DeWalt FlexTorq Impact Driver Bit Set (35-Piece)

First impressions

I toss an impact driver in my bag for nearly every job, and the FlexTorq set has become the bit case that rides shotgun. The case is compact enough to live in a side pocket, but it’s stout and easy to grab with gloves. Pop the clear lid and the layout makes sense immediately: common bits front and center, longer bits and accessories off to the side, all in a bit-bar system that isn’t just for show—those bars actually lift out and reconfigure without fuss.

Case and organization

DeWalt’s ToughCase+ is the real deal here. The clip latch closes with a positive snap and stays shut in a truck box that seems to open other cases for sport. I’ve dropped it off a ladder twice, and aside from a scuff, nothing spilled. The clear lid sounds trivial until you’re hunting a T25 in a hurry; being able to spot sizes at a glance speeds up the small stuff.

The patented bit-bar design is more than marketing. The bars don’t fight you on removal, and you can rearrange the set to match how you work. I shifted my most-used Phillips and Torx to the first row and tucked specialty bits to the back. The case connects with other ToughCase+ boxes, and the small bulk tray nests into larger ToughCase+ organizers, so if you live in that ecosystem you can keep bits, drill indexes, and drivers together without creating a junk drawer.

One note: the case favors 1-inch and 2-inch power bits. If you’re a heavy user of 4 to 6-inch drivers, you’ll be supplementing with a separate holder; there’s not much room for long shanks here.

Bit selection and tip quality

The set covers the usual suspects—Phillips, Torx, square, a few flat—without going overboard into oddball sizes you’ll never use. Everything is 1/4-inch hex, so it drops into any quick-change chuck. The tips are CNC-machined, and the fit shows. The PH2s seat confidently in drywall and decking fasteners, and the T25s feel snug in exterior screws that normally try to cam out the moment you lean on them.

I appreciate that the tips aren’t overly “sharp.” Some bits bite so aggressively that they mushroom the recess under impact. These land in a sweet spot: crisp enough to drive without slipping, but not so chiseled that they prematurely deform the screw heads. The black-oxide finish adds some corrosion resistance and reduces glare; it also makes the size markings more difficult to read once they pick up a bit of wear, so the clear-lid glance is handy.

Performance under torque

The FlexTorq design—the extended torsion zone in the shank—does what it’s supposed to. When you lean on a stubborn fastener, the bit twists in the flex zone rather than at the tip, and that takes the shock out of both the bit and the screw head. Driving 3-inch deck screws into PT lumber all afternoon, I had fewer slips and less of that “machine-gun” chatter you get when a bit starts to ride out.

On cabinetry, where I’m often feathering the trigger, the bits feel predictable and centered. On rougher work—metal studs, exterior ledger screws, Tapcon-style anchors—the margin for error is smaller, but the bits hold up. I haven’t snapped one yet. My PH1 shows a slight twist from an ill-advised attempt to free a rusted hinge screw, but it kept working through the job and still fits cleanly.

Magnetic Screw Lock sleeve

The included Magnetic Screw Lock sleeve is deceptively useful. Slide it over a 1-inch bit in a standard holder, and it locks onto the screw head to keep it straight and reduce wobble. Hanging electrical boxes overhead, I reached for it constantly; it saves you from juggling fasteners when the driver is above your shoulder. It also makes starting long screws into awkward angles much less irritating.

There are limits. The sleeve adds a touch of bulk, so in tight cabinet corners or hardware recesses it can get in the way. The magnetism is strong enough for standard wood and sheet-metal screws, but it isn’t a death grip—don’t expect it to suspend a heavy structural screw if you’re bouncing on a ladder rung. Like any magnetic system, it gathers metal shavings, so brush it off now and then to keep the action smooth.

Durability and wear

After weeks of mixed use—framing repairs, finish work, a deck rebuild—the wear pattern is what I want to see. The black-oxide finish polishes at the contact points, but the tips haven’t rounded out. The torsion zones show minute spiraling on a few bits if you sight down the shank, which tells me they’re taking the load where they’re designed to, not at the tip.

I’m often wary of HSS bits in impact applications because some cheaper sets chip at the edges, but this batch is holding up. The difference is likely in the heat treat and that longer flex zone. None of the bits have cracked, and I haven’t had one eject unexpectedly from a quick-change chuck. The hex shanks are cut cleanly and engage detents consistently, which is easy to overlook until a bit gets stuck and wastes your time.

Treat these like consumables and they’ll reward you. Keep the tips clean, don’t use a PH2 as a pry bar, and the set will last a long time. There’s no stated warranty on the package I have, which is common for bit sets, so your best insurance is sensible use and keeping a couple of duplicates of the high-wear sizes in the case.

Everyday usability

A few small touches add up. The case’s square footprint stacks neatly with other organizers. The latch opens with one hand without flinging bits. The bit bars let you extract a driver without excavating underneath. I can carry the set, a small ToughCase+ with drill bits, and a compact socket rail clipped together and toss the stack in a tool bag without creating chaos.

The only annoyance I’ve had is with size markings. On a few flats and smaller Phillips, the laser etch is light against the black finish. After some use, I’m relying more on the look of the tip than the marking. Not a deal-breaker, but color-coded rings or bolder etching would help.

What’s missing

This isn’t a sockets-and-everything kit, and that’s fine. Just be aware you’re getting driver bits and the screw lock sleeve—no nut drivers, no long-shank specialty bits, no security Torx. If your work leans heavily on long reach or specialized fasteners, plan to augment the set.

I also wouldn’t mind a few more 2-inch bits in the common sizes. The case has room for a couple, but most of the inventory is 1-inch. The sleeve makes 1-inch bits more versatile, yet there are times—clearing a chuck nose, reaching past a hinge—when a 2-inch bit is the right answer.

Who it’s for

If you’re running an impact driver daily or weekly and you want a compact, reliable selection that covers 90% of general fastening tasks, this set fits. Remodelers, carpenters, maintenance techs, and serious DIYers will get their money’s worth. It plays nicely with any brand of impact driver thanks to the universal 1/4-inch hex shank, and it slots into the ToughCase+ ecosystem if you’re already invested in DeWalt organizers.

If your work is mostly specialty fasteners, security hardware, or long, recessed installations, you’ll need to supplement. And if you’re expecting a lifetime warranty on consumables, you won’t find it here.

Recommendation

I recommend the FlexTorq set. The CNC-cut tips fit cleanly, the torsion zone genuinely reduces cam-out and breakage under impact loads, and the Magnetic Screw Lock sleeve is a practical add-on that earns a place in the case. The ToughCase+ organization is thoughtful and durable, and the connectable design keeps your kit tidy instead of scattered.

It’s not the last word in completeness—long bits and specialty profiles are sparse—but as a core driver kit it’s dependable, compact, and built to be used hard. Add a couple of your most-used 2-inch sizes and any specialty bits your work demands, and this becomes the set you reach for first and rarely have to second-guess.