By Mike Pomranz
Since the mid-80s when Frito-Lay stopped selling original, plain Doritos in most local stores, commercial snacks seem to have gone all flavored and fancy. Whatever happened to good old chips and dip, and can any of these newfangled treats compete? Read on as we give you a run down to see if these post-modern munchies can hold up against an old standard -- a bag of Ruffles potato chips and jar of Lay's French Onion dip. Time for a snack attack!

Rachel Been

Tostitos Multigrain
One of the few "plain" products I got to sample, Tostitos Multigrain were quite enjoyable. Multigrain is typically intended to read as "healthy" more so than "tasty," but these chips had a lot of corn chip flavor with a touch of sweetness. And healthiness aside, I'm always happy when I recognize every item in the ingredients list -- especially in a mass-market product). Tostitos Multigrain chips are a solid contender to the Ruffles throne.

Rachel Been

Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili
What was Doritos thinking? Not that this latest incarnation is terrible, just bizarre, with an Asian food flavored, almost teriyaki edge. When it comes to Doritos, I tend to be a purist; Nacho Cheese is pretty much where I draw the line -- sorry Cooler Ranch. While this Spicy Sweet style might satiate some buds looking for a unique taste, I'd probably spend more time at the French Onion dip bowl.

Rachel Been

Rold Gold Pretzel Waves Parmesan Garlic
Speaking of far-out tastes, Rold Gold swings and misses with their Parmesan Garlic Pretzel Waves. Even forgoing determining what a "pretzel wave" is exactly, I can tell you precisely what taste these Frankenstein snacks leave in your mouth: Clam sauce! I'm all for dipping bread in my leftover mussel juice, but this snack just doesn't capture the essence. If I want waves, I'll stick with the Ruffles.

Rachel Been

Sun Chips Peppercorn Ranch
As far as wavy snack chips go, Sun Chips are definitely a step up from the aforementioned "pretzel waves." I'm a big fan of Sun Chips in general. They're light and reasonably healthy aso far as chips go. Still, this Peppercorn Ranch variety leaves something to be desired. The ranch flavor is pretty prominent, weighing down the Sun Chip's natural levity. Personally, I'd prefer plunking some plain Sun Chips in my ol' fashioned French Onion dip jar.

Rachel Been

Cracker Crisps Zesty Herb & Parmesan
Another product to file in the "I'm-not-sure-what-this-is" department, I was skeptical of so-called "cracker crisps." But these part potato, part wheat, bite-size hybrids won me over with their superior light crunch and their simple subtle herb flavor. Dipping chips requires expending energy and snacking is a lazy man's game. Cracker Crisps are pure toss-'em-in-your-mouth simplicity. Go ahead and plop this bag next to me on the couch.

Rachel Been

Stacey's Parmesan Garlic & Herb Pita Chips
Good things come in small packages, which might explain why pita chips, with their propensity towards smaller bag sizes, rule! Parmesan, garlic and herb are all regularly revisited flavors on this list, but Stacey's is one of the few to truly get it right. They're straightforward and simple, letting the chip do most of the talking. You might feel a little non-macho chowing down on pita chips during the big game, but with their killer crunch and perfectly tasty baked flavor, Parmesan Garlic & Herb Pita Chips are a worthy change of pace from those pedestrian potato chips.

Rachel Been

Archer Farms Sea Salt Baked Pita Chips
Stacey's set the bar pretty high, but I'm also a sucker for traditional tastes, so could the standard Sea Salt Pita Chips top their flavored cousins? Oddly enough, where Stacey's showed some restraint, Archer Farms really rocked out with the sea salt making their chips taste a bit like you're slurping up brine. The chips themselves were worthy competitors, but let's go lighter on the sodium next time. Maybe try dipping these guys in your French Onion to help take the edge off.

Rachel Been

Goldfish Flavor Blasted Monstrous Mozzarella Stick Baked Snack Crackers
Goldfish Crackers have been a favorite of mine since childhood, but this Monstrous Mozzarella Stick incarnation is more like a monstrosity. Two possibilities exist here: Either Pepperidge Farm thinks mozzarella sticks taste like stale Cheese Goldfish or my test bag was compromised. I'd like to give the guys down at PF the benefit of the doubt on this one, but the "sell by" date says otherwise. Buyer beware: Once again, stick with the old school styles!

