We’re usually pleased with the gear we’ve chosen for bike touring but there’s one item in our panniers that just hasn’t made the grade: the REI Campware non-stick frying pan.

It looked good at first glance.

The deep-dish profile of the frying pan meant we’d be able to stir-fry plenty of veggies for our evening meal, the folding handle meant it was easy to pack and, in general, we’ve had excellent experiences with REI equipment.

With all that in mind, when we forked out $25 U.S. for the 8″ version, we expected many years of cooking pleasure. After all, our previous frying pan – bought from a supermarket for just $5 – had survived two years of constant use.

Unfortunately, the REI pan left us disappointed. After just a few months the non-stick coating stopped working and we could no longer make omelettes, pancakes or anything else that required a non-stick surface. Now, just 11 months since we bought it, we’re ready to throw it in the trash and go back to a cheap supermarket model.

Watch the video review for more of our thoughts on the REI frying pan.

This review is based on a REI frying pan, bought with our own money. We were not paid or bribed to give this review and it reflects our honest opinion of the products concerned.