Yea, I've finally replaced my 30 yr old cookset . REI hard anodized w/ teflon--these look suspiciously like the GSI Hard Anodized Extreme line, packaged a little differently. I got the last medium set in the store yesterday for $16, then decided to go back today and get a small set too for $15! Figured I'd be good for 1-4 people at least, all for about $30, instead of $130 or so. So they were out everything by this a.m. (had at least 4 yesterday), but was able to order it online. REI still has the small set online at this price till the 29th. http://www.rei.com/product/765755
Yeh I'm happy! I can be real cheap at times. Would have kept using my banged-up, dented, pitted, 25 yr old set forever before paying $60 for a small cookset! Figure I should be good now until I die, or can't camp anymore...
I know what you mean. I tend to use things until they are completely worn out. As long as it still functions I figure I may as well keep using it. Sometimes being cheap isn't such a bad thing.
No new cookware for me, but I've splurged at REI too -- decided to upgrade my backpacking eating utensils from "a spoon I picked up at Dairy Queen on my way to the park, and one just like it for backup" to polycarbonate spoons setting me back $0.43 for two.
(Last year I got a pudding cup at the store after stumbling into Windigo, and it came with a spoon identical to the one I'd used for every breakfast & dinner for 5 days; then an hour later I got a second one, and found it ironic to be offered yet another week's worth of plastic spoon with it.)
I started off with a polycarbonate utensil set years ago and still use it. Don't remember what I paid for the set, but it came with a fork, spoon, soup spoon and a knife. They're nice and lightweight and they hold up to a lot. Good stuff, that polycarbonate!