D'Addario's...I've tried everything out there and for me they are tops. That's an opinion which is based on 38 years of pickin flat tops so I've tried more than a few brands in my day.

As for the coated strings I keep them on a guitar I always have laying around and seldom put in a case. You know ...when the urge strikes and you don't want to pull the heavy equipment out of the case. The coated Dad's stay bright for a really long time. They do sound thinner however.

Later