Santa's bag will be full of tools this Christmas

Should Santa's sleigh break down on someone's rooftop, he won't have far to look for repair tools. He'll carry plenty in his bag of goodies.

Tools -- saws, drill drivers, laser levels, even a mini-power tool to clean golf clubs -- are on the A-list of big girls and boys this season.

"People want to give tools, and people want to get tools," says Craig Webber of Lowe's. "This year the trend is definitely toward anything that's perceived as innovative and combination kits of power tools."

These aptly named "combo-kits" group four or more pieces of power equipment. The Black and Decker "Firestorm" kit with circular saw, portable light, vacuum and drill driver is aimed at first-time homeowners.

A six-piece set from DeWalt for the skilled do-it-yourselfer includes a hammer drill, circular and reciprocal saws, flexible light, right-angle drill and a cut-off tool. Rechargeable batteries interchange from tool to tool.

Prices range from $25 and up. You don't need a ton of muscle to use these staples of the home toolbox.

Laser levels cast room-wide beams to find the level for framed art, drop ceilings or chair rails. These popular gizmos from Strait-Line or Black and Decker are priced from $29 to $49, very different from the $200 range promoted just a few years ago. Some models include a wall-stud finder.

Project calculators replace pencil and paper computations when figuring material needs for wallpaper, tile, decking, etc. Great for first-time homeowners faced with extensive renovations.

Also on many shopping lists: a place to store all those tools. A nine-drawer metal storage bin runs a little more than $100, while professional grade storage with 20 steel drawers on ball bearings is almost $1,000 and is the ultimate in shop organization.

The year-round penchant for professional-grade tools continues during the holidays. Webber says even casual do-it-yourselfers will spend more for the stronger engineering specifications of tools once exclusive to pros for whom top tools are their livelihood. Professional tools have greater job-tested durability owing to features such as metal in place of plastic housing or beefier motor wiring. Webber says Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi and Milwaukee head the premium tool category.

Not all gifts have a super-serious side. Here are some of Webber's stocking stuffers:

The Dremel golf club cleaning kit. AA batteries power this little marvel you stow in your golf bag.

Energizer folding fluorescent light. This is the portable light to use in cramped spaces.

Personal fire safe from Sentry. Keep your important documents safe in this safe.

Drill Doctor drill-bit sharpener. Don't buy new drill bits. Sharpen what you have.

Video door intercom, Home Sentry. Talk to -- and view -- visitors before answering the door.

Leaf Hog, Black and Decker. Rid your yard of leaves with this combination blower, vacuum and mulcher.

Roof Rake, Ames. Extends to 17 feet for safe ground-level removal of snow and leaves from roof eaves.