

It also suits anyone curious about handle ergonomics. If you care about how a screwdriver actually feels in the hand over long fastening sessions, this one has enough personality to be worth a look.

Main Strengths

Knipex builds serious screwdrivers for electricians, and this one is thousand-volt rated. The blade is made of chrome vanadium molybdenum steel. Unlike some competitors, the front of the blade has not received any particular treatment such as blasting or carved grooves; what you get is a clean, conventional tip.

The handle is the story here. It uses a soft overmold with a lanyard hole, which matters if you want to tether the tool so it does not go sailing off the project you are working on. The balance point sits noticeably far back, similar to a Snap-on handle, and that rear-weighted feel quickly moved it to the top of the personal ranking.

One genuinely interesting detail: the handle is slightly asymmetrical. Spinning it at its thickest point reveals a clear orientation to the profile. That is unusual, since most screwdriver handles are symmetrical because a screw lands in a random orientation and there is nothing to align to. Whether that asymmetry is intentional design or simply a quirk, it gives the handle a distinct feel in the hand.

Bright colors make the tool easy to find, which matters more than it sounds when tools are scattered around a vehicle.

Handle Ergonomics and Balance

Handle ergodynamics are a recurring obsession when comparing screwdrivers, and the 98 2402 slots into a lineup alongside Klein, Snap-on, Wera, and PB Swiss. Against those benchmarks, a few patterns emerge.

The PB Swiss handle is remarkably light and currently holds the top spot for feel. This Knipex is heavier, with more material toward the rear, likely from a softer rubber overmold and dense plastic at the base. It leans more industrial than the PB Swiss, closer to a demolition-grade driver, but the weight distribution is balanced rather than clumsy.

One clever possibility with the large lanyard hole: a smaller rod could be threaded through it to create a makeshift T-handle for extra torque on a stubborn screw. Whether the tool is designed for that is unclear, but it seems like a sensible trick if you are fighting a pesky fastener.

How It Compares to Other Handles

Most handles stay symmetrical because a Phillips screw offers nothing to orient against. Square-drive handles can benefit from asymmetry because knowing how far you are turning matters for adjustment work, such as carburetor tuning where quarter turns count. The 98 2402 already carries quarter-turn markings in that spirit, and its slight asymmetry is close in size to a Snap-on handle, so it sits in familiar territory dimensionally.

If you enjoy comparing handles the way some people compare 10 millimeter wrenches, this one is a worthy addition to the collection. It may even justify starting a habit of acquiring number two Phillips screwdrivers for side-by-side comparisons.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few caveats are worth weighing. The handle is on the heavier side compared with lightweight options like PB Swiss, and if minimum weight is your top priority, that matters. The asymmetry, while interesting, serves no obvious functional purpose for Phillips work.

Knipex also makes a slimmer version without the bulk at the base, which is useful if you need to insert the driver into a smaller recessed hole, though the slim variant is more expensive. Longer versions also cost more. This one measures roughly 212 millimeters overall. The price came as a pleasant surprise, sitting lower than expected given the brand and the thousand-volt rating.

Buying Advice

For a weight-focused kit, the default strategy is picking individual pieces rather than complete sets, and this screwdriver fits that approach well. It is a solid performer from a maker with a strong reputation for quality tools, and the real test will be how it holds up over long-term use on the trail.

If you already use lightweight handles and love them, this one may feel like a step back in weight. If you prefer a fuller, rear-balanced grip with real meat to hold onto, it may become your favorite. The lanyard hole, bright color, and thousand-volt rating round out a package that is easy to recommend at its price point.

Conclusion

The Knipex 98 2402 is a well-built, thoughtfully weighted Phillips screwdriver with an unusual asymmetric handle, a lanyard hole, and a price that undercuts expectations. It earned a spot in a maximum-minimalism overlanding kit on merit, and it stands up reasonably well against established names like Snap-on, PB Swiss, Klein, and Wera. If you are curating tools one piece at a time, this is an easy one to justify.