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 British Army 24hr Ration Pack
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British Army 24hr Ration Pack
More about British Army
Average Rating: 5 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 11
RRP: £9.99
Year: 2002

Description: British Army 24-hour Ration Pack

 REVIEWS
 
1 to 10 of 11 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.Page: 1  2  
Ray Britton 
Posted: 11/07/08
'THIS DEBATE/REVIEW ALWAYS MAKES ME LAUGH.'
Strengths:
The British army rat pack (well the "24 hour one man GS boil in the bag operational type" we are reviewing here) Is basically three wayfarer meals (in different wrappers) and various other items such as chocolate, biscuits, tea coffee, beverage whitener, pate, chewing gum, hot chocolate, tissues, sweets oatmeal block etc. Now what makes me laugh, is that many hikers are happy to pay 3-3.50 for a wayfarer meal, and then say they are nice meals. BUT give them the same food (from the same manufacturer and with the same contents) in a silver MOD wrapper, and suddenly they are of inferior quality or heavy!!!
so STRENGTHS Good wholesome food, very long shelf life, no washing up, no need for a bowl or plate, plus you can use the water for tea/coffee
Weaknesses:
Yes there are only about 15 or so menu's, but then how many of us go away for 45 days or more (eating each one 3 times is hardly tough living)
Overall:
don't believe the rubbish that is spoken saying these things bung you up...it nothing to do with these particular rations. Any diet of tinned food and no fruit for prolonged periods has exactly the same effect.
Also don't pay anywhere near the above price of £9.99, many shops will do them for £6-7.
Personally I only pay £1 per box, so I am getting wayfarer meals at less than 20p each
Plus the new style boiled sweets are individually wrapped, and thus can be kept loose in your pack rain or shine, so are always good for a quick sugar boost prior to some steep hill (a real treat when you often carry a 35kg pack, as I do!)
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
100%
 
Paul Cummings 
Posted: 07/07/08
'EXCELLENT, BUT HEAVY, SUSTENANCE'
Strengths:
Good variety, simple to reheat and eat (or eat cold), loads of calories, good taste
Weaknesses:
Heavy, too much for most people even after a day walking.
Overall:
Nearly 2kg for 24 hrs is a lot, but split the pack down at you can take just what you need. 4000 calories is a lot for a day. Basically, boil in the bag breakfast (beans and burgers type of thing), cold lunch (biscuits, spread, chocolate, sweets etc), boil in the bag dinner and desert (stew, choc pudding etc). Also powdered hot and cold drinks, matches, water purifying tablets, tissues etc. Include the greatest taste known to man - army fruit biscuits. I love 'em.

Magnificent value when you can get a 24hr pack for less than £10 with any one of the boil in the bag options costing £3-4.
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
100%
 
Trevor D Gamble 
Posted: 30/12/07
'GENERALLY VERY GOOD, BUT HAS DRAWBACKS FOR PROLONGED USEAGE!'
Strengths:
Great kit overall, but some places selling it are pricy! Ebay stores are a good place to buy from, especially if you are just shopping for a few of these Rat packs. Still very short on taste, but do like the British Armed forces people do! Just carry a little kit with you of add in extras to extend the usefulness and tastiness of these composite ration foodstufffs! There are only a few menu choices available still though, when compared to the much wider US Army MRE's menu options.
Weaknesses:
Soldiers long skilled in having to feast off these basic food kits learn that they do have many limitations! Most important of all is that one cannot alone just "live" off them for extended periods in backcountry conditions! This is because you will likely soon begin to get very bunged up tummy-wise! Constipation is the unfortunate end result of using these food packs for too long! This is why all soldiers of experience routinely carry with them, in their personal kit, both "stop" and "go" tablets to cure any potential tummy troubles of diet, common when using these rations kits!
Overall:
Still much better than even those newer improved menu versions of American Armed Forces "MRE's"-or Meals Ready To Eat- ration packs. Great for short term expedition use if you are vehicle based. Better overall for use over shorter periods of time. Better if you mix in some other fresh foodstuffs as well. If you are Arctic conditions bound, try to find yourself some of the great Arctic British Army ration packs maybe; instead of the General Service ones or GS usual type, which are more easy to find. The better Arctic rations menu versions however are formatted differently; and with an overiding priority assumption in mind-that you will have plentiful water from ice-melt all around you available! So those Arctic type rations contain much freeze dried types of menu items overall.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
80%
Overall Rating
 
80%
 
Jon Mathias 
Posted: 01/08/04
Updated: 13/08/06
'EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED'
Strengths:
Pretty good food. Light to carry. Very good value. Includes everything that you need for 24 hours.

