How Many Of You Keep MRE's Handy, "Just In Case"?

[billt]

Melanie things it would be a good idea to get a few cases of these things to keep ready, next to our "go bag" just in case. I live only 2 miles from University Of Phoenix Stadium where the Cardinal's play, and about 40 miles from the Palo Verde Nuclear Plant, the largest nuclear power plant in the United States. I'm not one of those "tin foil hat" kind of guys, but I am realistic. We've got a guy in the White House who isn't exactly the toughest on terror, and these are 2 really juicy targets.

On the plus side I live 5 miles from Luke Air Force Base which has the largest F-16 fighter wing in the world. They announced in the local papers after 9/11 they can scramble fully armed F-16's and have them over Palo Verde in as little as 4 minutes, but you have to figure it would be much like the police, an after the fact response to something disastrous.

Anyway back to the MRE's. I found this site:

http://www.mreinfo.com/us/mre/buying-mres.html

They give some good info, but I thought I'd check in with you guys first. I heard they are really good, and be sure to buy the ones that are Mil-Spec because they have to meet a certain caloric and nutrition requirement. Comments??  Bill T.

[shooter32]

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=8034.0


 

[Pathfinder]

Have you eaten an MRE? We had them a few times in Scouting. They are fun once in a while, but seriously . . .

I do have some Mountain House freeze dried in the BoB - "just in case"

Better to pack food-food, stuff you are prepared to eat long-term, and leave the MREs as a "just in case" very short term food.

[ericire12]

I actually love MREs and take them backpacking each time I go..... So I do have a case of them right now as we speak, but they are allocated for camping use. There are much more economical/easier ways to store food long term -- unless you are actually wanting to stock up and literally not worry about it again for 10 years. Just simple old canned foods, peanut butter, beans, etc etc does the trick for long term storage..... just rotate it out every once in a while b/c the shelf life is not as long as MREs.

[tombogan03884]

 Can't hurt as they are much lighter and easier to pack than canned goods but with canned goods you have the same things you normally eat and do not have to deal with the results of a drastically changed diet, such as constipation (I have never used MRE toilet paper,)
Being in Az. water may be another consideration, you need water with MRE's where as most canned goods are packed in their own.

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

(I have never used MRE toilet paper,)

Its great for starting camp fires.... but the plastic bags that MREs are packed in are the best starter fuel.

[Timothy]

(I have never used MRE toilet paper,)

You're a Marine!  Just scoot your ass through the cactus afterward....



 

[tombogan03884]

You're a Marine!  Just scoot your ass through the cactus afterward....



 

It's not that, I couldn't work up a crap on a case of them.

[billt]

I should add I have to watch my blood sugar so I can't eat a lot of carbs. MRE's allow me to "pick and choose" meals. Power Bars are a bit like glorified candy bars. Too high in sugar and carbs.   Bill T.

[billt]

By the way I'm getting conflicting reports on how long MRE's really last. What's the longest you've stored them, and what is the best way to do so? Fridge, freezer, or room temp? Thanks again.   Bill T.