Rachel Been

Market Pantry Bite-Size Rice Snacks Ranch
After spending my day sampling snack foods, rice crackers are actually a wonderful respite. Ranch isn't my favorite fake flavor and shoving my nose in the bag made me nauseous. Luckily, your average snack eater won't be eating these face-first, so I can give these mini Market Pantry rice cakes a big thumbs up as a healthy, crunchy alternative snack.

Rachel Been

What makes a tip-top potato chip? That's a mighty hard call -- especially when you're testing nearly 5 dozen kinds. The good folks from Anchor's Chip of the Month sent spuds from around the country, and our panelists evaluated each for crunch, salt & grease levels, flavor, and overall appeal. Plain, salted chips only were allowed (though we've included a few wild card faves at the end), and while we found good things to say about 58 of the 59 chips we tasted, 15 of 'em made it to the top of the heap. Read on for our chip picks.

#15 BALLREICH'S MARCELLED ORIGINAL / NO SALT ADDED
(Tiffin, OH)
What the heck does "marcelled" mean? In the 1920s, early in Ballreich's history, the marcelled, or waved hairstyle, resembling the chip's surface was all the rage. The coiffure may have gone out of favor, but the chips have remained a local Ohio favorite ever since. While they weren't a hit with everyone, several panelists raved over the satisfying Krispy Kreme-like greasy mouth feel of both the salted and unsalted varieties. It's stand-out sinner in an increasingly health-centric snack market.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

#14 TERRA RED BLISS
(Nationally available)
Frankly, several folks couldn't stand these, but plenty of others ranked these intensely thick, skin-on, olive oil cooked chips among their favorites. The stand-out appeal seemed to be in the elemental, natural potato flavor of the Red Bliss -- a distinct departure from the salt and oil-centric taste of the vast majority of our brands. Terra's Yukon Gold variety also ranked highly, but didn't quite make the final cut.
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

#13 GOOD'S ORIGINAL
(Pennsylvania)
Good's likely benefitted from our blind testing method (chips were presented on numbered paper plates with bags hidden away), as panelists reading the contents may have shied away upon reading "lard." However, hog fat is exactly what lends gives this chip the rich, sweet flavor and mouth-feel that have made it, and its sister chip, the red bagged Homestyle Good's, cult classics.

Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

#12 WISE RIDGIES
(Berwick, PA)
Ruffles may have ridges, but Wise Ridgies reigned supreme over 'em for our panelists, who ranked these chips higher for their excellent texture, lower salt level, and "character." We dig Ridgies for their picnic appeal and easy availability.

Slashfood blogger Stefani Pollack loves Ruffles, but for a very particular rrrrrreason. Read why at Slashfood.com.

Rachel Been, AOL

#11 DOOR COUNTY KETTLE COOKED ORIGINAL
(Milwaukee, WI)
Our boss crunched one of these and exclaimed, "This is an outstanding chip!" We're willing to admit the man has good taste, but we still put it to our panel, which determined the chip had great taste as well, and that the taste was somewhat reminiscent of a nice, aged cheese. Amusing, considering that Door County is smack dab in cheesehead central -- Wisconsin. The grease factor is a tad high, but the intense crunch and distinctive flavor send these to the head of the herd.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

#10 KETTLE CHIPS LIGHTLY SALTED
(Nationally available)
Kettle Chips are another maker of our most beloved flavored chips, but it seems they don't skimp when it comes to cooking up a small batch of the plain ones. Our panelists were quick to cite the lightly burnt quality as "very appealing," "subtle" and "nicely balanced," and ranked the crisp quality as a standout.

Slashfood blogger Marisa McClellan loves Kettle Chips. Read what she has to say.