[Update 13/08/06] Pretty good food, especially when you consider the very long shelf life. Heavy compared to dehydrated scran but tastes better and there's no washing-up. Very good value. Includes everything that you need for 24 hours. The drinking chocolate is particularly good.

Weaknesses:
None - OK, chocolate gets a bit ropey after a few years...

[Update 13/08/06] Heavy to carry.

Overall:
 
Performance
 
60%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
80%
 
'Jack Lad' 
Posted: 13/08/06
'EXCELLENT WELL BALANCED MEALS'
Strengths:
No nonsense 'meals ready to eat'.No planning needed just buy and eat.Everything you will need for a day in the hills etc.
Weaknesses:
The only problem i have is the weight issue.If your away for a few days they tend to be bulky.
Overall:
I have lived on 'compo' for weeks at a time despite there being a recommendation for no longer than 30 days.No substitute for fresh rations obviously.The menus are varied and the food tasty.Plenty for those with a sweet tooth and also for those troubled by sheep.Biscuits brown and biscuits fruit will detere the most threatening of the ovine species.PLEASE NOTE: Online suppliers of military rations will never supply you with the genuine article (in my experience),only a poor substitute!Best try a good military surplus store of which there are plenty around.Happy eating.
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
80%
Overall Rating
 
93%
 
Colin Robertson 
Posted: 05/08/04
'BRILLIANT FOOD FOR A FEW DAYS !'
Strengths:
Tested by scientists for nutrition , taste, calories etc.
Weaknesses:
Gets very boring after a few weeks!
It might have an affect on your bodily functions !!!
Overall:
It is almost 20 years since I last tasted 'Compo 'but I still have fond memories !
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
93%
 
DAVID LAWRENCE 
Posted: 05/08/04
'PRETTY DAMN TASTY'
Strengths:
Everything you needed in one box from can opener to toilet paper. The milk and jam in tubes were particularly lovely but I have not been able to eat a squashed fly buscuit since having then every day for a fortnight
Weaknesses:
Everything was in tin cans and therefore heavy although you could heat the meals up in the tin. Quite scary finding Aztec Bars in the packs, even then, late seventies, they had been off the shop shelf for years.
Overall:
The Artic Rations were better.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
87%
 
Ronan Mac Hugh 
Posted: 25/11/04
'MORE THAN WHAT IT SAYS ON THE BOX'
Strengths:
lots of food
can easily feed 2 people for a day and have loads over

can be eaten hot or cold
Weaknesses:
dump the chocolate bars as they are not that good.
Overall:
excellent pack.
can't ask for better.
Can be broken down as some of the kit is not required for trekking.
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
93%
 
James Cassidy 
Posted: 26/11/04
'EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN A BOX'
Strengths:
Make sure you get an up to date one. The main meals are Wayfarer boil in the bag. Plenty of snacks, Biscuits brown and primula,mmmmmmmmmmm. Toilet paper/ hankie are include, best of all, puritabs are included.
Weaknesses:
Fairly heavy, if you are out for a few days, dump the excess.
Overall:
With the old ratpacks, you had to carry a spice rack to pep up the food, but that is no longer the case. with meals like Meatballs and pasta in tomato sauce, and desserts like fruit dumplings in butterscotch sauce, you really can't complain.
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
100%
 
Lea Millership 
Posted: 30/11/04
'IT WILL TASTE GOOD...NO REALLY!'
Strengths:
Its all there. Main meals fill yer up, good at the end of the days slogging. Bags are bomb proof too, good for stashing to find next winter!I really enjoyed the Corn beef hash and the stew and dumplings.
Weaknesses:
The weight,you can drop some of the stuff, especially if yer on a mission. I`m a beanpole, and some of the main meals are dead stodgy and sit heavy on yer stomach, particularly if you have them for lunch and continue walking. Some of the meals have that "synthetic" taste we all know and love. Over the days you eventually get blocked up....ahem! Nurse...more dried fruits!
Overall:
Very good, cant grouse at the price either, about £8.00 each `round our way. Best to mix `n` match with yer own dried pasta `n` sauces and the ubiquitous porridge. The chefs amonst you will want to pack salt `n` pepper tho` it makes all the diference.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
87%
 
 
 
 
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