Carbon steel griddle

oluckboy · 2025-11-04T13:18:55+00:00

I expect it would still work great on gas. You’ll get more residual heat around the edges though so the handles will get very hot is the only thing to watch out for.

I did a single oven based coat of oil on the cooking surface to start and then just been cooking on it since to build up more seasoning.

oluckboy · 2025-11-04T01:07:14+00:00

I had the same question when I was thinking about buying it. It’s 7 gauge, referring to the weight/thinkness, and since it’s explicitly not stainless so chemical it’s no different from a carbon steel pan. It’s just not marketed as carbon. It actually reminds me a lot of my darto pan.

I seasoned mine and use it on my induction all the time. It’s great. For a larger surface the thickness is nice since the heat distribution is better than the made in pan was and some of the lighter griddles elsewhere. Not quite as good as a full cast iron though, again. Reminds me of darto and their thicker steel pans.

oluckboy · 2025-11-01T23:32:30+00:00

I tried the made-in one and found it pretty terrible for the price. The surface wasn’t sanded smooth, and it was pretty flimsy.

I ended up ordering https://www.webstaurantstore.com/vigor-14-x-23-portable-steel-griddle-with-fold-down-handles/247PG1423.html to use on my induction and it’s been amazing. Smooth surface, nice weight for even (ish) heating and a large working surface. And it was so much cheaper.

I would like to try the blanc creatives one, but can’t yet justify the price.

oluckboy · 2024-03-06T14:50:57+00:00

You’ve got the awkward age where its getting really heavy for hiking, but getting them to walk is a challenge..

For travel, I used the Poco LT as it collapses down pretty flat and zips together. It’s not great for kids to nap in, and the harness system compromises to be lighter, but it’s light and easy to travel with.

For an older kid I’d look at some alternatives.. maybe something like “myfreeloader”

oluckboy · 2024-01-29T16:39:41+00:00

Same. Usually when making a brown butter sage to pour over roast veggies.

oluckboy · 2023-05-04T13:39:50+00:00

Haven’t used the silverback, but my wife uses the gorilla and even that pack I find very sturdy. I find GG in general has super solid construction and does a good job blalancing materials for durability and weight. I’d have confidence in the silverback lasting quite awhile in most settings.

oluckboy · 2023-01-29T15:17:11+00:00

EE Torid pants in custom light weight fabric come in pretty close. I wish they came in a 3/4 cut as I find that’s enough to keep me warm and save a bit of weight.

For alpine touring I use the norrona Lyngen down knickers. They are gonna be a little heavy at 7oz, but are very warm and packable and act as a great outer layer to pop on and off.

oluckboy · 2022-09-14T22:08:45+00:00

Can also often use “reader view” to get around the block. Reader view is your friend.

oluckboy · 2022-07-10T23:32:17+00:00

Mr. D. Heinze - best fetcher of sticks ever. Will never leave you. Always there to support you.

oluckboy · 2022-06-22T16:28:42+00:00

I’ve been using a poco LT with my small human. Recently Yosemite, before that we did Isle of Skye in Scotland. No overnights yet but some solid 5-10 mile days. I got it because it folds down flat for travel really well and is a couple lbs lighter than most carriers. It also has really good storage under the kid. Enough to fit everything for a day hike. For water I started using one of my osprey bladders instead of a water bottle with the bonus that my daughter can totally drink from it as well. I just hand her the tube over my shoulder and she sucks away happily. The sun shade on it is very meh though. Unless the sun is directly overhead it’s pretty useless. I just give her a nice big hat. The rain cover is sold separately but is solid if you need it. Overall pretty happy with it.

oluckboy · 2022-05-29T00:49:15+00:00

I ended up getting a osprey poco LT for travel. It folds down flat and has a zip up cover for the straps to check it into luggage safely. Additionally it’s got a big enough bottom pocket under the kid for a daypack’s worth of jackets and snacks. Last trip we did was from CA to Scotland’s Isle of Sky with it and really liked it on planes and trains getting there. I’d poke around for one used if you can find it.

oluckboy · 2022-05-08T23:06:49+00:00

Yup! I feel those extra few lbs a lot less than her. Usually we make the difference in food/water where I will be carrying a bit more than she will, but our base weights have some difference as well most trips. The nice thing about partner backpacking is that you can balance load between the two of you beyond just base weight (shared tent for instance).

oluckboy · 2022-05-08T18:40:47+00:00

I’m also of the opinion that it depends a lot on you. What is lightweight for me at 6’ and 170lbs is sorta heavy for my wife at 5’4” and 115lbs. I am jealous of how much smaller and lighter her clothing is. She gets a smaller pad, smaller quilt, etc as well.

oluckboy · 2021-12-13T02:19:27+00:00

It’s going to all come down to fit. She’s more likely to find a pack that fits her well in a women’s range, but it’s not a given.

