Was in Ollie’s yesterday. They had those fit-everything 3/8” drive sockets, the one with all the small spring-loaded pins inside, for $5. On a whim I bought one. Only shortcoming I can anticipate is that they can grab onto only a fairly thin bolt head or nut, and will not work anywhere you need to use a deep socket, as the small pins retract only about 3/8”. Also, no idea how they hold up under high torque, like loosening a a really tight bolt or nut. I can’t be out more than $5 even if it is a gimmick, but I thought I’d ask if anyone has used one and what the opinions of their utility are.

I used to keep one in my hand tools and they're great for simple service work when you don't need a full set of sockets when up on a roof or something (HVAC service/maintenance), less stuff to drag up on a roof or down in a boiler room, etc. For any real work like changing out a motor or something I used a regular socket set. They're good for what they are. I never relied on one for something that required a lot of torque, like old weathered bolts & nuts. But I never had any issues like broken knuckles or other things that made me bleed & say bad words. For $5 it's okay until you drop it down behind a walk-in cooler. No complaints for what I used it on.

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I had one, used once. Tried on a somewhat rounded off 1/2" nut it grabbed and held until some of the pins deformed.
It took a whole lot of of torque for that to happen and like you said the depth isn't that much so for what it was I was a bit impressed.

I won’t likely be using it for anything really heavy duty or rusted, but it seems preferable to carrying a handful of sockets to the job to find out which one fits the nut or bolt, or if you are removing numerous bolts of different sizes at the same time.

It came with a 3/8 square adaptor to small hex for use in a drill chuck. That alone might make it worth $5, as I do not have an adaptor like that. Now I can use any 3/8 drive socket in my drill.

Got one as a gift several years ago. I tried to use it a few times, but always ended up using a correct size socket. I think it's now in the same box with my distributor wrenches from eons ago.

Sounds like a bloody knuckle just waiting to happen.

I will get one. Sounds like a good addition to a tool box for quick light duty work.

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