Preparedness for when

NewShadow

Food (for a week-ish) - underlined items are one's I'm considering buying. All else is from stocks.

DS Kelly Kettle (500g)
Aluminium camping cooking set (lidded pan, fry pan, kettle, 3 plastic bowls, spatula, ladle) (800g)
2 x aluminium cups (300g)
2x sporks
assorted condiment packets

Drinks
10 x instant coffee
12 x instant latte
10 x instant hot chocolate
12 x oxo stock cubes

Pour into mug, add hot water, and wait.
3 x 500ml plastic tubs (Each tub can do 2 decent servings) containing:
rolled oats
rye flakes
milk powder
sugar
cinnamon
mixed dried fruit
toasted linseeds
toasted sesame seeds

OTS
3 x assorted flavoured couscous
3 x assorted instant mash
3 x instant custard

Add hot water, and cook in pan c.20 min.
3 x 500ml plastic tubs containing:
quinoa
TVP
dried mushrooms
dried mixed veg
marigold bouillon
beef powder (ground dehydrated beef)

OTS
3 x assorted quick cook savoury rices
3 x assorted pasta n sauce types
3 x assorted beanfeast types

Just eat or add to meals
3 x Kendal Mint Cake
4 x 100g Scottish tablet
2 x 100g white choc mice
12 x 20g assorted fruit leathers
7 x pack of 5 crackers
7 x 40g assorted jerky
(trying to source some shelf stable cheese in the UK)

Misc - not for use this trip, but I want to carry them for the weight/bulk
Fishing weights, line, hooks (c.300g)
(still looking to source some stiff wire)
(Still could do with picking up a new pocket knife - looking at the Opinel No 8)



What do you think? I'm trying not to take anything that won't last 6 months in a bag.

I'm guessing at calorie requirements, not sure how much I'd be bringing home - one of the reasons for the test.

I want a selection of food that doesn't need 'cooking', just in case, but don't want it to be too much.

Same with the sweet v's savoury.

I'm debating the weight/worth of a carton of UHT so I can take teabags :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Are you taking along a HM spirit stove, to try out?

NewShadow

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Are you taking along a HM spirit stove, to try out?

No. I'm planning on using the kelly kettle to heat water and start some coals, then dig an actual fire pit - stone lined, for the week.

I don't like the idea of carrying hex blocks or spirit. Or more accurately don't like the idea of them sitting in a rucksack for 6 months.


ETA:

Water/sanitation
10L folding water container
5L folding water container
100 Water purification tablets (there's a potable stand pipe by the entrance - c.2 miles)
100 individual antibacterial wipes
Hand sanitising gel
Travel towel
Bin bags
Food waste bags
Loo roll
First aid kit

Shelter
Pop up tent
Tarp
100 ft para cord
6 x packs earplugs (shouldn't need these, but might in an actual SHTF)
Gaffa tape
(still looking for a decent sleeping bag/mat combo)

Heat
20 x 8 hour hand held chemical heat packs
Mini storm kettle
6 x 50ml pots of wood shavings
2 x 50ml pots of paraffin wax
Waterproof matches
2 x magnesium fire starters
Pull saw
Hatchet

Thermal hood
Fingerless gloves
Fleece gloves
Waxed Barbour coat
Leather gortex walking boots
(need to review the socks situation)

Light
Solar/wind up torch
Wind up torch/radio
Solar lantern

GreyQueen

Looks good, NewShadow.

I'm thinking that from my point of view, it looks very weighted towards the carb side of the spectrum. I do know I get a bit weak and hangry if I don't have some animal protein each day. Sardines and other tinned fish are small enough to be eaten in one sitting and can enliven starchy meals. Or small pots of pate, even.

Will you be doing some foraging for wild greens? Even the trusty dandelion is a helpful boost. I'd watch out for the cow parsley which will be in flower at this time, there are several related species, some of which are edible, some not, and they are extremely hard to differentiate (I wouldn't trust myself to tell a pignut from a cow parsley without a book at hand).

comeandgo

Grey queen, you do get a cheese substitute in a tube in uk. We use it to put on oatcakes when backpacking. Also condensed milk in a tube, lovely at any time.

nuatha

NewShadow wrote: »

Baby bel last a month unrefrigerated in a backpack with no discernible change to taste or texture (though they can apparently get squished into a funny shape). Note to self - empty rucksacks properly after use when shopping.

