Each year, Pro Tool Reviews reviewers and judges put their hands on hundreds of tools between reviews, shootouts, trade shows, and media events. 2016 has been a HUGE year for innovation with improvements to existing tools and the introduction of products we never would have dreamed of ten years ago. Choosing the winners for the 2016 Pro Tool Innovation Awards was more difficult this year than it ever has been thanks to some incredible innovation and competition within some game-changing categories.

As difficult as it has been to pick winners, it’s this competition between brands to push innovation that leads to an end-user experience that’s better than ever. Cordless tools are growing smaller, lighter, and more powerful. Corded tools are doing incredibly aggressive tasks while dampening vibration. Pneumatics are getting faster while their power sources grow quieter. Trade-specific tools are finding ways to deal with age-old problems that have just been part of the job. We’re even seeing battery-powered generators make their way onto the scene.

Tool Innovation That Gets Better and Better

That’s great, but it keeps getting better. We’re watching value-priced brands pack innovative designs into tools previously out of reach for many tradesmen. And the jobsite is getting smarter—much smarter. Tools that communicate with your phone are becoming more available. Aside from the ability to simply record data, we’re seeing the chance to effectively track tools. Now you can monitor when they’re checked out and get notified of maintenance schedules. We can even dial in settings for a specific job.

We’ve said it before—we are living in a golden age of tool innovation. Whether you’re a tool enthusiast keeping up with the latest products or the purchasing manager for a major construction company, it’s important to know where the current industry trends are headed. Innovation is the compass that guides your search. Without further ado, here are your winners for the 2016 Pro Tool Innovation Awards.