Why Ryobi’s Track Saw Is Both Trash AND Genius

August 4, 2022

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I’ve spent a lot of time with track saws, and I have to say—Ryobi’s track saw left me with some seriously mixed feelings. It has moments of genius, but also some real head-scratchers that make you wonder what the engineers were thinking.

The Biggest Problem: The Proprietary Track

Let’s start with the deal-breaker for me: the track. Unlike Makita, Festool, or Milwaukee, Ryobi uses a totally proprietary track design. That means you’re stuck with their system—no swapping in better tracks or upgrading your saw later while keeping your old tracks. If you're trying to build out a flexible, long-term setup, that’s a major downside.

The Split Track Issue

To make things worse, Ryobi’s 55-inch track comes in two pieces you have to splice together. This introduces alignment issues and a less stable cutting experience. For a tool that’s supposed to give you dead-straight, accurate cuts, that’s just not acceptable.

Splinter Guard Fail

The rubber splinter guard on the track cracked almost immediately. I’ve had a Makita track saw for years with zero issues, so this was disappointing. The quality just isn’t there.

Frustrating Clamping System

Ryobi forces you to use their own clamps because of the track design—and they only include one. That clamp feels more like a toy than a tool. It’s flimsy, awkward to use, and makes setup way more frustrating than it needs to be.

Dust Collection Misses the Mark

The dust port isn’t standard-sized and doesn’t fit well with proper extractors. Worse, it throws dust right at you thanks to its fixed position. Good dust collection is essential in any shop, and Ryobi’s system just doesn’t cut it.

Too Much Plastic

The outer side cover and several other parts are plastic, which makes the whole thing feel less durable than it should. The plunge depth guide also feels janky—hard to read and awkward to set.

The Riving Knife Letdown

This one really got me. The riving knife seems like a nice safety feature—until you realize it doesn’t plunge. That means no plunge cuts, which defeats the purpose of using a track saw in the first place.

The Good Parts

Okay, so it’s not all bad. Once everything’s dialed in, it cuts straight. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to maneuver and store. And if you’re already on Ryobi’s battery platform, the convenience is hard to beat.

For homeowners or DIYers who just need something better than a circular saw and straight edge, this might actually be a good fit. It’s accessible, affordable, and can still improve your accuracy on basic projects.

Final Thoughts

Ryobi’s track saw is a mix of innovation and frustration. It nails some things—like portability and battery convenience—but drops the ball on the features that matter most to serious woodworkers. If you’re just starting out or on a tight budget, it’ll get the job done. But if precision and expandability are important to you, look elsewhere.