tool hire - head to head
Active vs Paslode
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| Active | Paslode | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | United Kingdom | USA |
| UK availability | Good UK dealer coverage | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | groundcare and landscaping equipment | nail guns, staplers |
| Best known for | ACT300 | IM65 |
Choose Active if...
A groundcare equipment brand best known in the UK tool hire trade for its turfcutters and similar landscaping machines, commonly badged onto own-brand hire fleets.
Look at: ACT300
Full Active profile →Choose Paslode if...
Paslode, now owned by Illinois Tool Works, pioneered the pneumatic and later gas-actuated nail gun. Its IM65 cordless framing nailer is a staple of UK carpentry and joinery hire, valued for working without a compressor or trailing cable.
Look at: IM65
Full Paslode profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK tool hire companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
Active vs Paslode - common questions
Is Active better than Paslode?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. A groundcare equipment brand best known in the UK tool hire trade for its turfcutters and similar landscaping machines, commonly badged onto own-brand hire fleets. Paslode, now owned by Illinois Tool Works, pioneered the pneumatic and later gas-actuated nail gun. Its IM65 cordless framing nailer is a staple of UK carpentry and joinery hire, valued for working without a compressor or trailing cable.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Active or Paslode?
Active: Sold and hired mainly through UK tool hire chains and their own-brand ranges rather than direct. Paslode: One of the most commonly hired cordless nailer brands on UK building sites.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK tool hire companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.