Posted: 11/16/2009 12:41:00 PM EDT
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What's a good mess kit for SHTF/backpacking use?
I currently have the old military mess tray, but i think i could get something better... Swedish? Aluminum Nalgene cup? others? |
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I use to use the old MIL mess system for years. It does alright just heavy and that canteen cup tips over way too easy.
I now use a stainless mess kit, standard Wallyworld stuff, and a stainless Nalgene cup. I shaved some weight but the main thing I gained was stability on the stoves/fire and the kit has an extra cooking pot. Another advantage is that thick steel used in the MIL stuff will last generations but it takes a hell of a lot of heat to heat them up initially. Going lighter saves on fuel while making it easier to cook using a fire. Mine actually has a copper bottom on the skillet. I think its Ozark Trails. I'm not too picky on brands. Once you accept you would cook in a steel food can if you had to, brand recognition as a priority sorta of goes away. Its the features you are after. I didn't go Titanium due to cost. Quite frankly you can shave a lot more weight for that money on other gear, such as shelter, sleeping bag, ground pad, etc. I do though thoroughly enjoy the guys who have a Titainium system and a $10 compass. 
Tj |
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Quoted:
What's wrong with this? http://members.tcq.net/davepen/images/mess.kit.jpg If you're a hardcore backpacker and every ounce counts, there are other options. If you're the average prepper, don't buy into the BS. This kit is fine. Mine was manufactured and issued in the 60's. I'm not sure if anything is, but getting a second opinion is always good! I really like mine too, it's great to store most of my cookware in Honestly. Mine is 83'!
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Quoted:
Quoted:
What's wrong with this? http://members.tcq.net/davepen/images/mess.kit.jpg If you're a hardcore backpacker and every ounce counts, there are other options. If you're the average prepper, don't buy into the BS. This kit is fine. Mine was manufactured and issued in the 60's. I'm not sure if anything is, but getting a second opinion is always good! I really like mine too, it's great to store most of my cookware in Honestly. Mine is 83'! At least it isn't made in China! |
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It really depends on how or what you plan to cook. I have several types from canteen cups to Ti ware. I prefer the nesting cups for canteens and Nalgene bottles.
I actually like the Crusader cup that goes with the NATO canteen better than the USGI version...it's just a more robust canteen cup. If you're traveling light, just something to boil water is more than enough. ROCK6 |
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I like the Crusader cup concept, but prefer to use Nalgenes. My car bag has a stainless Wal-Mart Nalgene cup, homemade Exbit stove, and a wind screen, all wrapped aroung a 1L widemouth bottle with a long handled spoon in it. My camping kit is a knock off Ti pot, Gram Weenie Pro alcohol stove, windscreen, and long handled spoon. Everything is (relatively) light weight, multi use, and durable.
But I may still pick up a Crusader set up for kicks... |
| The grease pot from WalMart is an inexpensive, durable, lightweight option in which I've cooked quite a few pots of Ramen noodles over an alcohol-fuel stove. |
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Quoted:
What's wrong with this? http://members.tcq.net/davepen/images/mess.kit.jpg If you're a hardcore backpacker and every ounce counts, there are other options. If you're the average prepper, don't buy into the BS. This kit is fine. Mine was manufactured and issued in the 60's. I have a Korean War one. It's what I'm using. |
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canteen cup,,im cheap..i wanna a TI kettle of sorts but im to cheap  Ditto. My canteen cup does 90% of what I'll ever need to do in the woods, from boiling water, to cooking noodles, to making coffee/tea. If I were out there cooking steaks or omelets it might be different. It also gets bonus points for not taking up any room when stored around my canteen. I'm becoming nearly as bulk conscious as I am weight conscious. For silverware I just use a cheap nesting set. I have a light my spork thingy but I'm not to hot about holding the other end that I may be eating off of tommorow, with my grungy woodsman's hands. YMMV For cooking I have a couple of penny stoves. Thinking about buying a Trangia, just for robustness sake, as I have crushed one to the point it wouldn't work, being stupid. |
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Funny to read this thread. I have the AL backpacking pots and pans, a bronze sierra cup, and a enamel steel coffee mug..
