Is Ryobi's Space-Saving Workbench Worth Buying For DIY Enthusiasts?

Many people's garages can get pretty cluttered. While there are lots of budget-friendly ideas to help organize the space, it can often be difficult to find room for a workbench. Ryobi's Stowaway Wall-Mounted Workbench offers DIY enthusiasts a convenient solution. It folds flat against the wall when not required but lifts easily and has locking hinges to provide a solid surface when needed.

The idea is far from new, with numerous store-bought options available, or you can build your own space-saving DIY workbench. However, Ryobi's $119 price is very competitive when compared to its rivals, and by the time you've paid upward of $25 for strong enough hinges, and then bought an appropriate chunk of worktop, making your own might not save you as much as you expect either.

So the big question is whether it's any good. Is it worth buying for DIYers? Given the price and the useful 44 by 22 inches of benchtop, it does seem to represent great value for money. However, it's a good idea to take a closer look at the strengths and potential weaknesses before deciding one way or the other.

Ryobi's folding workbench supports loads of up to 300 pounds. The top is solid wood, so it should be durable. Most other models fold almost completely flat, whereas Ryobi's leaves a neat 5-inch shelf. It's wide enough to be useful without getting in the way. The hinge lock is automatic but can be released with one hand, and there's a soft close, so you can leave it to drop to the wall on its own.

It certainly has a lot going for it. It's relatively new, so there isn't a huge amount of customer feedback, but it gets 4.7 stars at Home Depot. Most found it easy to put together and sturdy, which is just what you need from a workbench. There are only two complaints: one purchased product had misaligned holes, and the other had missing parts. All in all, it's difficult to fault and will be worth buying for many DIY enthusiasts.

The challenges aren't so much with the Ryobi workbench but with folding workbenches in general. Working on only three sides can be awkward. It can be difficult to position larger pieces if the back wall gets in the way. Also, work can't be left on the bench to return to later. One affordable solution is to DIY a rolling workbench from wood pallets, but of course, that takes up more space when not in use. It's tough to find a perfect answer, but Ryobi's space-saving workbench is as good as anything else available.