Lifeboat Rations for GHB/Car Bag

[dazthechippy]

Hi Folks, just looking at some things to fine tune my car bag for the winter - I picked it up and its HEAVY...

Trying to cut the weight down it's clear that the 24 hour ration pack and hexy cooker weigh a fair bit, so looking to swap them out for lifeboat ration type food. I don't need the bulk of food physically inside me but may need the calories if i have to walk home, at the same time hot food & drink is a good morale boost (but I hope not to be further than 20 miles away) so that should be no problem.

I'd still keep a litre or 2 of water which is heavy in itself..

Anyone got a view on this, brands they'd reccommend, I saw the lifeboat rations on Amazon and Kit Monster do some that look good as they're quite small ?

cheers

[Deeps]

Hi Folks, just looking at some things to fine tune my car bag for the winter - I picked it up and its HEAVY...

Trying to cut the weight down it's clear that the 24 hour ration pack and hexy cooker weigh a fair bit, so looking to swap them out for lifeboat ration type food. I don't need the bulk of food physically inside me but may need the calories if i have to walk home, at the same time hot food & drink is a good morale boost (but I hope not to be further than 20 miles away) so that should be no problem.

I'd still keep a litre or 2 of water which is heavy in itself..

Anyone got a view on this, brands they'd reccommend, I saw the lifeboat rations on Amazon and Kit Monster do some that look good as they're quite small ?

cheers

Completely agree that hot food/drink is a morale booster but if you're looking at a maximum of 20 miles or so (assuming you're able bodied) its a days march and you could get by without a cooker, I've got a couple of tins of beans and veggie sausages for Her Maj's car bag, they can be eaten hot or cold, she's looking at a similar commute and not overly stoic so she doesn't have as much as I would (I'm a kitchen sink kind of a cat). She usually has car sweets too and a tarp/sleeping bag etc so even if she's stuck overnight she should just about survive (think 'The Princess and the Pea'). To be honest, the stuff I've put in her car is more for if she's stranded rather than having to walk home, she'd be absolutely fizzing but I'm sure the Ginger Princess could manage to walk home if she had to (I've had her doing 15 miles over rough terrain before so following the road should be fine).

[featherstick]

Pretty much agree with Deeps. Leave the kit in the car. If you're stranded, you have the means of making a hot drink or meal (NEVER use hexi in an enclosed space). If you need to walk out, leave it behind. If you think you'll need a hot drink en route, put a little stainless steel thermos in the bag and before you leave the car and cooker, fill it with hot tea.

[dazthechippy]

sounds like the right sort of approach, leave the heavy stuff in the car and react accordingly to distance to travel.

Deeps - you're a carbon copy of me and my car plan for my OH...

[Deeps]

sounds like the right sort of approach, leave the heavy stuff in the car and react accordingly to distance to travel.

Deeps - you're a carbon copy of me and my car plan for my OH...

Is it great minds think alike or fools seldom differ ?

[woodsman]

the OH has a box of goodies in the boot for breakdowns or overnight spells in the car (snow / traffic jams ) this contains hot food and drink, lights, blankets ect. also her backpack with all her hill walking gear inside should she feel the need to ditch the car and walk home both box and bag contain food, medical, ect.

[whenfires]

I normally work within 10-30 miles of home and am currently working on a car/GHB which contains:

LED torch
Head Torch
Mobile Chargers - Mains + 12V
Mobile power brick
Spare batteries for torch
Change of clothes (in dry bag)
2 x 750ml Drinks bottles
Multi-Tool
3 x Trail bars
First aid kit
Hand warmers
Emergency poncho
2 x Emergency foil blankets
Basic fire kit
Compressed towels in a dispenser
Wind up radio (with light + mobile charger)


Plus a pair of walking boots to change into.

I could probably do with a bit more food in there to be honest so the lifeboat ration bars are a possible addition because as the OP says, the calorie count in them is great, even if the taste might not be.

[jansman]

Hi Folks, just looking at some things to fine tune my car bag for the winter - I picked it up and its HEAVY...

Trying to cut the weight down it's clear that the 24 hour ration pack and hexy cooker weigh a fair bit, so looking to swap them out for lifeboat ration type food. I don't need the bulk of food physically inside me but may need the calories if i have to walk home, at the same time hot food & drink is a good morale boost (but I hope not to be further than 20 miles away) so that should be no problem.

I'd still keep a litre or 2 of water which is heavy in itself..

Anyone got a view on this, brands they'd reccommend, I saw the lifeboat rations on Amazon and Kit Monster do some that look good as they're quite small ?

cheers

I have asked the question too. I got a couple of these for the same reason. The taste is good, they are light and they pack a punch calorie wise. If your walk home is only 20 miles, then this will do the job IMO. I drive up to 150 miles out in a day. I have a large waist pack with all the usual junk. However, I now have the lifeboat ration in there. I carry a 1 litre bottle of water on one side, and an EMPTY wide mouth Nalgene bottle. In that I carry a Sawyer water filter and puritabs. It keeps the weight down. I always carry a lightweight set of waterproofs too in there.

I looked at a potential walk home and worked out how little I can carry. Shelter, water and food. Shelter is adequate clothing and a plastic Bivvy bag.If it is Winter I would find proper shelter before dark , be it a barn or suchlike. Preserve your core body temperature and you are away.

It is not the same, but I like to fish, roving style. I carry ONLY what is essential. The results are the same as if I heaved a load of gear.