# What's a specific brand of consumer product that's worth the money and then some? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680 "2017-05-15T19:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/121 "2017-05-18T21:45:04Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I have a set of 3 section poles for hiking, and two 2 section poles for skiing. I just got the most basic set (no shock absorbers or cork handles) because I beat the crap out of them. Not sure what you mean by plastic; do you mean carbon fiber? I go for metal. Evidently their lower end poles have plastic flicklocks and the more expensive ones have metal. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/122 "2017-05-18T23:12:49Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Tea, however, tastes the same, all brands and prices. That’s the kind of thing someone says when they have no idea how to make tea. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/123 "2017-05-19T05:45:03Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > Anker phone chargers. Got myself a 5 port charger a couple of years ago. It can charge several devices quickly and not even get warm to the touch. This is what I came here to post… …but then I saw this: > [@RickJay](#): > > 1. Heinz Ketchup. My wife is a little cheap and will go out of her way to save 25 cents on a grocery item but when it ocmes to ketchup she’ll buy Heinz and nothing else. And she’s right. Heinz is delicious. I’ve tried other ketchups and they all taste exactly like if Heinz ketchup was accidentally not made quite right. > [@cmkeller](#): > > I’ll second the Heinz Ketchup. > [@Atamasama](#): > > I’ll third that unless you’re talking ketchup flavored with something “extra” like sriracha or Tabasco. In that case you can either buy the cheaper generic flavored version or just buy cheap ketchup and doctor it yourself. > [@kayaker](#): > > Another Heinz Ketchup lover, even though the company passed on my marketing idea. > [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Heinz ketchup? Yeah. Definitely. My old GF tried to fool her son by putting store-brand ketchup in a Heinz bottle to save money. It took exactly ONE French fry for him to say, “This isn’t Heinz!!” > [@Turble](#): > > Heinz ketchup, yep. I buy the Simply Heinz type – has sugar instead of corn syrup, and it’s worth the extra money. Before the Simply type came out I was willing the spend the bucks for Heinz Organic. > [@AskNott](#): > > **Heinz** and **Red Gold** both offer no-salt ketchup now. One of the Red Gold plants is about 20 miles from here, so I go with the locals. > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > I wouldn’t think I’m the kind of person who cares what ketchup he buys but one day after having bought off-brands for a while I had a taste of Heinz. It was that much better. So now I buy it all the time. > [@Patx2](#): > > Another vote for Heinz here! > [@Drummond\_Bays](#): > > I’ll toss my hat in for Heinz[…]Great products. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Heinz ketchup, of course. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If you don’t want corn syrup, Heinz has a variety called “Simply Heinz” that uses sugar. Not that there’s much difference. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **Heinz** for catsup Oh, Lordy, no! I used to be a Heinz 57 acolyte as well, until I moved west and got a taste of Portland Ketchup. I never realized until then what ketchup was supposed to taste like. Then I read the ingredients: Heinz: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING Portland Ketchup: Organic Tomato Puree, Organic White Vinegar, Organic Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Allspice, Organic Clove …and I knew. No corn syrup, no unspecified spice or “natural flavoring”. Just real, identifiable, organic ingredients. It’s what ketchup tastes like when it’s fresh. > [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > **Goya** ginger beer. Goya does a lot of stuff really well, but there is just nothing quite like their ginger beer. I have never found a spicier one, and if I don’t have to cough from sniffing a freshly-opened bottle, I want my money back. 😃 Yes! Ginger beer that taste like ginger, not ginger flavored, carbonated sugar water. My go-to ginger beer is Bottoms Up! from The Ginger People. I’ll have to try Goya; it gets great reviews! ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/124 "2017-05-19T05:47:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > BTW, I think Leki makes the REI branded poles. Actually, they’re made by Komperdell. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/125 "2017-05-19T05:55:32Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Oh, Lordy, no! I used to be a Heinz 57 acolyte as well, until I moved west and got a taste of Portland Ketchup. I never realized until then what ketchup was supposed to taste like. Heinz 57 isn’t ketchup. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/126 "2017-05-19T10:40:39Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Pilot G2 pens. > Vater drum sticks. > **PRS guitars.** > Rogue fitness stuff. > All-Clad stainless steel cookware. > Asus motherboards. Bolding mine. Their build quality is tops, to be sure, but I would go with a **Fender Telecaster** before any PRSi. The design, the first commercially popular mass-produced solidbody “Spanish” guitar (vs Hawaiian lap steels) can play any style excellently and a well set-up one is a great tool in terms of ruggedness and reliability and revealing more about your playing than most others guitars. And if you’re Keith Richards and need to take out a dude rushing the stage, then get right back to playing, the Tele is your weapon of choice ;). For Acoustics, **Martin** ’s top lines are pricey as hell, but their Authentic line are the real deal and will hold their value. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/127 "2017-05-19T11:19:59Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Portland Ketchup: Organic Tomato Puree, Organic White Vinegar, Organic Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Allspice, Organic Clove Organic? Bleeeeech! No thanks, I’ll stick with chemicals. Yummy, delicious chemicals. Seriously . . . Organic vinegar? [QUOTE=Wikipedia] Vinegar is a liquid consisting of about 5–20% acetic acid (CH3COOH), water, and other trace chemicals, which may include flavorings. The acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/128 "2017-05-19T11:34:48Z")
Thomas’ English Muffins? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/129 "2017-05-19T12:26:59Z")
