The disclosed technology comprises cookware and other vessels (any item capable of non-permeable retention of liquid), such as pots and pans with rugged and collapsible handles which may decrease in length to be ⅓ or less than their extended size and are usable in both a collapsed or an expanded state. Such handles, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, have covers or ends which, in a collapsed configuration of the handle, entirely cover most or all of the extendable portion of the handle, the covers usable as handles when collapsed. Individual links of the handle have inward flanges and protrusions adapted to keep the links from disconnecting, and fold into one another in a cascading manner, either becoming successively smaller, or being of equal overall size or width. Exterior notches on each link are used to keep the links from expanding and contracting into one another without lateral force applied.