Energy source for a PSK ?

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pit man

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Nov 2, 2005
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I was thinking about adding a couple of energy bars to my PSK and then I spotted some smallish plastic bottles of honey.
Do you think one of these would be a good addition to a PSK,I figured it would have a long shelf life and could be added to hot drinks like Pine needle tea to add a sugar boost or just gulped down straight out of the bottle.
What do you all think?:confused:
 
Maybe not a bad idea but keep in mind that it's a fairly fast source of energy, as in burns through quick. This is something that I've considered quite bit. Being a post-op for Gastric Bypass I can't ingest large amounts of sugar. Anything over about 14 grams, and that can vary depending on the type of sugar, and I get real sick, even to the point of having to sleep it off.

I've been looking for some emergency meals for some time that don't have such a high sugar load, or have tons of rice in them as rice sits really heavy on my smaller stomach. Any suggestions that could help with this problem would be greatly appreciated. (sincere apology for hijacking this thread. Didn't mean to go there.)

As for your original question, while a sweetener/sugar energy source isn't bad for adding to other natural items, I believe the space and weight could be much better utilized with protein, then carbs.

Charles
 
CShepherd I find your input interesting so no need to apologise for thread hijacking !
With regards to Protein however,large amounts of water are required to aid in the metabolising of it.If in a cold climate with a ready supply of water this would become less of an issue.
My hope in a survival situation is that I am either going to be rescued or make my own way to safety within a week or less so my aim is to provide a quick easily digested energy source that can give me a boost !!!
 
Honey is carbohydrate with some small amounts of minerals .Emergency foods should contain other things too like protein and fats. The granola type things with grain ,nuts, and fruit contain it all. Honey ,I think is good added to a hot drink ,tea, coffee, chocolate .And honey makes a VERY good wound dressing !!
 
Wound dressing, no kidding?? Is it a type of anti-bacterial or does it just help close up the wound?

I would think maybe something like a protein drink mix. Or maybe nuts or I dont really know. Good question. Those grain-based snack bars sound nice but most of them at the supermarket have little besides whole grains; take at look at the box.
 
I have some of those honey paks you find in restaurants in my survival kit.
Goes good with the peanut butter, with both you get fat, protien and carbs.
 
It seems that in a PSK space is severely limited. Is there room for anything? It seems the idea of honey as a multipurpose thing is good. Do you have a container to make tea in? If you do, the psychological impact of having that little comfort might be high. If the idea of the kit is to survive for a couple of days, then maybe only food and a couple of things to stay warm would be needed. Then there would be room for a couple High cal snacks.
 
Any Cal. said:
It seems that in a PSK space is severely limited. Is there room for anything? It seems the idea of honey as a multipurpose thing is good. Do you have a container to make tea in? If you do, the psychological impact of having that little comfort might be high. If the idea of the kit is to survive for a couple of days, then maybe only food and a couple of things to stay warm would be needed. Then there would be room for a couple High cal snacks.
Click to expand...

Yeah I used to carry a small stainless bowl but like you say space is at a minimum so have now swapped it for a stainless single skin mug so I have something to boil water in!
 
Nuts, dried fruits, jerkey, dried soups, cooking oil, rice.

Good to go, all covered, long shelf life.

Load up more on proteins and fats than carbs.

Skam
 
You can do a search on BF and find a lot of information about pemmican, a traditional American Indian food made of dried meat, lard and berries. And you can Google "homemade energy bars" and get a ton of information about how to make them...important if you're allergic to certain ingredients and want to avoid artificial preservatives.

Honey never goes bad, I can't remember what's in it as a natural preservative. Archaeologists have found jars of honey from the ruins of Pompei that are still good after, what, 2000 years?

I don't think food is something that should be skimped on to make room for all of the other doodads in a PSK. I would go for the maximum amount of food and water I could carry.

I've experimented recently with a cross between energy bars and pemmican. My mix includes: chopped up jerky, chopped dates, dried currants, raisins, peanutbutter, a little bacon grease, corn meal and oat meal, honey and a little salt. I mix all of this up and form it into thick cookies, wrapped in wax paper.
 
Coldwood said:
Honey never goes bad, I can't remember what's in it as a natural preservative. Archaeologists have found jars of honey from the ruins of Pompei that are still good after, what, 2000 years?
Click to expand...

Thereby proving that honey has been a trusted food staple for a long, long time, but, it is still no defense for an erupting volcano. ;)
(Sorry Coldwood, I couldn't resist.)

How about honey with something else? Crackers? hardtack?
For a quick burst it's great and good for ya.
 
SkunkWerX said:
Thereby proving that honey has been a trusted food staple for a long, long time, but, it is still no defense for an erupting volcano. ;)
(Sorry Coldwood, I couldn't resist.)

How about honey with something else? Crackers? hardtack?
For a quick burst it's great and good for ya.
Click to expand...

SkunkWerX,

Now I think you're hitting on something. There is definetely a place for fast energy but it needs to be balanced with long lasting energy and such. Perhaps some packs of honey and a bit of hard tack or a good energy bar (I say that because a lot of them are no more than candy bars).

Charles
 
I second honey for a BOB or camping (but not a PSK). Like Coldwood said, honey NEVER goes bad.... it's the only natural food source known to man (that I'm aware of) that can be left out in any weather, capped, uncapped, in the container, spilled, whatever, and will always be good to eat.

The beauty of honey or quick energy like that, that I see, is if you have to boil your drinking water. Without tang, koolaid, or other "mix-in" mixture, the water will taste bad. Therein lies the beauty of honey.

If you've got room PitMan, I'm with you. Put the honey in (and plenty of nuts packaged seperately) :)
 
i think that honey would be a great source of good flavor if nothing else, which we all know is important to keep the morale up. if you added some kind of hardtack and some jerky, you could make some sort of supplemental long term food kit. with honey, hardtak, and jerky/pemican, the kit would cover the basic needs for food in a survival situation. this sort of kit is more likely to be included in a car kit (include some cans of food?) or in a day pack, or a bob. not in a small belt kit like some people like have always on them...i imagine the kit would be something like a supplemental kit to foraged/hunted foods, making them taste less bland to our modern sophisticated taste buds.

i see alot of potential to be had with this sort of idea.
 
I will be making some pemmican sometime soon.

Will use it for this purpose as well as food for any outing.
 
When I'm canoeing I always bring a handful of these
http://www.honeystinger.com/products.html , I can't say enough good about them, small and pack a big punch.
If the waves look trying and it's a travel day or the next portage is 300 plus rods I down one and can feel it amp me up, good stuff.:thumbup:
I also have started carrying a couple in my hunting vest to give me a extra boost while dragging deer, or just to help keep warm and aware while on stand.
I wouldn't want it as my only meal but it works great for it's purpose.


Helle
 
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