the best and lightest wrought iron cookwear, ideal for nomads and travellers

Let me paint you a picture that might sound familiar: standing in the cookwear store again, holding another cheap non-stick pan, knowing full well it'll be warped and flaking within months. Or maybe you're like I used to be … cycling through "affordable" cookware every few months.

I was that person. Every 3-6 months, I'd find myself tossing another destroyed frying pan and heading back to the store. The non-stick coating would peel off into my food (appetizing, right?), handles would break, and don't even get me started on what happened when I tried to use them over an open fire.

Then I discovered something that changed all that ... the best lightest wrought iron cookwear for nomads travellers in my honest opinion!

It started with one pan six years ago, and I've gradually built up my collection over the years. Now I'm living in my bus (still converting it, I definitely don't recommend living in it while you build, but it's been eye-opening for figuring out how I actually want to live when I start travelling), and I've been putting this cookware through its paces on everything from my wood-fired heater to a simple gas camp cooker.

If you haven’t come across them before, let me introduce you to Solidteknics … an Australian brand that's revolutionised how I cook with their wrought iron cookware, AUS-Ion range.

Why Most Cookware Fails the Bus-Life and Camping Test

Here's my experience with most cookware: it's designed for people who stay put. People with big kitchens, unlimited storage, and the luxury of replacing things when they break.

But if you're choosing a life of freedom – whether that's weekend camping trips, van life adventures, or simply choosing a minimalist lifestyle – you need gear that works as hard as you do.

Traditional cast iron? Heavy as a boat anchor. Non-stick pans? Toxic and temporary. Cheap aluminium? Warps faster than your GPS can recalculate a route.

I learned this the hard way during my years of seeking location independence. Nothing quite kills the romance of cooking like scraping flaked coating off your eggs or trying to cook with a pan that's warped into a bowl shape. I was spending $80-250 AUD per frypan, thinking that spending more meant getting something that would last longer. Spoiler alert: it didn't.

The problem wasn't just the money I was wasting (though that added up fast). It was the mental energy, the decision fatigue, the constant replacement of cookware that might last the next 6 months and the next adventure. When you're building a business and living life on your own terms, you don't want to be thinking about replacing basic gear every few months.

How I Found Solidteknics (And Why It Actually Works)

Six years ago, someone mentioned this Australian brand called Solidteknics. I'll be honest … I was skeptical. I'd been burned (pun intended) too many times before. But I needed a reliable frypan, and something about it intrigued me.

That first pan changed everything. After owning this one pan for 3 years I wasn’t going to waste any more money. So over the next three years, I gradually added more pieces from their AUS-ION range, and I can't imagine cooking with anything else.

Here's what makes them actually different (not just marketing different):

Pure Metal Construction: No coatings, no non-stick surfaces, no PFAS chemicals leaching into your food. Just pure, food-safe metal that actually improves with age. When you're cooking for optimal health and performance, the last thing you want is mystery chemicals in your meals.

Faster Heating: Unlike traditional thick cast iron, these heat up much quicker while still providing that even cooking heat you want. Less fuel, less waiting around … perfect for efficient camp cooking.

Multi-Surface Versatility: From wood-fired stoves (I use mine on a woodfired combustion heater all the time) to gas camp cookers, induction cooktops to electric hotplates … these pans handle everything. I’ve put them to the test here in Australia.

Weight Advantage: Traditional cast iron can weigh as much as a small child. The AUS-ION range is significantly lighter while keeping all the benefits. When you're considering every gram for travel, this matters.

Lifetime Warranty: They're so confident in their product that they back it with a lifetime guarantee. Think about that … one purchase, done for life. No more cookware shopping, no more decision fatigue, no more waste!

What I Actually Own (After 6 Years of Real Use)

Let me share exactly what's in my current setup. Remember, I started with just one 28cm frypan six years ago and built up the collection over the past three years as I figured out what I actually needed:

The 30cm Wok: This handles everything from stir-fries to deep-frying fish. The large surface area means faster cooking and better heat distribution. Perfect for those times when you're imagining cooking fresh seafood by a remote beach.

Two 28cm Frypans: My workhorses. I often use both simultaneously on my wood-fired stove – one for protein, one for vegetables. The 28cm size is the sweet spot between cooking space and storage efficiency.

28cm Oven Dish: Game-changer for campfire bread, casseroles, roasted vegetables. I can already picture using this around a cozy mountain campfire or cooking damper bread in the coals somewhere in the Australian outback.

22cm Frypan: Perfect for single servings or when you need something smaller and more suitable for a compact camp stove.

22cm Oven Dish: Great for smaller portions or when you need two things cooking at once. Without the long handle, these are easier to store & can be used as pots, dishes or frypans.

Lil Flipper Accessory: Don't overlook their accessories – it's perfectly designed for the pan shapes and makes everything from pancakes to fish so much easier to handle.

