frying pan?

[hikingbear]

I am planning a thru hike in 2011. My brother might come if he can take a leave of absence from work. If he can make the trip we plan on sharing a stove to save weight. We will each have our own pot. I was wondering if people carry a frying pan at all. I know it will be more weight but by sharing a stove it might equal out. Does it provide more variety in meal making?

Thanks

[Mountain Wildman]

I will be carrying an 8" GSI Extreme Frying Pan because I like to eat more than just noodles, Ramen, Lipton sides etc... It weighs 13.2 ounces but worth it to me.
Purchased from SunnySports.com for $17.95

[Mountain Wildman]

I also purchased the GSI 10" Bugaboo Frying pan but at 17.7 ounces I've decided to add it to my car camping gear.

[Doctari]

I don't carry one. If I want to cook "Real food" I just wrap something in aluminum foil & toss it into a fire. BUT:
A light cheep "fry pan" idea: Jiffy pop popping corn. A ready handle, tasty treat for on or pre-trail, easily replaced. They are not terribly sturdy but should do you fine if taken care of.

[Mountain Wildman]

Jiffy Pop, Good idea.
I like the GSI because it's triple coated non-stick designed for camping.
I'll have to try that Jiffy Pop thing.

[Canada Goose]

If you like fryin', and are willing to carry the extra weight, and spend the extra time and effort in clean-up, then go for it.

Based on all the bacon threads here on WB, you will be a very popular person coming out of towns :D.

You would be well served to use the time leading up to your hike to go on shakedown hikes (in all weather conditions), to test your menu selections.

[Bronk]

The lid to my pot acts as a sort of frying pan...its flat, though its not very deep so that really limits what I am able to do with it...does allow me to make grilled cheese other pocket type sandwiches and pancakes. That would be more difficult to do in a pot. The pot I have is very similar to this:

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/MSR-Alpine-2-Stainless-Steel-Pot-Set/CAS0011M.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&CMP_SKU=CAS0533&mv_pc=r126

[veteran]

I will be carrying an 8" GSI Extreme Frying Pan because I like to eat more than just noodles, Ramen, Lipton sides etc... It weighs 13.2 ounces but worth it to me.
Purchased from SunnySports.com for $17.95

I also use one of these, GSI Outdoors Hard Anodized Extreme Fry Pan
Dimensions: 8.95" x 8.6" x 2.6"
Material: Non-Stick Coated, Hard Anodized Aluminum
Spiral-turned base grips stoves and grills securely

http://www.alssports.com/alssports/assets/product_images/PAAAIAJDABCHNOOH.jpg

[buz]

Start looking around for a small, lighter one, and figure out if you really will use it. Non stick is the way to go. Look at gsi or other bigger mulitple pan sets, the lids for these sets are fry pans, and they are very light. I have like a 6 inch lid/frypan I use, weighs under 4 ounces, from one of these sets. Thin, but non stick and versitile. Scrambled eggs anyone, plus of course bacon, lol.

I think if you like variety foods, a small light fry pan is great tool.

good luck

[mister krabs]

small light and cheap, check out the pan from 1 minute on in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dut5m3f0YFo), it's the IMUSA egg pan, (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/allReviews.do?product_id=10730242)

[Mountain Wildman]

I also use one of these, GSI Outdoors Hard Anodized Extreme Fry Pan
Dimensions: 8.95" x 8.6" x 2.6"
Material: Non-Stick Coated, Hard Anodized Aluminum
Spiral-turned base grips stoves and grills securely

http://www.alssports.com/alssports/assets/product_images/PAAAIAJDABCHNOOH.jpg
This is the same one I have, Nice pan but not Ultralight to be sure, I also have the Imusa egg pan from Walmart. About 6 bucks, 6 1/2" X 1 1/2" with a 4 1/2" non-stick cooking surface, Good for one egg, two max. It is very light.
The MSR Flex Skillet is 9" X 2 1/2" and 7 ounces. 24.95 but you could get it cheaper. Basegear.com has it for 24.90 and if you sign up for free membership you get 20% off all regular priced items.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/images/product/medium/msr_flex_skillet.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/images/product/large/msr_flex_skillet.jpg)

[mweinstone]

msr 15$ teflon aluminum w pot lifter. pancakes like mom made.bacon enough to score chicks.the pride of matthewski. his pancakes and bacon. its really verry sad. he equates his worth to his ability to provbide award winning pancakes to the hiking masses.

