Sintax77! Thank you for this review. I thoroughly enjoy ALL your videos, but your gear reviews (including during your trips) are among my favorite things you do. Your sponsors will be glad to know I have purchased backpacking items based on your reviews. So keep'em coming!
It's worth mentioning that MSR now makes the flex skillet with a ceramic nonstick coating, which is much more environmentally friendly and nontoxic. They're also making their base2 pan set with a ceramic coating (now called the ceramic 2 pot set). So far I like it, and we'll see if the ceramic coating is more durable than the teflon coating. So far they are not offering the smaller quick skillet, or the complete quick 2 set with a ceramic coating, but I anticipate that will be coming soon (I hope, because the quick skillet will nest nicely inside my 2 pot set).
Great review and overview Sintax - used the younger brother (Quick Skillet) on my latest outing for the first time and I love it. Just make sure you don't use metal on the non-stick and you're golden! Really light weight, store the handle in the pan or somewhere else, cooks food really quick and also boils water super fast! Love it. MSR really hit the ground running with this product. Pretty cheap to replace too after a few years of good use.
I love my MSR Flex Skillet. My only complaint is that the coating comes off way too easily as you touched on in the vid, mine had some scratched off the rim right out of the box. I love the size and shape though. I agree with you, anything more than boiling water is fancy gourmet cooking!
+Greg Hartzell Yes, my friend Mike has a pot and pan set from them and I've got their tea kettle for melting snow on winter trips. They make some solid gear as well.
I just took one of those red dot home skillets into the woods this weekend and my handle unscrews. Got it down to 1 lb. That MSR is much less. I wouldn't use my home one in a fire either, or use the pocket rocket knockoff. I've got another cheap Chinese stove with a 3 inch burner. Worked very well but without a handle I had to use my leather gloves to keep it steady. Anyway thanks for the review. Looking for a better alternative for short scout hikes.
You might try making a lip protector by splitting open a length of silicone tubing. At least you could protect the rim while transporting - it might even hold up for cooking.
This is a cool pan, which i've used myself. But... I am going to stick with my FryBake. I can use, which is also encouraged by Frybake, a metal spatula. Thanks Sintax!
when in the heck are you going to get to high country? get some 14ers under your belt? I would love to see you do some RMNP videos or somewhere in Colorado.
+sintax77 I've got 6 days 5 nights in the lost Creek wilderness in less then a month. I can't wait! can't wait to see your trip man, I love your videos. is it weird that I've seen them all more then once? a few more then twice? lol. also where the heck is TJ? does he still hang out with y'all?
+Tim Eubanks Thanks, man. I'm glad you're enjoying the vids. I try to add enough little extras to make them rewatchable, so that's pretty cool to know. TJ and I are doing a trip as well, towards late September or early October. Can't wait for fall! :)
Good Review! I have a lightweight set that I've so far only used car camping. We will try it on shorter backpacking hikes. Also we just got back from our Cloud Peak Wilderness backpack trip in Wyoming. Bob
Excellent! It's before Yellowstone and very few people. We backpacked from Monday through Wednesday. We made the challenging 13,167 foot summit. Very cold and windy that high! It's something like the White Mountains, but much higher mountains. We didn't want to leave. I'll try to send a few pics to your facebook page.
I was thinking an actual 8 or 9" round, 2" deep cast iron, possibly weighing 4x as much as the MSR. I have an old cowboy grill, it's cast iron, like 8"x8" or so, and you use a piece of 3/4" pipe and drive it in the ground and slip the grill down it over a fire and it cantilevers to whatever height you set it at. I guess if you have horses carrying your gear have at it!
