There are definitely quality differences.

The likes of Earls are superior to Torques in most respects....but, and especially non straight fittings, the price difference is just crazy.
So do I always need Earls quality ? not really.

I cant comment much about other brands, as I've almost only used those, Earls and Torques.

Now hose...that's a different matter entirely.

Torques teflon stuff seems to be fine, but their black cloth overbraid stuff they claim is identical to Earls ProLite ( a blatant lie ), is nothing of the sort.

Earls again is much much more expensive, but also much much better quality and design very different.

Here is an extreme example of some -16 Torques black overbraid nitrile rubber hose hose bought for a dry sump system. This was at 2m in to a 5m length. So almost in the middle. The hose ended up having to be joined ( and no the buyer didnt bother contacting torques as time was against us and we needed to get the car running asap, so returning the hose to them and waiting on new hose simply wasnt an option )

So...no big deal ? hose maybe got a bump or two in transit ( well packaged so not likely ). Either way, they clearly sent it out in this condition.



So what's the problem ? Well...lets cut open the hose at one of those sections. The internal rubber heavily deformed and easily blocking 50% of the hose itself. This is not physical damage, this is definitely shoddy manufacture. And this was in 3 sections of the hose ! not just one.





And then there are the stories of users of the nitrile rubber stainless overbraid hose springing leaks at random after a year or so.

I've never had any problems like this with Earls or even close to it, or even heard of any.

That said, I've bought plenty from Torques and will continue to do so....but I'm very selective about what I buy.

Most fittings are good, their teflon hose good...their nitrile rubber based hoses...I dont think I'd be using any of them unless it was a last resort.