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This random gift was the best thing I put on my wedding registry

It might be the one wedding present you'll use the most.

Credit: Getty / Julia_Sudnitskaya

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From organizing the day-of details to finding the perfect dress (or tux), getting married is an exciting—yet tedious—planning process. And, building your wedding registry is up there with your most important marriage to-dos.

But, it’s easier said than done. Take it from me—someone who spent hours mulling over what to add (and remove) from my wedding registry.

I was married in 2016 after living with my now-husband for the better part of eight years. After living in numerous rental homes, apartments, and condos, we’d collected enough “stuff” that we didn’t really need many of the traditional wedding registry items like the usual countertop kitchen appliances, a good set of pots and pans, and fancy bed sheets with high thread counts.

I know, I know—what did we even register for? Since we’d been together for so long, we opted to take the more practical route when crafting our wedding registry by adding the Stanley Mixed Tool Set to the list of things we hoped our guests would buy us.

This is the best thing I put on my wedding gift registry

Stanley Mixed Tool Kit
Credit: Stanley

With 210 pieces, there are plenty of bits and other tools to choose from.

Over the many years my husband and I have been living together, we’ve only ever had a random mishmash of tools stashed away in the kitchen junk drawer. As you can imagine, especially if you have a kitchen junk drawer like ours, digging through all of the unorganized knickknacks is a cumbersome process when you just need a screwdriver or a hammer for a quick task.

After more than three years of owning the set, the quality is just as good as the day we opened it, all for less than $130.

The Stanley Mixed Tool Set has 1,062 reviews and an overall 4.5-star rating on Amazon, so it appears to be a solid choice for anyone—wedding registry or not. Reviewers love this particular tool set for the "quality" and for the "price,” and I couldn’t agree more. After more than three years of owning the set, the quality is just as good as the day we opened it, all for less than $130. It also happens to be the larger version of the best starter tool kit we've tested, the Stanley 94-248 65-Piece Homeowner's Tool Kit.

That’s probably because each tool has a "full polish chrome finish" to help prevent corrosion and they are manufactured using “Chrome Vanadium,” which assists in the hardening process to ensure the tools are strong and durable, according to the company.

What I love about the Stanley Mixed Tool Set

Stanley mixed tool kit
Credit: Stanley

The Stanley Mixed Tool Kit includes a secure storage box with a lock on the front.

Unless you're planning on tackling serious home improvement projects, this tool kit really has just about everything you need for basic tasks like hanging artwork, building furniture, installing a few smart door locks, and more.

I’m not going to list out all 210 pieces included with this tool kit, but there are a few worth highlighting. For starters, Stanley’s Mixed Tool Set includes four different screwdrivers that are made with a soft grip to help you avoid blisters, a variety of wrenches, pliers, 55 drive bits, and so much more. Additionally, the kit includes a utility knife and 16-foot measuring tape.

The front of the storage box features a twist lock, which helps keep the tool box door from busting open when in transit (and it's good for keeping curious little fingers away, too).

What I don’t love about the Stanley Mixed Tool Set

Most tool kits come in a well-organized box, just like the Stanley Mixed Tool Set does. All of the bits and pieces stay securely in place whenever I open and close the kit. However, my only gripe is that sometimes you have to put a little muscle into removing the small drill bits from the storage box.

Sometimes I'll use one of the larger tools, like the flathead screwdriver, to loosen the smaller bits. Regardless, I'm just happy all 210 pieces don't go flying everywhere when I open and close the tool kit.

Should you put a tool kit on your wedding registry?

Wedding presents on gift table
Credit: Getty / Chris Politick

A tool kit might not be a very popular item to register for but it might wind up being the gift you use the most.

If you’re getting married, by all means, make sure to add the very best essentials like bath towels, bed sheets, a stand mixer, a dutch oven, and a knife set.

Although the Stanley Mixed Tool Set may not be the most obvious item to add to your wedding registry, it’s certainly one you will get plenty of use out of in the years to come.

We bought our first home together about six months after we tied the knot, and whether you rent or own your home or apartment, a tool kit can help you tackle all sorts of home projects. It’s also compact enough that you can keep it in the trunk of your car in case of an emergency situation.

Although the Stanley Mixed Tool Set may not be the most obvious item to add to your wedding registry, it’s certainly one you will get plenty of use out of in the years to come.

Get the Stanley Mixed Tool Set, 210-piece on Amazon for $129.99

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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