I own a lot of All Clad. These are certainly as beautiful as the rest, but not as well designed. With that said, I like them. These do take some getting used to -- they are heavy and the spring mechanism does not work as smoothly as the one on the OXO tongs (I have those too.)

When I first go them, I hated them because for the reasons listed above, I found them difficult to operate. Now, I've thrown out other tongs to keep these and my OXO version. (I use the OXOs in my nonstick skillet.) I guess the gym is really paying off because now I don't find them that difficult to use and I actually enjoy them. I look at this as a sign of progress because I've always been accused of having weak hands and wrists.

If you are looking for good quality tongs that are the easiest to use, I recommed the OXO tongs over these. If you don't mind sacrificing some ease of use for beauty these are fine.

I love the quality of these tongs..wonderfully built, BUT alas USELESS in the real world. Engineers were asleep on this one.
Not near enough grip for any practical purposess.

Let me know if want mine I will sell them CHEAP!

when i compared the utility of the all-clad tongs against tongs sold by a competitor (and which i'd been using ~seven years) i found the all-clad spring mechanism and head design presented challenges (who knew kitchen tongs could be challenging??). i have no doubt these tongs are designed for longevity (and did i say they are beautiful?), however, i found the heavy-duty design demanded more strength than my small, aging hands and fingers could muster. three differences were readily apparent: weight, the strength required for managing the spring action, and the straight-lined design of the tong heads. the weight of these, when compared against my lighter-weight tongs, alleviated previous fears of tong buckling while lifting and turning a thick cut of meat; however, the all clad straight-lined head design (compared against the curved-inward design of the other tongs) forced me to grip extra hard just to keep a cut of meat from slipping out away from the pressing tong heads. in fact, the first few times i used the all clad tongs, due to this slippage, i dropped a pork roast onto the cookstove surface while attempting the transfer to a serving plate. there were other occasions where the food never completely made it out of the pan before slipping back in, sometimes splattering hot liquid along the way. at some point, i simply began using both hands to grip the tongs whenever transferring something large or extremely hot to a serving plate. i was glad to see another reviewer mention this slippery "quality" because i had grown very frustrated with myself. i finally packed the tongs away in a kitchen drawer with the notion to use them only when i need to keep some distance between myself and sources of heat (i have the 12 inch tongs) but, the truth is, i may never wrestle with them again! final thought--had i purchased the tongs i would have returned them as they were too cumbersome compared to my other tongs. however, they (together with a splatter screen)were a free gift with an all-clad purchase. i rate the tongs "3" based on the heavy duty design (longevity) and would encourage others to give the tongs a try for that reason, but, only if you have a strong hand and finger grip or are able to return them if you're not satisfied. the splatter screen, by the way, is the best functioning splatter screen i have ever used. the mesh is closely woven.

These tongs look beautiful. They have a nice action and use a slightly curved non aggresive design for the tong head. They lock closed. They are excellent for use in tossing a salad and then go straight to serving or using them to saute some onions and garlic.

They do not work well with extra heavy items, but I was able to pick up 3.25 lbs. without any issue.

Great for everyday use, clean easy, and display wonderful in your utensil holder.

These are really quite beautiful and well made tongs. The finish and weight are first rate. The problem is, at least on the set that I bought, that the spring rate is too high. I found them fatiguing after a very short period of use, and it's not as though I lack hand strength.

In contrast, I recently bought a set of the Oxo tongs, and they are much, much more usable. Not quite as nicely finished, but they also lock and are sprung much better. I think they were a bit less expensive as well.

I got these as a package deal with an all-clad pan and I never use them. They're pretty, but not very grippy. If you try to pick up anything remotely heavy or greasy, it just slides right out, and the tongs are too heavy. I just use my $5 aluminum lightweight, generic tongs that I got at a restaurant supply store. They're way more useful for actual cooking/gripping.

These are probably the most beautiful set of tongs I have ever seen. They have a mirror-bright, high polish and they are so sturdy and well-made that they should last a lifetime and then some. They are so good-looking that you should not keep them hidden away in the kitchen. Put them out on the table or buffet to serve up your gourmet delights.

The locking mechanism is clever but a bit too difficult to handle if you have arthritis or other difficulties with pain and weakness in your hands and fingers (speaking from experience, here). Because the locking mechanism is difficult to move from the locked to unlocked, and vice versa positions, it could prove too difficult for anyone with painful hands. The weight of these tongs could also be a problem. If you must hold and manipulate them for a prolonged period of time, like a lengthy cooking session, they could prove to be too heavy. My fingers and thumb joints get rather painful from holding these heavy tongs. I gave up trying to unlock and relock them whenever I need to. I just keep them in the unlocked position and keep a rubber band around them when I have to keep them closed to store them in a drawer.

I hate to give these wonderful tongs a 4-star rating instead of a 5 as they otherwise deserve. But a word to the wise: If you have any hand pain or grip problems, you might want to look for some less well-made (and much lighter!) tongs.

These tongs are great. I use them all the time with my All Clad cookware. They are perfect for tossing sautéed spinach, turning chicken cutlets etc. The locking feature is great. I keep them in the locked position when they are in the utensil crock, drying or by the stove. The polished stainless steel is so beautiful you could definitely serve with them as well. It is excellent quality that will last a lifetime. An All Clad must have! Highly recommended! A+ !

When I purchase cookware, I usually look for All-Clad. With All-Clad, I expect a superior product made from superior American materials by American craftsman. Not so any more. All-Clad has become another cookie-cutter distributor selling "Made in China" goods at inflated prices.

To think that I tossed my previous metal tongs to buy these "Made in China" tongs! Without the All-Clad trademark, these tongs are worth [not as much].

I've purchase many All-Clad products in the past. I won't be buying more All-Clad/Made in China products in the future.

This is really a solidly constructed tool. The stainless steel used is high quality and does not feel flimsy at all. I do regret spending twenty duckets on this though, as I think something that cost a third as much probably works just as well. But insofar as quality and utility, All-Clad is as good as they come. Also be careful to use only sponge to clean the tongs. Scrubbers and anything abrasive can damage the shinning finish.

These All-Clad 12-Inch Locking Tongs are great. I have been using Amco locking tongs (8-in., 12-in., 14-in. sizes), but I like this 18/10 gauge stainless steel better than their 18/8 gauge. I use the lock mechanism when leaving them in a sink, setting them beside the range, drip drying them in the dish drainer, and storing them in a drawer. I use the tongs everyday for almost any kind of cooking, except for when I use a nonstick pan. Then I use Calphalon nylon tongs. I'm glad All-Clad is making utensils now.