Trade Gear Guides & Resources

Scaffold tags, inspections and handover: what the HSE actually requires in 2026

A tag on the ladder is not a legal requirement. The weekly inspection and the handover certificate are. If you work from a scaffold without the paperwork, you are the one carrying the risk.

Li-ion battery fire safety for trade vans: storing, charging and transporting packs in 2026

There is no specific UK law on storing li-ion batteries in a van. There are a dozen ways to go wrong anyway. We walk through the three failure modes that cause van fires and the quiet fixes that keep your tools insured.

Public liability insurance for self-employed trades: what £1m, £2m and £5m actually buy you in 2026

A bricklayer with £1m cover pays about £76 a year in 2026. A roofer at £5m pays nearer £450. The gap is not the paperwork, it is the risk, and knowing which cover your clients expect saves you quoting the wrong number.

FFP2 vs FFP3 vs half-mask: what UK trades actually need to wear

An FFP2 clears dust on most building work. For silica or hardwood, FFP3 is the floor. If you wear one all day, a half-mask stops being optional. Here is how the three stack up for the jobs on a UK site.

COSHH and wood dust: what carpenters and joiners need to do about extraction in 2026

Wood dust is on the HSE's enforcement list for 2026, and the figures that trip workshops up are the ones they thought they already knew. Here is what a working joiner should check before an inspector turns up.

Drivers' hours and tachograph: what small UK HGV operators need to know in 2026

If you drive one lorry and a van, you probably knew the 3.5t cut-off. The 2.5t extension that landed on 1 July 2026 catches people out, and so does the smart 2 tachograph deadline in December. Here is what matters for a small operator this year.

Pressure washer with no tap on site: water butts, IBCs and flow rate

Most mid-range electric washers can pull from a water butt or IBC with a suction hose. Flow rate tells you how long the water lasts. A K4 empties 200 litres in about half an hour.

What goes on a scaffolder's tool belt

A 7/16 ratchet, a podger, a level and a tape, plus a hammer if you put up system scaffold. Then a tether on all of it, because the lift below has people on it.

EN 388 glove ratings: how to read the numbers and letters

A glove marked 4X43C has four test scores and a cut letter on it. What each one means, why the X turns up on most cut gloves, and the cut level a builder should be buying.

Van fire extinguisher servicing and expiry: what UK trades need to check

Rechargeable extinguishers follow BS 5306-3: a basic service every year and a discharge test at five. Sealed 1kg units just get replaced by the label date. Here is what to check in between.

Knee pad types and EN 14404 explained for electricians and fitters

Strap-on pads, trouser inserts, kneeling mats and kneelers with frames all fall under one standard, EN 14404. Here is what the type and level on the label mean, and which suits an electrician on floors and in lofts.

Dash cam parking mode in a van without a flat battery

Fuse tap or OBD lead, where to set the cut-off on a stop-start battery, and what parking mode really costs a van battery overnight. Plus the warranty question.

Is it legal to carry a multi-tool in the UK? What tradespeople need to know

Most full-size multi-tools have a locking blade, so the 3-inch rule does not cover them. Carrying one for work is a good reason. Carrying it to the pub on Friday is not.

How many lumens do you need in a head torch for work?

A loft needs about 150 lumens and a dark site about 400. The 1,000 lumen figure on the box is a boost that lasts minutes. Lumens by job, plus what the runtime and IP numbers on the packet really tell you.

Impact driver vs combi drill: what each is for, and do you need both?

An impact driver sinks screws, a combi drill makes holes and drives with control. For carpenters the answer is nearly always both, and here is why, with the jobs each one is wrong for.

What to wear under a harness in winter: scaffolders and roofers

Base layer, fleece, thin shell, harness on top. Then a strap check each time the fleece comes off. And why the padded bomber stays in the cab.

LGV sat nav vs HGV sat nav: is there any difference?

No. LGV is the licensing term, HGV is what everyone says, and Garmin just picked one for its dēzl range. What matters is the vehicle profile you type in, and whether a car unit will do.

Safety boot ratings explained: S1P, S3, S7 and the 2022 changes

S3 does not mean waterproof, and since the 2022 revision of the standard the letters on the tongue have changed. Here is what each safety boot rating means and which one suits site work.

SDS drill vs combi drill: which one do you actually need?

A combi drill taps at masonry, an SDS drill hits it. Here is where the line falls, how big a hole each will drill in brick and concrete, and when a builder needs both on the van.

Safety harnesses for UK tradespeople: standards, inspection and what each trade needs

A harness is the last line of defence, not the first. Here is what the EN numbers on the label mean, how often the kit has to be examined, why clearance matters, and where each trade's needs split.

