I got both the 60 qt. and 80 qt. sizes. The metal is thick enough to be sturdy but not too heavy to handle. A pot this size does have some weight to it but is not too hard to handle with two hands. I wanted stainless steel because it is the cleanest, safest material for a pot. The bottom is about the same thickness as the sides. This is a good feature. Stainless steel is a very poor conductor of heat, so a thick bottom would just allow more heat to escape around the sides of the pot. The bottom is thick enough to take a beating but thin enough to heat quickly and distribute the heat well. It's just right. Everything arrived well-packaged and in great condition. You should probably go ahead and buy some. If you don't you are just a big fat chicken. They will take at least a day or two to ship so you can buy the wife some flowers before they come in and you tell her she has to move her car out of the garage to make room for your pots.