I have used Tinker's far too many times, so I decided to go with the Redstone Arsenal tools (related to Thermal Expansion). I'm using the pick right now, and I love it. Base model is not as fast as some of the Tinker's stuff of course, but I enchanted it and it got Efficiency IV and Unbreaking III on it. Now the standard usage dropped from 200 to 80 RF and the charged use from 800 to 320. Huge difference, and now it goes much faster as well, so I'm guessing Unbreaking cut the cost and Efficiency made it faster.
For those unfamiliar with it, charged up it mines the block in front of you, the one above it, and the one below it. In other words, a 3-block tunnel if you go straight ahead. Also, it charges from empty to full in less than 10 seconds in the Energetic Infuser. It also mines through "shovel stuff" when charged up, one block at a time, at lightning speed. So dirt, sand, and gravel all pretty much vaporize if you have it on charged mode. No more switching to a shovel.
It also mines Ardite and Cobalt. However, now that I have it with a nice enchant (looting would be nice, but quarries will be doing most of it now anyway), I see no reason for me to ever use Tinker's this playthrough. They can be a bit expensive, several diamonds if I remember correctly (I think 2 per "stick"? as in, a pickaxe normally uses 2 sticks for the handle, so it would require 4 diamonds...but I could be off on that).
And it makes a little thunder noise every time you switch to charged mode!