Safety harnesses for scaffolders: twin-tail lanyards, scaffold hooks and SG4:22

A scaffolder needs a two-point EN 361 harness, a twin-tail energy-absorbing lanyard with scaffold hooks, and a plan for the moments the lanyard is clipped below the D-ring. Here is how the parts fit.

Safety harnesses for roofers: anchoring on pitched and flat roofs

On a roof the harness is rarely the hard part. The anchor is. How roofers anchor on pitched and flat roofs, why restraint beats arrest, and which self-retracting lifelines are rated for an edge.

Safety harnesses for builders: openings, beam anchors and MEWP baskets

Builders need a harness less often than scaffolders or roofers, which is exactly why the setup goes wrong. Restraint at openings, beam anchors, horizontal lifelines and when a MEWP needs one.

Safety harnesses for electricians: work positioning, MEWPs and live parts

Most electricians need a harness in a MEWP basket or on steelwork, not up a pole. Work positioning against fall arrest, metal hardware near live parts, tool tethers and keeping webbing clean.

Safety harnesses for painters and decorators: when a ladder stops being enough

Most decorating at height should be done from a tower or a platform, not in a harness. Where a harness does come in, from boom MEWPs to bosun's chairs, and why thinners and webbing do not mix.

How to send dash cam footage to the police in the UK

Most forces in England and Wales take dash cam footage online, through the National Dash Cam Safety Portal or their own Operation Snap page. Do it within days, keep the original file, and expect to sign a statement.

Where to buy an HGV sat nav: Halfords, Argos, Currys or Amazon

Halfords is the only high street chain with a real truck sat nav range, Amazon has the widest. Here's what each stocks, how price matching and VAT receipts work, and used-unit checks.

TomTom GO Expert Plus review: the 6-inch and 7-inch HGV sat nav in a UK cab

The cheapest proper truck sat nav from a big brand, with world maps that update over WiFi. Here's the profile setup, the traffic caveat, and whether to buy the 6 or the 7-inch.

Best multi-tool for plumbers

Leverage is the whole point. The Leatherman Surge holds fittings the smaller tools can't, the Wave+ is the pocket pick, and none of them should ever tighten a compression nut.

Best phone holder for delivery drivers in the UK

A hundred stops a day means the phone comes off the mount a hundred times. Magnets win for iPhones, a strong suction cradle for Android, and a wide-arm mount for company handhelds.

Leatherman for electricians: which model, and the alternatives worth a look

The Wave+ gets outside access, replaceable cutters and weight right at once. Here's how the Surge, Rebar, Wingman and the rest compare, and when a Victorinox or bladeless Gerber wins.

Best commercial pressure washer in the UK for trade use

Bar sells washers, flow cleans with them, and the motor type decides whether it lasts an hour or a day. The Karcher K5 Premium is the trade pick, with the K7 for daily plant work.

Best safety boots for electricians in the UK, and what the EN ISO 20345 codes mean

Antistatic boots conduct, they don't insulate. Composite caps don't freeze your toes. Here's what the codes mean and the six boots we'd put an electrician in, from £30 to around £90.

Best head torch for plumbers

Under a sink you need a wide beam, not a bright dot, and a torch that survives drips and 2 am callouts. The Petzl Actik Core leads, with a submersible pick for drainage work.

Fire extinguisher rules for HGVs and vans: ADR, DVSA and what insurers expect

Carrying dangerous goods means a 2 kg ABC powder extinguisher in the cab at minimum, more by vehicle weight. Carrying tools means no legal rule at all. Here's the line between them.

Heavy duty power drills for trade work: what powerful actually means

Powerful means more than the biggest Nm on the box. Hard vs soft torque, why a combi can't do an SDS's job, and how a 5 Ah battery changes a drill. Six 18 V combis compared.

Best dash cam for the Ford Transit Custom

The Custom's raked screen and sensor pod change where a dash cam goes. Here's the mounting position, the fuse panel, and the cameras we'd fit, starting with the Nextbase 422GW.

Best dash cam for vans: front and rear picks, and why panel vans are different

We'd put the Vantrue E2 in any van with rear windows and a Nextbase 422GW in a panel van, and the reason is simple: a rear dash cam records through glass, and half the vans on UK roads don't have any at the back.

Best dash cam for HGV and lorry drivers in the UK

A dash cam in a lorry lives or dies on how it's powered. Here's the 24 V problem, the mounting trick, and the six cameras we'd fit, for an owner-driver or a fleet.

