Review: Milwaukee’s M12 Insider Ratchet Gets In There And Gets it Done

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Cordless ratchets are generally lost on me. It's not that I don't recognize the value of what they bring to the table, especially for professionals. They just don't solve enough problems for me to really get excited about. In fact, I see them as more of a luxurious distraction than anything since their bulky heads and handles prevent their use where automatic fastening would truly benefit a lot of the work I get into.

The designers behind Milwaukee's M12 Insider ratchet understand the limitations of most cordless models. They set out to change things with this design and loaded it with features such as a compact head and special low-profile sockets that actually allow you to use a cordless ratchet where space would otherwise prevent it. That, paired with some generally impressive performance specs, makes for a seemingly excellent addition to the M12 line. 

As we all know, what looks good on paper doesn't always reflect reality. At least, that's what kept going through my mind when Milwaukee sent me an Insider cordless ratchet for review. It was perfect timing, too, as I'm diving into some really claustrophobic situations that would really put the innovative features of the Insider to the test. 

Right away, I'll say that I really like what Milwaukee put together here. The Insider made me a believer in cordless ratchets. It’s no small investment, though. This thing commands a pretty penny and that means anyone who's interested in it should do a lot of research up front to determine if it’s the right fit for their collection. That’s why I’m happy to talk through all of the things the M12 Insider got right to earn my respect. 

Milwaukee’s M12 Insider ratchet is all about getting you into tight spaces that cordless ratchets generally are useless for. What makes this cordless ratchet so special is the head itself. The lack of an anvil is the first indication of how different this thing is from conventional models. Instead of an external drive that attaches to normal sockets, you have a hex-shaped opening that’s designed to work with Milwaukee’s special