Snow Peak Dutch Oven -- Opinions?
- Thread starter jsmoriss
- Start date
James86004
Expedition Leader
I have never seen the Snow Peak one in person, but it seems awfully expensive. We own a Camp Chef and a Lodge. After smelling up our house seasoning the Camp Chef, we bought the Lodge pre-seasoned, and it was worth the extra cost.
Despite what it says on EEs page, we find the legs very useful, and can still use the dutch ovens on our gas camping stove. And they have not worn any holes in anything yet.
You may also be able to find one in an antique shop or thrift store. I would love to find an old one and cook with it.
Despite what it says on EEs page, we find the legs very useful, and can still use the dutch ovens on our gas camping stove. And they have not worn any holes in anything yet.
You may also be able to find one in an antique shop or thrift store. I would love to find an old one and cook with it.
bj70_guy
Adventurer
+1 to Rhino.
I love my Lodge DOs. For the price of the snow peak you could have a 10" and 12" camping DO (with legs and a lipped lid) AND 10" and 12" standard DOs (no legs or lipped lid)!
If you mostly cook for the 2 of you, a 10" + 12" camp oven, plus a trivet, a lid lifter, and a charcoal furnace would be great. You can make your main course in the 10 and have a cake going in the 12... :victory:
If you just want one start with a 10 and have at 'er. MHO only...
I love my Lodge DOs. For the price of the snow peak you could have a 10" and 12" camping DO (with legs and a lipped lid) AND 10" and 12" standard DOs (no legs or lipped lid)!
If you mostly cook for the 2 of you, a 10" + 12" camp oven, plus a trivet, a lid lifter, and a charcoal furnace would be great. You can make your main course in the 10 and have a cake going in the 12... :victory:
If you just want one start with a 10 and have at 'er. MHO only...
THATSALEXUS?
Adventurer
Another vote for Lodge. I have two, an 8 quart and a 4 quart, both with legs.
I had thought that the Snow Peaks were aluminum but I guess not. If you were interested in the weight savings of aluminum, although I would guess it doesn't cook as well, GSI makes a 12"-5qt. with legs.
I had thought that the Snow Peaks were aluminum but I guess not. If you were interested in the weight savings of aluminum, although I would guess it doesn't cook as well, GSI makes a 12"-5qt. with legs.
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
I hope you dont mind the highjack, but it's relevant.. :sombrero:
Those who own the Lodge products, what do you think of the quality? I was ready to pick one up at a local Cabela's and when i looked at a Lodge i was amazed at the lack of proper fitment of lid to oven. It was horrible and i chalked it up to modern production. (you need a tight seal on oven lid to keep heat in) Thinking this one on display was just a bad one i checked those in boxes and it wasnt much better.
So i'v been looking for the Griswold or Wagner finds cheaply.. but hasnt happened for me. We own a good Wagner without legs and lip, but i'd like to pick one up for lying on coals and not have to hang from the spit.
Those who own the Lodge products, what do you think of the quality? I was ready to pick one up at a local Cabela's and when i looked at a Lodge i was amazed at the lack of proper fitment of lid to oven. It was horrible and i chalked it up to modern production. (you need a tight seal on oven lid to keep heat in) Thinking this one on display was just a bad one i checked those in boxes and it wasnt much better.
So i'v been looking for the Griswold or Wagner finds cheaply.. but hasnt happened for me. We own a good Wagner without legs and lip, but i'd like to pick one up for lying on coals and not have to hang from the spit.
DaveM
Explorer
Mark me in the Lodge DO camp. I've been using one for years and love it. There is no reason you should pay those prices for the Snow Peak version, though I'm sure its very nice. Save that money for stuff to put in the dutch oven. You'll never know the difference. As for lids, ours fits fine, it doesn't need to have a super tight fit.
If you do buy a lodge get a pre-seasoned one.... then season it anyway. The factory seasoning is weak but helps immensely on getting the base built up. Still you should definitely season them preferably with animal fat not veg oil. The animal fat creates a proper seasoned seal, the veg oil turns into a sticky film.
You do want legs so you can cook directly over the fire, if you end up using the DO on a grill or grate the legs almost always fit between the bars. Get a lid hook to open the lid and lift and rotate the pot. And please... use the fricken coals in the fire not a bag of brickets! :campfire:
If you do buy a lodge get a pre-seasoned one.... then season it anyway. The factory seasoning is weak but helps immensely on getting the base built up. Still you should definitely season them preferably with animal fat not veg oil. The animal fat creates a proper seasoned seal, the veg oil turns into a sticky film.
You do want legs so you can cook directly over the fire, if you end up using the DO on a grill or grate the legs almost always fit between the bars. Get a lid hook to open the lid and lift and rotate the pot. And please... use the fricken coals in the fire not a bag of brickets! :campfire:
bj70_guy
Adventurer
Corey
OverCamping Specialist
I do not own any Dutch Ovens, but I have been reading up on them here.
http://www.camp-cook.com/
From what I have read, the Lodge seems to be tops.
Check out this guy's collection of various ones.
http://www.camp-cook.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1055
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If I get one later, it would be mainly used on the campstove, not a fire.
But from reading here I would still get one with feet in case I ever wanted to try it out in a bed of coals too.
http://www.camp-cook.com/
From what I have read, the Lodge seems to be tops.
Check out this guy's collection of various ones.
http://www.camp-cook.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1055
If I get one later, it would be mainly used on the campstove, not a fire.
But from reading here I would still get one with feet in case I ever wanted to try it out in a bed of coals too.
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
My GF has acquired two Lodge's just in the 2 years that we've been together. She cooks with them on coals exclusively.
My college's Mechanical Engineering Dept. also has a Manufacturing Engineering program and is one of a very few colleges with a functioning production foundry on the campus, so I've seen more than a few professionally critiqued castings. I've looked at her two DO's while moving them around and I was impressed with the quality of the castings. The lid radial fit isn't tight by design, but the horizontal mating surfaces are pretty uniform. I suppose that if you wanted a better fit that they could be lapped to each other by using coarse valve lapping compound. I'm not sure that it's worth the effort for the two samples that I've looked at, but that is how I would start if they did need it.
My college's Mechanical Engineering Dept. also has a Manufacturing Engineering program and is one of a very few colleges with a functioning production foundry on the campus, so I've seen more than a few professionally critiqued castings. I've looked at her two DO's while moving them around and I was impressed with the quality of the castings. The lid radial fit isn't tight by design, but the horizontal mating surfaces are pretty uniform. I suppose that if you wanted a better fit that they could be lapped to each other by using coarse valve lapping compound. I'm not sure that it's worth the effort for the two samples that I've looked at, but that is how I would start if they did need it.
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
Seems i had checked out a few bad apples that arent typical of Lodge quality. I'll have to give them a second look.
I was describing the horizontal mating surface.
I was describing the horizontal mating surface.
James86004
Expedition Leader
Our Lodge lid fits well, although I have never actually checked the fit carefully. I do know it cooks some awesome meals, and no ashes got inside even when we bury it.
DaveM
Explorer
You may also be appling an unrealistic standard to a cast steel pot.
The lids are not super tight, niether are the very expenive LeCrusset lids. Both work very well and my DO has never had any ash in it that I didn't stupidly dump in myslef! You won't loose moisture either. I've cooked a full beef burgandy stew in mine several times (up to 5 hours on the coals) and it came out amazing.
You may also be appling an unrealistic standard to a cast steel pot.
Recipe please!! :chef:
Thanks
Dendy