84% of 105 verified owners recommend the Milwaukee 2997-22, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 84%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. Affiliate blogs is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
“I was very disappointed with the non-FUEL line. Let the smoke out of the drill the first time we used it.”
“Been using base model brushed drill at least once a week for the better part of a decade now. Keep saying I’ll get fuel when it stops working but it just won’t quit.”
“Yea my main issues with the brushed tools is I felt they ate through batteries much faster. But if he’s not using the tools 8+ hours a day it shouldn’t matter”
“The only tool you have I don’t like is the hex impact driver, you can’t turn that one down and it’s a lot of torque, otherwise fine.”
“These are great. I have both lines in my job as a millwright for concrete plant assembly and they work side by side everyday. Going strong for 2 years now.”
“I get so fucking tired of the angle grinder. REPLACE IT WITH A FUCKING JIGSAW”
“Tbh those will handle daily use with no issues..if you are just a do it yourselfer and using them for home stuff they should be the last set u have to buy”
“If it’s just for random stuff around the house it’s a steal. But if any of the tools will be subjected to real work FUEL is key.”
“Definitely a good buy considering I've spent almost that on a Ridgid sander, brushless subcompact drill & 1/4" impact kit, and left handed circ saw.”
“Be careful man they can give your arm a good twist if drilling metal and drill grabs and your not ready. They got the torque”
“This. If it’s home DIY, then they are more than fine. If you were using them day in, day out for a commercial job, The Fuel would be a better buy.”
“the hackzall is not even a close substitute to a sawzall. I was whacking 3 deck posts and it started to smoke on me.”
“I'm happy with the kit but I'll be slowly replacing these tools with brushless/fuel versions as they wear out.”
“Won't look back, bought the 10 pce. with a vac, impact wrench, leaf blower and three 6ah batteries in July and it's been an absolute treat”
“All of the tools work great (can't speak for the flashlight though, I think that's the most useless addition). I regularly use the saw to cut through wood that it has no business being able to cut through and it does fine.”
“The only non fuel tool I regret is the M12 Multi tool because you have to take the nut off to change blades.”
“The angle grinder will be a battery hog as well. It is definitely like the ultimate DIY starter kit though.”
“Right, I’ve had my impact for 8 years now in a professional use setting while also using it to build a fence and barn still going strong.”
“These are more than adequate for anything up to light trade use. I am in the trades and have many of these and they last very very well.”
“they started to show their age - even with new batteries - and just don't have the get and go that I need”
“You will be fine with that set for sure. I use that same grinder, circular saw and the non-fuel sawzall (full sized) every day at work.”
“The drill driver seems like it is losing strength but I bought most of this stuff over 6 years ago”
“You'll be fine. Plenty of "pros" still use cheaper tools and get by just fine. People like to shit on "lesser" tools, but they're still plenty capable. You might struggle with a 3 inch hole saw in the drill or cutting over 1 inch thick stuff with the saws but it'll get the job done.”
“I have a craftsman set that has worked great for my kitchen, bathrooms, and rental properties. Milwaukee will absolutely work for you.”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
“I know, the new tools in that combo are perhaps 15%–25% cooler looking, especially the impact driver, so it pains me. But they also seem to come with a freshly higher price!”
“Get a diablo blade made for cordless saws, miles ahead of the blade it comes with. Flashlights are almost always the least useful in these kits, they work but aren't great.”
“Exactly that’s why I said it was so hard to resist especially for strictly DIY projects. Is the M18 Fuel of these tools that much better though? I feel like I will be plenty good with this M18 line”
“I usually go with the 3.0 high output for the impact especially if you’re constantly using it. Your right though definitely nice to have a 6.0 H.O for the drill.”
“YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE NUT OFFF!!??? Wtf is the point then!? It's supposed to be for speed and convenience. Wait, no one else makes you take a fkn nut off right? All the rest have a heavy spring latch, don't they?”
“This kit would be ground breaking top of the line 10-15 years ago. They would be unheard of 25 years ago. Ppl still built houses back then.”
“I might get this kit myself OP. Is that hard case to scale? Is it supposed to fit all 6 tools inside? I’d love a hard storage container like that rather than the soft smaller bags they come with when you buy individually.”
“Thought I would recommend buying one more battery like an 8ah or 12ah for the skill saw and just to have an extra battery or two”
“When I wake in the middle of the night to go to the can, I point it straight up so it hits the ceiling, then any light that diffuses down the walls is way less bright, and doesn’t wake me up. It’s my portable Milwaukee night light 😂😂”
“Definitely excited to try them out. I’m guessing they’ll be better than the old Ryobi I’ve been using for years.”
“I would get fuel but you do you. What's your tolerance level for quality of tool? How much is your time worth?”
“The basic saw is not the best but I actually found a small battery is the biggest inhibitor. I built my deck using a 2.0 battery and had tons of issues. Through some other purchases I bought an 8.0 and used that on the same saw. Night and day difference.”
“I think the first line of the description is wrong, because everything else refers to a 1/4” impact”
“They even splurged a bit more for the Fuel rather than giving you a basic set. Noice!”
“Probably the same kit as in the the hammer drill/impact/batteries set, just 3rd gen”
“The only difference is the case vs the bag. In my opinion the bag is more useful for toting around tools. The case is molded and can only hold the tool it as molded for and maybe a few small items. I highlighted the tool part numbers so you can see that the three main tools are exactly the same.”
“Get a 5 or 6 Ah battery and you’ll be a really happy camper.”
“I have this kit. Used it for a few years now.”