Emergency Rations

[cheung_victor]

How are they packed differently?

I am intersted in trying these out. Do you know where I can order them online, or where I can get them here in Van?

Will

Hmmmm, well first i'm sorry to tell you that it is very hard to find this stuff on the internet. BUT you could try surplus stores in Vancouver like Daves surplus.
OK but now i'll tell you how it is packed, The way it is packed is that it can be used to trasport water and EVERYTHING can me burned.

http://www.davesarmysurplus.com/login.phposCsid=e896b799e734fee43ff5b02c244bed94
go to daves first if they don't have it go to gorilla

http://www.gorillasurplus.com/

 

[Badge54]

One advantage of selecting items you actually like to eat is that you can easily rotate the supply, keeping it relatively fresh. If you select items you can only gag down "in an emergency," rotation is less likely.

Like the idea. Reminds me of my Grandmothers basement with 100's of canned food. From meat to vegtables to premade soups. Keep the pantry full with a tote of the next weeks food. Rotate it into the pantry from the tote and fill the tote from the grocery store.

I like the totes myself. I have hunting gear in one. Camping gear in another... Just grab and go. I keep them stocked different depending on the season.

I just never seem to have enough food in the pantry nor can I keep it long once I do.

How about a case of Protein shakes or the meal replacement shakes like Slimfast but higher in calorie.

Badge54

 

[alco141]

if i remember the mre is good for 10 years if stored under 60 degrees, if you store them at higher temperatures the shelf life drops pretty fast. there is not to much that i would store in a car trunk all summer and then eat. no matter what you pick i would put it in a cooler to help keep the heat down. but it sems like it might be better to rotate your food every week or so in the summer.

alex

 

[skammer]

How are they packed differently?

I am intersted in trying these out. Do you know where I can order them online, or where I can get them here in Van?

Will

Will,

Having eatin both extensively I fail to see how Victors comments on packaging apply MRE packaging is a 1000 times superior to IMP's lined paper bag .

Canadian IMP's can be found on ebay but are not cheap the MRE is a bit cheaper via ebay. Being in BC you might find IMP's a bit cheaper locally and avoid shipping.

I having eaten rations for years in the military, lately I have noticed that in the past 5-10 years the MRE is now of equal quality to the IMP (never used to be) and maybe even more so.

I like the MRE packaging better and there is more food in the MRE. The entrees are of similar quality. The accesories are better in the MRE and it has the chemical heat pack not present in the IMP. Inlike Victor's comment 1600 calories does not sustain a couch potatoe let alone a hard wroking soldier. Mre's are designed to be eatin at least 2 times per day to maintain body weight under hard conditions. Once per day in a pinch.

BTW, that 1600 calorie figure is including the gum and jam and even the hard candy so its not realy 1600 entree calories unless you eat it all including the plastic pouch it comes in.

Buy a couple on ebay and compare they are pretty equal and the Canadian version is not worth the dollar premium.

Neither should be kept in a trunk of a car in even warm weather.

Skam

 

[Tony Turner]

I my opinion, the only thing that should be kept in your car in the summer for emergency rations is water(refresh occasionaly). if you are stranded in the summer, you could go quite a while with out food, it's water that is the key since you will probably be walking for help baring any injuries that would immobilize you. Take the food out for the hot months and then put the food rations back in for the winter. The newer MRE's are the way to go in the winter since they now have the internal heat source. Remember, the average person can survive with out FOOD for 2-3 weeks, but on only 2-3 days with out water.

 

[skammer]

I my opinion, the only thing that should be kept in your car in the summer for emergency rations is water(refresh occasionaly). if you are stranded in the summer, you could go quite a while with out food, it's water that is the key since you will probably be walking for help baring any injuries that would immobilize you. Take the food out for the hot months and then put the food rations back in for the winter. The newer MRE's are the way to go in the winter since they now have the internal heat source. Remember, the average person can survive with out FOOD for 2-3 weeks, but on only 2-3 days with out water.

Well said Tony,

Except in winter food energy consumption becomes much more important to survival.

Walking to get help usually gets you more lost or dead statistics say. If you have ample water and shelter stay with the vehicle or where you are.

I still haven't figured out how to carry a lot of water in winter that wont freeze being stored in the trunk. I thought about a battery heater blanket wired into the trunk put around the water but thats as far as I got. Hmmm

Skam

 

[frediver]

How about a battery heater inside a cooler filled with water bottles/
The wire should not affect the cooler seal much. and a low wattage heater might be just enough when insulated by the cooler to keep your water from
freezing.
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[skammer]

How about a battery heater inside a cooler filled with water bottles/
The wire should not affect the cooler seal much. and a low wattage heater might be just enough when insulated by the cooler to keep your water from
freezing.
<><

Hmm, YOu could be onto something there. :thumbup:

The trick being not to draw too much battery juice as to drain it and to provide enough heat to keep the water at just above freezing when its 20 below outside.

This could be a weekend project.

SKam

 

[A.W.U.K.]

I like the vacuum pack idea. The problem with a lot of chewy-type bars; nuts; dried fruit etc. is packaging which wont survive being knocked about for months.

I was not really thinking of a survival situation - this is highly unlikely to occur in the UK unless you go somewhere really remote- but just something to stave off the hunger pangs if held up by bad weather, etc.

I don't know where to buy power bars or lifeboat rations - that will take a little research.

Anyway, lots of stuff to think about, thanks.

British 24-hour ration packs are great to keep in a vehicle.

Andy