I have been known to stock up on mini truckles in the post Christmas supermarket stock clearances.

I do like hard waxed cheese, and have some lovely local smoked I can take, but I'm also looking for something to leave in a BOB that'll be fine for 6 months or so. A part of this is wanting to test my BOB - see what I'll use and what's just dead weight over a week or so.

I'm thinking about getting the 3 pack of tinned cheese bob linked to - one to see if it's any good, then 2 for the kit if it is.

I'm also looking for the shelf stable version of the primula cheese spread - I'd swear it used to be fine unrefrigerated, but everything I've seen says it now needs to be kept cold. Not sure if that's just a change in regs?

Primula cheese tubes is shelf stable, its an ambient product but is sold from fridges to enhance its appeal as a cheese (because premium cheese products are sold from fridges). The relatively recently introduced Primula dips also follow this model. The dips were introduced with a 180 day shelf life. Source The Grocer.

Tape added.

I'm also not normally a single skin fan, but It's really light - around a kilo, and I like the reassurance that it zips up tight - blocking any stray breeze or bugs that get through the top layer.

I'll only have to hike a mile or two too where I expect to set up camp, so I'm happy to compromise on the weight.

From the point of view of cheap light disposable shelter, I can see the advantage of the pop-up tents. Adding a durable second skin by way of a tarp sounds good to me. I've seen the remains of some popup tents at summer festivals in mildest summer weather - I've also known some that have survived several years of regular summer use.

GreyQueen wrote: »

There are double-skinned backpacking tents which only weigh a kilo, like my Banshee 200. That has stood up to some serious gales in the Lake District but, if I was shopping again, I'd go for a different design with a bit more of a porch, that model opens on the side and there is only about an 6 inch gap between the inner and the fly, which makes life in 7 days of pouring rain a bit tiresome - needing to put wet and muddy boots there.

I use a three man dual skin dome tent, weighs 4Kg but the amount of space is worth it. It also has a decent size porch for wet gear.
It also means I can accommodate additional people if need be, and has room that I can sit up or dress without being a contortionist.
Serious mountain work I'd fall back on my old Force 10, 2 kg heavier, less spacious but has stood up in serious storms in very exposed places.

...
Salivating over nuatha's description of fruitcake and cheese as a meal for hiking days, I know several people who do this, it seems to hit the spot. I'm a big fan of nuts, too. They're relatively light, easy to eat, filling and nourishing and very packable, unless you have allergies to them, of course.

Nuts are trail snacks (alongside banana chips and trail mix)
I won't comment otherwise on your fondness for nuts - am sure Bob won't miss a feed line

GreyQueen

comeandgo wrote: »

Grey queen, you do get a cheese substitute in a tube in uk. We use it to put on oatcakes when backpacking. Also condensed milk in a tube, lovely at any time.

Thank you. Could you tell us which shop you bought it in, brands etc, in case anyone reading wants to get some?

Although they will not meet NewShadow's criteria of being able to live in the BOB for 6 months, if you're going backpacking for a week or less, don't discount the hard-boiled but still in its shell egg. Very portable.

craigywv

thank you for replies I shall use some mesh just over the soil not the entire pots as its not suitable due to climbing roses thanks again.

mardatha

Oh god I'm sorry but my brain stopped dead at the words "tubes of condensed milk" .................... oh god!!! Drooling!

[Deleted User]

NewShadow wrote: »

6 x packs earplugs (shouldn't need these, but might in an actual SHTF)

If these are to help you sleep, I wouldn't recommend it, especially in a SHTF situation.

Even when asleep, you need to be alert to things happening around you, such as a search vehicle/aircraft passing near by, so you can signal your presence to them.

You wouldn't want to sleep through it, and miss being rescued.