Was getting ready to order some Uponor Pex A for my basement slab and noticed Menards also had Pex A for quite a bit cheaper. Is it pretty much the same stuff or is it the usual case of 'you get what you pay for?' http://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/rough-plumbing/pipe-tubing-hoses-fittings-accessories/pex-pex-al-pipe/1-2x300-pex-a-oxy-barrier/p-1444442693264-c-19654.htm?tid=5146162915977471358&bargainStoreId=3315

Not cheap at all. Take a look at pex universe...lot of staff much more cheaper and free shipping.

What method of making connections are you using? If a crimp system, other brands than Uponor may be fine. But I love the Wirsbro expansion system for several reasons, price of the tool not being one of them, and find that using other brands of PEX don't work as well especially if moisture is present. The collar tends to slip off the section you are trying to expand.

Another thing about Uponor, is if you kink it, you can heat the section up with a heat gun until it becomes transparent, let cool and the kink is gone.

My buddy has the expansion tool so luckily I don't have to buy one. I just went ahead and got the Uponor. No reason to gamble for a difference of $300 or $400.