Garmin dēzl LGV610 vs LGV800 vs LGV820: which truck sat nav to buy

Same routing engine, three screens and one big feature gap. The LGV610 is the sensible buy, the LGV820 earns its price for curtainsiders, and the LGV800 is the cheap 8-inch.

How to update maps on a Garmin dēzl, TomTom GO Expert Plus and Snooper Truckmate, and what it costs

Map updates on the current truck sat navs are free, but the process differs. Garmin over WiFi or a PC, TomTom WiFi only, Snooper through a Windows program. Here's how, and what breaks.

Best budget HGV sat nav in the UK: what you get under £300

The cheapest truck sat nav we'd trust is the Snooper S6900 at about £250. The best budget buy is the TomTom GO Expert Plus 6-Inch. Here's why, and why around £90 tablets aren't.

Best phone mount for an HGV cab (2026): what actually reaches, grips and stays put

A truck windscreen is thick, upright and a long way from your seat, which is why the £8 car mount falls off by Tuesday. Here's what reaches, what survives the vibration, and where it's legal.

Best safety boots for HGV drivers (2026): the driving-and-yard problem

Nine hours on the pedals, then straps, trailer legs and a wet yard that won't let you out of the cab in trainers. Here's the boot that does both, and the ones that only do one.

Best HGV sat nav apps in the UK (2026): free vs paid, and when a phone isn't enough

There's no free HGV sat nav app we'd trust with your licence. Here's what Sygic, TomTom's truck plan and CoPilot cost, and when a phone stops being enough.

TomTom vs Garmin HGV sat navs (2026): which truck unit to put in your cab

Garmin wins on routing and cab extras, TomTom on maps, updates and price. We put the dēzl LGV610, LGV800 and LGV820 against the GO Expert Plus 6 and 7-inch.

Best dash cam for a Ford Transit (2026): what fits, how to hardwire it, and what we'd buy

Over 400,000 Transits are on UK roads and most of the dash cams in them run off the 12V socket, so they're asleep when the side door gets popped. Here's what we'd fit, and how.

Best dash cam for a Citroen Berlingo (2026): small windscreen, same big-van problems

The Berlingo's windscreen is short and the mirror sits low, so half the dash cams sold for it end up in your eyeline. Here's what fits, what to hardwire, and the units we'd pick.

Best multi-tool for electricians (2026): which Leatherman, and the jobs it should never do

No multi-tool is VDE rated, so it's not touching a live board. For the other 200 little jobs a day, here's which Leatherman we'd clip on, and the bladeless option for sites that ban knives.

PAT testing your own tools — what self-employed sparkies, chippies and site managers actually need to do

Half the trade thinks PAT testing is annual, mandatory and legally enforced. Half thinks it's a scam invented to sell stickers. The truth is in between. Here's what the regulations actually say in 2026 and what's worth doing.

Working at height regulations every roofer should actually know — the 2026 version

The Work at Height Regulations are short. The HSE prosecutions aren't. Here's what we'd make sure every roofer on the team understands before they touch a ladder this week — and what'll get a small firm fined into oblivion.

Sat nav and gear setup for UK taxi drivers — what's actually worth the money in 2026

Black cab veterans rely on The Knowledge. Private hire and rideshare drivers don't have that luxury. Here's how we'd kit out a working taxi in 2026 — sat nav, dash cam, phone mount, and the bits that matter for the surcharge zones.

Generator vs portable power station for site work — which earns its keep in 2026

Petrol generators have ruled the trade van for thirty years. Lithium power stations are now genuinely competitive for some jobs and useless for others. Here's where each one actually wins, with the numbers behind it.

IPAF vs PASMA — which ticket actually pays off for roofers and scaffolders

Both cost roughly £200, both last five years, both get rejected at site induction if they're the wrong one. Here's the practical breakdown of which ticket buys you more billable work in 2026.

Trade tax basics for 2026 — what self-employed sparkies, plumbers and chippies can actually claim

Tools, van, boots, mileage, training. The list of what's allowable looks generous until you read the small print. Here's what HMRC actually accepts from working trades — and what gets thrown out at first review.

CSCS cards explained — green, blue, gold and which one gets you on site in 2026

Five card colours. Seven trade routes. One frustrated apprentice trying to figure out what's worth £36. Here's the practical breakdown for working tradespeople in 2026.

What's actually in a working trades van — the 2026 honest list

YouTube van tour videos are a fantasy. Here's what's actually in a working UK trade van in 2026 — what earns its space, what doesn't, and the gear most trades regret not having sooner.

