10 Must-Have Tools for Every AV Technician (or How to Avoid AV Disasters with a Little Help from These Friends)

Allen Hex Key Set: Don’t let a pesky hex screw ruin your day. With this set, you’ll always have the right tool for the job. Plus, you’ll look like a hero when you save the day with your trusty Allen wrench

USB C Hub: In today’s world, it seems like everything is going wireless… except for AV equipment. This hub is the perfect solution for connecting all of your devices to a single computer. Bonus points if it has a power passthrough for those power-hungry devices.

Cordless Drill: Okay, we know this one is a bit of a splurge, but trust us, it’s worth it. You never know when you’ll need to drill a hole or attach something to a wall. Plus, you’ll look like a total badass with your cordless drill in hand.

Audio Adapter Kit: Whether you’re connecting a microphone or a mixer, an adapter kit will have you covered. Sure, you could spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy one, but this basic kit will do the trick.

Digital Tape Measure: When it comes to AV, precision is key. This tape measure will help you measure distances and heights with ease. Plus, you’ll feel like a ninja when you whip it out to measure something in a flash.

Mechanix Thin/Touch Screen Work Gloves: Protect your hands and keep your phone accessible with these work gloves. They’re thin enough to get into tight spaces, and they even have touchscreen capability so you can text your friends while you work.

Button Snapper Tool: This tool may have been designed for boat covers, but it’s found a new home in the AV industry. Use it to put together fast-fold screens or just to save your fingers from the agony of buttoning up your pants.

The Dirty Rigger: If you’re a lighting tech, you need this tool in your life. It’s got everything you need, from a built-in wrench to a wire cutter. Plus, it just sounds cool to say “I’m a dirty rigger.”

Adjustable Wrench: Don’t underestimate the power of a good wrench. This adjustable one will help you tighten or loosen just about anything. Just don’t use it as a hammer… unless you want to make some new friends in the emergency room.

The Adjustable Wrench set I suggested as pictured here, is a 3 pack of decently priced ones that I found on Amazon, having the different sizes would really help

The Multitool: The holy grail of AV tools. This one tool can do it all – cut wires, tighten screws, open bottles. If you don’t have one of these in your pocket, are you even an AV tech?

The Gerber Tool is the one I personally use, but Leatherman also makes a nice one.