[JustaTouron]

If I want to cook "Real food" I just wrap something in aluminum foil & toss it into a fire.

So you are advocating for "out of the frying pan and into the fire" :D;)

[Gator 65]

Consider a Jet Boil Stove but each of you have your own cooking container (can be bought seperately) One carry the fuel and one of you carry the stove

[Toolshed]

I carry a light MSR Blacklite (http://www.sunnysports.com/prod/MSRBLF.html?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=MSRBLF)teflon coated frying pan at 5 oz. You can get it at sunnysports for $10.

[wudhipy]

I just invert the lid to my old school MSR pot and fry away. Spam fried over a sierra stove...oh the joyful smokeyness...just a few more days now.:D

[max patch]

The lid to my pot acts as a sort of frying pan...its flat, though its not very deep so that really limits what I am able to do with it...does allow me to make grilled cheese other pocket type sandwiches and pancakes. That would be more difficult to do in a pot.



This is exactly what I did. A dedicated frying pan wouldn't be worth the weight to me on a thru (a weekend trip is another story). I used mine to occasionally toast a buttered bagel or make garlic bread.

[JJJ]

That looks like the ticket, Mountain Wildman.

I've listened alot to the talk on WB.
Not highly experienced in multiday packing, myself, but it seems taking the time and effort to prepare real food on the trail would be a good strategy for making the overall trip more enjoyable and less grueling on a day by day basis.
It's going to cost some in weight and time but the simple pleasure of a wholesome and varied diet should go along way in relieving some of the mental challenges making trail life more rewarding and authentic.
Maybe I'm a romantic, but I still like cast iron. Weight be damned.
Anybody seen any cast iron lighter than this stuff (http://www.thehomemarketplace.com/HomeMarketPlace/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Cooking&SCID=Cookware&CollectionID=DC0000401&SourceCode=50509000001&mr:trackingCode=22EE6F9D-DC81-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA)?

[Maddog]

I also purchased the GSI 10" Bugaboo Frying pan but at 17.7 ounces I've decided to add it to my car camping gear.

gotta have room for all the guns and knives! :rolleyes:

[max patch]

Not highly experienced in multiday packing, myself, but it seems taking the time and effort to prepare real food on the trail would be a good strategy for making the overall trip more enjoyable and less grueling on a day by day basis.
It's going to cost some in weight and time but the simple pleasure of a wholesome and varied diet should go along way in relieving some of the mental challenges making trail life more rewarding and authentic.


Every year there is at least one "chef" on the trail that thinks like you do. And if you're lucky you'll meet them along the way.

My personal experience, however, was that the "camping" can get in the way of the "hiking". After a couple weeks on my thru I stopped cooking breakfast -- I wanted to get moving. Typical hike fare was good enough for me until town stops.

[JAK]

I try for at least a 2:1 ratio of bacon weight to frying pan weight.

[prain4u]

I am planning a thru hike in 2011. My brother might come if he can take a leave of absence from work. If he can make the trip we plan on sharing a stove to save weight. We will each have our own pot. I was wondering if people carry a frying pan at all. I know it will be more weight but by sharing a stove it might equal out. Does it provide more variety in meal making?

Thanks

I would invite you to reconsider sharing just one stove. My reasons:

1) If you each carry your own stove and fuel--you would have two burners (for more complex meals). Hey, you are already taking a frying pan in order to have greater diversity!

2) If it one stove has a malfunction, you can share the other stove.

3) If you get temporarily separated on the trail for part of a day or longer--you each still have a means to cook.

4) If one of you gets injured, or you get in an argument and split up, you each still have a stove.

I don't recommend people sharing tents or other shelters for similar reasons. Trails can either bind people closer together--or drive them apart.

[LeeAllure]

I'd want to carry one of these (Fully loaded!)

http://conventofthebridesofvirtue.com/leeallure/FryingPan.jpg

[Panzer1]

If he can make the trip we plan on sharing a stove to save weight.

I would recommend that you each carry a stove. Forget about saving the extra weight of a second stove.

