Please be specific when referring to "other tools" ... which other tools?

Personally I currently use AATools to check everything. However, it's a commercial program. Charon is the best free checker out there, but only for HTTP proxies. For socks I would suggestion you use HellLab's Proxy Checker.

Just remember, all checkers can have problems from time to time and a lot depends on the judge being used as well. There is no perfect solution in the proxy game, and the best checker of all is your browser.