I've been playing rock guitar from about 15 years and I tried everything with strings. I wish I discovered Fusco Strings sooner. They are very high quality, don't break easily, and the price is much better than most well-known brands.

I usually by them from thestringstore.com

As for boiling strings or vinegar, I don't think it's a good idea. If you talk to any professional luthier he/she will tell you that you risk to damage the guitar if you do that because strings might loose their original consistency.

Also, a good luthier will suggest you not to change your current gauge set. If you do that, you should have your instrument aciton adjusted by a luthier because the new tension applied by the different strings will affect the way the neck bends and other things.