I don't own the Survivior filter, but I did do a final thoughts video on the Renovo Trio, which the Survivor appears to be a direct of, so it should pretty much apply to either one. th-cam.com/video/DrX3AbCJ0bQ/w-d-xo.html
Hey man, love your vids... Do you think you could go on a trip with many of the ENO items. Possibly another lounge-around type trip so you could try out some of the different items. ;)
hi loved the vid just the right balance, other than im trying out this frying pan and 5 min of a guy cooking! lol i have the MSR 2 Quick set for me and mrs bike camping touring, i have used the pots for yars, on a Colman Featherlight and a 553, on my own whisperlight international never a problem with coating, although not got or used the frying pan. my own frying pan is from outwell, a uk company fitts under the larger of my pot, but i have used oven liner cut to size so as not to damage it, works wel.great vid
Titanium is actually substantially heavier than Aluminum with a density of .16 lbs/in3 per cubic inch, while aluminum is .098 lbs/in3. That would make Titanium about 60% heavier. Just FYI.
However titanium is stronger so when constructing an item they can go thinner thickness' of the walls or shallower corners etc and make a greater weight savings
+Adam Berg (AdsBerger) This may be true, though I wouldn't assume that it's practically always the case. aluminum products like this still are often lighter than their Titanium counter parts. like the difference between the toaks titanium spoon or the sea to summit aluminum spoon. the sea to summit is lighter. the sea to summit is even lighter than the light my fire spork. The olicamp space saver mug is very light as well, also lighter than the Toaks Titanium. I'm sure that there are Titanium products that may be lighter, but it's not safe to assume that they actually are. Aluminum is very light, and relatively very strong.
It's the properties of titanium that make it more desireable than aluminum. Titanium is relatively non-reactive - acidic foods won't slowly eat away at it, and it's a naturally non-stick substance. For cooking, I do prefer an anodized aluminum pot, but if I was just boiling water and making soups, I would consider carrying titanium.
THE GI MESS KIT was never designed for cooking... it is not a two compartment plate and a skillet. It is a three compartment plate. The two compartment plate locks onto the handle which is how a GI would carry it through mess line to be filled with chow. No longer used by the military. They have switched to card board plates.
I usually just bring the pan from my Trangia cook-set, great pan and I like that the handle is removable. Btw: You haven't done an UL gear list video in a while, any chance that we can see what gear you use atm? :) Keep up the good work, I love your videos!
Thanks, Silje. The Trangia set looks cool. And yes, I'll have to do an updated gear list video one of these days - that's a good idea. I feel like I may be on the cusp of finally upgrading my pack after several years now, so I may wait until after I do that.
+sintax77 yeah, the trangia is a great cook set - but not exactly lightweight 😋 I only use it on canoe trips or family trips. When I'm solo hiking I only bring my toaks 759ml and a burner of some sort
I've been researching this skillet for awhile. Several others have had issues with thr teflon voating flaking off and have made quick and successful warranty claims for that.
I'm using a GSI Outsdoors Pinnacle , I think it's superior to this MSR skillet. Little heavier but IMO a better handle and a better non stick surface. They also make a Bugaboo version which I think is lighter.
Sintax77! Thank you for this review. I thoroughly enjoy ALL your videos, but your gear reviews (including during your trips) are among my favorite things you do. Your sponsors will be glad to know I have purchased backpacking items based on your reviews. So keep'em coming!
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the gear talk. I'm hoping to get some more gear reviews out in the near future.
It's worth mentioning that MSR now makes the flex skillet with a ceramic nonstick coating, which is much more environmentally friendly and nontoxic. They're also making their base2 pan set with a ceramic coating (now called the ceramic 2 pot set). So far I like it, and we'll see if the ceramic coating is more durable than the teflon coating.
So far they are not offering the smaller quick skillet, or the complete quick 2 set with a ceramic coating, but I anticipate that will be coming soon (I hope, because the quick skillet will nest nicely inside my 2 pot set).
This is not the first time something has been falsely advertised a being 9 inches.
I can mine 9", just fold it in half.
the measurements are with the handle folded up for packing.
Now thats laughable and false.
informative review. 8" is not 9". I've been told size matters. Sorry couldnt pass up the opportunity, keep up the good syntax 77.
