Snap ring pliers can be a problem for the home user.
With many tools, wrenches being an example, there are many grades available. The cheaper to mid grades are usually more than adequate for anything but prolonged or demanding use, and more than adequate for the home user.
I find this isn’t the case with snap ring pliers, and the cheaper ones often don’t work.
Another problem is the variety you might need - maybe 5 sizes? Internal and External? Straight, 45 degree or 90 degree? Many manufacturers offer interchangeable tips, but so often these disappoint. The straight tips are usually o.k. but the angled ones, especially the 90 degree, are prone to twisting.
I’d start by narrowing down what you might need. I need internal far more often than external. Most of the time I can get away with straight, but not always. I probably use two sizes regularly - so that’s just a few tools, but none of the sets available really reflect this (they all include external) so I’d probably avoid sets.
I personally love U.S. made tools, but I generally find that most U.S. snap ring pliers are quite second rate compared to European offerings. Snap On are an example - despite the cost, they are very simple stamped tools.
I have used all the following, and all work superbly. I apologise in advance if some of these makes are more expensive in the U.S. than where I am, but I only like to comment about tools I’ve actually used.
Knipex. They actually offer two styles. These are the regular.
And these have separate tips.
Hazet are lovely, perhaps my favourites.
Facom are also superb. Beautifully forged, and with colour coded rivets for internal / external.
