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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

ready meals / ration packs

13 replies

SileneOliveira · 19/03/2019 15:05

DS is doing his D of E silver award. We are not campers by any stretch of the imagination. In the past he's camped with Scouts but it's been communal cooking and usually done by the leaders. This time he's on his own.

I know you can get those ready meal pouch things, and "ration pack" type grub in camping shops. But are they OK? Can anyone recommend tasty ones? He's thinking something like a pouch of bolognese or chilli or something, then he can cook pasta. Weight not too much of an issue as they're canoeing rather than hiking. Want to ensure he's well fed, and not forcing down gross food because there's nothing else.

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 20/03/2019 05:19

Yes I’d advise getting the packets for evening meals. I wouldn’t do a hot meal for lunches.
Wayfayrer is a good make which is D of E recommended. I know they’re sold in Go Outdoors. Most of the packets are complete meals - they already contain the rice or pasta - so I’d get those ones to save having to carry and cook anything else.
I wouldn’t get the packets for breakfast though. These are just as good but much cheaper www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/259051507 and you can’t beat cuppa porridge!

marcopront · 20/03/2019 06:14

Isn't he cooking in a group?

Mysterian · 23/03/2019 19:42

The pouch things seem to be about £2 on ebay.

Here

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 23/03/2019 19:48

DH (DofE alumnus) recommends pitta bread as it doesn't get squashed in your rucksack and ramen blocks because it doesn't matter if they do... And masses of Kendal mint cake if doing a lot of walking!

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:04

OP theyre the same as Go Outdoors, but 1/2 the price. ask the seller what the expiry date is though. I use them for hikes/ wild camping. never had kendal mint cake. on a 4 day hike, carrying all food I pack cereal bars, sweets, rat pack meals (got wayfayer at the moment, also look on evaqu8 website), flat bread/ pitta as it doesnt squash. those porridge pots where you just add water are good, but they take up alot of space so i empty the pot into a ziploc bag and put the oats in a cup. also in go outdoors you can get dehydrated meals (adventure food). theyre okay but the really nice ones are made by firepot, real turmat. for cereal bars i tended to go for the ones that are less sugary...nak`d bars type. ramen noodles/ super noodles are good.

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:06

if they like cups of tea (i do!) start collecting extra milks from macdonalds etc (check expiery dates). don`t require keeping cold ;) . you can buy them "dairystix" off amazon as well.

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:11

also collect coffee/ sugars etc from places! you can buy sachets of drinking choc etc from tesco. long hikes carrying a rucksack= a monster appetite. for a special brekkie, a pack of pre made pancakes and mini nutellas? seen those in tesco. dry fry the pancake for 10 secs aprox each side (just to heat up really) in the trangia pan. for real food trangias make fab popcorn, just need a bit of oil (wilkos travel size toiletry bottle ive used with the pump dispenser 50p), popping corn from holland and barret/ tesco i think, salt sachet/ sugar or whatever!

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:14

in £land look for "look we found" bolognese / sauces , tesco dolmio`s pouches of pasta and sauces. tip in pan altogether, stir till bubbling (if its gas burner trangias 3 mins!) done.

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:17

OP if theyre using gas cannisters top tip : when the temp drops gas pressure can drop = weak flame. So if its cold while putting up the tent pop the cannister close to the body if poss in a pocket, tuck inside your jacket to help it. at night chuck the cannister into the bottom of your sleeping bag to keep it warm and clothes for morning= warm clothes to put on and a cannister thatll fire up a brew faster ;)

wibbleee · 23/03/2019 20:19

bivvied/ tented on beaches and hills in all temps...... nothing like waking up snug, getting up and seeing frost!!!

Loopytiles · 23/03/2019 20:22

These are great tips! Am in awe of outdoorsy types.

onaroll · 24/03/2019 22:18

Not expedition but festival experience.
Coffee , I get the Nescafé 2 in 1 or 3in1 packs.
I also get ‘look what we found’ food sachets ( from Waitrose) chicken casserole , chilli con carne etc.
They do the job nicely over my Trangia.

Titsywoo · 24/03/2019 22:28

DD is doing her bronze this year so following this with interest! For snacks we found some protein flapjacks in Aldi called Natural Selection Cocoanilla which are small packs of 3 (231 cals for all 3 and 8g protein). Apparently they are really nice and they are light so she'll be loading up on them.

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