GSI anodized cooksets...

“Looking for some people with experience using GSI anodized gear. I'm considering purchasing but wanted to get a feel for pros and cons from "real" users rather than reading the usual product reviews found on retail sites....thanks...”

“I'm not familiar with these pots.
Just bumping your thread back to the top to get seen.”

“I got the set for Xmass, so far I have used the 1qt pot and lid for mac&chees with ham in it. Worked well, clean up was cake”

“thanks for the input Ice Tea....personally when I finally saw the product up close in hand....my initial response was whether this stuff was gonna be too large for backpacking......that's a cool feature....less clean-up!!”

“Haven't been able to hold and look at the GSI pots yet but what I've read of them they sound like the wave of the future. Instead of having a pot with a nonstick surface bonded to it, the metal is anodized to create a nonstick surface of the metal itself.

Where can this idea go wrong?”

“I have the solo set, but haven't used it yet -- the one trip it was along for, the weather was so hot I didn't fire up the stove. The one drawback on construction is small folding handles. But I've just planned on removing them and getting a potgrabber. The surface seems pretty durable since it is not a coating. And they are light.”

“where did you get you solo set and at what cost?”

“stikmon:

Got it at my local sporting goods/outfitter store for about $18. Called the 2-piece lightweight cookset/Hard Anodized Boiler, includes 1.25 qt. pot, 16 oz. cup/bowl/lid, mesh storage bag; weight, 9.2 oz for all. A small propane/butane canister will nest inside.”

“I have both the 5 piece set and the Double boiler. Both sets are great only con is the double boiler isnt non stick like they claim as i learned after cooking an egg in the smaller of the two pots. I could not get it clean. I greased before I cooked too. Other than that great cookwear.”

“thanks Pekka”

“I fondled the anodized stuff at REI awhile back. I don't think I'd ever invest in non-stick cookware for the trail. If you ever buy nice stuff for home it specifically says that you should NEVER cook over high heat with it. I've had T-Fal non-stick (and I wouldn't say that's necessarily high quality) and now have Calfalon commercial anodized non-stick (Excellant equipment) both companies said not to use anything hotter than medium heat.

I want a report from you guys that own anodized trail cook wear now on how it holds up five years down the road. Usually our goal is to get the water boilin' as quick as possible and that entails using high heat.”

“I'll bet the only other thing detrimental to the anodized surface is scratching it. Too many scratches will prolly make food stick. Just don't use metal utensils, I guess.”

“Thanks for the input guys...i'm still up in the air about whether to go anodized...but it seems that we'll see more of it coming out...I do like the theoretical concept of non-stick but like someone else said....don't use metal...and as for high heat...the only time I would do that is to boil water for my mocha java...ha!”