Real Simple magazine staffers tested these, and came up with an "Honor Roll"  for their April issue.   I added a few of my own (*).

Best Masking Tape: Duck General Purpose – $2.49 at Amazon.com
Best Double-Sided Tape: Scotch Removable
Best Heavy-Duty Double-Sided Tape*: Loctite Powergrab on a Roll
Best Duct Tape: Gorilla Tape — $10.95 at Amazon.com

Best Transparent Tape: Ace Invisible – $1 at Ace Hardware
Best Painter's Tape: Painter's Mate Green – $3.48 at Amazon.com 

Best Painter's Tape*: FrogTape – $5.99 at Amazon.com
Best Packing Tape: Duck EZ Start – $7.06 at Amazon.com
Best Bulk Packing Tape*: Uline Economy Tape

If you're sealing a lot of boxes, check out the Best Box Sealing Tape Dispenser I wrote about 2 years ago.