I’ve always wondered why Frito-Lay makes two ridged potato chips — but until yesterday never actually compared Ruffles and Wavy Lay’s.
Both taste the same, at least to me, and both target customers who’ll be using the chips to scoop up dip and similar stuff. And both varieties have the same nutritional content.
But there is a difference — and it was staring me right in the face for years: Ruffles has more ridges! See the photo below; the Ruffles chip is on the left.
By the way, the only reason I bought the potato chips was because I made Lipton’s Classic Onion Dip. Never in my entire life have I used the Lipton product to make onion soup. Have you?
L.T. Hanlon 
Two ridged products take up more shelf space than one ridged product. Taking shelf space insures higher sales by pushing competing products farther from view.
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Excellent point!
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How else would you make onion dip???
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I was wondering the same thing for almost the same reason, wanted dip and the two bags were sitting over each other. One other thing I noticed, not sure if this always the case, was that the ingredients were different namely the oils used.
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Well…the amplitude and frequency of the ridges (waves) are clearly different. 😃. Other than that.. pretty much the same chip. The nutritional spectrum analysis is virtually identical. Ruffles have just a dash more salt. Looking at the physics & geometry however, Wavy chips have a lower frequency (for bass lovers lol) and amplitude (peak power) is higher. Ridges have a higher frequency and lower amplitude. 😆🥔
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They taste the same and the wavy lays are about $1 less than the ruffles!
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Good catch, Tamra! I didn’t think to check the prices.
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I don’t understand how everyone is saying they taste the same as they absolutely do not!! Ruffles are much more flavorful and salty while Wavy is dull and boring. Plus, after googling whether they were made with the same potatoes, it came up that indeed they are not!!! #rufflesfanforlife
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As Tamra stated, the Wavy chips are cheaper! If you are using them for dip, I don’t think you will tell much difference.
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