comments:
The cheap ones typically do the job... at least for a while. The reason iSi siphons are so highly regarded is durability, longevity, and safety. Buy once, cry once. A siphon or "cream whipper" is essentially a potential bomb when under charge. Pros reach for the industry standard for a reason. That being stated, I've heard good things about the OCTANDRA stainless whippers but have no first-hand experience with one. They tend to cost less than half of iSi's equivalent models. They only sell half liter (pint) siphons. If you want a quart/liter sized siphon, I recommend sticking with the iSi. Regardless of which brand(s) you're looking at, ensure that both the bottle and head are stainless steel and not aluminum. If you want to use it for other than cocktails and are thinking you may want to try hot ingredients, ensure the specific unit you purchase is rated for both cold & hot use. Not all of them are. If not specified, the unit is only rated for cold ingredients.