Originally Posted by
deathhare
Surly are just rebranded, cheap ass Grunge cogs...or the other way around. Either way, depending on the packaging, you could save a lot of money or waste a lot of money.
Whatever you do youll have a mediocre cog.
I was bummed out when I went to pick up a Phil cog at my LBS recently only to find they'd just sold the one I needed and had no more in stock. This was the last thing I needed in completing this bike and I was really anxious to start riding it, so I went with the only other option they had in that size -- a Surly. The LBS guy, who is very trustworthy, told me it was good, and he was right. The bike that I put the Surly is whisper quiet. I have a Phil cog on another bike, and an EAI on another -- they are both great, but the Surly is hands-down the quietest of the three.
So don't be a cog snob!