Who Makes Walmart's Hyper Tough Tools? Here's What We Know

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According to a study published in the Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report, about 39% of Americans say they are "always" or "most of the time" aware of a product's origin before making a purchase. Some shoppers feel more confident buying tools if they know where they're manufactured, so it makes sense to question where Walmart acquires its Hyper Tough line of lawn equipment, power tools, and other tools every homeowner should have. 

Hyper Tough is a private label owned by Walmart, and the retailer doesn't explicitly disclose manufacturer information in product descriptions. While some product listings note that they are made in the U.S., others have vague labels or are sourced from other countries. The truth is, Walmart's Hyper Tough tool line is an amalgamation of items from several private producers.

Walmart works with manufacturers who may outsource some of their production to foreign countries. For example, this 20-inch 125cc Gas-Powered Walk Behind Push Mower is manufactured by Daye North America (DNA), a North Carolina-based company that operates factories across multiple countries. However, DNA explicitly states on its website that this is the only product in the Hyper Tough lineup that it manufactures — it is not responsible for the whole line of lawn equipment. On the other hand, some products like the Hyper Tough prybars sold at Walmart have a "Made in USA" label on them, although Walmart's site doesn't specify where they are manufactured.

It's also not always clear where those tools are put together. Some Hyper Tough tools claim to be made in the USA, but Walmart has been known to sell items with this label that are actually only assembled in the country or partially constructed with US-made parts, according to the Federal Trade Commission. For some consumers, this information is irrelevant when shopping for cheap tools anyway, but for others, a tool's country of origin may affect their trust in its performance. Many shoppers also just prefer to support American workers and companies whenever possible. 

Some manufacturers working with Walmart will also sell through their own brand name or to other private labels, like Wilde Tool, for example. This often translates to a cheaper Hyper Tough tool that's actually made with similar quality to its parent brand. However, when you can't discern the manufacturer, it's difficult to pinpoint which tools are essentially copy-cats of a higher-quality brand, and which are made exclusively for Hyper Tough.

All in all, you may be rolling the dice when you pick out a new Hyper Tough tool from Walmart, but that doesn't mean it's always a bad deal. Although they're not typically a favorite brand for professionals, Hyper Tough tools tend to work fine for most DIYs and home improvement applications, so a Walmart toolkit can be a dream come true for apartment living and other low-use situations. If you want something a little more durable, HART is another Walmart private label that collaborates with Techtronic Industries, a manufacturer for well-known brands like Ryobi and Milwaukee. Otherwise, check out the brands of tools owned by Harbor Freight that are worth buying.