For alkaline cells, I prefer Duracell.

NiMH rechargeables have fairly recently made great strides in reducing self-discharge. Low self-discharge (LSD) NiMH cells in AA and AAA have been out for a while, but only very recently have they come out in C and D sizes. Sanyo Eneloops are the most popular and arguably the best brand of LSD NiMH out there. For those who have been disappointed with NiMH in certain equipment might want to give LSD NiMH a chance. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much better they work than the older generation of NiMH.

NiCd still has its place, too. They can tolerate quick charging and high discharge rates well. They can take a lot of abuse like being overcharged in dumb chargers which will fry NiMH cells. And they are still the only rechargeable cells that flashlights rated for hazardous environments are certified for, that I am aware of.