jay
Trail Wise!
Posts: 152
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MRE
Nov 19, 2015 6:15:33 GMT -8
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Post by jay on Nov 19, 2015 6:15:33 GMT -8
I will start this post by acknowledging that not everyone will appreciate MREs. I have found, though, that they are actually a pretty decent value and are easy to prepare. The new design of them (well, since I was eating them while out on Exercises) makes them a pretty good alternative to other choices on the market, in my opinion. They contain a heat pack in each meal which is activated by a few ounces of water, thus removing the need for a fire or camp stove. An MRE also can be eaten straight form the package so dishes are not needed, aside from eating utensils. Pricing is generally not that bad, either, being comparable to a lot of freeze dried meals on the market.
There are also vegetarian meals available.
The only real drawback I have found in them is that there is a fair amount of waste packaging to be packed out. All in all, Though, I personally think that they are a good alternative to a lot of the prepared meals out there.
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MRE
Nov 19, 2015 8:34:02 GMT -8
Post by Coolkat on Nov 19, 2015 8:34:02 GMT -8
I didn't even look at MRE's strictly because I assumed they weighed a lot. But I can definitely understand why they'd be an attractive alternative.
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jay
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MRE
Nov 19, 2015 8:47:16 GMT -8
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Post by jay on Nov 19, 2015 8:47:16 GMT -8
They do weigh a bit more than the average freeze dried meal, but if you have to carry water for the freeze dried meal as well as camp stove and fuel, dishes etc, the MRE will weigh less. They are also pretty much full meals; I typically get by on 2 a day just fine. Everything is individually wrapped (entrée, snacks etc) so you don't have to eat everything at 1 setting. There is also have a drink powder in them you can add water to should you choose.
Also, you don't have to do dishes after eating which is a big plus for me.
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Ed
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Philmont Advisor and FOM (Fat Old Man)
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MRE
Nov 19, 2015 9:25:37 GMT -8
Post by Ed on Nov 19, 2015 9:25:37 GMT -8
What about the heat pack for each meal? Weight when it's used? Just curious.
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jay
Trail Wise!
Posts: 152
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MRE
Nov 19, 2015 10:08:14 GMT -8
Post by jay on Nov 19, 2015 10:08:14 GMT -8
virtually unchanged, it only takes about 2 oz of water to activate it.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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MRE
Nov 21, 2015 18:26:21 GMT -8
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Post by Westy on Nov 21, 2015 18:26:21 GMT -8
We maintain an inventory level of MRE's in our backcountry pantry. We use them for dry camps on days where water sources are an scarce and an issue. Once consumed the weight is gone and a decent meal had. Although individual entrée weight may be an issue, they do consume less backpack space.
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MRE
Nov 24, 2015 11:06:30 GMT -8
Post by lancer on Nov 24, 2015 11:06:30 GMT -8
I've never seriously considered MREs for backpacking based on my belief that they are too heavy. I generally plan on about 2 lbs per day for food, 2.5 lbs if I'm less careful with menu planning. Residual weight of packaging after eating is pretty low, but I've never measured it. How much does an MRE actually weigh?
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Westy
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MRE
Nov 24, 2015 18:44:21 GMT -8
Post by Westy on Nov 24, 2015 18:44:21 GMT -8
8 oz. is typical for a MRE Entrée. They weight is in the water as MRE's are a cooked meal, that just needs warming up.
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MRE
Nov 25, 2015 11:10:25 GMT -8
Post by lancer on Nov 25, 2015 11:10:25 GMT -8
I suppose if you are hiking in the desert and you must carry all your water, there is less of a weight penalty with MREs. But 8 ounces seems too heavy for the type of trips I take. By comparison a 2-serving chili-mac freeze dried meal weighs 4 ounces. The 8 ounce MRE includes a heating component, yes? So, I suppose you could leave cook kits and stoves at home, offsetting the extra weight of the MRE. But anything beyond about three days and it becomes lighter to go with traditional freeze dried or dehydrated meals. And, I'm going to be carrying a stove anyway if only for my morning java jolt.
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
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MRE
Nov 25, 2015 12:02:21 GMT -8
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Post by Westy on Nov 25, 2015 12:02:21 GMT -8
We do not use a heating component. We use a stove, boil water, insert MRE into pot, turn off stove, wait 5 minutes, use the water for hot drinks and enjoy our MRE fine dining experience.