Rachel Been, AOL

#9 MIKE-SELL'S GROOVY
(Dayton, OH)
Our food editor was pleased to find her childhood favorite in the mix, and even more delighted once she saw how well they fared with the palates of her peers. The rippled chips were among the saltier in the mix, which proved to be a welcome standout amongst the heap of restrainedly seasoned offerings, and the sturdy, crunchable shape earned 'em a slew of "Great!" statements on the score sheets.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

#8 LAY'S NATURAL THICK CUT SEA SALTED
(Nationally available)
Very few of the mega-brands cracked the Top 15, but crispy appeal of this Lay's offering was undeniable. Tasters were equally pleased by its simple, subtly salted flavor, evocative of childhood picnics and the chip shape light enough to make it endlessly edible either solo or paired with a lunchtime sandwich.

Slashfood blogger Bob Sassone loves these chips. Read what he has to say.

Rachel Been, AOL

#7 UTZ CLASSIC RUSSETS
(Hanover, PA)
We're unapologetic Utz fans, and while we tend to gravitate toward them more for their flavored varieties (stayed tuned for our flavored chip test in a few weeks), these stood out for their robust, dark, earthy flavor and remarkable crunch. Panelists used plenty of exclamation points, and we took that as a sign of a chip well done.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

We crunched, munched and blind taste tested our way through more than 100 bags in search of the tip-top flavored chip in all the USA. In the end, we selected three runners-up and one winner each in the categories of Salt & Vinegar, BBQ and Sour Cream, and ten each for Hot and Wild Flavors. Flip through to find a new fave, or see if we gave the thumbs up to (or skipped!) your favorite chip.

Get snacking!

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: BBQ
DIEFFENBACH'S BAR-B-Q
(Womelsdorf, PA)

An appealing combo of sweet heat and a whisper of smoke makes this cult chip worth seeking out.

Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: BBQ
LAY'S BARBECUE
(Nationally available)

Nearly every taster used the word "subtle" in their description of this chip's flavor, but also noted that the light BBQ spice, minus any overpowering heat, would make it oh so easy to munch one's way through an entire bag at a picnic.

Blogger Bob Sassone shared his Lay's thoughts on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: BBQ
MISS VICKIE'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ
(Dallas, TX)

This chip lives up to its "Smokehouse" title with a sweetly fire-kissed 'cue taste and a tangy, crunchy, full-mouth feel. We just can't seem to quit loving you, Miss Vickie.

Blogger Bob Sassone shared his Miss Vickie's thoughts on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Winner: BBQ
BETTER MADE RED HOT BARBECUE
(Detroit, MI)

We were almost put off by the unnatural hue of the chip's surface, but gosh are we glad we blazed on through. This is one standout chip, with a lingering, yet not overpowering sweet heat that creeps up and warms the ears, and leaves the tongue a-tingling. Of all the BBQ chips we sampled, this is the one with the most potentially addictive appeal.

Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: Salt & Vinegar
KETTLE CLASSICS SALT & VINEGAR
(San Francisco, CA)

An avowed kettle chip disliker on our tasting panel loved the interplay of explosive acidity and unapologetically applied salt so much, she grudgingly used the word "perfection." We could hardly disagree, and boy, did we love the crunchy texture.

Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: Salt & Vinegar
MISS VICKIE'S SEA SALT & VINEGAR
(Dallas, TX)

Quality potato flavor stands up to a slightly sweet vinegar sting for an especially well-balanced and quite crunchable chip.

Blogger Monika Bartyzel shared her Miss Vickie's thoughts on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: Salt & Vinegar
LAY'S KETTLE COOKED SEA SALT & VINEGAR
(Nationally available)

This chip's a major mouthful, with a pleasing tease of malty flavor, and slightly briny salt. Since they're a cinch to find on grocery store shelves, wow the crowd at your next big shindig.

Blogger Bob Sassone shared his Lay's thoughts on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Winner: Salt & Vinegar
DIRTY SALT & VINEGAR
(Gramercy, LA)

Ka-POW! This chip knocked us in the kisser so hard one of our tasters claimed she popped straight to a London pub for a sec. A solid crunch matches the initial vinegar and unsubtle salt burst for a truly vibrant chip experience.

Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL

Runner-up: Sour Cream
STEWART'S SOUR CREAM & ONION
(Saratoga Springs, NY)

After an initial salt kick, a subtle, sweet, creamy flavor underpins an onion essence present enough to please the palate, but light enough not to leave any aftertaste.

Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.

Rachel Been, AOL