I have Cman and Snap-On. The Cman bind occasionally and then pop and continue to spin normally. The angles they can articulate and continue to function smoothly at aren't the most impressive but they get the job done. Also the pins have some slop in the joint. I imagine Gearwrench cant be any worse than them, in fact considering Gearwrench socket quality i'd expect them to be substantially better.
Snap-Ons are very nice, probably the nicest chrome universals of anywhere. In my browsing I've seen pretty decent looking used sets show up on ebay from time to time for ~$200. Perhaps worth considering.
If USA made matters I'll also toss a Proto/MAC suggestion in there as well. 5 years ago they changed the design to a nickel plated splined pin. They look very sleek. During a 25% off sale at Zoro tools you could pick up a very extensive 12pc Proto set for about $140.00 shipped.
I'll also say you definitely lose some advantage in height with the cheaper sets.
GW 10mm is 37mm tall
Snap-On/Proto/MAC version is 32mm tall
Probably wont matter for 95% of your tasks but that's part of what a premium product is buying you.
Member BB26 posted pictures of his Proto sets and they look simply excellent with very clean broaching and nice chrome. I also like their larger number stampings.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3281906&postcount=3
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3288533&postcount=14
If you have a Matco truck guy their new import line of universal impact sockets. They are an affordable option. A friend of mine at a Big-O tires has them and he likes them.
OP is asking about chrome though. When you need chrome, you really need them. Impact universals come with substantially fatter drive ends and all of them top out at a 30 degree articulation angle.
