I have a big husky tool chest. I am really happy with it. I made a point to walk by the section in HD whenever I was in the store, just to see if there were any marked down. Well, I waited long enough and got mine at a good markdown. Don't remember how cheap, but it was enough to get my cheap ass to open the wallet. I am not exceedingly rough on it, just normal homeowner stuff and it works great. The bearings are smooth and easy. Never owned anything different, so I don't have a comparison.

I also own the kobalt workbench. It is not near the same quality. The metal is thinner and flimsy. The pegboard sucks and the drawers are cheap. I like it for what it offers, but the quality is poor. The kobalt tool chests look to be similar quality to the husky, so I think the workbench must be made by different little asian kids than the tool chest.

Snap on krl1033 here. Prob a little out of your price range.

Go big or go home!!

Seriously -- get as big of one as you can FIT (not necessarily afford). You WILL grow out of it at some point.

I have a fairly nice Craftsman -- not the biggest but one of the larger medium sized ones and have had it for almost 15 years. It has held up real well but I'm thinking of biding my time and finding larger used chests on CL -- hopefully Mac/Snap-On etc. I don't have an extensive set of tools but I would like to organize them better even if that means a little open space. Most of my drawers are filled now with something and organization is a problem but I don't know of a better way to organize it.

If you are going to go to Lowes or HD, often these stores in the lower socio-economic areas (e.g. South Dallas) of town will have returns and displays marked down in chests, appliances, etc. A buddy of mine has bought several items like that. I plan to do that myself on my next big purchase.