Food "just in case"?

N

northern

Joined
May 2, 2010
Messages
154
i generally carry a pack everyday. and one of many things i carry in it, that i don't seem to see many ppl carrying (or atleast displaying) is any kind of food stores they keep?
even just on a hike that might take me 3+miles from home i need to be aware of the fact i could (for various reasons) end out for the night, or any other inumerable circumstances where food might be more than just helpful.

i carry this small bag (an old pencil case maybe? haha don't really know) it has extra ziplock bags in it, as well as a spoon, hot chocolate (in a ziplock) and (in another ziplock) my own bannock mix. often i will add another bag with some kind of fat for the bannock (saaaay margarine? for example)
if i was ever in trouble, lost, found a person in trouble, got caught by weather. i could wake up full, and still have some for breakfast, without a problem. anyone else use this kind of system?
IF i were to make one huge batch, i would say that i carry enough dry goods to make the crust of a large pizza. haha thought that might help ppl understand.

thoughts? for me atleast, it has come in handy MANY times. if i just want to stay out longer, or whatever. maybe little things, but it prepares me for the bigger things.
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PS i don't drink coffee, and i OFTEN have hot chocolate while out in the bush... i guess it's my thing.
 
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as an aside. this bag is not even half full. i roll it up on normal days (on full trips it is likely to be full) and shove it in the side of my pack, it takes very little space.
 
Northern,

First I'll say "to each his own". We all prioritize differently and that is OK. Sometimes we all get caught up on doing things according regulation. It's okay to do things your own way. Having a food kit is fine as long as you rotate it and keep it out of the sun etc.

I'll tell you my personal views on it. When I hike or backpack, I take only the food I pack for the trip. Maybe a touch extra. I don't have a SHTF food bag. The last thing I want in my BOB is food. Humans can go weeks eating. Food spoils. It takes up room I could save for other things in my pack. These are only my views northern. Keep on munching bro :D

I do keep rations away for a SHTF scenario in the house, but that's a different story.
 
I always have a couple of Clif bars with me, regardless of where I am, or what I'm doing.
Always good to have something.

Cheers
 
If you just mix up the dry ingredients for the bannock and add water at site. I would think it would last a long time before it needed rotated out. Or is this what you do?
 
I tend to keep a couple of Reiter Travel Lunch meals, 2 large oatmeal bars with chocolate topping, a large bag of salted cashew nuts, two Snickers bars and 20 boiled sweets as back up 'reserve' food.

That way I've got hot meals and snacks, drinks are 'catered' for by my normal brew kit.

This is in addition to whatever food I've taken for intended consumption. I've utilized meals and snacks from my 'reserve' to good effect for others and self enough times to continue to carry them. The benefits outweigh the weight...

It works for me.
 
the lone gunman said:
If you just mix up the dry ingredients for the bannock and add water at site. I would think it would last a long time before it needed rotated out. Or is this what you do?
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this is what i do.
mostly i've found that atleast once a week i am happy to stay out and not hike home and it gets used. i've never needed to pitch anything.
this isn't something i would prepare as a SHTF setup. it's more of a i'm lazy and hungry scenario.

i am normally on any given day 3-6miles from my home through the bush or across water. for me it has worked.

i understand not doing it, it's just become somethin i always bring as a comfort item... like a 3rd or 4th knife? haha
 
basically what i am saying is, on days where i don't plan on eating in the bush, but AM in the bush. i take this small bag.

make more sense that way?
 
I usually have a couple GU sportsgels with me and a couple packets of electrolyte crystal as well. A little sugar and salt goes a long way when you're bonkin:thumbup:
 
I often carry a bag of trail mix that I either make up myself from dyhydrated fruit and nuts or just buy one at Walmart to carry along for munchies. I carry one deer hunting usually, but you do need to remember to take them out of you pack at the end of the season. Bugs and worms find their way into such things somehow and munch on them until consumed.

