Pink Tools - Yay or Nay?

A few days ago, Minwax posted a picture on their Facebook page asking the question, "We’re seeing more and more pink tools for women. Pink hand tools, pink tool belts and even pink power tools. How do you feel about them?"

It's a great question. So... what do you think?

I personally love that manufacturers are recognizing women are purchasing and using tools. That's a great sign! Some companies are scaling their tools for a woman - making them lighter or smaller to fit in an average-sized woman's hand. But aside from ergonomics, do we really need to differentiate between products for men and women in such a blatant way?

Tools on the market for women run the gamut from subtle to extreme. Take these for instance:

Ummmm... cute for the kitchen junk drawer, but not exactly heavy hitters for a serious DIYer's tool box. Let's take a look at a few more serious contenders in the ladies' arena.

Tomboy Tools is a company whose mission is "to build confidence and empower women through hands-on education, quality tools and an independent business opportunity." They are a direct marketing company whose sales reps use their parties as not only selling events, but as hands-on sessions where shoppers learn to use the tools before they buy them. What a great concept! 

Sears has a very nice line of products named Evolv (noted on their website as "Craftsman Evolv"). They aren't marketed directly to women, but the color seems to indicate an attempt to appeal to women.

Barbara's Way is another company whose mission is to empower women in the realm of home improvement. Its founder, Barbara Kavovit ("Barbara K") is a licensed contractor and former renovation and construction executive who has taken great strides to give women the confidence to tackle their own repairs and improvements. 

Overall, the topic of "color-coding" men's and women's tools can be a sticky one, playing into stereotypes big time. There are women who hate pink, women who love pink, and men who don't care what color their tools are. Just like anything and everything in this world, taste comes down to personal preference.

Most who responded to Minwax's question said they don't care about colors, they just want the best quality product. Some of those who were pro-pink said it kept their husbands from stealing their tools!

So here's my opinion... regardless of the color and style of the product, ask yourself this question:

Does it make you excited to build/fix/learn something?

If yes, then great! Don't limit or sway your choices based on how a product looks. You'll figure out what works for you, even if you make a few mistakes along the way. Keep trying and eventually you will have a fun set of "toys" to rival your kids'!

Up next - tips on finding tools that are the right fit for you (regardless of color!).

Disclosure: I did not work with any companies for this review. All opinions are my own.