So, my current aluminum cookset has served me well, but it’s pretty well worn and I’m ready for a new one. My aluminum set has three pots and three pans/lids and weighs in at 43 ounces with the pot grabber. The largest pot and pan are about 7.75 inches in diameter and the pot holds 1.5 liters. I’m looking for a good sized pot or two and a fry pan with a little more depth (2” would be great). I would also like to cut some weight if possible. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have looked at some MSR stuff and it’s pretty impressive. I’m not afraid to spend some coin for something that will last.

Thanks in advance!

Tony

Check out the Primus Primetech set, what i got and its good quality and works well.

Nothing fancy, but the GSI cooksets have served me well. You can get them in a few different sizes/arrangements.

GSI Cookware

I'm looking at cook sets too and have pretty much narrowed my choices down to an aluminum pot with ceramic coating. I'm not a fan of Teflon personally. Most of the time I would use a pot to boil water or cook simple dishes like dried pasta with a sauce. If it was only boiling water or if we did all our cooking on a stove then titanium would be my top choice, but open fire cooking and titanium don't always work the best.

I have been tempted to get something simple like stainless steel so it can handle the heat better, but I use aluminum at home and I like it.

Stainless can withstand a good deal of heat. Unfortunately it is quite "sticky" and prone to hot spots and burning.

I doubt this set will cut weight but mine has held up well for a decade. Nests into a mesh bag.

I do a lot cooking over the fire and have even managed to keep the coatings on the handles intact.

Banksiana: "Stainless can withstand a good deal of heat. Unfortunately it is quite "sticky" and prone to hot spots and burning."

Near cure for the hot spot problem is MSR Alpine frypan with it's embedded aluminum bottom (I've been using for a long time), or the Primus Campfire frypan.

butthead

GopherAdventure: "So, my current aluminum cookset has served me well, --- The largest pot and pan are about 7.75 inches in diameter and the pot holds 1.5 liters. I’m looking for a good sized pot or two and a fry pan with a little more depth (2” would be great). I would also like to cut some weight if possible. -- Thanks in advance!

Tony"

A 7 3/4 diameter pot holding 1.5 liters?? Most that big in diameter are 2 1/2 liters. About the only thing lighter is Titanium and its hard to find larger than 1.6 liter and the frypan will develop hot spots. Toaks largest at 1.6l, Snow Peak makes a 2l.
A Ti frypan can work well if you use a diffuser plate, but will warp in in time. I have a warped Ti pan and several pots, pots still get used, but I went back to my old MSR Alpine SS/aluminum pan for frying.

butthead

Check out the FryBake expedition pan. Can't be beat.

I have some GSI kettle to boil water.

THEGrandRapids: "I have some GSI kettle to boil water. "

I love the GSI Halulite kettle. Open fire or stove, the most efficient way I have found to boil water.

Thanks everyone for the great info. I’m looking into all of the options you’ve all shared. I’m leaning towards aluminum with a ceramic coating. My old set was Teflon and it’s peeling all over the place now (a decade later). I have titanium pots/pans for solo tripping, and this new set will be for group trips which rarely exceed 4 people. I really like these ones...

MSR 2 Pot Set

MSR Ceramic Pan- 2” deep

23 oz all together, that would cut over a pound of weight.

Thoughts?

Tony

GopherAdventure: "Thanks everyone for the great info. I’m looking into all of the options you’ve all shared. I’m leaning towards aluminum with a ceramic coating. My old set was Teflon and it’s peeling all over the place now (a decade later). I have titanium pots/pans for solo tripping, and this new set will be for group trips which rarely exceed 4 people. I really like these ones...

MSR 2 Pot Set


MSR Ceramic Pan- 2” deep

23 oz all together, that would cut over a pound of weight.


Thoughts?


Tony"

Go for the MSR pot set and skillet in your links. I've been tripping with MSR cookware for years and they work great. I have absolutely no complaints.

My buddy usually brings his MSR 2 liter pot and a 9 inch frying pan and we do just fine. I also usually bring this

pot
minus the cups, and this

stove

I could get by for weeks with this combination which cost about 37 bucks and is very lightweight. If I had a collapsible bowl and some aluminum foil for fish it is all I would need. Fuel supply is endless and the stove works very well. Granted mostly dehydrated meals and boiling water for coffee, oatmeal and hot chocolate but it is more versatile than one would think.

