Has anyone used MRE’s as a backpacking food source? “MRE” stands for Military Ready to Eat, the dehydrated meals that the military uses for troops. I just read an article in the local paper about them, how they’ve come a long way from their nasty-tasting, tough-as-shoeleather, largely unappetizing recent past. Some of the current offerings are supposed to be pretty tasty! Has anyone tried them, or know where I could get some? Thanks!
Jonna
Yes I use mres as part of my overall meal plan. They are not dehydrated however, all the entrees can be eaten as is. Or you can heat them up in boiling water. You can purchase complete meal packs or each component in dividually. ie, entree, deserts, vegetable and so on. The aspiced apples are great and the mashed potato. I buy them on line.
Chef
We eat lot them in the Navy. Not bad,lots of calories and lots of choices.But expensive ($5.00 a meal)and they also have a lot of stuff you dont need,like wrappers and packaging.You would be well advised to open and strip them.Try the us cavalary web sight. When you get there do a search on mre.http://www.uscav.com
Virginian
I just did a search for MREs and the following address is for a seller of MREs: http://www.ki4u.com/mre.htm. The price for his “Sampler” package, which contains 2 each of 11 different entrees was around $3.00 each, with S&H. Not too bad…:happy
Jonna
MRE’s are designed to be nutritous. However, their down side is the waste packaging that needs to be packed out, and also the weight.
Peaks
Just buy the entrees. I always carry one or two as an emergency food. Some times the bugs and heat are sooo bad you just want to hide in your tent suck one down and go to sleep. They saved my butt once, when I got caught on a steep mountain, in a blasting rain storm, in the dark (I know stupid). Sucking one down (you just tear one corner and press the bottom up into your mouth) was like spinach to Popeye. The surge of energy, more than a power bar, got me to a shelter.
Blue Jay
While it’s certainly possible to use MREs, and they have improved dramatically, I don’t think they’re a very good choice for backpacking, for the reasons stated before, namely:
They are not dehydrated and so are heavy,
Lots of packaging.
May be expensive compared to some other options.
For something like canoe camping they may be just the ticket because of the good variety, good nutrition, and everything you need for a meal in one pouch. For backpacking I think there are far better choices, and that is why MREs are rarely seen on the long trails.
Colter
Great for hunting and fishing trips but leave them home if you thru-hike. They are “VERY HEAVY.” I saw several people start out with them and we found a lot of them in shelters not eaten, but most quit carring them very early in their hike. By the time we got to Harpers Ferry it was clear what had happened to hikers who quit the hike: Too fast, too soon, too much, too heavy. 90% of this years hikers we met this weekend in the Smokies said they had cut their pack weight by 15 to 30 lbs!! and were planing to cut it some more at Hot Springs. You have to keep in mind that 1 oz. carried to Katahdin (5 million steps) is equal to 142 tons. We finished in Sept. and I still have sore feet and feeling in only half of my toes. My pack was 18 lbs without water and food! We took two hikers (23 and 24 years old) off the mountain this week with bad knees. Their pack weight was 42 and 45 lbs. with one day of food.
Papa Smurf
True, it would not be wise to use MRE’s as your main food source. However, the packaging for one or two as emergency fuel is far less than that extra rain jacket or pants, and will keep you warmer in the short term, until you get to shelter.
Blue Jay
I received a bunch of MRE meals for free before I did the AT in 2000. I broke them down, and I had one sent to me in each mail drop. On my first or second day on the trail I ate the MRE to get rid of the weight. Unfortunately, I was left with a lot of garbage. They certainly were a good change of pace from the Liptons and Ramens, but again they were cumbersome.
Freefall