6 Best Small Cast Iron Skillets For Backpacking That Challenge Convention

Picture this: you’ve hiked six miles to a pristine alpine lake, and instead of rehydrating a sad foil pouch of noodles, you’re frying a freshly caught trout in a sizzling skillet. Most backpackers would call you crazy for hauling in cast iron. I say you’re just prioritizing the right things. Choosing to carry a small cast iron skillet is a deliberate tradeoff, sacrificing a pound or two of pack weight for an exponentially better cooking experience.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Rethinking Backcountry Cooking with Cast Iron

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: cast iron is heavy. It will never compete with titanium or aluminum on a gram-for-gram basis, and if your goal is to crush a 30-mile day, this is not the article for you. This is for the hiker who sees a meal as part of the experience, not just fuel.

The payoff for that extra weight is unparalleled cooking performance. Cast iron’s heat retention means you can get a perfect sear over a finicky camp stove or hot coals, something a flimsy titanium pot simply can’t do. A well-seasoned skillet is naturally non-stick, durable enough to be dropped on a rock, and will literally last a lifetime. It turns a campsite into a kitchen.

Think of it as your one "luxury" item. Some people carry a camp chair, others a paperback book. You’re carrying the ability to cook a real, memorable meal under the stars. It fundamentally changes your relationship with food on the trail.

Lodge 3.5-Inch: The Ultimate Solo Egg Skillet

If you want to dip your toe into backcountry cast iron without committing to serious weight, the Lodge 3.5-inch skillet is your starting point. It’s comically small, weighing just under a pound. You can’t cook a steak in it, but you can fry a single, perfect egg for your morning oatmeal or toast.

This skillet is more of a specialized tool than an all-around cooker. It’s perfect for melting butter, toasting spices, or making a tiny personal cookie over the fire. Because of its tiny size and low cost, it’s a fantastic, low-risk way to see if the cast iron experience is for you. It’s the gateway drug to becoming a backcountry gourmet.

GSI Outdoors 5-Inch: Built for the Backcountry

GSI Outdoors knows a thing or two about camp cooking, and their 5-inch cast iron skillet feels purpose-built for the trail. It’s still very small, but that extra inch and a half of diameter over the mini Lodge makes a world of difference. Suddenly, you can cook a small pancake, sauté some mushrooms, or sear a small filet of fish.

Weighing around 1.5 pounds, it’s a noticeable but manageable addition to your pack. The quality is solid, designed to handle the rough-and-tumble environment of a campsite. This isn’t just a shrunken-down kitchen pan; it’s a piece of gear designed with the backpacker in mind, balancing utility and weight better than almost any other ultra-small option.

Barebones 6-Inch: Rugged and Ready for the Trail

The Barebones 6-inch skillet is for the person who plans to cook directly over a campfire. Everything about its design screams durability, from its thick casting to its comfortable, ergonomic handle. This is the skillet you can confidently nestle into a bed of hot coals without a second thought.

At around 2 pounds, it represents a more significant weight commitment. However, that weight translates into excellent heat retention and distribution, making it a surprisingly capable cooking tool. It’s the ideal size for a hearty solo meal—think a small steak, a generous portion of scrambled eggs, or cornbread for one. If your backpacking style is less about miles and more about mastering campfire cooking, this is your skillet.

Field Company No. 4: Lightweight Craftsmanship

This is where we challenge the "cast iron is too heavy" argument head-on. Field Company produces modern, lightweight cast iron by using smoother, machined surfaces and a smarter design. Their No. 4 skillet, at 6.75 inches, weighs a mere 2.25 pounds—significantly lighter than vintage pans of a similar size.

The cooking surface is polished smooth, giving you incredible non-stick performance right out of the box. This is a premium piece of equipment, and it carries a premium price tag. But for that investment, you get a skillet that is light enough for serious consideration in a backpack and performs at an exceptionally high level. This is the choice for the backpacker who wants the best of both worlds: cast iron performance without the traditional weight penalty.

Stargazer 8-Inch: Smooth, Modern Performance

An 8-inch skillet in a backpacking article? Absolutely, for the right trip. The Stargazer 8-inch pushes the absolute limit of what’s practical, but for a short overnight trip, canoe camping, or a two-person trek, it’s a game-changer. It allows you to cook a legitimate meal for two, not just a solo portion.

Like Field, Stargazer offers a beautifully smooth, polished cooking surface for stellar performance. Its unique "stay-cool" handle is less of a factor over a campfire, but the overall craftsmanship is top-notch. At around 4 pounds, you have to be deliberate about carrying it. This isn’t for every trip, but for those times when a fantastic meal is the central goal, the Stargazer delivers a true kitchen experience in the wild.

Marquette 6.5-Inch: A Versatile Mid-Size Option

The Marquette 6.5-inch skillet hits a fantastic sweet spot. It’s another modern, lightweight option that balances size, weight, and cooking capability perfectly for the trail. It’s big enough to be truly useful for solo meals but trim enough that its 2.5-pound weight feels justified.

This skillet provides a great cooking surface and solid heat retention, making it a reliable workhorse. It competes directly with the Field Company No. 4, offering a slightly different feel and design but a very similar promise. It’s a versatile, do-it-all size that can handle everything from bacon and eggs in the morning to a pan-seared chicken thigh at night.

Making the Right Cast Iron Choice for Your Pack

Choosing a skillet isn’t about finding the "best" one; it’s about matching the tool to your specific backpacking style. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, only a series of tradeoffs you must weigh for yourself.

Before you buy, ask yourself what you really want to cook. Your decision should be based on your priorities and the type of trips you take.

• The Minimalist Test: Go with the Lodge 3.5-Inch. It’s cheap, light, and perfect for adding a little flair (like a fried egg) to simple meals.
• The Practical All-Rounder: The GSI 5-Inch or Marquette 6.5-Inch are your best bets. They offer real utility in a manageable weight class.
• The Campfire Chef: Choose the Barebones 6-Inch. Its rugged build is made for cooking over open flame.
• The Lightweight Enthusiast: The Field Company No. 4 is your pan. It offers premium performance at the lowest possible weight for its size.
• The Gourmet Partner: For two-person trips or base camping, the Stargazer 8-Inch provides the space to cook a truly impressive meal.

Ultimately, carrying cast iron is an intentional choice to slow down and savor the experience. It’s a commitment to the idea that a good meal is worth carrying. Choose the skillet that best supports the kind of adventures you want to have.

In the end, challenging the ultralight convention isn’t about being difficult; it’s about personalizing your experience. A small cast iron skillet is more than just cookware—it’s a statement that good food and cherished moments are worth their weight in your pack. So go ahead, carry the skillet, and cook a meal you’ll remember long after you’ve forgotten the extra pound you carried to get there.