The Knipex product that I love is their automatic wire stripper.
I know what you mean, but if I use the bolt that I want to loosen or tighten as a stopper, and then latch into the next bigger position, I think I never miss the right setting.
https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump...
A thing of beauty
https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump...
The XS is useful even as a small tool in a carry-on. I've busted mine (and it's Cobra XS equivalent which is probably more useful on a job site) out in a datacenter, etc. to get a small job done. You can more or less crank on them with as much strength as you can and they won't break or slip.
I bought it as a laugh when I found one 50% off and ended up purchasing a dozen or so as Christmas gifts for my ops staff that year. Fits in the watch pocket of your jeans comfortably, so it's handy to just have on you all day especially if going up and down ladders.
It won't replace a full toolset for a serious job - but as a "just in case" pair for little quick jobs they are unexpectedly useful.
I then ended up with a collection of around 20 various Knipex tools over the years since they simply are so much better than anything else I've found. Their precision nippers are the bees knees for terminating cat5/6 into patch panels, for example.
Definitely pick up a "baby wrench" if you have an excuse to!
This seems to be more or less a theme for knipex tools. I know I've put my full weight on a knipex combination plier before to cut something that I probably shouldn't be cutting with it.
Worked fine, no damage to the pliers.
https://www.knipex-tools.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-wate...
The mini has still got the pushbutton and dual locking tabs, the XS is more compact, much lighter, and is slightly more complicated to use, but can be used one-handed.
It's fixed a number of problems with skis, bikes, and tents that you might not expect of its size, it will do properly maintained axle nuts and other large fasteners (it prefers 12mm and less, where most wrenches suck, but can do up to 18mm or 3/4"). I carry the 10" pliers wrench in my work tool bag for working on hydraulics, pneumatics, and it's definitely one of my favorite tools, unlike the accursed worm-gear Crescent wrenches...
> Only downsides are price and they are not super low profile so you need a bit of room to turn in.
Pricey, but buy quality and cry once.
As for low profile, I actually find them nearly as thin as a typical crescent in terms of the handle; while the head may be same or thinner.
I recommend buying more than one size
https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump...
I found some truly excellent ones at hardware stores in Japan. For some reason they don't sell them elsewhere.
https://www.bahco.com/int_en/products/wrenches/adjustable-wr...
However, I prefer the Knipex pliers wrenches mentioned by other commenters. They are also useful for many other gripping, pressing and bending tasks that the traditional adjustables cannot do.
Edit: For vise grip type tools, Grip-On is the best value/quality. They have a slightly different release mechanism than the Vise-Grip branded tools that improves the ergonomics of the tool significantly. They are (or were last time I checked) relabeled by some high end tool brands like Snap-on. For the most part, I consider them an inherently destructive but sometimes necessary tool that will mess up a fastener. However there are a wide variety of jaw styles (and removable covers) available that can mitigate this, depending on the task.
For other options, there is a youtube video comparing different adjustable wrenches for strength (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyOd05PUix4). The Bahco did indeed do well, although it was not the very best the tested.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LWP3Y3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
Honestly I love this thing. It is precisely manufactured, turns smoothly, and grips well. I use it mostly for sink and plumbing repairs around the house, but I've also used it on bikes and other things. It's really nice for that because the small size means it fits in places that would otherwise be hard to manage.
A lot of people don't know that there is a correct direction to turn these wrenches (and Channel Locks, and pipe wrenches). Older Crescent models had an arrow engraved on the handle to show this. You turn the wrench with the smaller jaw leading into the turn. This helps prevent slipping by putting pressure on the mechanism, which makes it harder for the adjusting screw to move.
I would say convenience and use case are just as important. A crescent wrench is non marring unlike alligator jaws or vise grips. It's also perfectly fine for low torque applications. It isn't for torquing lug nuts.
I have a wonderful wrench and socket set in standard and metric measures. It's in a nice case on a shelf in my garage. My crescent wrenches are hanging 5 feet away on a pegboard.
I needed to loosen an RP-SMA connector the other day. What size is that nut? Do I want to break out my wrenches and fiddle? Nope, the nut is only just beyond finger tight so two crescent wrenches and 5 seconds to get it off.
https://www.centricrf.com/torque-wrenches/sma-torque-wrenche...
Or other stores. RF connectors should be torqued to a specified torque listed on their data sheet. Improper torque can cause damage. Usually for equipment using SMA connectors this isn't a big deal (just replace the connector, they're cheap and the torque wrenches are expensive), but for the really high frequency stuff like 1.85mm connectors the connector itself is $70-300 so spending $100-400 on a torque wrench is reasonable.
I hate them with a passion and have no much need as I've got pretty much tools of every sizes but... I like plier wrenches.
I've got many plier wrenches and even the cheap ones do nearly every single job I can think of better than an adjustable wrench.
For larger hex things, and for square things, adjustable wrenches work fine. They're much nicer on (hex) pipe fittings than pipe wrenches.
I find the "adjustable" moniker doesn't really create the best expectation of how to use them though, implying that you choose the right setting to do the job. On every use, I back the jaws off slightly with the thumb screw, put on the piece, then tighten up while it's on the piece. The more torque I need to apply, the more deliberate I am about making sure the jaws are snug.
Vise grips are for when you would otherwise use pliers, and want them to latch.
For something like common nuts and bolts - like you might find on a bike - I want one tool to do it all - similar to https://www.amazon.com.au/9-32mm-Adjustable-Spanner-Universa...
Or https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe-wrenches-and-water-pump...
One tool that'd be ok for a variety - but not infinite - of sizes to regular human torque levels.
But I wouldn't use it for plumbing.
The jaws invariably splay when you apply force, even if you're using them correctly. I've come to the conclusion that it's just intrinsic to having a moving jaw that moves easily enough to be useful.
At this point, if I expect to need the wrench ever again (or need to reuse the fastener), I'll just buy a proper wrench for it. The couple of Crescent wrenches I keep are for emergencies and plumbing (because I don't have combo wrenches that big and do it infrequently), nothing more.
Vise-grips? Another tool that I find is more apt to round something than grip it properly. If I'm reaching for them, I figure I'm already so dicked that I'm unlikely to make it worse. Once in a while they get me out of an otherwise unavoidable trip to the hardware store.