INCLY 5-Piece Geology Rock Pick Kit with 32 oz Rock Hammer, 12" Masonry Chisel, Safety Glasses, Whistle & Jewelers Loupe - Professional Tool Set for Rock Hounding, Gold Mining, Prospecting & Stone Breaking - Perfect for Outdoor Adventures, Field Research & Geology Enthusiasts

I'm giving this 5 stars as a starter kit for someone who wants to introduce a child to rock hounding. But this would not be a great value for an adult. Here's why: the whole package was $25, which is a low price for a rock hammer, chisel and the other items, so it lends itself well as an entry-level kit for someone who isn't sure how serious they're going to be about rockhounding. The chisel seems to be a very good one. A comparable one from a store would be $10. The hammer is acceptable. After all, it's a heat-treated piece of steel used to bang against another heat-treated piece of steel. But only acceptable; the hammer is rough in fit and finish. The grinding is haphazard, and fitment to the handle is solid, but unsightly. And the entire Hammer has been painted in a metallic color to suggest that it's not paint but rather steel. I can only assume they did this to save cost on finishing. You are NOT getting a hammer comparable to say, an Estwing. But an Eastwing rock hammer alone will cost you $30! I got my son an Estwing rock hammer many years ago. I can't tell you how many times it has been left out side in the elements overnight and even for a week or two on end. Sometimes, at night I lie awake in bed with guilty ruminations concerning the life we gave that old Estwing...okay...not really. But I think it would have been more appropriate to start a child out with a hammer such as the one I'm reviewing in this kit. It will work just as effectively, but it's not as high quality in terms of fit and finish. The steel seems good. The metallic paint chips off pretty quickly, but that's no big deal. The steel underneath of it seems to be doing just fine. At this price, if a child loses it, or leaves it out to rust in the rain for a couple of years, it is a low-cost way of seeing how serious he or she is about rockhounding (and it will save you some sleepless nights :). For this purpose, I think the hammer is a good value. But if youre an adult, Eastwing all the way. The eye protection, whistle and magnifying glass may seem like kitsch. But the eye protection is a step up from what you might find in a local Dollar Store. And while the whistle may seem quaint, it is a great opportunity to teach a young person that a whistle is part of the Ten Essentials that you must take into the Wilderness with you in case you get lost. So the kit is a good value for youth, but it's also a great teaching opportunity. 5 stars if youre buying for a young child you want to introduce to rock hounding.