DeWalt 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Drive Ratchet & Socket Set (34-Piece)

Why I reached for this set

I’ve got bigger, fuller socket assortments on the shelf, but the DeWalt 34‑piece kit has become the one I actually carry. It’s compact, covers both SAE and metric basics from 5/32 in. up to 7/8 in. and 5 mm to 19 mm, and the ratchet and sockets feel like real tools—not afterthoughts packed into a flashy case. Over the past few weeks I used it for a battery swap in my truck, tightening a deck bracket, and pulling a fascia panel on a small hatchback. Each time, it did exactly what I needed without forcing me to dig around for more.

Build and ergonomics

The 3/8 in. drive ratchet is the heart of the kit. It’s a 72‑tooth mechanism, which translates to a 5° arc swing. In practice, that means you can keep turning fasteners in places where a coarser ratchet would just click. The head is slim and the directional lever sits low, so I could sneak it between a radiator shroud and a battery tray without snagging anything.

DeWalt includes a quick‑release button that locks sockets securely until you press it. Be aware: if you habitually push on the ratchet head with your palm, you can hit that button unintentionally and drop a socket. It happened to me once while working above the core support. After that, I adjusted my grip and didn’t lose another.

Sockets are chrome‑plated with deep, laser‑etched size markings. The etching is legitimately deep—you can read sizes at odd angles and in marginal light. Knurled grip rings around the sockets make finger‑spinning fasteners surprisingly easy, especially once a bolt is loose. There’s a short 3/8 in. extension in the kit; it’s handy for clearing a flange or getting around a lip, though I’d love to see a longer one included.

Case and organization

A lot of small socket sets live or die by their cases. This one is well thought out. The hard‑shell case locks securely and stacks with other similar cases, and the transparent lid lets you confirm everything’s in its place before you head out. Inside, the tray is removable, so you can either drop the whole organizer into a larger toolbox drawer or stash a few extras beneath it. I slid a couple of spare bits and a small tape measure under the tray without any rattling.

The tilting socket rails are a smart touch. They lift just enough to give you leverage to pull sockets without prying them out with a fingernail, and they snap back down so the lid closes cleanly. After throwing the case in the truck and carrying it on end, nothing walked out of place.

One note: the case is plastic and not sealed. It shrugs off rain and shop dust fine, but it’s not built for immersion or heavy impact. For a portable kit, the balance of protection and size is right.

Coverage and accessories

For a compact set, coverage is solid. The 3/8 in. drive sizes are the ones I reach for most in automotive and general work, and the 1/4 in. drive sockets handle smaller clamps and interior hardware. A 3/8 in.‑to‑1/4 in. adapter bridges the two, so you run the 1/4 in. sockets on the single included ratchet. There’s also a drill adapter so you can spin sockets with a driver when speed matters more than finesse; I used it to zip off a string of fascia fasteners and then finished snugging by hand.

What you won’t find are deep‑well sockets or a universal joint. If you routinely deal with protruding studs, spark plugs, or tight offsets, you’ll want to supplement this kit. The socket depth here is “intermediate”—fine for most bolts, not a substitute for deep‑wells.

In use

On the battery change, the kit paid for itself in convenience. The slim ratchet head slipped between the terminal block and a wiring harness, and the 5° swing made quick work of the hold‑down bolt without removing extra trim. The sockets didn’t slip, and the knurled rings let me finish the last few threads by hand without hunting for a separate spinner.

For the deck bracket, I appreciated the crisp engagement of the 72‑tooth gear. There’s very little play before it catches, and the handle shape sits well in the palm. The torque you can apply with a 3/8 in. drive is exactly what you expect; the kit is not pretending to be a breaker bar, so I didn’t abuse it with cheater pipes. The chrome wiped clean after muddy hands and a splash of water—no staining or flaking.

Interior work on the hatchback showed off the low‑profile directional lever. I could flip direction with a thumbnail while the head was still tucked behind a panel lip. The lever is low enough that it won’t snag, but with gloves on, it can be a touch fiddly. Bare‑handed, it’s perfect.

Durability and maintenance

After several jobs, the ratchet remains tight and smooth, with no backlash or gritty spots. The plating on both ratchet and sockets looks new. The case hinges and latches don’t feel flimsy; they close with a positive snap and haven’t loosened. I like that the tray doesn’t rely on the lid to hold sockets—the rails grip them well enough that you can remove the tray and carry it to a bench without raining chrome across the floor.

DeWalt backs the set with a lifetime warranty. That’s reassuring, but as with any tool warranty, your actual experience will depend on access to service channels. I treat this as an insurance policy rather than a reason to be rough with the tool. Keep the set clean and dry, and it should last.

What I’d change

• Include a 6 in. extension. The single short extension is useful, but a longer one would dramatically expand reach.
• Add a universal joint or wobble adapter. Even one would solve a lot of access problems.
• Offer a deep‑well add‑on rail that drops into the same case. The removable tray and stackable format practically invites it.
• Make the directional lever slightly taller or add more texture. With gloves, it can be a touch hard to actuate.

None of these are deal‑breakers, but they’re the gaps I noticed in real use.

Who it’s for

This set hits a sweet spot for:

• Truck or car kits where space is limited but you need real capability.
• Homeowners who want a reliable, organized set for furniture assembly, appliances, light plumbing and general repairs.
• Technicians who need a travel kit that won’t scatter or take up half a drawer.

If you’re building a primary mechanic’s chest, you’ll want to add deep‑wells, universals, and more extensions. But as a portable core set, this one punches above its size.

The bottom line

The DeWalt 34‑piece socket kit gets the fundamentals right: a smooth, fine‑tooth ratchet; clearly marked sockets with good grip; smart organization; and a case that can handle being tossed in a truck without spreading parts everywhere. It’s not a maximalist assortment, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Instead, it focuses on the sizes and pieces you actually reach for, and it makes them easy to carry and use.

Recommendation: I recommend this set as a compact, everyday kit for vehicles, home maintenance, and travel. The ratchet’s 72‑tooth mechanism and slim head make real differences in tight spaces, the sockets are easy to read and handle, and the case design keeps everything accessible and intact. Add a longer extension and a universal joint to cover the rare edge cases, and you’ll have a portable setup you’ll actually bring along—and use.