Great review and overview Sintax - used the younger brother (Quick Skillet) on my latest outing for the first time and I love it. Just make sure you don't use metal on the non-stick and you're golden! Really light weight, store the handle in the pan or somewhere else, cooks food really quick and also boils water super fast! Love it. MSR really hit the ground running with this product. Pretty cheap to replace too after a few years of good use.
+Gordon's Great Outdoors Agreed. It's a solid product for sure.
I love my MSR Flex Skillet. My only complaint is that the coating comes off way too easily as you touched on in the vid, mine had some scratched off the rim right out of the box. I love the size and shape though. I agree with you, anything more than boiling water is fancy gourmet cooking!
You ever look into the GSI fry pans? That's what I got. Great piece of cook gear.
+Greg Hartzell Yes, my friend Mike has a pot and pan set from them and I've got their tea kettle for melting snow on winter trips. They make some solid gear as well.
i have the quick and its 7.25ish
I just took one of those red dot home skillets into the woods this weekend and my handle unscrews. Got it down to 1 lb. That MSR is much less. I wouldn't use my home one in a fire either, or use the pocket rocket knockoff. I've got another cheap Chinese stove with a 3 inch burner. Worked very well but without a handle I had to use my leather gloves to keep it steady. Anyway thanks for the review. Looking for a better alternative for short scout hikes.
JetBoil Summit Skillet Carbon !
Bought one of these last year and its awesome.
You might try making a lip protector by splitting open a length of silicone tubing. At least you could protect the rim while transporting - it might even hold up for cooking.
Great idea, thanks!
Anyone know if the Pocket Rocket Deluxe will do the trick for the heat spread on this pan?
This is a cool pan, which i've used myself. But... I am going to stick with my FryBake. I can use, which is also encouraged by Frybake, a metal spatula. Thanks Sintax!
when in the heck are you going to get to high country? get some 14ers under your belt? I would love to see you do some RMNP videos or somewhere in Colorado.
+Tim Eubanks Mike and I have a road trip planned in the near future that you just may enjoy. Stay tuned ;)
+sintax77 I've got 6 days 5 nights in the lost Creek wilderness in less then a month. I can't wait! can't wait to see your trip man, I love your videos. is it weird that I've seen them all more then once? a few more then twice? lol. also where the heck is TJ? does he still hang out with y'all?
+Tim Eubanks Thanks, man. I'm glad you're enjoying the vids. I try to add enough little extras to make them rewatchable, so that's pretty cool to know. TJ and I are doing a trip as well, towards late September or early October. Can't wait for fall! :)
a true chef doesn't use non stick ;)
good review as always!
How many true chefs have the inclination to go TH-cam hiking? Go ahead, provide a few links.
Good Review! I have a lightweight set that I've so far only used car camping. We will try it on shorter backpacking hikes. Also we just got back from our Cloud Peak Wilderness backpack trip in Wyoming. Bob
+uptrail71 Nice, How did Wyoming go?
Excellent! It's before Yellowstone and very few people. We backpacked from Monday through Wednesday. We made the challenging 13,167 foot summit. Very cold and windy that high! It's something like the White Mountains, but much higher mountains. We didn't want to leave. I'll try to send a few pics to your facebook page.
+uptrail71 Very cool. Sounds amazing!
I was honestly waiting for a segment on a comparable cast iron skillet, weight specs and all!
Haha, you know what - I have 12 inch Lodge skillet too. Maybe I should have just thrown it in the mix after all! ;)
I was thinking an actual 8 or 9" round, 2" deep cast iron, possibly weighing 4x as much as the MSR. I have an old cowboy grill, it's cast iron, like 8"x8" or so, and you use a piece of 3/4" pipe and drive it in the ground and slip the grill down it over a fire and it cantilevers to whatever height you set it at. I guess if you have horses carrying your gear have at it!
Awesome skillet. I have the same one and it works like a champ. Thanks for sharing. -ATB Adam
Yeah, it's a great little piece of gear. Memorable meals in the middle of nowhere are easily worth the extra 7 ounces.
