Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

I’ll look at nutritional facts when I get home and report back. I don’t recall them being high in sodium like the rest

 

I'm a big fan of AlpineAire when it comes to FD meals. Healthier than many.

 

Patagonia provisions are delicious. While pricey they always have 25 percent off sales and I stock up. The quality of the ingredients is top notch and the fish is sustainably harvested. They also have mussels and mackerel tins that are bomb
For backpacking I really like that you dump the pouch contents into your pot so than you are not left with slimy stinky bear bait to carry around. Salmon and ancient grains after a long day, nothing I’ve had compares.

 

I am a fan of the Peak Refuel. Really enjoyed the special edition Elk Ragu.

 

Stowaway Gourmet has some really nice meals. The Bison Beer Black Bean Chili rocks.

 

Thanks. On sale for 15, it ought to be outstanding.

 

I've tried four different types of Trailtopia meals/desserts. Not a fan. So much so I'll be returning the remaining ones to REI.
IMHO Mountain House is still the best.

 

Just bought this camp oven to add to already maxed out cargo lol…it’ll be put to the test this weekend.

 

Make mine MRE's. You'd be surprised just how much of your and my tax money is wasted when the post-hurricane relief supplies show up thirteen days after the hurricane and four hours AFTER power was restored. FEMA contractors literally drove up to the Baptist church parking lot with tractor trailer trucks THIRTEEN DAYS LATE and used fork lifts to unload PALLETS FULL of blue tarps, bottled water and these MREs! Then they drove away. We told them we had been taking care of ourselves and needed this shit two weeks ago, but not now. The driver said he was paid to deliver this stuff, that's what he was going to do and he wasn't taking it back. It sat there for almost a week before it was finally all pilfered. My tax dollars at work. It is a LONG way out here. We are on the end of the supply chain, but thirteen days? Now my tax dollars, feeding me whenever I need a meal out in the woods or out in the boat. Lemme' tell you, these ain't your Grandpa's C-rations. Our armed services eat much better than Grandpa did. Not wild about the crackers or the bread, but the cheese whiz hides them. Some of the entre pouches are damn good! MUCH better than the Mountain House meals I have eaten. Heavier, but if they can hump it, you can too. I always keep a couple in the truck to give to panhandlers at stoplights instead of money.

My favorite backpacking meal? A 1-1/2 inch New York Strip marinated in cracked pepper and equal parts of lime juice and soy sauce, then vacuum-packed and deep frozen. Then it is transported frozen to the trailhead, along with six Bud Light Platinum cans, all kept extra cold with rock salt on the ice chest ice. I put both into one of those insulated mailing pouches, steak between the cans, three on both sides. Seal the pouch and into the pack. Thawing frozen meat keeps the beer cold until the evening, when both are consumed! Empty pouch makes for a good trailseat and/or pillow.

(By the way...those are inoperable 30+ year old Sheridan pellet rifles. They need work.)

 

MRE's haven't been similar to C-rations for a long time. Cool that you got some at no cost but most who ate those in the military would rather not eat them in the civdiv.

 

Granted. Hence my preference for steak and beer. And for the record, I didn't get them at no cost: you and I contribute a significant percentage of our incomes each year to pay for their manufacture and delivery. These are expensive meals.

 

I have a 45 year old 20 caliber Sheridan that I had resealed 15 years ago. I got it for my 12th birthday and wore it out, busting the seal after a few years. It sat in my mom's closet for 20 years when I rediscovered it and sent it in to Benjamin to repair, cost was $30. I still have today and it shoots straight. 20 cal (5mm) Pellets can't be found locally but are plentiful online. I still have a half box of the original pellets in the yellow box.

 

Hang on to it. They are collector's items now. A broken one is worth well over $100. A pristine one? Lordy!

 

Lol interesting way to rationalize it.
I could say I paid for and am owed lots of fun things our military uses but I understand how it works. Same reason I pay for national park access. Enjoy those tasty MREs.

 

I'm getting in on MRE's myself, and trying out FSR's as a lightweight/backpacking option. They're flavorful enough and plenty cheap even if you're not getting them free. Plus it saves me a stove and other stuff to break on trail or when camping.

 

Costco sells Mountain House meals for about $60 for 15ish meals? 3-4 packs of beef stroganoff, lasagna, teriyaki chicken, and granola. Not a bad deal.

 

Sure it's been discussed, but "field stripping" "rat-f**king" can bring down the weight of MRE's. You can save several ounces by discarding a lot of the packaging or items you won't need/consume.

 

Throw out the charms and dibs on the jalapeno cheese!

 

I'm actually considering switching to FSR's from MRE's, they're rat-fucked from the factory to reduce weight and only have no-cook items. Haven't tried them on an outing yet but they seem like a better path. Plus they're slightly cheaper per calorie which is nice.

 

Picked up a smaller Silky saw for backpacking/hiking. I have a larger version in the truck and these saws are great.
Venerable Osborne 940 for scale.