Pathfinder: 1) If you're worried about non-stick, simply season the pan beforehand. Yes, you CAN season stainless steel (plenty of vids on YT). 2) You can more easily stow plates, etc. in the Pathfinder, as the handle is not in the way, and the lid and handle helps hold items steady.
Good review Will. Personally, I'm anti-coating for my campfire cookware. I've seen non-stick fail and get scorched on my kitchen stove, so I know it would be worse on the uneven heat of a campfire. I think those were designed with gas grills and stoves in mind that have even distribution of heat more than the small camp stoves or campfires. Good old fashioned stainless steel is how I prefer to go too. Keep these good videos coming!
I get where you’re coming from, you’ve definitely got to have a little more of a “delicate touch” with non-stick. I prefer to use it with my larger gas backpacking stove, if it’s on a campfire I definitely keep it back a bit and don’t leave it unattended. If I don’t have to pack it in I actually love Camp cooking on cast iron. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, I hope you have a great week. 👍
Cast Iron! Man, in the old days, they didn't have an option. They had to trek across the country with cast iron pots and pans. It was big, heavy and harder to heat over a campfire, but the cast iron held up to it and cooked food more evenly without scorching! When I was a kid, I went camping with some old school purists who still used cast iron and there's a huge difference between steel and cast iron in so many ways that have been lost to lighter and cheaper metals. I don't blame you for using it when you can. It's just so heavy and cumbersome for the trail. I think for us in modern times, when we go out into a rugged environment, we need our gear to be rugged to hold up to what we give it. The wilderness isn't the place to be worrying about having a delicate touch on your frying pan. If I have to be gentle with any piece of gear, I'll leave that gear in the closet at home. Hahaha Thanks for a good review. I really enjoy your channel and getting your views on the outdoors. Keep on making videos, from one dad to another, you have a good speaking voice and kind nature that make you fun to watch and learn from. And, you still have a lot to offer the outdoors community.
Thank you very much for the feedback, These days when it comes to the channel I really try to keep it real, have fun and make videos that I think will actually be helpful and encouraging to folks. I myself have plenty to learn and grow, and I enjoy the process of doing so and sharing with others along the way. Thanks for your support :)
Great review. I own both and have used them pretty equally over the years. My GSI pan after awhile started to wear out at the handle lock and it was getting a little floppy. The Pathfinder skillet is more bullet proof but it did take awhile to get used to before I wasn't eating burnt food all the time, lol. Thanks for the review I would buy both pans again if either one of them becomes completely none functional.
You can carry a few extra tent pegs (metal) and push them into the ground in a triangle at the edge of your fire. That’ll give you a stable platform, a few inches off of the ground for the pan. You can regulate the heat better my moving more or less coals into the space under the pan.
Well well will , Professional, comprehensive and accurate, finally I can decide though I couldn't find pathfinder in down under but will now buy the GCI
Just polymerize some canola oil on the stainless pan cooking surface. After that, only use a wood or plastic utensil, and never wash with soap. Hot water and a rag. Nothing will stick. You still need to be mindful of too much heat, but it takes just minutes to make a new non stick surface. Learned this in culinary school.
If that’s a concern for you than the Pathfinder would definitely be the better fit. Although I’m still a fan of cast iron as long as I don’t have to hike it in 😁. Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great week 👍
I've used a GSI backpacking pinnacle combo with non-stock coating pot and frying pan for almost 10 years now, it's held up remarkably well and shows no signs of stopping. I even regularly use it over the fire even though GSI doesn't recommend it.
Great review, Will! I’m a fan of the GSI as well. I’m trying to incorporate a small lighter weight cast iron into my cooking now. Heavier pack weight, but not unreasonably bad. I bought an 8 inch and 6.5 inch this week. The 8 inch was big enough for a steak and shrimp on my last video. I think the 6.5 would be a great size for Hash.
Never tried it personally, Titanium is usually a little too 💵 💵 for my blood 😁. I figured these two would make a good comparison, given they’ve got some significant similarities as well as differences, plus an almost identical price point. Thanks for your continued support! 👍👍
Nice review Brother! As you've mentioned to be careful of excessive heat on the coated pans. Most manufacturers Reccomend no more than 500 degrees for coated pans. The coating may become compromised but the toxic vapors will be more apparent. You may want to confirm the Reccomend amount of heat. Your egg dish makes me hungry!
I've had the GSI for many years (approx. 20). And it has served me well. However, the non-stick coating is not working as well as it use to. It's getting time to replace it.
I wanted to love my pathfinder pan, even after seasoning several times I still find food stuck to it. Its now tucked away in the back of a cupboard never to be used again. Shame
Check out some videos on how to season stainless steel pans. they are never really non-stick but can get a little better if properly seasoned. The only trouble then is you shouldn't wash it with soap or scrub it. If you still don't care for it, please respond to my comment & I will buy your stainless Pathfinder pan from you & pay for shipping. They are harder to get here in Canada. Cheers.
you can always season the steel pan but the teflon isnt forgiving if you burn the pan thats it, you will be consuming teflon and the underlying aluminum. as stated its not very durable either. season like this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XjwN02huCY8.html