Source: Gizmodo
USB Sticks speed and usability tests/compartives: USB Roundup at ars technica
"Best Drives for fastest read/write speeds: The award here goes to both the OCZ Throttle and the Patriot Xporter XT. Both have very fast read and write speeds in USB2 mode. The OCZ Throttle also has a ridiculously fast eSATA mode. The Patriot Xporter XT has a Lifetime warranty (compared to the Throttle's 2-year warranty).
Best Bang-for-your-Buck: As long as you don't mind the tiny size of the drive, the Super*Talent Pico-B is actually quite a strong performer despite the low price. If you need something more substantial to hold on to, the SanDisk Cruzer Micro is a good bet."