The advantage is not weight savings, but water savings. That 2 cups or 16 oz. of water saved. It can also be useful for long distance hikes where you may want to carry less water or you are running low and it's time to pitch your tent.
One advantage of interspersing an MRE entrée with your freeze-dried food is it's real food. MRE are pre-cooked and not freeze dried. After a week or more on the trail real-food is a delicacy. There is a culinary taste bonus of an MRE Chili-Mac over a Mountain House Chili-Mac. Taste testers agree! That would be me and my daughter. Cost isn't bad $3.95, just bought some MRE Chili-Macs for $1.95 vs. Mountain House at REI $8.00.
We also track our pack weight. For 6-7 day alpine outing our maximum pack weight does not exceed 28 lbs. so we may seek alternative weight saving strategies.
Bottom Line: Our backcountry food menu will usually have MRE's at a ratio of 2:5 for a Canyonlands, Grand Canyon venture and 1:6 for normal alpine outings. We found MRE entree's provide some strategic flexibility and menu variability options.
To Jay's concern about trash weight. We just take the MRE entrée, after tossing the cardboard box in our pre-hike prep. I agree, the MRE Meal is bulky and trash intensive. Focus on the entrée..less trash and more packing options, you can jam them your pack nooks and crannies.
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jay
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Posts: 152
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MRE
Nov 27, 2015 4:46:55 GMT -8
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Post by jay on Nov 27, 2015 4:46:55 GMT -8
Weary,
no concern about trash weight, just pointing out that there is a fair amount of it to keep up with. I usually get cases of MREs and have complete ones, not just entrees....so there is more to keep up with.
I use them a lot, as they are self contained meals as you say.
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MRE
Dec 5, 2015 15:59:52 GMT -8
Post by Lonewolf on Dec 5, 2015 15:59:52 GMT -8
I have MREs as supplies for an at-home emergency (storms, etc) and in my vehicle when traveling but otherwise no. Too heavy for backpacking for me since water is virtually always available short of the desert. The trash aspect is another issue.
I typically use freezedried but repacked into vacuum bags before a trip. Reduces waste and I don't use the factory package as intended anyway because I don't want prepared food waste left on bags since most of my trips are in grizzly country. Water in the pot, dump the food and all that's left is a bit of food "dust" in the vacuum bag. A rinse and really nothing left. Granted there's still some but not nearly the attractant as leftover prepared foods. Plus if the vacuum bag is cut right, it's reusable when I get home.
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Westy
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MRE
Dec 5, 2015 16:59:56 GMT -8
Post by Westy on Dec 5, 2015 16:59:56 GMT -8
freezedried but repacked into vacuum bags What's your equipment, bag source and process? We use the factory package for shipping and storage, prior to placing in the pack we remove the oxygen absorber, trim the top of the package, squeeze air out and close the zipper for weight savings. For preparation we pour hot water into the factory pouch. Would really enjoy being turned on to a vacuum bag system that replaces OEM packaging.
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Post by Lonewolf on Dec 5, 2015 19:27:04 GMT -8
Foodsaver Compact 2. Generic bags from Costco, cut about 2X necessary length to allow reuse. Depending on how much is put in them each time, 4-6 uses. Vacuum seal as you would anything else. You can use the vacuum bag for reconstituting if you want, it just doesn't zip closed.
I dislike using the bags for reconstituting because of remnants left in the bag. The food cooks a bit quicker in a pot as the water is heating although I usually boil enough water to make a cup of tea and then toss the food in the (measured) water that's left. I have to heat water to clean cup and utensils anyway so wash the pot at the same time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2015 20:03:13 GMT -8
I buy most of the freeze dried food in #10 cans. I watch the prices on Amazon and buy when the prices are at a low point. Example a #10 can of Chicken Ala King. The price will range from 36 to 22 dollars. When the price gets down to 24 or less, I generally buy the #10 can of Chicken Ala King.
When it's time to go backpacking, I will open the can and separate out, into gallon freezer bags, 3 servings per bag and write down the water requirements on the bag. I store the bags in the freezer till use.
The freeze dried food is typically used for dinner towards the end of a 5-7 day trip. We use other food preparations at the beginning of the trip.
The foil bag that freeze dried food comes in weighs more then a freezer bag.
The meal is prepared in the freezer bag and the freezer bag is used for the next day's trash.
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