Haven't tried it yet as the only cooking option, one of these days...

GopherAdventure: "So, my current aluminum cookset has served me well, but it’s pretty well worn and I’m ready for a new one. My aluminum set has three pots and three pans/lids and weighs in at 43 ounces with the pot grabber. The largest pot and pan are about 7.75 inches in diameter and the pot holds 1.5 liters. I’m looking for a good sized pot or two and a fry pan with a little more depth (2” would be great). I would also like to cut some weight if possible. Does anyone have any recommendations? I have looked at some MSR stuff and it’s pretty impressive. I’m not afraid to spend some coin for something that will last.

Thanks in advance!

Tony"

REI has some Windburner systems on clearance.

Fritty

We use a mix of various pots and pans depending on the trip. We mostly use lightweight aluminum and titanium, many of which were already recommended. One that I didn’t see mentioned that we really like is the 5.9 oz MSR Quick Skillet.

Heyfritty: "REI has some Windburner systems on clearance.
Fritty
"https://www.rei.com/product/128870/msr-windburner-stove-system-combo-25-liter" TARGET="_blank""

Linking is easy, directions in the General Discussion Forum,
REI Windburner System Sale

butthead

I use two pots ....MSR Seagull/Stowaway. Stainless steel. Good pots but not great for frying. More for boiling stuff. Interesting to note MSR has four sizes of the these pots with folding handles. 475ml, 775ml, 1.1 L and 1.6.L. The largest and the next to smallest nest inside each other. The smallest and the next to largest nest inside each other. So its a compact system. I have the 1.6 and the 775. In addition, I have a Chinese twig stove that packs inside the 775. I have a pot-cozy for the 775 and with that on, it fits perfectly inside the 1.6 L.

For a fry pan I went with Primus Campfire. Stainless steel. Has a binded aluminum bottom.and folding handle. Works.well. like 10-12". I don't like the tiny 8" fry pans.

GopherAdventure: "Thanks everyone for the great info. I’m looking into all of the options you’ve all shared. I’m leaning towards aluminum with a ceramic coating. My old set was Teflon and it’s peeling all over the place now (a decade later). I have titanium pots/pans for solo tripping, and this new set will be for group trips which rarely exceed 4 people. I really like these ones...

MSR 2 Pot Set


MSR Ceramic Pan- 2” deep

23 oz all together, that would cut over a pound of weight.


Thoughts?


Tony"

This is the same setup I use and I really like the ease of clean up with the ceramic. Works for all of my needs and I highly recommend it.

nice dragonfly beauty shot right there!

I have a few different set-ups. Here is my wally special:



Pot is 7.5x3.25 deep and the ceramic frying pan is about 8". Homemade reflectix coozie and plastic plate. Unscrewed/Cut the handle off both. All from wally world. Weighs in at 25 oz. I do have an aluminum pot gripper. I can nest a small iso can, gripper, stove, rag, lighter, and spoon in the pot. Probably don't have 12-15 bucks in it. That Appalachian trail forum has some really solid ideas.

The anodized aluminum pots I use from Mors are no longer available. My next choice would be Soto's Navigator cookset. For pan, Frybake. I also have some larger stainless pots that are from Solo Stove, but I only really use them on larger group trips.

I like good food, and I want to be able to actually cook, not just fry fish and boil water. I've used the below on 4-5 trips now and have no need to change anytime soon.

It's hard to beat the Fry Bake pan for a fry pan. It's light, non-stick, and tough as nails. I also just got the boundary waters journal square aluminum one for larger groups. I've used it indoors over the winter and so far think I'll really like it.

For pots, I really like Solo Stove's options. They're a touch heavier but are stainless steel and solid. I have no doubt they will last until my grandchildren get sick of carrying them.

My primary setup is the 8" Frybake, with the solo stove 3 pot set (may leave some home depending on food for the trip). The great thing is they all nest together amazingly well with enough room in the pot for the stove, but not really a fuel canister. A pot cozy made of refletix on the pot keeps the soot out of the frypan and keeps the noise down.

