Supreme x RIDGID 14" Pipe Wrench
The original behind the Supreme x RIDGID 14" Pipe Wrench is the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) — $34 retail vs Supreme's $60.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
The RIDGID Model 14 Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) is a 14-inch plumbing wrench built from a ductile-iron housing and I-beam handle with a full-floating forged hook jaw, self-cleaning knurled nut, and 2-inch pipe capacity. RIDGID was founded in 1923 in North Ridgeville, Ohio, by twelve founders who pooled $7,500 to manufacture a new pattern of pipe wrench, and the company is now owned by Emerson Electric. Its orange-handled wrenches have been the trade standard for plumbers and HVAC technicians for over a century and carry a full lifetime warranty against defects. The FW2020 Supreme version adds an embossed box logo to the handle and retailed at $60 against a standard retail of $34.
About RIDGID
RIDGID is an American tool manufacturer founded in 1923 in North Ridgeville, Ohio by Carl Ingwer Sr., A. G. Smith, and William Thewes, organized around Thewes's 1922 slanted-jaw pipe wrench patent that became the brand's signature product. The Ridge Tool Company relocated to Elyria, Ohio in 1943 and has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric since 1966. The line covers pipe wrenches, threading machines, drain cleaners, pipe cutters, and inspection cameras built for the plumbing, HVAC, and pipefitting trades. The pipe wrench design has remained largely unchanged for a century and is standard issue in working tool boxes worldwide. Supreme has collaborated with RIDGID on a co-branded pipe wrench.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $60 |
|---|---|
| RIDGID retail | $34 |
| Hype tax | +76% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x RIDGID 14" Pipe Wrench just the regular 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020)?
The Supreme x RIDGID 14" Pipe Wrench, released in Fall/Winter 2020, is based on the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020). Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $60 for the Supreme x RIDGID 14" Pipe Wrench; the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) retails for $34. That's a 76% markup — buying the original saves you $26, or 43% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020)?
You can buy the RIDGID 14" Heavy-Duty Straight Pipe Wrench (31020) from Amazon or direct from RIDGID. Retail price is $34. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
