so in my mind and I'll give you my opinion in my mind I would much rather buy a l cruset knowing that if I ever wanted to sell it I could get 75% of what I paid for it back without any hassle then try to save some money and get this have a subpar product and at the end of the day never be able to sell it and get my…
Articles · Where two groups agree
What buy it for life enthusiasts and gear review youtube recommend
The buy-it-for-life crowd and gear review YouTube split on handles, nearly evenly, between who finds them comfortable and who doesn't.
About Buy It For Life Enthusiasts and Gear Review YouTube.
We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 38 sources and structured what 13 people said. Of the 23 quotes below, 10 are complaints and 1 comes from someone with a declared commercial interest. Every one of them links to the person who said it and the second they said it.
Based on 13 people, 38 sources and 356 recorded claims. A declared interest is labelled beside the quote rather than removed.
The answer
The buy-it-for-life crowd and gear review YouTube converge on five products, and the clearest picks come from people speaking for themselves. The Knife Wizard would rather buy a Le Creuset than a cheaper pot, since it holds three-quarters of its resale value; MQ recommends a Le Creuset outright; and Julia, of America's Test Kitchen, points to the Smithey at $200, or the Lodge for $43, as the best buy. Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer who discloses an affiliate interest on some tests, holds 67% of everything said about it.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people
personally if i was you i would get a dutch oven just like this one or the size that suits you this is going to be fantastic
If you want a really nice cast iron skillet, check out the Smithey Ironware number 12 for $200, or for the best buy, check out the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet for just $43.
Cites price (against)
| Product | Cited in favour | Cited against | Voices | Declared interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithey cast iron skillet | base and rim (1), durability (1) | price (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
| Lodge cast iron skillet | durability (1), heat retention (1) | handle (1), price (1) | 3 voices | none declared |
| Field cast iron skillet | heating speed (1), non-stick surface (1) | heat retention (1), maintenance (1) | 3 voices | 1 of 3 |
| Le Creuset dutch oven | none recorded | price (1) | 3 voices | none declared |
| Hestan CopperBond | appearance (1), even heating (1) | heat control (1), price (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
Where people disagree
- Prudent Reviews calls the Smithey's handle among the best it has tested, then faults the Lodge's for edges that dig into the hand.
- On price, Prudent Reviews calls the Lodge's cost incredible value, while arguing the Le Creuset's performance is matched by cheaper Dutch ovens.
- Prudent Reviews found the Lodge the best of twelve skillets for heat retention, and the Field the second lowest, tracing the gap to their different wall thickness.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 1 person · 3 objecting
I recently tested six of the highest-rated cast iron skillets on the market, and according to my tests, Smithey is the best overall. It had the best heat retention, the smoothest non-stick surface, the widest pour spouts, and one of the better-designed handles.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
The biggest issue for me is the handle. It gets very wide where it connects to the skillet, then it narrows toward the end, and the edges feel sharp and dig into your hands.
Cites handle (against)
The Lodge Classic is also a great option if you want something more substantial, and the value is incredible.
Cites price
Although the performance is great, the same could be said for much cheaper Dutch ovens, especially since they’re all made with the materials - cast iron with an enamel coating.
Cites price (against)
Le Creuset Dutch ovens are significantly more expensive than brands like Lodge, Tramontina, and many others. And based on my testing, you’re not getting any meaningful advantages in performance.
Despite the lighter construction, it actually had the best heat retention of all 12 skillets.
Cites heat retention, price
On the lower end, Victoria and Lodge Chef Collection are my two top picks.
But because there's less mass to hold on to that heat, it had the second lowest heat retention in the group.
Cites heat retention (against)
The Smithey cast iron skillet's price is the objection: Hannah, of America's Test Kitchen, says the Lodge costs only "a quarter of the price."
Prudent Reviews calls the Smithey the best overall skillet, crediting the heat retention and one of the better-designed handles among six it tested. After more than two years, the same reviewer still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 1 objecting
This pan by Smithey is around $200 compared to the Lodge's, $44 a quarter of the price.
Cites price (against)
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
I've used Smithey for over 2 years, and it's still one of the pans I reach for the most.
Cites durability
Owned 2 years
The Lodge cast iron skillet's handle is the objection: Prudent Reviews says its edges "dig into your hands."
Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, separately says a Lodge will "last forever, perform really well, and cost under $30," and measured its heat retention best of twelve skillets. Julia, of America's Test Kitchen, calls it the best buy at $43 in 2023.
