Milwaukee is, IMO, hands-down the best power tool out there and also the most expensive. Snap-On is, IMO, the best hand tool out there and also the most expensive. However, there are several manufacturers that produce quality tools and some of the determination of who makes the best of anything will boil down to personal preference. Like a lot of people I, too, was raised on Craftsman tools and felt like, for the money, it was a "best buy" for a non-professional enthusiast like me. I'm 50 and my dad has Craftsman tools that I remember as a little boy that he still uses so that says something about their reliability. Over the years, I have amassed a fairly large amount of tools, the vast majority of which are Craftsman, and they have indeed served me well. However, as of late and especially since Sears is going tits-up with no open store near me, I have been leaning towards the Kobalt line from Lowe's. They seem to be of comparable quality to the Craftsman line and feel pretty good in the hand. I just bought a 227-piece set of the Kobalt mechanics tools for the car trailer. Yep, Hecho in China but the Craftsman set right beside it, half the size for the same money had Taiwan stamped all over it. Is the quality of the Craftsman set that much better? IMO, not twice the price better. Both have a lifetime guarantee although I hope to never have to use it. Breaking a tool is aggravating to say the least. Couple that with having to go and get another one adds expense and lost time to the situation so hopefully breakage is something you don't have to worry about in the first place. If you do, I guess it's good to have that guarantee but I would consider a better quality tool to start with. No, I'm not a professional mechanic but I do want a quality tool that will last more than just one project and provide a comfortable work experience while using it. The "Hopeful Freight" (as someone above put it; LOL!) stuff is really a hit-and-miss. Some stuff like pry bars, socket extensions, and maybe impact sockets might be alright to use but I would stay away from any of their tools that require any degree of precision in tolerance or output (torque wrench, dial indicators, multi-meter, etc.) If it is going to be a disposable purchase then you know up front what you're getting but if you want the the tool you plan on buying to last and give you years of reliable service then it may pay to consider purchasing a better quality tool from the start. That said, to quote Snap-On: "There is a difference". Question is do you want to pay the difference in price for the difference in quality and where it's made?
