Yeah ... free ones
But, seriously .... I find them floating in the lake, hanging in trees, or washed up on the bank of most lakes I fish ... in all sizes & styles & brands. Which one I use depends on nothing more than which one is the closest at hand. I rarely use them when using a jig, and already know which ones will float the size sinker I use (#4 Water Gremlin removable split shot @ 1/8oz).
If I'm experiencing light bites, or a lot of wind, I may add a bb size (or more) sinker above my #4 split shot ... in order to sink the float down to where only the top 1/4 - 1/2" of the body is above the surface. This not only makes the float easier for the fish to pull under, but also doesn't catch the wind as much as when the float is only halfway submerged.
I'm mostly using, and referring to, styrofoam floats ... and I use them with & without the stems. I will use the balsa wood floats, now & then, and usually with a lighter weight sinker. Thill would be my choice in balsa floats, and Plastilite or Comal for styrofoam floats.
... cp