AdcraftXHT-16 16" Long, Extra Heavy Stainless Steel Utility Tong

Looking for a tough set of tongs for the BBQ, these are the ones. Heavy duty and a nice long reach

Summer is here, which means more of our family's meals shift from our kitchen to our gas barbecue grill, keeping the house cool. Strong, sturdy tools with appropriate reach are essential.I purchased four brands of 16-inch tongs from Adcraft, Update International, Browne Foodservice, and Oxo. Each tong is made of brushed stainless steel with a scalloped edge. They are all dishwasher safe but have no locking mechanism, except for the Oxo tong.I've tried both 8-inch and 10-inch tongs but the added leverage comes at a cost. The 16-inch length is important to avoid exposing my hands and arms to the grill heat and possible flare-ups. The only downside with these 16-inch tongs is storage, which is made less convenient without a locking mechanism. The solution is surprisingly easy and cheap. I use a rubber band to hold the tong closed. Adcraft XHT-16 16" Long, Extra Heavy Stainless Steel Utility Tong : $9.99 -- This tong from Admiral Craft is stamped "StainlessSteel[India]" and is the heaviest of the three brands. It also features the smoothest spring action of the four brands. My wife noted that it is harder to close but I like the added heft, especially when turning grilling heavier items like pork ribs. Update International ST-16XH/CS 18/0 Stainless Steel Extra Heavy-Duty Spring Tongs : $4.09 -- This tong is made of 18/0 stainless steel material and slightly lighter than Admiral Craft with a snappier spring action. My wife liked this because this tong is easier to close. I can appreciate that but the spring feels less sturdy. Given that the Update brand is half the price of the Admiral Craft, that difference is forgivable. Browne Foodservice 2513 Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Coil Spring Operated Utility Tong : $4.73 -- At 1-mm thickness, this stainless steel tong feels a lot like the one from Update International. The spring action is too loose for my preference. It is sufficient enough to turn grilled chicken thighs but larger cuts of meat can slip through the scalloped edges.At one-third the price of the  Oxo Good Grips Locking Tongs ($14.95) , the Update International tong is the best value. For roughly $15, I'd rather own three pairs of 16-inch tongs than one. Compared to Admiral Craft, the Oxo tong is worth the additional $5 cost because it offers cushioned, nonslip handles, thumb rests and a locking mechanism.All of these tongs are sturdy enough for a summer of grilling. Each tong is rolled into a `U' shape for added strength. I don't like to grill with mitts or gloves, so I have to pay attention to heat transfer. Still, bare-handed grilling gives me a better feel, especially with lighter items like strips of zucchini or squash.Of all four brands of tongs, I liked Browne Foodservice the least and, since it costs more than the Update International brand, there is little reason to recommend this brand.* Rating: Five stars (best construction)  Oxo Good Grips Locking Tongs * Rating: Four stars  Adcraft XHT-16 16" Long, Extra Heavy Stainless Steel Utility Tong * Rating: Four stars (value buy)  Update International ST-16XH/CS 18/0 Stainless Steel Extra Heavy-Duty Spring Tongs * Rating: Three stars  Browne Foodservice 2513 Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Coil Spring Operated Utility Tong

Heavy Duty! Just what I needed!

Work great, arrived quickly.

Great Tongs...very sturdy and easy to clean. Even though there is no locking mechanism, will buy again

I am a very picky and critical engineer when it comes to buying products and I can honestly tell you these tongs are amazing and well made! The feel of holding it in yours hands and using it feels like pure luxury, the best of the best! I feel these will literary last forever! Thick steel but not too heavy for me, works flawlessly! It does lack a locking mechanism, but I prefer it that way since the locking mechanisms on tongs usually make cleaning difficult and locking mechanisms usually don't work very good from my past experiences. I would definitely recommend you buy this.

These tongs are made extremely well. My husband uses them to move charcoal around when he is cooking outside. The handles are long and keeps him a distance from the fire. He has been looking for a nice strong pair for a long time. They are not bendable, like so many of the long tongs are. The cups at the end are prefect for moving around the coals when he is cooking in the Dutch Oven.

They need to have some way of holding these closed for easier storage. These stay fully open, which takes up a lot of space in drawers.