Price vs. Ingredients
Growing up we always used Kingsford, but then we didn't know any better. I even used Kingsford in my early grilling/smoking efforts. Then, one day I searched to find the ingredients of Kingsford briquettes. Wood char, mineral char, mineral carbon, limestone, starch, borax, sodium nitrate and sawdust. ??????? I thought charcoal was just to be made of wood. Heat wood in a low oxygen environment and you have charcoal. Pure and simple.
Well, I now use Royal Oak lump exclusively. Just hardwood charcoal. No minerals, limestone, borax, sodium nitrate. According to RO's website, their briquettes are just ground hardwood charcoal and corn starch as a binder. But, I like the lump. Burns clean and hot and added wood chunks or chips give great smoke.
When I lived in Hawaii, I used to make my own Lychee charcoal. I take fallen branches from the Lychee tree in the yard and start a big fire. Then, cover the Weber with all vents closed and in the low oxygen environment, created Lychee charcoal. Great smoke for chicken, beef and pork. I also had access to lots of Kiawe wood. ONO!
Just my 2 cents, but I want pure charcoal when I'm cooking.
Puget