It isn’t surprising that socket adapters from Harbor Freight’s Icon series tools performed well in the Torque Test Channel’s test designed to push the tools to failure. What’s surprising is how poorly the Snap-On adapter performed, being bested by brands such as Husky and Craftsman. However, it’s worth noting that the team, in an effort to provide a fair comparison of chrome-finished adapters, used a discontinued Snap-On SVA4 socket adapter.

For the test, the team used Pushy, a hydraulic-powered apparatus designed to apply torque by pushing a lever attached to the tool being tested. All the socket adapters in the test were pushed to their breaking point while recording the highest torque achieved before failure.

The Snap-On SVA4 failed at 195 pound-feet of torque with what the video host describes as “an accidental failure mode.” The adapter didn’t break cleanly across the square-drive’s cross section like many of the others. Instead, it broke at the cavity housing the spring-detent mechanism. A failure the team surmises as a potential reason for its replacement with the GSAF1F adapter ($27.00 from Snap-On).

The chrome Icon adapter failed at 254 lb-ft of torque and broke cleanly across the square drive in what the host describes as a “textbook” example. The surprising strength of the Icon adapter prompted the channel to purchase four additional sets and break a total of five ½-to-⅜-inch Icon socket adapters. The other four tests provided a failure range of 245 lb-ft to 252 lb-ft of torque.