Lots of good recommendations in this thread, all I can add it buy the best pliers you can afford, cheap ones make working with them miserable.
Look at Klein (one of my favorites), NWS, Channellock, Knipex, Wiha. Don't forget inside/outside snap ring pliers and a good CV boot/Oetiker clamp pliers, this is a must if you do CV boots or anything that uses Oetiker style clamps.