I use this patch kit from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/inner-t...kit-47614.html
$3 for 20 bike-tire-sized patches and a few bigger patches and 2 tubes of glue. When at home I actually use a bottle of office supply rubber cement so I don't open the supplied tubes, I keep those for on the road (though I've never had to patch on the road, I carry a spare tube). Once opened they dry out in a few months.
These have worked great for me, I've never had one fail. You do need to learn how to patch properly, but that's simple. Clean thoroughly, rough up the tube with the grate, apply rubber cement making sure to exceed the size of the patch a little, LET THE CEMENT DRY for at least 5 minutes (I usually go 10), peel back the backing on the patch, then squeeze it down really hard and thoroughly, squish out any possible air bubbles.