This is the problem with being overseas, so much of this is unavailable. However > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **kikkoman** for soy sauce (yes, some specialty soy brewers are superior) Pffff. 😛 > [@](#): > > **Allen Edmonds** for dress shoes Simply the best. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/130 "2017-05-19T12:32:17Z")
J-B Weld epoxy. That stuff really is like shapeable steel in a tube(or two tubes), much better than other epoxys iIve tried. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/131 "2017-05-19T13:03:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Seriously . . . Organic vinegar? Beats artificial allspice and cloves! ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/132 "2017-05-19T15:20:45Z")
I’ll definitely go along with all the love for Boar’s Head deli products, especially the Sweet Slice ham. Vernor’s Ginger Soda puts Canada Dry or any other to shame, it’s the prefect combo of sweet and biting. My contribution is Weber brand grills. Definitely a bit pricier than Charbroil or most other brands you’ll find at a retailer, but so much more worth it in terms of quality. I’ve had my Weber kettle for close to 10 years, and my Weber gas grill (Spirit I think) for 5, and both are still in great shape. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/133 "2017-05-19T15:36:53Z")
People say they prefer Heinz, but just about every major blind taste test puts **Hunts** in first place. As for ginger beer, nothing matches **AJ Stephans**. IF you can find it, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/134 "2017-05-19T15:53:55Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Actually, they’re made by Komperdell. Ah, thanks for the correction. It’s possible that they may have shifted manufacturers over the years. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/135 "2017-05-19T16:19:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > People say they prefer Heinz, but just about every major blind taste test puts **Hunts** in first place. I’d be curious to see where those taste tests are. I did a search on “Heinz Hunt’s Taste Test.” The first hit was a blind taste test of ten brands, two of them Heinz (regular and organic.) Heinz finished first **and** second. I clicked on another link; the winner was Heinz, (though they advised that Del Monte is really cheap and close enough to maybe save a couple of bucks.) I clicked another and it chose one I’d never heard of - Whole Foods 365 Organic Tomato Ketchup - but selected Hunt’s as WORST ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/136 "2017-05-19T16:20:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > As for ginger beer, nothing matches **AJ Stephans**. IF you can find it, that is. This is **Truth**. Sadly, I cannot get it in my area. I even spoke with the good Mr. Stephans himself on the issue; we tried to find a local distributor to supply my area, but no such luck. However, there are many other nearly as good ginger beers out there, fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/137 "2017-05-19T17:22:02Z")
> [@Theodore\_Striker](#): > > I’ve had my Weber kettle for close to 10 years, and my Weber gas grill (Spirit I think) for 5, and both are still in great shape. I’ll second on Weber. My kettle (Performer) is six years old and perfect, and my gas Genesis is 11 years old, and I can expect at least another 11 out of it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/138 "2017-05-19T18:04:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Organic? > > Bleeeeech! No thanks, I’ll stick with chemicals. Yummy, delicious chemicals. > > Seriously . . . Organic vinegar? Well, it does have a carbon atom… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/139 "2017-05-19T20:50:39Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > This is what I came here to post… > > …but then I saw this: > Oh, Lordy, no! I used to be a Heinz 57 acolyte as well, until I moved west and got a taste of Portland Ketchup. I never realized until then what ketchup was supposed to taste like. Then I read the ingredients: > > Heinz: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING > > Portland Ketchup: Organic Tomato Puree, Organic White Vinegar, Organic Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Allspice, Organic Clove > > …and I knew. No corn syrup, no unspecified spice or “natural flavoring”. Just real, identifiable, organic ingredients. It’s what ketchup tastes like when it’s fresh. > > Yes! Ginger beer that taste like ginger, not ginger flavored, carbonated sugar water. My go-to ginger beer is Bottoms Up! from The Ginger People. I’ll have to try Goya; it gets great reviews! Portland ketchup is really good, but even better is its companion Portland mustard. I can eat it by the spoonful. Danner boots. Gibson guitars. Taylor guitars. Sonos wireless home entertainment products. Kitchenaid mixers. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680/140 "2017-05-20T15:49:04Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Genuine Victorinox Swiss Army knives. Most of them come in well under a c-note. They’re beautifully made, genuinely useful, and you’ll lose it before you wear it out. I am the exception that proves the rule! I wore mine out before I lost it, but boy did it take a lot to accomplish that. I bought a Tinker in Germany in 1991 and hung it on my keychain. It wasn’t too many years before the red plastic sides loosened and came off. I was quite happy with my “naked” Victorinox for a long time thereafter. Every few years I had to hose down the joints with WD-40 to get the grit out and get the blades working right again, but that is really just basic maintenance. Over the years, though, the blades got more and more “stuck” until only the main one really worked. A couple of years ago, the little eyelet that holds the ring that attached to my keychain finally gave way. Now I have a thoroughly worn-out Victorinox Swiss army knife that sits in my drawer. I don’t want it replaced. It’s a wonderful souvenir of all the great times I had while carrying it.\* (I got another one for normal use long ago, of course) - One funny memory is from one of the big NYC Dopefests back in the day. Someone was wearing a tight long-sleeved pleather shirt and was getting really hot. She asked if anyone had a knife. I offered mine, and she turned it right into a short-sleeve pleather shirt. Heh. Those fests were a trip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-specific-brand-of-consumer-product-thats-worth-the-money-and-then-some/786680.md?page=8)