Price on its own tells you very little, and this is where most people go wrong. Two cans can sit a pound apart and deliver completely different experiences. One might last properly, feel balanced, and actually satisfy what you need from it. The other might fade quickly, feel flat, and have you reaching for another pouch far sooner than you expected. If you only look at the number on the can, you miss that entirely.
What actually matters is how the pouch performs over time. Strength is part of it, but delivery matters just as much. Some pouches hit hard and drop off, others build and hold. That changes how often you use them, and that is where the real cost starts to show itself. If you are cycling through pouches too quickly, what looked cheaper at first ends up costing more over a week.
Consistency is the other piece people overlook. Finding something that works is one thing, being able to get it again without hassle is another. This is where physical retail falls short more often than not. You end up switching products because you have to, not because you want to, and that constant switching usually leads to poor choices and wasted spend.
Range ties it all together. The more options you have access to, the easier it is to land on something that actually fits your preference. Once you do, usage tends to settle. You stop experimenting for the sake of it and start using pouches in a more controlled way, which naturally reduces how much you go through.
That is why the cheapest can is rarely the best value. Real value comes from finding something that works, using it properly, and being able to rely on it without constantly overpaying or compromising.