Then I moved up a little to Ti cup and spork. I am currently assembling a canteen cup kit (mostly becuase I found my Uncles canteen cup). Getting to be a challenge to find the canteen cup stove anymore. (At least it's something for CarbineKid to wear on his belt –– And he has a $2.99 compass )
I think I am regressing in my mess set selection
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Quoted:
Funny to read this thread. I have the AL backpacking pots and pans, a bronze sierra cup, and a enamel steel coffee mug.. Then I moved up a little to Ti cup and spork. I am currently assembling a canteen cup kit (mostly becuase I found my Uncles canteen cup). Getting to be a challenge to find the canteen cup stove anymore. (At least it's something for CarbineKid to wear on his belt –– And he has a $2.99 compass )
I think I am regressing in my mess set selection Nah, its a damn cup so as long as it doesn't leak, there are no wrong answers.
Besides there's just something to be said about drinking a cup of Joe in the field in a GI cup or enamel steel cup. 
Tj |
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Well hell, I may as well just put my canteen cup and canteen cup stove back into the BoB as well as the German utensils I have had for the longest time...
The question now is what's a decent shelter? I know a poncho isn't the best, so I can't be talked into keeping mine as my primary shelter. :P |
| Most of the food I eat in the back country or plan to eat during shift, do not require a fry pan. Right now I use a titian kettle and pocket rocket for day use trips. I have a brunton kit that has a pot and cup staked combo, I like it, and is great for the winter months when I will be boiling more water. I have a vargo Ti cup that a nalagene fit into and of course the oil camp stainless cup. I turned the stainless cup into a mini billy can by adding a bail made from a coat hanger to it. I caught this tip on you tube. The one thing that I have had issues with the stainless cup is the handles have been breaking off and also getting HOT. This bail prevents this and also makes use over a fire easy. A canteen cup and usgi mess kit is next to be added to my inventory. |
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I have a polyglot collection of this and that. Since I have stopped back pack camping, and instead drive myself to the camp ground, I don't worry any more about the weight.
For those times that I do a day hike, I'll have my MSR pocket rocket stove, a can of fuel, the one quart MSR Ti pot and a folding fork/spoon/ knife set. I'll have along one or two MH meals, so all I really need to do is heat the water. |
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i love my olicamp(available from campmore for approx $6) cook cup it nests on the outside of a nalgene bottle very snugly. i keep this setup in a cheapy condor pouch on the outside of my LAPG diplomat 3 day pack. the condor pouch isn't "top" quality but it's nice for the $18 or so i spent on it and the zippers seem pretty solid. the pouch even has room in the outside zipper pocketed compartment for an esbit stove(fuel tabs nest inside) and a small bottle of purification tabs and a small lighter. it's a pretty decnt setup imho, and it works very well for me.
if i plan on doing more cooking than that i can take along one of my wallyworld folding handled teflon skillets, a small nylon spatula, and a course black scrubby pad and some biodegradable soap for cleaning purposes. aditionally, i have one of those nifly light my fire sporks(usually packed with the nalgene and esbit kit mentioned above, and i hope to pick up the lightmyfire mess kit in the green color option for christmas(someone email my GF ok?, thanks!! )...
K. |
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I started out with a heavy stainless GI canteen cup. I still like it, but because of weight concerns, I graduated to a titanium Snow Peak Trek 700, and am very happy.
My cookpot started out stainless. OK, but too heavy. I then went to paper-thin aluminum for the light weight. Still dissatisfied. Next I went to a 1 or 1.5L titanium (rightly or wrongly) cookpot. This was a best solution for a long time. It still is, if dinner is a pot of boiled glop  Then, I discovered steaks and sausages. Now, if the weather is cool enough, I bring enough meat for the whole trip. This means frying, pretty much.
My titanium pot was not very suitable for frying, at all. This forced another material change. I'm back to a medium thickness of aluminum, because it fries and bakes great, with relatively low weight. So, I've gone to the larger size of surplus aluminum rectangular British mess tin. It works great for frying saysages, bacon, cut up steak, hamburger, freshly shot quail, trouts, whatever. Also, It is very suitable for baking on a little butane stove, alcohol stove or campfire. The Dragonfly gasoline stove simmers low enough to bake very well with. I have baked pizza in the middle of nowhere! Stove top stuffing, instant potatoes, more sausages, instant gravy mix, cornbread, biscuits, bisquick mix, and fry bread. You are only limited by your imagination. |
At least no one mentioned the little cast iron frying pans. 
