The simple answer to "Are all roller lifters equal" is No! But, do you always need to buy the very best---No!

Two things kill roller lifters----spring pressure and lifter float. If you run fairly low spring pressures and always keep the lifter on the cam---then practically all roller lifters will last a very long time. I am installing a 50 year old set of Herbert roller lifters on our nostalgia street rod engine---it probably has 100,000 miles on the track and street---but at lower roller spring pressures and the cam is mild enough to keep the roller on the cam.

What to look for? Roller diameter is one thing, bearing size is another, the size of the bearing axle and how it is attached in another thing to consider. Don't automatically discount any particuler brand roller---Comp has two different roller lifters---one is just OK, the other is very good. Look at the lifters themselves. And the price does tend to indicate how good a roller lifter is.

Jesel produces a very good roller lifter---but not many need a Jesel lifter either. Isky roller lifters are hard to beat---far from the cheapest---but their lifters will stay with you! If you are going to use a mild roller cam/springs, most anybody's lifter will work OK!