Emergency rations

[Aubrey]

Gents

I am searching for a emergency ration that is robust and need little in the way of special storage/care, must be able to withstand a wide spread of temps and not taste like cement...will be in the BOB and/or Land Rover. I have narrowed it down to Datrex rations or the Mainstay rations? Anybody have first hand experience on nature of these rations and how they taste?

Or any alterntive suggestions would be most welcome.

Regards from Africa

Aubrey

 

[GregY]

I've tried the Mainstay rations. It was truly awful- it was like plaster mix that was moistened with Crisco, with some small gravel thrown in. It was vile and gritty, and felt like it was damaging my teeth. Tasted bad, too. Can you tell I didn't like it?

I've also tried the Millenium bars. They almost taste good. I stock them in a couple of emergency kits- they're my prepackaged emergency ration bar of choice.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I keep Mainstay rations around. I like them a lot. They aren't an ideal daily snack, but work well as an emergency backup if I'm in a potential low blood sugar situation.

Taste and texture are ideal for me, sort of like halvah. If they weren't so high calorie, I'd eat them like candy. I find I don't even need water or liquids, although any large quantity of them might be slightly pasty. They seem to last forever; I keep a few small pieces in a plastic box in my gear bag and they stay fresh.

 

[Don Rearic]

Mainstay don't taste that bad! They're lemony.

Also, try DATREX, I have not tasted them yet but I intend on ordering some very soon, they are reported to taste like Lorna Doone cookies. They are also used by the military in survival kits. DATREX has been around at least since the middle of the Vietnam War.

These are the only ones I would trust for absolute long term storage.

As far as bitching about them, I mean, you can't have something that will store this long and taste good enough that you won't geef and still require very little water to digest them! I know with Mainstays, that is a fact. You can eat them in low water situations, something you should never do with rations like MREs unless you want a proctologist up there with a jackhammer and a prayer, chiseling things out for you.

Ed,

I have a neighbor who swears by General Mills Brand Name Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Bars when he goes low and can't even make it up the stairs. He was crashed on the park bench outside a few months back and I brought him one from my apartment and he thought that was the coolest coincidence in the world. He says that they actually make you feel full instead of wanting.

MetRx and Clif Bars are excellent for BOBs and other SKITs, long term in the heat is going to be a bit problematic as they will goo-out a bit.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Never tried Clif bars. I liked some Metrx but not a lot and as you say, they do get gooey.

I carry a County Comm tube vault with honey as my primary sugar fix. Very convenient and about a tablespoon sized sip will boost me quickly. No chewing needed -- you can force it into the mouth of someone so hypoglycemic, they are almost comatose.

I guess I should try the Datrex, though.

 

[bigcountry1315]

I always keep MRE (meals ready to eat) stored in my pack and in my vehicle.I learned to like them in the Marine Corps. For size amd calorie count they are hard to beat. just my 2 cents.

 

[Don Rearic]

Never tried Clif bars.

Please take my advice and don't buy anything but the Blueberry Crisp, the only other one I get is the Black Cherry Almond and the Blueberry Crisp is easily ten times better than the Black Cherry Almond.

All of the rest of them resemble a flattened road apple with lots of grass mixed in and they taste like dirt.

I liked some Metrx but not a lot and as you say, they do get gooey.

The only MetRx bar that is good in my opinion is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and that is the only one I buy now. I believe those MetRx bars are must have items. I was pleasantly surprised to read in George Jasper's survival book that he thinks the same.

I carry a County Comm tube vault with honey as my primary sugar fix. Very convenient and about a tablespoon sized sip will boost me quickly. No chewing needed -- you can force it into the mouth of someone so hypoglycemic, they are almost comatose.

I guess I should try the Datrex, though.

I have heard the same thing, in this very forum IIRC, about the toothpaste tube-type of cake decoration frosting commonly found in the baking isles of grocery stores.

Honey is better for you though! And, if you are not allergic to honey, you can get the brand of REALLY RAW HONEY (just like that) and it might very well have some incredible applications on minor cuts and whatnot. Plus, it tastes wonderful! I wish Nalgene would come out with reusable toothpaste tubes, I keep hearing negs about the Coughlan's brand of reusable tubes. I think having those with raw honey and p-butter would be great.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I have heard the same thing, in this very forum IIRC, about the toothpaste tube-type of cake decoration frosting commonly found in the baking isles of grocery stores.

If you find your source, ... it's probably me. I've been recommending those since I came across the advice on a diabetics website.

A small jar of peanut butter with honey mixed in would take me a long way down the trail!

 

[quietmike]

Why not make some of your own emergency rations?

More variety, and you can make it the way YOU like.

Jerky, pemmican, rockhominy, pinole, bannock, trail bread, hardtack, fruit leather, etc. the possibilities are endless.

 

[newadventure]

Please take my advice and don't buy anything but the Blueberry Crisp, the only other one I get is the Black Cherry Almond and the Blueberry Crisp is easily ten times better than the Black Cherry Almond.

.

+1!!! Some of the other Clif Bar flavors, I find OK, but the blueberry crisp (favorite) and black cherry almond (second favorite) I think are really good - I keep a few of these around in various places. Good part is that they are tasty enough that I actually eat them and they don't get old enough to be a problem.

 

[sasha]

If you guys are looking for some good tubes. Check this place out.

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1367

Honey is a great source of energy to keep you going hard and right now. One of two MRE would go a long way. But if water is not going to be a problem then a few dry soups. Make your own dry jerky and i mean dry it as hard as a rock. Vacuume it and it would last longer then any MRE out there. Dry lots of veg and some rice and you would eat good no matter what. Go to an asian store and pick up some miso soup....

Sasha

 

[ROCK6]

I really don't care for the Mainstay rations; they taste pretty crappy.

I like the Mayday rations, however my favorite are the Datrex bars. I've found them the most palatable for me.

As to Clif bars; I like'em. They are pretty robust in extreme temperatures...the blueberry crisp sounds good; I like the apricot ones myself. I have been trying some Power Bar "Harvest Energy" bars here in Afghanistan, and they are pretty decent as well. I typically have a brick of Datrex and a few Clif bars for "emergencies" in my kits.

ROCK6

 

[Aubrey]

Thanx gents. I have ordered the Datrex bars. Pitty shipping to Africa is more than the item ;-)

Yes, all other opinions noted but we don't have jerky here, we do biltong. Close to jerky but lasts a little beter. I do have the energy bars and such for a quick energy boost ....also, nuts and raisins works wonders and lasts well. The Datrex is for long term storage in the bag, when I have realy exceeded my abilities and things go wrong.

Thanx again and cheers from Africa

Aubrey