Looking at MRE's

[Grant Lamontagne]

In preparation for next year's big kayak/camping trip, I am looking at various MRE's and similar type products.  I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to brands, types etc?

Def

[Mike Micklea]

Are you going to be able to boil water while on your trip?  If so, I would suggest either the Mountain House or Alpine Aire brand stuff.  It's a little pricey, but tastes a hell of a lot better than a MRE

MRE wise, I've ordered them from a couple different places and food-wise they're about the same.  I would suggest getting the Deluxe MRE's... or at least make sure you get the MRE heaters.

Saratoga Trading Company

MRE Star

Major Surplus n Survival

[CQC-7]

Sounds like you will be out for a while.  Where do you plan to kayak to?  Anyway, MRE's are pretty good survival food.  You can actually use one MRE (the government ones) to feed you all day if you are planning on slimming down the amount of gear that you want to carry.  I had a friend that is a US Marine and he told me that some MRE's are downright awful while some are not so bad.  He did not go into detail as to which ones were good.  I used to carry them on camping trips and I cannot remember which ones I had.  I do not recall them being overly tasty.  I do like the freeze dried stuff that you get at camping stores though.  Backpackers Pantry, and Mountain House meals are all pretty good.  All you have to do is add boiling water to most of them and you got a hot meal that is pretty balanced with Carbs, Protein, and Vegetables.  My personal favorite is the Pad Thai entree it is definately worth a shot.  The beef stew is great too.      

[Grant Lamontagne]

I am figuring 3-4 days worth.  There's a canal system that stretches the width of my province and I was thinking about starting at the opposite end and making my way home.  I live about 1/2 mile from this end, and you really can't go any further if you wanted to.

I have a 17 foot touring kayak and so space/weight are a concern, but not a real big one.  I have lots of interior and exterior storage space and the 'yak is rated for 400lbs, and I only take up half that.

Ordinarily I munch on granola or jerky most of the day then have a good hearty meal when I break camp in the evenings.  I will be able to boil water, so boil in the bags are fine as well.  I want to start trying different brands/types now so when I head out in the spring I won't be taking any that are awful!  I also like to have these kinds of things around the house for emergencies and spur of the moment outings, so I'd like to start stocking up a bit.

We used to get surplus Canadian military field rations when I was a kid, and some of those weren't half bad.  It's been a lot of years since I last had field rations though, so I thought I'd see what was new!

Def

[CQC-7]

You may want to try www.theepicenter.com.  They seem to have a vast selection of MRE's available in 12 pack cases if you want to try a few before you take them into the field. 

[NutSAK]

I got a free case of MREs recently from a Marine buddy of mine...

The ones I got from him have all been really pretty good.  I remember him saying that they were a certain designation--they were some of the newest flavors and better than they had been in the past.  I can't remember how they were designated right now, but I'll try to remember to check the outside of the case when I get home to figure it out.

[hawkchucker]

When I served I actually loved the MRE. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread adn the best part is they are also designed to be eaten cold. However Cheaper than dirt has them for about 52 bucks a case and heaters are extra, but well worth getting. (by the way never put bleach into a heater instead ow water )

If you decide on mre my sugg. is also get a water filter. Not the cardboard filter kind but the ceramic ones from MSR they never mold and will go about 10,000 gal, before a new elemnt is needed.(By the way I know someone that Has one of these also )

By the way the Penut butter will bind you up for days if you eat 4 packs of it a day!!!!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Funny you should mention the peanut butter- Mikey and I were discussing it this afternoon on MSN and I mentioned that the best part of the old Canadian field rations was the tube of peanut butter that looked exactly like a tube of Preperation H!

I can get a few different kinds of commercial MRE type food products locally from a company called Mountain Equipment Co Op (www.mec.ca) and I think I may pick up a few different varieties each week and see what I like before I have to rely on them.  I have a few months to go before I'm in a position to take the trip as I hate cold weather!

As for cooking, I'd planned to get a small Coleman stove and rely on that and/or an open fire.

Def

[Anthony]

Wow, I was just thinking of getting some MREs (or is it MsRE? ) for the cold/snowy/icy days I don't want to leave work for lunch.  Right now I've been doing the Maruchan Instant Lunch noodles in such cases, but MREs are a full meal!

I've never had/cooked one...do you just put the bag in a pot of boiling water?  I've seen some lots on ebay I almost bought, but I might pick up a half dozen or so at the Army surplus store next time I'm there just to try them.

I remember reading on another board that the MRE omlete is sometimes referred to as a VOMelet   I doubt I'd enjoy any kind of pasta MRE since I take my pasta very seriously as odd as that sounds

[Grant Lamontagne]

MRE= Meals Rejected by the Enemy   

Some you put in a pot of boiling water and some are self heating.  I'm not certain how it works, but I think it's a small chemical pad like the kind you put in your mitts on a cold day.  I've never tried one like that though so I can't comment on their usefulness.  If we lived closer I'd suggest we each get a case of them and we could swap some back and forth!

Def

[hawkchucker]

Corr. you can use a heater or put the package whole in boiling water for 5 mins then open.

By the way since you are in Rhode island. Ocen state Job lot allways has the entres there. Usually they are 2 for a buck in Woonsockett.  

[Grant Lamontagne]

I stand corrected... again!

Def

[Anthony]

Corr. you can use a heater or put the package whole in boiling water for 5 mins then open.

By the way since you are in Rhode island. Ocen state Job lot allways has the entres there. Usually they are 2 for a buck in Woonsockett.  

Job Lot...I never really looked at the food there (usually run in and out looking for some odd tool I need for one job).  I work about 10 minutes away from the one in Providence, and I'm close to the one in Lincoln...maybe I'll check it out.  Are they actual US issue?  What does an entree include?

[hawkchucker]

The heaters are sweet. about 3 oz of water and just seal in the meal for 10 mins. and it is piping hot! As for the entres usually it is the rice and beans, spaghetti, Pork chop or beef stew. It is not the entire meal just a simple pack. However they are mil issue, and up to date on the experation.

Jeez you work only about 5 mins then from my house. And the fav. Rest. Wrights Chicken farm. I got to go at least once a month.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

I smell a Patented Multitool.org Field Trip!

Def