I went with a stove with a larger diameter burner (MSR Windpro 2) specifically to help avoid hotspots cooking. The thicker steel on these pots also helps with that.

I also carry a cheap teflon grill mat folded up in the pots. You can throw it on the fire grate and cook almost anything, including pancakes and eggs.

I did want a larger pot for bigger groups, and tonight at goodwill came across a lightweight stainless steel pot that my others will fit inside for $4. Hard to beat that!

AceAceAce: "I like good food, and I want to be able to actually cook, not just fry fish and boil water. I've used the below on 4-5 trips now and have no need to change anytime soon.


It's hard to beat the Fry Bake pan for a fry pan. It's light, non-stick, and tough as nails. I also just got the boundary waters journal square aluminum one for larger groups. I've used it indoors over the winter and so far think I'll really like it.


For pots, I really like Solo Stove's options. They're a touch heavier but are stainless steel and solid. I have no doubt they will last until my grandchildren get sick of carrying them.


My primary setup is the 8" Frybake, with the solo stove 3 pot set (may leave some home depending on food for the trip). The great thing is they all nest together amazingly well with enough room in the pot for the stove, but not really a fuel canister. A pot cozy made of refletix on the pot keeps the soot out of the frypan and keeps the noise down.


I went with a stove with a larger diameter burner (MSR Windpro 2) specifically to help avoid hotspots cooking. The thicker steel on these pots also helps with that.


I also carry a cheap teflon grill mat folded up in the pots. You can throw it on the fire grate and cook almost anything, including pancakes and eggs.


I did want a larger pot for bigger groups, and tonight at goodwill came across a lightweight stainless steel pot that my others will fit inside for $4. Hard to beat that!
"

Any issues with the solo stove pot lids?

I switch it up with my cook sets and throughout the years have built a system I like best. For now. I have owned the MSR quick skillet for a few years and gave it to my brother last fall. It’s probably the only thing I’ve owned from the cascade family I didn’t care for. The coating scratched off easily, so I’d recommend the ceramic skillet over that one. It’s $10 more. I like that it’s deep, and you can make pizzas, nachos, sautéed veggies, etc. Although, I would strongly suggest the GSI Pinnacle fry pan. It’s been the better lightweight fry pan/skillet I’ve used yet. I use Snowpeak Ti trek 1400/ Ti non insulated 600 mug for my pot set. I’ll sometimes use the little skillet lid that came with it as a pan, but not often. And if I have a base camp, I’ll use cast iron for its versatility and great cooking. I also own a collapsible pot from S2S that is really nice, but not as light as my other pots but it’s good for pastas and sauces.

On most occasions, I’ll bring my pinnacle pan, and my trek1400. If I’m with more than myself or need extra, I’ll bring the S2S pot and Maybe a small Dutch oven.

I should also point out that I’m either using a MSR Whisperlite or MSR Windpro II for my stove.. or fire. I also like to cook real food, and not just boil water for dehydrated meals, so a good stove and cook set is important for me while tripping or camping.

Here’s the MSR quick skillet and ceramic pot from a … don’t hate me… kayak trip along LSPP, with a good sunset and company. MSR’s ceramic and alpine series is real nice.

I went through 2 MSR skillets designed for use with my Windburner stove. The first was not non-stick and it was okay for fish but a disaster for pancakes. The second was their new non-stick version, and it was better but still so thin that it needed constant attention and still stuck or burned at times. I finally wound up getting a JetBoil pot support and use that under a regular non-stick T-Fal pan. Much better.

My friend has this one. He's had it for several years and loves it for family cooking. When I buy my next kit it will be this one.

https://www.snowpeak.com/collections/cooksets/products/al-dente-aluminum-cookset

Nice pot size and shape. Big enough to cook pasta for a group but not huge. Stainless so it will last a long time.

For a frying pan I recommend the Banks Fry Bake. The big pan is no trouble to pack on a BWCA trip and it lets you bake on the trail.

https://frybake.com/

I did a review of it here:

https://kitchi-gami.com/2018/11/11/fry-bake-shakedown/

Hope this is helpful,

Brian