We have Lodge cast iron gear. Really good and would recommend. Goes on sale regularly.

Second Lodge, I've beat on a couple of mine on hunting trips and they clean up like new.

Worth starting a collection early, look after them and they will out last humanity 

Aren’t they all the same?

We also have Lodge.

Lodge are very good, though I confess that my goto midsize one is a noname cheapie that I bought years ago. Cast iron is fantastic if properly seasoned, but equally good and much more usable (lighter and just as nonstick) are carbon steel pans (Lodge again) which I have bought 3 of recently. Anything with a nonstick coating is banned in my household!

MadEngineer:

 

Aren’t they all the same?

 

More of less. My grandmother's old skillets (which I now have) are much heavier than the new ones, but you're unlikely to get that with any modern brand. Personally, I wouldn't pay Lodge pricing. I got two smaller ones at Farmers (on sale) a few years back and they are perfectly fine.

My large $20 pan from Briscoes is the only one I don't use much now, mainly because the handle is too narrow for its size and it's difficult to hold when removing it from the oven.

If you want to annoy Amazon, you can buy them from Amazon AU with free shipping from the US:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Lodge-L8SK3-Skillet-Helper-Handle/dp/B00006JSUA/

(I say annoy as the profit margin might not be that great once they pay for shipping)

mortonman:

 

Daughter wants to buy her boyfriend a decent cast iron (fry) pan for his birthday next week. Budget up to $150. Any suggestions?

 

But if he wanted to buy your daughter one, it'd be a different story..... or is that just wives.... 

Lodge is pre-seasoned which means you can use it straight out of the box.

We got an Ironclad, made in NZ. Hadn't heard of Lodge before but will check it out. 

Another vote for Lodge.