Van racking and security fit-out — what's worth fitting in 2026

A proper van fit-out is the difference between £4,000 of tools that survive a knock and £4,000 of tools sliding round the bulkhead at 70mph. Here's what we'd put in.

Tool theft prevention — what self-employed tradespeople actually need to do in 2026

31,000 reported tool thefts in 2025. £56m gone from working tradespeople's pockets. Insurance won't fix the lost income while you wait for replacements. Here's the plan we'd actually follow if our van pulled the family's wages.

DeWalt vs Makita vs Milwaukee — which 18V platform should a tradesperson commit to?

The tools are cheap. The batteries aren't. So once you commit to a battery platform you're stuck with it for the next five years. Here's how we'd pick between DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee in 2026.

Apprentice tool kit — what to actually buy in your first year

Most apprentice gift lists are written by marketing teams. This one is written by people who've watched a hundred apprentices show up with the wrong tools and burn £400 in a fortnight.

Phone mounts and UK hands-free law — what van drivers actually need to know

Six points and £200 — same as a 30 over the limit. So we sat down and read the actual law on hands-free phone use in vans, and worked out which mounts keep you on the right side of it.

Van dash cams for self-employed drivers — what's worth fitting in 2026

If your van pays the mortgage, a £150 box on the windscreen can save you a £3,500 insurance hike. We dug through the data and the real-world reviews to work out which dash cam earns its keep on a self-employed van.

Tool belt sizing and setup for apprentices — getting it right on day one

First tool belt is one of those purchases where everyone gets it wrong twice. Here's the honest setup an apprentice should aim for, and the three belts we'd actually buy.

First aid kit rules for UK construction sites — what BS8599-1:2026 actually changes

BS8599-1 got a quiet update in 2026. Here's what the new amendment changes for builders, what HSE expects on site, and which kits actually contain what they claim.

Wet weather jackets for roofers — what actually keeps you dry

Most 'waterproof' jackets fail by their second winter. We dug through long-term reviews to find the rain jackets roofers are still wearing in year three, not just the launch reviews.

Best impact drivers for electricians 2026 — what holds up after a year

An impact driver is on for half an electrician's day. We dug into long-term reviews to find which 18V models are still working hard 18 months in, and which ones get binned at six.

Cordless drills 2026 — what brushless actually changes for trades

Brushless used to be a £100 premium. Now it's standard at £160. We looked at what that shift actually means on site, and which 18V drills hold up after a year of real graft.

Best work gloves for electricians — cut, grip, and live-circuit reality

Sparks need three different gloves and most kits buy the wrong one twice. Here's what we found after reading through hundreds of buyer reviews from working electricians.

Best knee pads for roofers — what we'd actually buy in 2026

Tile work, lead flashing, hours kneeling on a 35-degree pitch. We dug through forum threads and a stack of long-term reviews to find the knee pads roofers are still wearing 18 months in.

Multi-tools vs dedicated gear — what contractors actually carry

A Leatherman Wave on the belt feels like the answer to everything. Then you're trying to strip 10mm armoured cable with multi-tool pliers and wishing you'd brought the proper cutters. Here's the real trade-off.

Best sat nav setup for a Citroen Berlingo

The Berlingo dashboard is quirky — sloped screen area, awkward power socket placement. A sat nav that works brilliantly in a Transit can be a pain in a Berlingo. Here's what we'd fit.

Builders safety equipment — what's actually essential in 2026

Builders' safety kit isn't complicated. Five or six items you wear every day, two or three you keep in the van, and the judgement to know when to use them. Here's what we'd put in the bag.

Pressure washer safety — what can actually hurt you

That pressure washer you use for patios puts out 130 bar at the nozzle. That's enough to strip paint from a door. Or skin from a finger if you're careless. Here's what the accident reports actually show.

Dash cam buying guide for UK fleet managers (2026)

Fitting dash cams across a fleet is a different game to picking one for your own car. We cross-referenced UK forum threads and a stack of reviews to find what fleet managers are actually buying.

Wet weather gear for scaffolders — what actually holds up

Rain doesn't stop a scaffold build. We dug through ScaffMag threads and a stack of reviews to find the rainwear that scaffolders actually keep buying — not just what looks good on the spec sheet.

Power drill buying mistakes that cost you the job

Half the lads on site are using the wrong drill for the work they do. We dug through manufacturer spec sheets and forum threads to map the eight mistakes worth avoiding.

Work gloves for plumbers — cut vs grip vs waterproof

One pair of gloves doesn't cut it for a plumber. We've worked through the research on which combinations actually make sense for UK plumbing work — and what the EN 388 rating actually tells you.