I generally don't carry much other than a knife or two, camera, lately a small first aid kit, compass, and some para cord. It really depends on how far I will likely be away from my vehicle where I keep a good supply of many things including a change of clothes, blanket, different shoes or boots, machete, axe, warm jacket, parka, bottled water, and other things. Some say I could live out of my truck for a few days and be quite comfortable. Just the way I like it!

I
 
I always have a few Powerbars or similar, plus a few packets of sports drink mix or hot choco on me. They never get used unless its absolutely needed. I do rotate the stock though......
 
I have a habit of packing canned fish and jerky wether I need it or not. Came in handy lots of times. I put it in a zip-bag so I can pack my trash out :thumbup: Water is usually my biggest priority; food secondary.
 
I just went hiking today and brought with me some ramen soup and a trail mix bar (didn't eat any of those...) but like you said... i rather have a full stomach than being hungry all night if something has to happen... sometimes this is not for yourself... it could be to help someone else too!!!

What do you use to heat up your water though??? (OP)
 
I really want to dink around with some bannock recipes this summer. For most situations (even up to a week), food isn't a necessity...however, it can be a life-saving morale booster!

I always pack something...usually quick and easy; plus a few different instant drink mixes (Coffee singles, licorice root tea, electrolyte drink mixes, etc.).

It's a true statement that an army marches on its stomach. Even though not life threatening, you can get distracted, irritable and sometimes unmotivated if you're stomach is grumbling. Anybody with kids knows:p:D

I like the fact that eating a little snack or mixing up your favorite trail beverage goes a long way to keeping your head clear for constructive thought, calming you down if worked up, over-worked or even if a little "disoriented".

For my kids, I always pack snacks for day hikes and they carry their own snacks on backpacking trips...it helps to keep their mind off being tired or getting irritable. Again, food isn't a necessity, but can be a big morale booster when stressed, tired or just needing to relax a bit.

ROCK6
 
my 'go to' bag has food for 4 days, my small trail pack has a couple of meals. The hydration pack I use for those short hikes, has a couple of Cliff Bars in it.

On those occasions when I am going hiking/camping, I'll pack what I feel is going to be needed for the time I am afield.
 
For dayhikes I've got a zippered bag like that-not quite like that, it's not plaid:p, that I keep a few of the foil Starkist tuna packs, a couple of packs of oatmeal, and a few coffee singles in. It goes in the bottom or back of my lumbar pack, and is flat, so doesn't take up much room. I tend not to think in terms of real food when I'm outdoors, but sometimes trail mix or a Clif bar just doesn't get it.
If I get stuck with an unplanned overnight stay...well, at least I won't be hungry. Actually, I did an overnighter this week, and didn't bother to bring any "extra" food, because I knew there was enough in that bag to last a couple of days. Ended up eating at local grill while driving from one place to another, too, so most of it is still in there.
 
I rarely carry any food unless I plan to have a meal. Sometimes, I'll take a couple food bars of some sort, especially when hiking with my boys (10 and 12) as they like a snack on the trail. I do have a little tea with me in each pack but that's more for psychological benefit were I to get stuck for a day or two.
 
ROCK6 said:
I really want to dink around with some bannock recipes this summer. For most situations (even up to a week), food isn't a necessity...however, it can be a life-saving morale booster!

I always pack something...usually quick and easy; plus a few different instant drink mixes (Coffee singles, licorice root tea, electrolyte drink mixes, etc.).

It's a true statement that an army marches on its stomach. Even though not life threatening, you can get distracted, irritable and sometimes unmotivated if you're stomach is grumbling. Anybody with kids knows:p:D

I like the fact that eating a little snack or mixing up your favorite trail beverage goes a long way to keeping your head clear for constructive thought, calming you down if worked up, over-worked or even if a little "disoriented".

For my kids, I always pack snacks for day hikes and they carry their own snacks on backpacking trips...it helps to keep their mind off being tired or getting irritable. Again, food isn't a necessity, but can be a big morale booster when stressed, tired or just needing to relax a bit.

ROCK6
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I agree with you 1000% (not a mistake... 1000%)
 
I like the foil packs of Tuna and salmon as well as my own trail mix. I like to have a few days of food stord in my BOB.
 
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