Here's what's honestly surprised me: after six years with that first pan and three years building up the rest of the collection, they're not just still functional – they're better than when I bought them. The seasoning has built up to create a naturally non-stick surface that puts any chemical coating to shame. And living in my bus, using them daily on different heat sources, has really proven their versatility.

The Real Cost of Going Cheap

Before I found Solidteknics, I was spending $80-200 AUD per frypan, sometimes multiple times per year. Even when I thought I was investing in "good" cookware, I'd still find myself back at the store within months.

Do the math: over six years, that easily adds up to over $1000 AUD. And that's just the direct costs. Factor in the time spent shopping, the frustration of ruined meals, the environmental impact of constantly throwing away cookware, and the mental energy of always having to think about your next replacement.

With Solidteknics, I made one investment six years ago, then gradually added pieces as I needed them. I'm done buying cookware – hopefully for life.

Why I'm Sharing This

Look, I'm not trying to sell you anything here. I'm just sharing what's worked for me over six years of real use. If you're reading this blog, chances are you're interested in living life on your own terms – maybe building a location-independent business, planning adventures, or just trying to simplify your life.

Quality gear matters because it removes friction from your journey. When you know your gear will perform flawlessly no matter the situation, from cooktop to imagining those gormet camp meals under the stars, you can focus on what really matters.

This is what smart minimalism looks like – not about having less for the sake of less, but about having exactly what you need, and having it be absolutely reliable. One set of cookware that handles every scenario eliminates decision fatigue and frees up mental space for bigger things.

What Daily Life Actually Looks Like

Let me paint you a picture of what cooking looks like now, living in my bus while I finish the conversion – Unless you’re intermittent fasting like I am your routine will look different, so here’s a ‘standard’ example with my twist:

Late Breakfast: Perfect eggs that slide right out of the pan on my wood-fired stove, cooked evenly because of the superior heat retention.

An Early dinner: Quick stir-fry in the wok on my gas camp cooker that creates restaurant-quality meals in minutes.

A late Dinner: Searing steaks that develop a perfect crust, then sliding the same pan to the cooler part of the stove for some roasted vegetables. Add a little red wine & now you’re talking!

Easy Cleanup: Minimal effort because properly seasoned AUS-ION cookware is naturally non-stick and surprisingly easy to maintain.

Note: I will likely create a video on this at some point so don’t forget to subscribe for updates… because relying on algorithms to keep in touch doesn’t work anymore.

Peace of Mind: Knowing my cookware can handle whatever I throw at it, whether I'm cooking on a wood fire or dreaming about those future beachside meals and mountain campfire dinners across Australia.

Is It Worth the Investment?

Yes, Solidteknics cookware costs more upfront than grabbing something from a department store. But here's how I think about it after six years of experience:

Cost Per Use: After six years with my first pan and three years building the collection, my cost per meal is now measured in cents, not dollars.

Time Value: How much is your time worth? How much is it worth to not have to think about replacing cookware every few months?

Performance: Good tools make good results easier. When you're cooking with quality equipment, every meal turns out better.

The AUS-ION range isn't just cookware … it's an investment in never having to buy cookware again. (They also make a stainless steel range if you prefer that option, but I'm sold on the AUS-ION.)

What to Expect

If you decide to invest in Solidteknics (and I highly recommend you do), here's what the transition looks like:

Initial Seasoning: Your pans will need proper seasoning to develop their non-stick properties. Don't worry … it's simpler than you think and how to guides are on their website. The AUS-Ion comes pre-seasoned, you’ll just need to pay attention to their simple instructions.

Learning Curve: Cooking with quality cast iron is slightly different from non-stick pans, but the learning curve is gentle and the results are superior.

Immediate Improvements: You'll notice better heat retention, more even cooking, and superior searing capabilities from day one.

Long-term Satisfaction: Every month that passes, you'll appreciate the decision more as the pans continue to improve while your friends cycle through their sixth set of cheap replacements.

Ready to Upgrade Your Cooking Game?

After six years with Solidteknics cookware, starting with one pan and building up my collection over time, I can't imagine going back to constantly replacing cheap cookware. The combination of performance, durability, and travel-friendly design makes this the cookware I actually use and recommend.

** If you're interested in checking out the AUS-ION range that's worked so well for me, you can find the full Solidteknics collection here. **

Want More Cooking Tips and Recipes?

This is just the beginning of what I want to share about creating amazing meals wherever your journey takes you. I'm planning on sharing more … just let me know what you’re interested in. Here are a few thoughts …

• Step-by-step cast iron seasoning for beginners
• My favorite one-pan camping recipes
• Cooking techniques for small spaces
• Meal prep strategies for life on the road
• How to cook restaurant-quality food with minimal equipment

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