Hannah found it the heaviest of three skillets she compared, at eight pounds. No one among the 13 people quoted states how long they have owned a Lodge.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 2 objecting
Few products in the world last forever, perform really well, and cost under $30.
Cites durability, price
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:30.
Cites heat retention, price
but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds
Cites weight (against)
The Field cast iron skillet's heat retention is the objection: Prudent Reviews found it "had the second lowest heat retention in the group," for its thinner walls.
At $215, the same reviewer says it is only worth buying for a lightweight skillet that heats up fast, at 5.5 pounds. Uncle Scott, who bought his own, spent a month and a half still fighting the seasoning break-in and getting eggs to stick, while Kent Rollins, sent his free, found the same span left his a mottled bronze rather than solid black.
No account among the 13 people quoted runs longer than two months with a Field.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 3 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 9:02.
Cites heat retention (against)
At $215, this skillet is only worth buying if you want a lightweight skillet that heats up fast.
Cites price
it's incredibly lightweight at just 5.5 lb, and because the construction is thinner than most cast iron skillets, it heats up much faster.
Cites heating speed, non-stick surface, stovetop compatibility
I tested it against Lodge, Calphalon, and Stargazer, and it was the fastest to boil water on both induction and electric cooktops.
It has a smooth polished cooking surface that provides excellent non-stick performance, especially for eggs.
I also am having a little trouble getting the seasoning to develop and come in, or what they call the break-in period. At a month and a half in, I am still having trouble getting non-stick eggs.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
I have reseasoned this pan multiple multiple times. I have seasoned it with Crisco, with grape seed oil, with peanut oil. I have seasoned it in the oven. I have done carbon steel type seasonings on a stove top, getting the pan smoking there.
I've been using this skillet for a month and a half every day is it solid black everywhere no it's got some bronze coating to it a little spotted in colored a little motley color
Cites seasoning durability
Kent Rollins was given the product. Stated in the source: “we got this box in the mail we did an unboxing video on an 8 inch field skillet”
Owned 2 months
The Le Creuset dutch oven's price is probably the objection: Prudent Reviews says the same performance can be found in "much cheaper Dutch ovens," since they share cast iron and enamel construction.
The Knife Wizard would rather buy a Le Creuset than save money on a lesser pot, since he could resell it for "75% of what I paid for it back." MQ recommends it outright, saying it is "going to be fantastic." Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, separately confirms the enamel is covered for life under the brand's own warranty.
No one among the 13 people quoted states how long they have personally owned one.
Hestan CopperBond may not justify its price for most cooks: Prudent Reviews says the difference copper makes is not one "the average home cook would notice."
Adam Byatt, who uses it professionally and calls it his pan of choice, praises its heat retention and says the pans "look right, they feel right." Prudent Reviews, testing rather than using it daily, still credits its triple-layer construction.
No one among the 13 people quoted states how long they have owned one.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 1 objecting
Similar to All-Clad Copper Core, this collection is only worth it if you really value the responsiveness of copper. And the reality is, it’s not enough of a difference that the average home cook would notice.
Cites heat control (against), price (against)
I use mainly Hestan pans. That's the pan of choice for me. Uh, and the copper bond is the choice of the pan that I like the most.
I like the heat coverage I get. I like the heat retention in the pan. I like the triple layer of the cooking. And I just think that they look right, they feel right, the weight is right, and the cooking retention in the pan is perfect for my style.
Cites appearance, even heating, heat retention, weight
How long each one lasts
Only two figures here are genuinely timed: Uncle Scott put a month and a half on a Field in 2026, still fighting the seasoning break-in, and Kent Rollins timed the same span on his in 2018, finding a mottled bronze color instead.
Everything else is longer but less certain. Hannah's All-Clad 10-piece set is 13 years old, still looking new to her. Christopher Scott used a HexClad Hybrid for 18 to 20 months before deciding not to replace it again. Prudent Reviews confirms Le Creuset's own warranty covers chipped enamel for life, and The Knife Wizard, in 2015, calls a Le Creuset built to last pretty much forever.
Of the products both groups back, only the Smithey carries a timed ownership figure from an owner, at 2 years; no one among the 13 people quoted names a longer figure for the Lodge or the Le Creuset.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 5 people · 3 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:00.
