If you’re a fan of Ryobi’s brightly colored tools found at Home Depot, or even own several, you’ve likely seen a few “Hybrid” tools from the brand. Ryobi tools are incredibly popular, fairly affordable, and constantly on sale. However, did you know that the brand also offers hybrid tools that you can continue using even when the battery runs out?
Yes, Ryobi makes more than just regular tools that run on an 18V or 40V battery. The company has a bunch of obscure tools you’ll love, pressure washers and snowblowers, speakers, and even a cooler that runs on batteries or a 12V DC car outlet. I’m a big fan of the hybrid line, and here’s what you need to know.
The Ryobi brand was founded in 1943 and quickly gained popularity with its die-cast products in the 1980s. Today, the brand manufactures printing equipment, power tools, lawnmowers, and a range of other tools and hardware. The brand name has been around for years, but in terms of power tools, that didn’t kick off until the early 2000s.
That’s because in 2000, Techtronic Industries (TTI Group) acquired the licensing rights to the Ryobi tool name, branding, facilities, and operations for North America. For those unaware, TTI also manufactures Milwaukee and RIGID tools, in addition to owning Hoover, Dirt Devil, and ORECK vacuums. Eventually, TTI partnered with Home Depot, and that’s how we got to where we are today.
A common question online is regarding where Ryobi tools are made. Techtronic Industries (TTI) is a large-scale manufacturer based in China that produces a wide array of well-known tools, supplies, and home goods. It’s the same company that makes Walmart’s HART Tools lineup. According to TTI, manufacturing occurs in China, Mexico, Thailand, and the United States; however, the majority of it takes place in China.
The “Hybrid” difference
While Ryobi has a vast selection of power tools, most notably the Ryobi ONE+ 18V line that delivers over 300 products that all run off the same battery, that’s not all it makes. Ryobi also offers a smaller USB Lithium line, featuring USB-C rechargeable battery packs and hybrid tools.
Ryobi’s Hybrid line of tools is part of the ONE+ 18V family, which means these extremely versatile tools will work with the battery you already own. However, what sets the hybrid line apart is that they also run on an extension cord.
Yes, every hybrid tool has a slot for an 18V battery, along with an AC port to plug in an extension cord. I own several Ryobi hybrid tools, including the 18V whisper series fan, a hybrid LED tripod light that’s great for late-night DIY projects, a regular LED floodlight, along with the sadly discontinued hybrid leaf blower.
I wish Ryobi would bring that back. Other items include a propane heater that can operate with a battery or an extension cable, a drain auger, soldering iron stations, flashlights, and even a hybrid string trimmer. The company seems content to only offer smaller items as a hybrid variant, but I’d love to see them expand to other products, such as sawzalls, smaller circular saws, and other items. Even bigger items would make sense, where they could add a slot for a secondary battery.
There’s nothing fancy going on with Ryobi’s hybrid tools, you simply have more than one way to power the tool. Instead of relying solely on an 18V battery, you can reach for an extension cord and continue the project. Battery-powered tools are certainly convenient, but when you don’t need to go cordless, save a battery charge cycle and plug these in instead.
So, are any of the tools in the Ryobi Hybrid line worth buying? Absolutely. I use mine constantly, and I have a feeling you will too. Unfortunately, Ryobi doesn’t offer a ton of hybrid tools, but I wish it would. These are extremely helpful items that give you more flexibility. Being able to work late and plug in my lights with an extension cord, then free up that battery pack to rotate onto drills, saws, and other equipment, is a big deal.
There are plenty of times when I’m working on a project in my garage and don’t necessarily need to power something with a battery pack. In those instances, I reach for my Ryobi hybrid tools or lights and plug them into an extension cord. Now, if only I could convince Ryobi to release more items in the Hybrid line, I’d be happy.
Thankfully, I have plenty of battery packs these days, but for anyone just getting started with Ryobi, hybrid tools are a solid option. Then, as you expand your collection of tools, acquire more battery packs during holiday deals or bundles, you’ll be all set to tackle any job, big or small.
- Material
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Metal
- Color
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Green
- Product Dimensions
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9.17 x 8.86 x 6.26 inches
- Special features
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AdjustablBrightness and Rotation
- Battery Life
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Up to 16 hours
Whether you’re working in a dark basement or into the evening to finish a project, Ryobi’s hybrid LED work light has you covered. Light up your space with an 18V battery or an extension cable.
