Tools Strong Enough for a Man but Made for a Woman

Women value the same qualities that men do when it comes to selecting the proper hand tools -- strength and quality of construction. But let's face it, women typically have smaller hands and a bit less upper-body and grip strength than men, hence the need for tools that are lighter in weight and with smaller grips. A tool that properly fits will stave off fatigue and allow the user to operate in a more delicate and precise manner.

So I rounded up some of my favorite tool kits for women. Try to forget the Pepto-Bismol coloring...
This 26-piece mini-tool set from Ladies Tools Online includes some valuable basics that everyone's tool kit should have. Tomboy Tools has an 8v cordless driver that's under two pounds and well suited for turning screws and light drilling but nothing more. It's also pink, which, like it or not, is a common theme among tools geared to women.

BarbaraK has been focusing on DIY for a long time and she goes a step further by offering do-it-yourself repair kits for women to solve common household issues such as plugged drains and running toilets.

These patchwork gardening tools from Wild and Wolf may appeal to your sense of style but we prefer traditional wood and stainless steel finishes when it comes to our hand tools.

Where to hold all these tools? Hard shell tool cases aren't our favorite as they tend to suffer from the black hole effect where you have to keep digging to find the right tool. This is frustrating and dangerous considering what your hands might come across at the bottom of your tool box. We much prefer soft tool bags made of canvas/leather that display tools in easy to reach pockets. The sharpest looking toolbag we've seen is from SStein. With it's suede pockets and tan canvas, you'll be tempted to tote it away from the workshop.