As far as hand tools go, I just tend to have one basic rule. Lifetime Warranty. When I was a teen, I bought what I could afford for goofing off with various things. I'd picked up a 1972 Honda CB500 that I was wrenching on for kicks, and bought a very cheap socket set that was made in Sri Lanka. Yeah, you guessed it. In the course of the first hour or two, I'd broken three sockets, no warranty. Great!
Anyhow, flash forward to today- I don't know where the US deals can be had, but we've got a chain of stores called "Canadian Tire". They've got automotive stuff, tools, some recreational stuff, electronics... Lots. Anyhow, thier house brand Mastercraft carries a lifetime warranty on all hand tools. Wrenches, sockets, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. And all you have to do is be patient. Everything ends up on sale sooner or later, for upwards of 50, 70 percent off. Usually every couple of months. I've gotten a $150 set of ratcheting box end combo wrenches for $60, a $300 socket set for 100, the list goes on. The warranty policy is brilliant. Walk in, present the broken tool (no reciept needed) and they send you off to go get another one off the shelf.
I've got the occasional tool of another brand, but really- I can't do any better for deals on tools guaranteed for life.
Certain brands are guaranteed winners like Snap-On, but they can get costly.
