Hands down best pliers and side cutters are made by Knipex. They grip like crazy. As long as you can hold on they grip or they tear into the material your gripping.
https://www.knipex.com/products/pipe...#Paragraph-690
These are my go to pliers.
https://www.grainger.com/product/KNI...Plier-V-38GU42
My go to side cutters. These will last you a life time under regular use. If your cutting 3/32" or 1/8" piano wire daily then they will only last a year or so before they get dull. But no other side cutter comes even close to that life span when cutting piano wire that often. Knipex used to even re-sharpen them.
https://www.grainger.com/product/KNI...Cutting-10T992
I'm not sure these qualify as midpriced tools but to me they are worth the price even compared to Mac or Snap On.