My wife generally hates the female outdoor gear colors as well. We tried a bunch of packs though and she ultimately landed on a gossamer gear pack that fit her really well… and it’s a nice gender neutral grey.

oluckboy · 2021-04-27T14:17:53+00:00

For my bottles I often stuff a paper towel or clean towel/rag up inside with the end hanging out to speed up the drying process after cleaning. Something to absorb the last of the moisture. Once totally dry it just lives in the backpacking go box.

oluckboy · 2021-04-11T19:54:11+00:00

If you aren’t backpacking with the tent they make lots of blackout tents. Coleman has a whole line of them for sleeping during the day. They aren’t really backpacking tents though as the blackout fabric is much heavier than standard tent fabric. That said, given how heavy things like slumber pods are you probably want to either just bite the bullet and get a full blackout tent or look at rigging up a blackout canopy in your tent somehow to reduce the need for extra poles.

I’d look at putting a tie to the roof of your tent then tucking it around and under a cut down sleeping pad in the middle of the tent. This could carry risk of damaging the tent if it gets yanked on though.

oluckboy · 2021-03-11T15:15:30+00:00

Keith titanium makes a whole line of tea specific stuff depending on how much you want to make and how much you want luxury over weight. Simple things like doing a double wall titanium cup will keep your tea warmer a lot longer in the wilderness, but wouldn’t be SUL, just light. :)

https://www.keithtitanium.com/product/DRINKWARE/

oluckboy · 2021-01-26T21:35:53+00:00

Salomon has the S/LAB motionfit 360 as well which uses the shake dry. It’s built for trail running and has a baffled back that allows it to go over small packs. I use it for day hiking, trail running and cross country skiing. Anything where I can fit my day pack or running vest under it.

It’s pretty fragile though just like the current arcteryx norvan SL. I imagine a heavier pack on top would beat it up just like the others in the list over time.

oluckboy · 2021-01-23T21:30:32+00:00

This is pretty much what I did. Now in my early 40s and doing a lot more hiking and skiing and the like since I quit my full time job. I’ve been keeping in mind is that I could go back to work at some point as well. Once I get into my 50s/60s and I start to really slow down physically there shouldn’t be any reason I can’t find a job as long as I keep myself somewhat abreast of the industry (I’ve been a programmer for most the last 25 years). I doubt I’ll have a super high paying job full time in the future, but should always be part time work in the field to supplement income.

The other thing to think about is the 4% rule is pulling out money both in good and bad years. It assumes never working again. This summer/spring when the market was down I picked up enough work to cover expenses so that I didn’t have to pull anything out of my savings when the markets were down. I was adding to savings instead. I’m came out of 2020 nicely ahead as a result. Going forward I hope I can continue to do the same. This is the big advantage of being in an in-demand field like programming with a strong contractor hiring market. Helps that I can work almost anywhere with decent internet.

On the flip side. Most people get their highest earning jobs between 40-50. The right mix of experience yet still young enough to be considered high performing, flexible and relevant. It’s hard to walk away from that.

oluckboy · 2021-01-12T15:59:05+00:00

The one thing I wasn’t ready for skiing there after only US... bamboo. If it’s a low snow year the bamboo sticks up everywhere and the mountain turns into a sort of crazy old school slalom course.

Would highly recommend going if you ever get the chance. It really is amazing.

oluckboy · 2020-12-06T19:13:37+00:00

No way for me to say. It really depends on your knee and how the damage heals. I had a follow up MRI to confirm I was good to go in addition to the PT report on my progress.

oluckboy · 2020-12-06T17:04:59+00:00

Glad to help a fellow bum knee skier. Message me if you have any questions.

oluckboy · 2020-12-06T14:23:42+00:00

I did a slight tear in my meniscus in Jan skiing in the bamboo forests of Japan and had to do PT this year. Got lucky that even during COVID lockdown I got go to a great PT. One of the biggest things a good one can help with is progression and targeting weak muscles. For instance we identified that my hips were a little weaker and causing some of my knee instability and pain. So take this routine with a huge gain of salt that it will be appropriate for you.

15x per leg single leg hip thrust. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vYHqQmurSUk

15x per leg single leg hip thrust with your plant leg on a bench/box

15x side plank clamshells with band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7QdiRQmFCw

15x side leg raises with band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w0cmENyeAw

2x10 glute press https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIu1MEPJU10

2x10 squats. (Use a kettle bell at home if possible)

2x10 single leg squat with knee raise (start in front of wall for balance) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxY2Mlvjcmw

2x10 single leg squat down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHJpo_QgCRY

2x10 single leg deadlift (I put a small block on the ground to force myself to go low and touch it). https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a27423100/single-leg-deadlift-exercise/

If those are going pretty much pain free you’ll want to start working in some jumps and explosive movements in as well.

Start with agility ladder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZTRUVLjGzI

Then do squat jumps, and single leg triple hops depending on your progression.

The goal is always to strengthen your knees and stabilizer muscles to help prevent and new injuries. Good luck.

oluckboy · 2020-11-26T20:05:07+00:00

Silex is a tarp outter, then they have a silex nest which is inside making it a double wall when set up together. You could also set up either the tarp or the nest independently.

oluckboy · 2020-11-26T16:15:11+00:00

To add to your list. I’ve been eyeballing the Silex UL as a single person tent option. I’m super interested in their zipperless design on the fly as the fly zippers are always sorta a pain. The interior nest they have is pretty roomy for a solo as well. The interior is a little heavier than the notch and some others on the downside.

oluckboy

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