Cites seasoning durability
Kent Rollins was given the product. Stated in the source: “we got this box in the mail we did an unboxing video on an 8 inch field skillet”
Owned 2 months
'Cause I got a similar All-Clad set for my wedding 13 years ago and I have to say, it looks brand new and I've used it for all those 13 years.
Cites appearance, durability
Owned 13 years
but I don't believe that 18 months is long long enough for a cookware of this class and price
Cites durability (against)
Owned 18 months, no longer
but for me I don't want to have to replace my pots and pans every 18 to 20 months because the non-stick coating is wearing off on them so I won't be using these anymore I'm going to be switching to like a stainless steel all clad type of pot and pan and I'm not really sure what brand to buy yet
so after all of that I have decided that hexclad pans are not right for me and therefore I don't recommend them on my channel anymore
What happens over time
Hannah's thirteen-year-old All-Clad set still looks brand new to her, the longest ownership claim on this sheet by a wide margin. Christopher Scott used a HexClad Hybrid for 18 to 20 months before switching to stainless steel, giving the clearest account on this sheet of what happens after the honeymoon period ends.
Kent Rollins and Uncle Scott each put a month and a half on a Field, in 2018 and 2026, and read the same span differently: Kent Rollins accepts the mottled bronze color as normal for cast iron, while Uncle Scott is still troubleshooting the seasoning break-in. Prudent Reviews, two years into a Smithey, still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 5 people · 3 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 15:35.
Cites durability (against)
Owned 18 months, no longer
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:01.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:00.
Cites seasoning durability
Kent Rollins was given the product. Stated in the source: “we got this box in the mail we did an unboxing video on an 8 inch field skillet”
Owned 2 months
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
Also named, on thinner evidence
Eleven more products are named on this sheet, none with enough behind it for its own section: Demeyere Industry (3 recommenders), All-Clad cookware (2), Lodge Dutch oven (2), the All-Clad 10-piece cookware set (1), HexClad Hybrid (2), Heritage Steel Eater Series (2), Le Creuset enameled cast iron skillet (1), Heritage Steel Titanium Series (2), an O-Cedar scrub brush (1), a Viking enameled cast iron skillet (1) and Heritage Steel cookware (2). Thin coverage is not a verdict against any of them; it is simply what this evidence can carry.
The quote behind this, from 1 person · 1 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 15:35.
Cites durability (against)
Owned 18 months, no longer
Who wants what
The Knife Wizard, weighing resale value at 75%, thinks like a buy-it-for-life enthusiast: durability is a financial hedge, not just a feature. Adam Byatt, who uses Hestan CopperBond professionally, judges it by feel and cooking retention rather than by a lab test; Prudent Reviews, testing the same line, measures whether the average home cook would even notice the difference copper makes.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 11:34.
Cites appearance, even heating, heat retention, weight
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:31.
Cites heat control (against), price (against)
What the evidence suggests
- Choose the Lodge cast iron skillet if price and long-term seasoning matter most: Prudent Reviews says it will last a lifetime for under $30, and Julia calls it the best buy at $43.
- Choose the Le Creuset dutch oven if resale value matters to you: The Knife Wizard says it holds 75% of its price back, versus a cheaper pot you likely could not resell at all.
- Choose the Smithey cast iron skillet if a smoother finish and better heat retention are worth the extra cost: Prudent Reviews, over two years in, still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 10:33.
Cites durability, price
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
What the evidence doesn’t tell us
Prudent Reviews alone holds 240 of the 356 claims in these 38 sources, 67% of everything in scope, so most of these five products' cases rest on one reviewer's testing. None of the 13 people quoted claims to have owned anything longer than the 156 months behind Hannah's All-Clad set. Four products rest on a single recommender's word, and twelve carry no ownership duration behind them at all; for several, including the Lodge Dutch oven and an O-Cedar scrub brush, none of the people quoted speaks as an owner, a professional user, or someone who stopped using one.
The quote behind this, from 1 person
Who says so
Authority here is scoped to the subject, never to how large someone’s audience is. Where we hold no domain expertise for a person, the page says so rather than implying one.
Prudent Reviews
Our mission at Prudent Reviews is to help you find the best products for your home. We take the stress out of shopping by testing, analyzing, and comparing the top products. Our reviews, comparisons, and product guides are in-depth, carefully researched, and completely unbiased. Since launching, we've helped millions of people across the globe find the best products and improve their lives at home. If you have questions or want to partner with Prudent Reviews, email Andrew@PrudentReviews.com. As an Amazon Associate Prudent Reviews earns from qualifying purchases.
