Depends on the rachit spanner. I have 2 different sets. Both blue point. Heavy double ended type, you know the ones. Bloody useless, except the 10mm one. The other set is the combination type with the 5 degree bend and a nice fine rachit mechanism. I have tormented the Sh1te out or most of that set including belting them with my copper hammer and they have never let me down.

At the moment I have my good toolbox at home and the old unit at work. Old sid sockets, A few old sidchrome pliers and spanners. And the FORCE spanner set which are very good. My brother got me the set and a few extras while serving over in Dubai a couple of years ago. They are a fairly cheap brand and very good quality.

Now I think about it, I once had a koken 1/4" ratchet and I could see their ratchet spanners might be ok if they click loud.

First set of tools I would say dont over spend thinking it will be any better.
Socket sets, buy better quality the bigger size drive you go.
Spanners average quality will do you all day.
Just look at them and you will see the quality in how they are finished.

For myne the best rachet spanners out there are Wurth brought them about 6 years ago (when I was in the trade) never had a problem with them, just dont try crack bolts or nuts with them there not made for that work.
There not bulky like alot of diffrent brands that are out there.
There extreamly handy to have.

I guess it comes down to a saying i like "people always talk up what they have"

to say ratchet spanners are no good is pure lunacy in my view...

on a few occasions i had my twin turbo motor out of my car to change a manifold gakset and put back in and running within 2.5hrs... a job like that would take easily an hour more without them

i have broken rusty bolts with my 30 dollar set of ratchet spanner trying to undo them and they have never missed a beat, always capable of undoing things to finger tight and quite audible..... time you bought some cheapo tools phunk

i hate to hear of people wasting their hard earnt money....

All professional mechanics I've met use ratchets. I will say it's the most critical part for quality -- buy a good one.

I do have some cheap tools that have lasted years too, so agree with 1200RC: when you're starting off, buy a cheap set, and as you break things you'll know better what to buy next.

In USA, Snap-On is generally considered "the best", but you can't just walk into a store and buy them. For those who aren't pros and aren't flush with money, Sears Craftsman hand tools are considered the 'best value' -- quality tools, lifetime replacment warranty and a low cost. They are a bit thicker than Snap-On but almost as strong.

I have a mix of tools, including Proto, but mostly Craftsman. Proto is strong but beefy therefore hard to fit into tight spots.

I bought most of my tools from Kmart over 20 years ago, and apart from a few cracked sockets they are still fine, (cracked a few name brand ones as well) I have lost more than I have broken, had a name brand 1/2 inch drive ratchet, it broke and they replaced it so the lifetime warranty is nice to have.

In a 1/4" drive screw driver handled socket driver I would get a name brand one as they are so small that you really need quality or they will break everytime.

If I was starting out I would buy one of the big cheap spanner sets from Bunnings or super cheap about $130 and your ready to take on the world.

Does anybody have an opinion on Metrinch style spanners? I have never used them but always wondered about them.

I have 2 facom ratchet spanners 10 and 12mm and they are great, also reverseable so you don't get them caught in door jams!

I use GEDORE.

I have had great success with Kingchrome and meco. I also have a 1/4" sidchrome rachet set, teng security sockets, and one other brand that I cant think of right now.

I did the whole buy cheap spanners to start with, and now am in a position that I can justify buying quality stuff. So now thats all i buy.

Yeah snap on is pretty good but so is the price, and I cant justify the price. Stick with the mid range stuff and it seems to be the best bang for buck.

Everytime I adjust the handbrake cable in the boy's khana car I praise ratchet spanners as the little nuts don't do up (or down) by hand meaning you have to use a normal spanner on and off a million times or a ratcheting spanner and 60secs.

I use ratcheting spanner quite a bit, they can save a lot of time.

I use all Kincrome tools and have found them to be pretty good for the money. I can tell the difference between a really cheap socket and a decent one....the amount of torque they deliver before rounding a nut is noticeable.