Sintax, are you planning to do a survivor filter review one day?
I don't own the Survivior filter, but I did do a final thoughts video on the Renovo Trio, which the Survivor appears to be a direct of, so it should pretty much apply to either one. th-cam.com/video/DrX3AbCJ0bQ/w-d-xo.html
+sintax77 Thank you!
Hey man, love your vids... Do you think you could go on a trip with many of the ENO items. Possibly another lounge-around type trip so you could try out some of the different items. ;)
Where did you get that windscreen? Homemade or did you buy it?
You should look at a Fry-Bake Pan.
hi loved the vid just the right balance, other than im trying out this frying pan and 5 min of a guy cooking! lol
i have the MSR 2 Quick set for me and mrs bike camping touring, i have used the pots for yars, on a Colman Featherlight and a 553, on my own whisperlight international never a problem with coating, although not got or used the frying pan.
my own frying pan is from outwell, a uk company fitts under the larger of my pot, but i have used oven liner cut to size so as not to damage it, works wel.great vid
Titanium is actually substantially heavier than Aluminum with a density of .16 lbs/in3 per cubic inch, while aluminum is .098 lbs/in3. That would make Titanium about 60% heavier. Just FYI.
However titanium is stronger so when constructing an item they can go thinner thickness' of the walls or shallower corners etc and make a greater weight savings
+Adam Berg (AdsBerger) This may be true, though I wouldn't assume that it's practically always the case. aluminum products like this still are often lighter than their Titanium counter parts. like the difference between the toaks titanium spoon or the sea to summit aluminum spoon. the sea to summit is lighter. the sea to summit is even lighter than the light my fire spork. The olicamp space saver mug is very light as well, also lighter than the Toaks Titanium.
I'm sure that there are Titanium products that may be lighter, but it's not safe to assume that they actually are. Aluminum is very light, and relatively very strong.
It's the properties of titanium that make it more desireable than aluminum. Titanium is relatively non-reactive - acidic foods won't slowly eat away at it, and it's a naturally non-stick substance. For cooking, I do prefer an anodized aluminum pot, but if I was just boiling water and making soups, I would consider carrying titanium.
THE GI MESS KIT was never designed for cooking... it is not a two compartment plate and a skillet. It is a three compartment plate. The two compartment plate locks onto the handle which is how a GI would carry it through mess line to be filled with chow. No longer used by the military. They have switched to card board plates.
I usually just bring the pan from my Trangia cook-set, great pan and I like that the handle is removable.
Btw: You haven't done an UL gear list video in a while, any chance that we can see what gear you use atm? :) Keep up the good work, I love your videos!
Thanks, Silje. The Trangia set looks cool. And yes, I'll have to do an updated gear list video one of these days - that's a good idea. I feel like I may be on the cusp of finally upgrading my pack after several years now, so I may wait until after I do that.
+sintax77 yeah, the trangia is a great cook set - but not exactly lightweight 😋 I only use it on canoe trips or family trips. When I'm solo hiking I only bring my toaks 759ml and a burner of some sort
BEARD LOOKS GOOD!
Thanks man good stuff, thumbs up
Gee, don't CUT the handle off! It's a simpl Philips screw that's holding it!
A real USGI mess kit is stainless steel. AL ones are not GI.
Skillet is also a band aha
Must be a guy in charge of posting the measurements. Guys always lie about size! ;)
Need coffee
Irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial.
+whiterook85 Hahaha. Nobody can know for sure where those teflon scratches came from. :)
+sintax77 I would say, an act of God.
I've been researching this skillet for awhile. Several others have had issues with thr teflon voating flaking off and have made quick and successful warranty claims for that.
I'm using a GSI Outsdoors Pinnacle , I think it's superior to this MSR skillet. Little heavier but IMO a better handle and a better non stick surface. They also make a Bugaboo version which I think is lighter.
too bad about the TOXIC coating.
MSR now makes it with a non-toxic ceramic coating.