Spanners tested

If you do anything more than just check the fluid levels on your car, then the chances are you'll need spanners. A decent set of combinations is usually the first automotive tool we buy when starting to work on cars. However, even if you already have a good selection, you could still be missing out on the latest technology.

Tool materials and designs have improved in recent years and even the way spanners turn nuts and bolts has changed, reducing the risk of slipping and skinned knuckles. So which are the best buys? We lined up 14 sets to find out.

Verdict

Combine a high-quality set of tools, a good price, excellent strength, a decent carry case and the sheer versatility of the Alldrive spanner heads, and Laser's 3732 comfortably took our Best Buy award.The fight for second and third places was very close between the 12-piece set from Clarke and the 14-tool kit from Yamoto. In the end, the latter won the day. The spanners weren't quite as indestruc-tible as Clarke's set, but the two extra sizes of tool more than compensated.