Panzer

[quasarr]

I recall a day in VT when we stopped at a roadside farm store and bought corn on the cob, kielbasa, and cherry pie! Since we were SOBOs when we got to the shelter that night we met a lot of very jealous hikers :D

Anyway, we reused the cherry pie tin as a frying pan the next morning to toast our pop tarts. See pic! :banana

http://thewolfweb.com/photos/00501109.jpg

[JustaTouron]

any reason why you can't fry in a normal pot?

I frying pan is basically a pot with shorter wall. If you toss bacon in a normal pot and put on the stove the bacon will fry. Be a bit more difficult to flip stuff, but that's all.

[JAK]

I try for at least a 2:1 ratio of bacon weight to frying pan weight.
Hmmm. 2 pounds of bacon, might make this one worthwhile.
https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/product1_new.asp?menu=logic&idProduct=4148

I would have to cut the bacon in half though.
I could probably make some nice scones or bannock.

Then there's this puppy...
https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/product1_new.asp?menu=logic&idProduct=4061

How long would it take me to hike off 16 pounds of bacon?

[Connie]

I am tempted to carry this one I found at Fred Meyer's.

It isn't a great picture. It is T-Fal brand.

At least the picture provides a size comparison.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/geekgrrl_2007/backpacking%20gear/th_fryingpanandKetalist.png (http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s197/geekgrrl_2007/backpacking%20gear/?action=view&current=fryingpanandKetalist.png)

I am considering cutting off the handle. Then again, I don't want my hand that close to the fire.

This frying pan is slightly larger than a slice of bread. French toast? Grilled cheese sandwich?

I was thinking pancakes, fried egg sandwich, and especially, using it for panbreads when I first saw it.

I am unsure about how I will pack it.

If it had a folding handle like the GSI, it would be about perfect. I do prefer GSI extreme anodizing to other brands, except the Banks Fry-Bake. A removable handle would be easier to pack.

I use the Banks Fry-Bake (http://www.wildernessdining.com/fba1.html) for kayaking. 12 oz. 8" diameter, 10 oz. with the "lightweight" lid.

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7624/banksfrybake.jpg

It is a frying pan. It is a "lightweight" dutch oven, a "twiggy fire" on top.

[Johnny Thunder]

the msr blacklight is 8 bucks at rei outlet right now at 5 ounces.

matty...i've seen your pancakes and will raise you one full awful sandwich.

[Lone Wolf]

I am planning a thru hike in 2011. My brother might come if he can take a leave of absence from work. If he can make the trip we plan on sharing a stove to save weight. We will each have our own pot. I was wondering if people carry a frying pan at all. I know it will be more weight but by sharing a stove it might equal out. Does it provide more variety in meal making?

Thanks

i used to always carry a fry pan for eggs, bacon, meats, etc. bring it

[vonfrick]

i used to have the teflon handle-less pan they sell at ems and similar stores. it was about 8" in diameter and i found that it did not heat evenly out to the sides on a pocket rocket type stove, so the outer area was really a waste. and the teflon was getting scratched after 2 years use. i have replaced it with the small (i think) imusa teflon egg pan from walmart and cut the handle off. it was maybe 6 bucks and it nests nicely inside another pot i carry.

its very nice to have

[Doctari]

So you are advocating for "out of the frying pan and into the fire" :D;)

You could put it that way. :p

[Tinker]

I've occasionally eyed the teflon coated pie pans at the local "Megamart". I haven't tried one, but then I don't fry much (it's been 3 years or so) on the trail. That time I used the pan which came with my Trangia stove (the little set). Good fry pan but a bit small. The bottom is thick enough so scorching isn't an issue.

[Tinker]

Here's a link to the Trangia set; http://www.campinggeardepot.com/store-products-327508-Trangia-Mini-Trangia-28-T-Stove-_40419794.html

[snaplok]

I'm another GSI user but I carry the 8" Wok with lid at 24oz. It's heavier but I can make anything in it, and the lid doubles as a bowl.

[Leif5343]

I carry the one egg wonder in my pack. It cooks amazing pancakes and eggs. It also browns sausage and bacon very well. Works well on my Choke hazard stove and my J. Falk compact stove (though the handle is melting a little)...

Here are the links if anyone would like them.

~Leif

One egg wonder: http://www.amazon.com/T-Fal-Total-Nonstick-4-Inch-Wonder/dp/B000GWG14Q

Choke hazard stove: http://minibulldesigncult.webs.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1512946

J.Falk Compact Stove Clone: http://www.trailgear.org/