6 Harbor Freight Tools Every Dad Will Want To Have This Summer

Summer is almost officially here. With its arrival comes long days spent basking in the sun, neighborhood cookouts with friends and family, and, for dads around the world, a lengthy list of home and garden projects to tackle. Whether you're an avid gardener and home improvement enthusiast, or someone who loathes the idea of battling weeds and fixing cabinets, it's impossible to deny two things: the jobs must be done by someone, and there's a certain level of satisfaction in completing these projects, whether you enjoy them or not.

But just because the jobs need to be done doesn't mean the experience has to be miserable. One of the most effective ways to make a project less odious is to use the proper tools and equipment. Luckily, you don't have to break the bank to get your hands on quality tools for summer tasks. Harbor Freight stocks a vast array of affordable hobby tools and more. The company maintains various in-house tool brands and sells products designed for virtually every type of project, job, and hobby. 

Whether you're a dad with a long summer to-do list or a DIY enthusiast with a penchant for budget-friendly tools, Harbor Freight could have a product for you. We searched the website and found six unique tools that may come in handy for summer projects, and we selected items based on things like utility, user reviews, and price. That said, we'll cover our methodology later. For now, here are six Harbor Freight tools every dad will want to have this summer.

Summer's arrival doesn't just mean cookouts and vacations. It also means there's a fresh generation of insects and weeds waiting to make us itch, eat our plants, and invade our gardens. Each year, homeowners around the country ready themselves for battle with these seasonal enemies. They arm themselves with rakes, pesticides, trimmers, and more, in an attempt to avoid itchy bites and have the prettiest lawn in the neighborhood. However, many of those tools — like bottles of bug spray or powdery pesticides — are inefficient, at best, or downright ineffective and dangerous, at worst.

Instead of exposing yourself to toxic chemicals or purchasing numerous bottles of expensive bug spray, you can grab a 4 Gallon Backpack Sprayer from Harbor Freight. The backpack sprayer allows you to skip the spreader, meaning no more handling toxic powders or breathing them in as you push a spreader around your yard. Not only can you use the backpack sprayer to kill weeds, but you can also fill it with insecticide and treat your home for unwanted creepy-crawlies. While you'll still have to buy the liquid, using a sprayer like this provides you with many more options. Instead of purchasing harmful chemicals, you can choose to make your own bug spray or weed killer using safe, environmentally friendly materials. Even if you don't feel like making your own spray, you can still save money by buying in bulk and filling your sprayer yourself. The tool costs $29.99 and customers praise its price and utility.

For many dads and homeowners, summer is the season to get outside and tackle yard work projects. Some of those projects include things like applying fresh mulch or gravel to flower beds, removing overgrowth and weeds, and transporting new plants to various parts of the yard. You can do all of that by hand or with a shovel if you want. But here at SlashGear, we're always on the lookout for products that help us work smarter, not harder.

One product that can help save you time and avoid a sore back is the HFT 1,200 pound Capacity Steel Utility Cart from Harbor Freight. The heavy-duty cart is built to handle nearly any garden project you can think of. It features removable sides, meaning you can transport large items like beams of wood or simply drop the sides to help you unload material like mulch or gravel. The near-zero turn radius means you can maneuver the cart in cramped quarters with ease, while the 13-inch tires are capable of holding up in even the most rugged terrain. It features a removable liner for when you need to transport finer material and a two-in-one handle that you can use by hand or tow behind a tractor or lawnmower. The cart comes with a price tag of $169.99 and features hundreds of reviews from customers praising its weight capacity, price, and stout construction.

There are few things as satisfying as raising your own fruit and vegetables and sharing them proudly with friends and family. Summer provides us with the perfect opportunity to get outside and get our hands dirty in the garden. Whether you're just starting to explore the world of small-scale gardening or you're an accomplished planter with years of experience under your belt, there are always new smart gardening gadgets to improve your efficiency and maximize your plot's production.

For dads and homeowners who have dreams of a bountiful garden, the Predator 2-Stroke Gas Cultivator from Harbor Freight could be a solid buy. It features a robust 43cc engine, providing enough power for small residential gardens, and a tiller that can adjust between 2–6 inches of depth and 4–9 inches of width. The hardened steel tiller blades are capable of turning various types of soil, including tough clay and dry, rocky dirt, while a set of 8-inch wheels allows you to move the tool easily around your garden and garage. It weighs roughly 32 pounds, making it relatively lightweight, and handlebar controls allow users to operate the device with ease. The tiller costs $219.99 and features hundreds of reviews praising its size-to-power ratio, durability, and value.