Their quick release extensions are similar to gearwrench as are their round head swivel ratchets. I've never held them up side by side but they appear to be near the same. Wonder who is copying who
I have both HF and Gearwrench swivel ratchets. They are not the same. In fact not any of the three (3) different variations of HF swivel ratchets I have seen are the same as the GW models.
I use the HF 1/2 inch swivel and HF stubby swivel ratchets and have no complaints with them. I chose the GW for my 1/4 and 3/8 drive because they needed noticeably less torque to advance to the next click than same sized HF units. I paid about $50 for the 1/4" and 3/8" GW swivel combo, and about $20 total for the two HF 1/2" swivel units. For my needs, I'm happy with both decisions.
I also have the HF 3/8" and 1/2" three piece locking extension sets, which are very nice to use. I wanted them since I didn't have any locking extensions. I also bought a Craftsman 1/4 locking extension, with which I also have no complaints. The CM uses a button slider instead of the a collar as a release method. Both seem to work fine. I suppose it depends on what you're doing as to which is less likely to get accidentally released. The button slider definitely takes up less space. The price on the HF sets made the difference. Like many, if not most, of my HF purchases, nothing else was in the cost-benefit justifiable price range.
My non-locking extensions are Craftsman and Gearwrench. And I have an accumulation of no-name pieces that came with some K-marts sets from the 1970's and '80s. These locking HF extension sets of today are dramatically better in fit and finish than the those old school imports.
To keep it in perspective, I'm just a weekend warrior, so I can't say how they would hold up to 8hr a day shop use. And so far I don't own a single tool-truck tool. Nothing against the tool-trucks, a lot of my friends use truck tools, I like truck tools, really.
