It may not seem like the most romantic gift, but Consumer Reports says a cordless drill is one of the more useful and practical tools.
In addition to that handy person on your list, drills are a great gift for that budding DIY-er or new homeowner. Consumer Reports just tested 26 cordless drills and says they're more powerful than ever.
The newest cordless drills tested are so good you'll probably never need to use a corded one again.
To see how they handle, testers performed some basic tasks. Then, testers checked their work with a dynamometer. It has the ability to control the torque applied to a drill during testing so testers can accurately evaluate power, speed and run time. Not surprisingly, drills with 18-volt batteries and larger were the most powerful.
A $200 Dewalt earned a "best buy" rating. It offers plenty of power and speed for the seriously handy person on your list.
However, Consumer Reports found some 12-volt models that have plenty of power for common tasks. So a lighter use drill for hanging art or putting together ready-to-assemble furniture is a great option for a new homeowner or young person with a new apartment.
For $160 a Bosch offers the best of both worlds. It's light and easy to handle, but it can also deliver when you need a little more power for something like hanging shelves or even installing kitchen cabinets.
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For less money, Consumer Reports also recommends the $100 Ridgid 12-volt drill. Its battery doesn't provide as much run time as the other recommended drills, but it's very good when it comes to delivering speed and power.
