I like America's Test Kitchen reviews of products. They usually have a "best buy" option. They also recommend not buying "sets" and list the pots/pans you really need.

Emeril's Pro-Clad line is manufactured by All-Clad but significantly cheaper. It's made in China while All-Clad is made here. But both are triply all the way through, and have 18/10 stainless steel.

http://www.metrokitchen.com/category/emerilware-pro-clad

I buy individual pieces at BBB and use the 20% coupon.

cast iron
Lodge logic - and its made in America

I love my All-Clad but just want to say that you don't need a set (seems like some people are mentioning a set). Get one big regular (not non-stick) frying pan (I'd say 12") and one big sauce pan (4qt plus) in really good quality. I use a smaller sauce pan sometimes for boiling small amounts of water/pasta but you probably don't need anything expensive for that. And do NOT buy expensive non-stick pans because the non-stick finish isn't all that durable, even in the high end brands. So, for your non-stick pan (I only have 1 but sometimes I want 2 if I have different things going at the same time), buy inexpensive Calphalon. I have a 10" calphalon that was probably $25 and is great and will last a couple of years.

I soooooo want an All Clad set for my sauce pans. For pan frying/sautee, I absolutely love my Calphalon pans. You can get a 2 pan set (12"/10") at Williams Sonoma for $80.

I'm also very tempted to try some of the Sur La Table brand enameled cast iron for like a dutch oven/roaster type thing.

Falk pans and pots are great. Get the copper.

We've been happy with All Clad stainless for more than ten years but there are probably comparable, less expensive options out there.

All Clad is all right if you like overpaying. The best deal is Sitram stainless, the French-made commercial-grade cookware. I bought about 12 different pots and pans with their lids and accessories about eight years ago and have been using these very happily ever since. They are extremely durable because they are made for restaurant use.

I also recommend my calphalon anodized. Check out home goods, they have good deals on all brands of pots and pans.

Calphalon Anondized

I did buy All Clad because I'm a brand whore in the kitchen, but I see no difference between the Costco knock off set in a box. If I had been sensible I would have purchased that. I compared them and they are the SAME THING, exactly except for the label.

With that said, whatever you do get, make sure it is stainless because I think induction is the cooking of the future and you need stainless in order to induction cook. I think in another 15 years induction will be the standard. Frankly I have no idea why it has taken so long for it to catch on..efficient, fast, green, and saves you on electricity.

All Clad stainless. No question.

Time to replace our 15 year old Kmart special pans. We'll need probably 2 saucepans, at least one frying pan, a pasta pot of some kind, plus a larger wok like pan. We have a Le cruset dutch oven which we love but one of their frying pans which we don't.

What would you buy? Looking mid to high end - would like these to last.