I had good luck with my GSI stuff, but switched to a set from Sea-to-Summit because it's like 3/4" shorter and I was trying to fit everything into a specific case that I already owned. They're anodized aluminum, but seem fairly tough. Thin material, but I've not had any problems with scorching food, so it seems to be conducting well enough for the butane/propane burners I'm using.
My only complaint thus far is that they use a swiveling handle with a latching mechanism that's a little finicky. The smaller pot has surprised me a couple of times when I thought it was latched and then it pivoted. This is more of a problem because I'm left-handed and tend to tilt the pot to the right (swinging side of the handle) when dishing food or pouring liquid. Being diligent about checking that the latch is really snapped is all that's required.
Hey all, I'm bumping this old thread to call out this issue with the Sea-to-Summit swiveling pot-handle design again, as
the company has announced a voluntary recall of some versions of the latch component on their Alpha and Sigma pots:
https://seatosummitusa.com/pages/product-safety
They are addressing an issue very similar to what I reported last year, namely that for left-handed users, there's a danger that the pot is not correctly latched and it can swing over during pouring, etc. which creates a risk of burns, etc.
It turns out my versions are NOT included in the recall (it appears I have the "Version 1" latches). In my case the issue is that it is hard to get the latch fully "engaged" unless you know how hard you need to push. Once it is positively locked, it's "safe", but to a lay or incautious user it is possible to operate this design in an unsafe way (especially if left-handed, as I am). For the newer versions, it seems the issue that the latch can be engaged, but can become disengaged due to insufficient rigidity or latching pressure.
If you have purchased one of these pots, check your version to see if it's covered by the recall. If you are considering purchasing one, be sure to factor this into your decision.
FWIW, I will continue to use my pots because they are a convenient size to fit into a very tight space in my kitchen kit. If/when I find another pot system that fits the same space with a better handle mechanism, I will consider replacement and sending my current pots to a right-handed family member.