Is HexClad worth the premium price?

This is one of the most contested questions in the category. Good Housekeeping and Seriously Eats give HexClad credit for searing performance and durability, but r/cookware threads are skeptical — calling the hybrid surface only partially nonstick — and the brand was the subject of a recent class-action settlement over marketing claims. Treat the price premium as buying brand and finish, not a clear performance edge.