Cast Iron
Cast Iron, while heavier than steel/alumium, can last a lifetime when properly taken care of. If there’s a lack of care, you can always fix (re-season) it. It can evenly distribute heat; produce a non-stick seasoned surface; and withstand very high temperatures (such as an open campfire).
The older cast iron pots/pans were machined, to give you a smooth (almost glass-like) cooking surface. The cast iron that you buy today at stores like Walmart (i.e., Lodge Logic) have surfaces that are rough. This is why people like buying older, used cast iron products that were made 50/60 years ago; the standard of quality was much higher.
Now, I personally own 2 Lodge Logic products, a 6-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven and 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pan, that I’ve used for camping for the past 6-7 years and would still recommend. Just know that in the world of cast iron, older can be better and even cheaper if you know where to look.
Thrift stores, yard sales, and Ebay are good places for finding old cast iron cookware. (Griswold/Wagner)
Dutch Oven Liners
To avoid a messy cleanup on camping trips, use dutch oven liners (made out of parchment paper). You put the liner in the dutch oven, place the stew or chili that you’re making onto the parchment paper and it cooks the food without making a mess. Afterwards, you throw the parchment paper away and you’re left with a clean dutch oven. As long as you don’t overfill the dutch oven, this is true. Sometimes even with the parchment paper, some will seep over the liner from boiling over.
For more information on Dutch Oven Care, head over to: Equipment Care.
Tripod Grill
The Tripod Grill is placed right over the firepit. A grill or percolator (with an attached wire hangar) can be lowered onto the fire with the attached metal chain. When not in use over the fire, the tripod can be used as a lantern hanger.
Steel Grill
The Steel Grill is rectangular and fits right over the firepit. A stable cooking surface over an open fire.
Percolator
Fresh coffee made over an open campfire. Make sure the percolator has an attached wire hangar if you wish to hang it from the tripod.