There are many types of pans, I've even used my plastic cereal bowl and it worked to a point. I've settled on the Bat Pan even though it takes some getting used to especially when setting it down on the ground, I make a small hole do put the pointed end into and as long as it is not full of water or solids it stays there pretty well.
Panning is not my first joy in life as in general it really messes with ones back being bent over like that or kneeling at the streams edge. So, I bring along an ~ 18" square of 1/2" thick backpacking foam, find a convenient spot in a river or creek to sit down in and simple sit on the foam while resting my back against a rock or the bank. The water in NorCal is about 54 degrees where I like to be at and the sun can be really hot during the summer months so it all evens out.
I watch folks discarding all the big rocks like they were a plague and have done that myself. One time I looked at my pile of sorted rocks and thought to myself if there was any larger pieces of gold or a specimen piece it would be in that pile. I checked through it and yes there was a nice piece of gold that had not gone through my 1/16" sifter. Then I learned to use my metal detector to check the rocks at the end of the sluice box or the rocks from my large rock classified pile. Sometimes there is a pleasant surprise waiting in that pile.................63bkpkr