First aid kit checklist for trade vans (2026)

The kit you bought in 2018 has probably got six out-of-date plasters and no tourniquet. Here's what to actually have in a van first aid kit in 2026, based on BS 8599-1 and a bit of trade common sense.

Safety boots that actually last on roofing work (2026)

A roofer goes through a pair of safety boots in about eight months. We've researched which ones actually make it past the year mark — and which give up by Christmas.

Fire extinguisher rules every UK van should follow in 2026

There's a lot of nonsense online about what UK law says about fire extinguishers in vans. Here's what's actually required, what's recommended, and what'll save your livelihood if a battery fire breaks out at 3am.

Best impact drivers for carpenters in 2026 — an honest UK buyer's guide

Ask five chippies which impact driver is best and you'll get seven answers. We've waded through the spec sheets and the forum bickering so you don't have to.

Best thermal workwear for HGV drivers in 2026: what we'd actually wear

Cab's boiling, layby's freezing. Here's the thermal workwear HGV drivers actually rate for winter shifts, from Scruffs base layers to DeWalt heated kit.

Best knee pads for electricians in 2026: our top picks for hard floors and tight spaces

Sparkies spend half the day on their knees. We've cross-referenced thousands of reviews to find the knee pads that hold up to consumer unit work, loft crawls and second-fix domestic jobs.

Gear essentials for roofers: what actually earns its place in the van in 2026

What roofers actually need on the tiles — boots, head torches, waterproofs and the small stuff that stops you climbing back down for a tea break.

Best head torches for electricians: 2026 buying guide

We rate the best head torches for electricians, comparing Petzl, Ledlenser and Nitecore on brightness, CRI, weight and battery life. Our top pick is under £55.

Common mistakes buying pressure washers in 2026 (and the ones that cost you most)

Most lads buy the wrong pressure washer first time round. Here are the mistakes we keep seeing in reviews and how to dodge them.

Tool belts buying guide 2026: what actually works on site

We've cross-referenced hundreds of Amazon UK reviews to find the tool belts that actually hold up on site. Here's what to buy based on your trade.

Best multi tool for painters and decorators in 2026

The Leatherman Wave+ takes our top spot, but the Wingman's a genuine budget answer for painters who need pliers, a blade, and paint tin leverage without dropping £100.

Best head torches for HGV drivers in 2026

Five head torches that actually survive cab life, night walk-arounds and motorway breakdowns. Our shortlist for HGV drivers in 2026.

Best fire extinguishers for HGV drivers in 2026

A no-nonsense look at the 1kg, 2kg and aerosol fire extinguishers worth keeping in an HGV cab, with prices and the brands fleet managers actually accept.

Best HGV and truck sat navs in the UK (2026): what actually works in a cab

We compare Garmin dēzl, TomTom GO Expert Plus and Snooper TRUCKMATE for UK HGV and truck drivers, plus the best budget pick and whether a free app is safe.

Best thermal workwear for builders in 2026: what actually keeps you warm on site

We've dug through the reviews and forums to find the thermal workwear that actually keeps builders warm through a British winter on site. Here's what we'd buy.

Common mistakes buying thermal workwear: what tradespeople keep getting wrong

British winter and a £60 jacket: most blokes still get this wrong. Here are the mistakes we see again and again, and what to actually buy instead.

Phone mounts buying guide for tradespeople (2026)

Six points on your licence or a tenner on a decent phone mount. We've cross-referenced thousands of reviews to find the mounts that actually stay put in vans, trucks, and work vehicles.

Covers front-and-rear setups, parking mode, night vision, and hardwire kits. We compare 13 models from budget to premium and explain which features actually matter for insurance claims and fleet compliance.

Steel toe vs composite toe, waterproof ratings, ankle support, and ESD protection explained. Includes recommendations by trade — from lightweight options for electricians to heavy-duty boots for construction sites.

Lumen ratings, beam patterns, battery life, and IP ratings demystified. We cover what you actually need for loft work, roadside checks, and early-morning site starts — not camping.

Voltage, torque settings, chuck sizes, and battery platforms compared across 10 models. Practical guidance on choosing between a drill driver and combi drill for your day-to-day work.

Waterproof ratings, breathability, and layering systems for tradespeople who work outside year-round. We test jackets and trousers against real UK weather, not lab conditions.

Plier-based vs knife-based, one-hand opening, locking mechanisms, and blade steel compared. Covers 10 models from Leatherman, Gerber, and Victorinox with trade-specific recommendations.