Adam Byatt
My channel is the place where professional and home cooks and foodies alike come to learn and share skills. I’m so excited to be sharing recipes, behind the scenes footage and some of the secrets of a Michelin star restaurant. Subscribe to level up your cooking and to be a better cook.
Christopher Scott
I’m Chris Maas (aka Christopher Scott) and I help businesses punch above their weight with marketing that actually connects. After growing this as a food channel (Beergr), I realized what I really love is showing business owners how to stand out, tell better stories, and get results from their content and that has been my day job for the last 15 years. That’s what this channel is all about now. If you run a small business, work in marketing, video production or content creation or just want to get smarter about strategy, branding, and content creation...hit subscribe. Every week, I share real-world insights, tools, and ideas you can put to use immediately. Let’s cut through the noise and build something that matters.
Kent Rollins
Love outdoor cooking? Want to learn more about Dutch oven cooking, cast iron or grilling? Then you've saddled up to the right place. I've been cooking outdoors over live fire for over 34 years as a chuck wagon and cowboy cook. We have a new series on the Outdoor Channel "The Cst Iron Cowboy" You may have also seen me on Chopped Grill Masters, Chopped Redemption or Beat Bobby Flay. Stick around and be sure to subscribe for tips, tricks and recipes. Keep the fire hot and the wood dry... Kent
MQ
On this channel we mainly talk about cookware. We look at the technicalities and science of each piece of cookware to a level not usually seen elsewhere. We don't just look at the cookware itself, we look at how it will work with your kitchen setup at home. We do cookware reviews, first impressions, we look at the value proposition of each piece, and sometimes we do cooking tests. Most importantly, there is no "political correctness" on this channel. Everything we say is 100% our honest and sometimes "brutal" opinion.
The Knife Wizard
Arguably, one of the most important purchases you are going to make for your kitchen is your knife set. Proper knifes are what separate the amateur from the professional chef— a good set not only give you cleaner, safer cuts, but also give you the proper mindset that helps you grow your skills. This all started because I was shocked at the terribly subpar reviews and general lack of information out there. Since I have a strong background in a variety of things including cooking, engineering, production, and whatnot, I thought that I would take it upon myself to create REAL reviews based on having the various knives in my possession. The owner of this YouTube channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.
Uncle Scott
Our Motto: You can never have too much great cookware and kitchen gear. Our Philosophy: If you have great equipment and great ingredients, with a little practice you can cook any dish in the world. At USK, we make recipes, review frying pans, deep fryers, knives, grain mills, gadgets, pots and pans, and anything else you might find in a high-end kitchen. We teach people how to season carbon steel and cast iron pans, show people the proper way to cook eggs, tell a few jokes, and cook delicious meals. We really like high quality brands such as De Buyer, Falk, Matfer, Lodge, Smithey, Mauviel, Le Creuset, live, Staub, Breville, and others. And, importantly, Uncle Scott buys all of the products he reviews with his own money, and unlike many cookware channels, no free items are accepted for review. This keeps Uncle Scott's reviews genuine, trustworthy, and unbiased. Any sponsored videos or affiliate sales links are clearly labelled.
What this piece cites evidence about
Every product, brand and category named in a claim behind this article, not only the ones with a section of their own above. Where we hold a full page for one, it is linked; the rest are named as text because the evidence has not cleared that bar yet.
Products
Sources
Short quotes and deep links only. We publish no transcripts, and every quote above opens the original at the second it was spoken.
- 35 Years of cooking equipment - What I use everyday
- Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon
- Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More
- Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads
- Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)
- Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins
- Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
- Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?
- I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(
- I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst
- I Tested the World's Most Expensive Cookware (Which Brands Are Worth It?)
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven and Braiser Do You Need Both?
- Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.
- Made In vs All-Clad: Which Cookware Set is Best? | Gear Heads
- The Best Cast-Iron Skillets
How this page was made
The prose above was written by a model from a fact sheet assembled out of the evidence, then checked line by line: every quote verbatim against the evidence table, every name against a claim, every number against the sheet. Prose that fails is not published. It is derived data, not testimony. The testimony is the quotes.
Verified 2026-09-17
How we handle commercial relationships
When someone quoted here was paid, sponsored, sent the product free or works for the brand, the quote says so and, where they said it themselves, gives their own words about it. We keep those quotes rather than dropping them: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.