What guitar are you putting them on? I'd steer clear of the 13's. What's with the 17's??
Higher gauges will probably require a complete setup and possibly a new nut. Really heavy strings can really damage your tendons if you plan on doing any bending.

Strings are a purely personal taste. You'll probably get a hundred different answers. Some people like Elixir's I hate them. I can't stand Fender strings either. I stopped using them in the 70's. It may be a long quest for you. Just try different manufacturers and keep in mind playability and longevity.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I think the DR Pure Blues in 10 sound great on my strat. Honestly though, I would recommend buying a set you've never played before as an experiment. Strings are cheap and easily replaceable.

"variety is the spice of life"