Always liked peoples faces when I showed up with it. My real setup is just the cheap wally world pots and pans from the camping section and the stainless steel mugs out of the camping section. Some of these have changed since I had had mine for several years now and wallyworld never carries stuff for very long. I still have my old boy scout mess kit but never use it. For the most part I am just boiling water and want a couple containers to do it with so my coffee can be consumed while I am heating up water for food. |
| You guys with the British Crusader cup....I assume your using the cooker stove that goes with it? Seems the Brits use gel alcohol packets now instead of the solid fuel types. Anybody use the gel type fuel- I think the Brits use a brand called Greenheat? Would like to know the pros and cons compared to Esbit or other solid fuels. |
| all that i have read on the British bushcraft web site is that the gel fuel has a low heat out put and does'nt work well they call it "green snot" ...they revert back to hexy -blocks to use in the cooker...i have a crusdaer mug but not the cooker and use it on a Esbit cooker to heat water etc.... vince g. 11b inf.. |
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I like my Esbit and canteen cup for lightest weight and most utilitarian. Not going to do any cordon bleu cooking in the field. Picked up a case of surplus fuel tabs cheap a couple of years ago, and am not even a quarter way through the box yet. So I'm well set for continued Esbit cooking.
That being said, I am a compulsive preper, and am always looking for new and or improved products that might prove handy. Recently picked up two of the German mess kits that come with the denatured alcohol burners. Upon arrival, one turned out to be a well used and very heavy stainless model. Not going to pack that, but could find a place on the shelf in my BOL. The second kit is a like new aluminum version. It is very light weight, and could find it's way into my pack. Will have to road test the burners and see how well they heat. If the burners turn out to be a bust, not a big deal. Got the pair for under $25, so it won't break the bank. Can always resell them on e-bay. 
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Just my $0.02
GI Stainless Canteen Cup and Stand: Pros: Heavy duty and nearly indestructible. Long life as I have never heard of one breaking, even the wire handles. Easily nests in canteen and pouch with attachments arranging from MOLLE to ALICE gear. Easy to use with fuel tab stoves. Stand also serves as a windscreen. Decent capacity. Cheap when compared to other equivalent sized metal pots and cups (typically under $10 for a brand new cup, under $20 or so together) Cons: Heavy-trading weight for durability. For weight conscious hikers, this is the deal killer. Does not work well with other stoves (odd shape keeps it from sitting right on many liquid and gas stoves). Overall, the pro's outweigh the cons here to a point. If you can handle the extra few ounces and the odd shape, this is hard to beat. I have one that I carry around along with a Ti pot that nests around my Nalgene bottle. I have both because one is on my gear and the other is in my pack. One has a strainer that works when I need to strain things and the other one for boiling water and heating things up. I don't even notice the weight in the canteen pouch any more since I’ve had one there as long as I can remember. GI Mess Kit (stainless or aluminum) Gov Issue stainless steel made prior to a certain date (mid 60s?) and aluminum afterwards, but heavy gauge stern stuff. Commercial ones made in both now with cost being little between the two. Pros: Same as cup, nearly indestructible. Again, long life as many that are 40+ years old are still around and in good shape. Pan can be used for cooking over an open flame or on a stove if you don’t mind the soot. Fairly decent capacity in main portion. Ease of use as two plates come together in handle. Cons: Weight being the primary factor. Bulky for smaller packs. In here, I do not think the pros outweigh the cons. A mess kit was meant for field chow out of mermites (for those that remember that kind of thing) or in the assembly line of a mess tent in the rear if paper plates were not an option. Not really meant for hiking around and using in the backcountry, but it can be used for that. I would personally not carry one in my GHB. GI Knife, Fork and Spoon set (Stainless) Pros: Again with the bombproof design. Fork can serve as an emergency trident in catching whales, spoon was used to dig part of the Panama Canal and the knife can be used as an emergency broadsword when sharpened (or so it seems). Okay, I’m exaggerating, but they are generously oversized. I don’t believe there is a meal around that cannot be eaten with this cutlery set except the knife which IMO is about worthless except to dab on some butter and who has butter when bugging out? Cons: Again with the weight, plus the size and bulk. They are oversized (for what purpose, I’ll never know) and not terribly easy to use when eating. Knife is utterly worthless in my experience. Spoon is a little large and the fork is about the best of the bunch. But the spoon is easier to eat freeze dried meals and MREs with Overall, lexan or Ti or aluminum cutlery is the way to go. But if one insists, the spoon is the most handy of the bunch. Dig a foxhole after you get done eating your soup or use it to remove the snow from under the wheels of your car, it’s almost a do all tool. I would shy away from these items for packing away. So you are forced between time proven and bombproof designs that trade weight for durability or high tech, lightweight designs that may or may not have survived the rigors of combat. I might think carrying a mix of both would be in order? |