DeWalt vs Makita Impact Drivers: Which One Should I Get?

Hey everyone, I'm in the market for a new impact driver. I've been using my old corded drill forever, and it's time to upgrade. I've narrowed it down to the DeWalt 20V Max XR and the Makita 18V LXT. I'm a weekend warrior, mostly doing furniture builds and some deck repairs. Which one would you guys recommend? I care about battery life and how it feels in hand.

I've used both professionally for years. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. But if you're doing woodwork and want a compact feel, the Makita is slightly lighter and has a better trigger for precise control. The DeWalt is a bit more powerful and has a better chuck for heavy-duty stuff. For weekend projects, I'd lean Makita, but if you plan on driving long screws into hardwoods, the DeWalt won't let you down.

I'll add my 2 cents: check the safety features. DeWalt has the LED light on the bottom, which is nice, but Makita has the belt clip as standard and a better battery indicator. Also, both have electronic brakes, so that's not an issue. But make sure you wear eye protection - I've seen drill bits snap and send shrapnel flying. Safety first, guys!

Lol Bob, always safety. But yeah, I'm a newbie and I got the Makita because of the battery life. I used it to build a pergola last weekend - ran out of juice after about 300 screws on a single 5Ah battery. That's pretty decent. Also, the belt clip is super convenient. Just sayin'.

Thanks for the input, guys! I think I'm gonna go with the Makita - the weight and battery life are selling points for me. And Bob, thanks for the safety tip, I'll grab some goggles. Appreciate it!