Very nice day today here, so out I went to my front stoop to shake down my emergency cooking set-up. I like to do this at least once a year or more. It was triggered by yesterday's find of some squarish pieces of metal flashing/shingling I found at a hardware store. When I picked up a piece and put a few gentle bends in it, my immediate thought was "WINDSCREEN".

Anyway, I'm very happy with this set-up. I have it down pat now:



It's a Mini-Trangia cook-kit (sorry, mostly obscured here by my new and functionally perfect (IMHO) metal flashing/shingle windscreen (two pieces held together by one of those paper-clamp deals)).

Some Heet methylated spirits. Burns very cleanly if that's what you want.

Strike Anywhere matches (old cruddy style--just using them up)

Nalgene water bottle.

1 cup-sized plastic measuring/drinking cup (keeps stuff hot, doesn't burn lips).

Plastic spoon.

Mountain House freeze-dried and vacuum packed food (makes 16 oz of food. I was full after 8 ozs).

Helpful tips I was reminded of (again):

Drop the lighted match directly into the alcohol in the burner (saves fingers from burn).

Snug the windscreen up around the base of the pot (improves efficiency greatly). It only needs to cover the windward side of the stove. Manipulate the pot/lid/whatever from the other side.

Put the pot lid on upside down (seals the pot perfectly well, improves efficiency, removes easily).

Oh, and this Mountain House freeze dried packet was beef stew. Pour in 1 and 3/4 cups of boiling water, stir, zip the bag shut, wait 9 mins. I was very surprised actually at the caloric content (almost 500 calories for this one meal), and the high nutritional value (170% of minimum daily requirement of Vitamin A, 60% of Vitamin C, 30% of iron, and 6% of calcium). It was a mix of beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, onions, stew sauce of some kind, the usual "stew" stuff. Quite good with a little salt, pepper, and a dash of ketchup (first item on my must-have list for "survival" after the following):

The excellent DeDe Brand Instant Thai coffee--the next best thing to the real-thing.

Please show your "set-up" if you like.

If you want to see the Mini-Trangia, it's over here:

Mini Trangia Cookset.

The Mini-Trangia is my favorite small cook set, great for one or two. It works great with a Pocket Rocket, as well as its own alcohol stove. When used with a canister stove, you definitely want a more open wind screen, lest the whole shebang explode on you.

Sotto!Have you tried the Starbucks-VIA Instant Coffee?It IS The Real Thing!& Unlike The DeDe stuff,VIA doesn't Have any Sugar or Funky Milk by-products! The reason I say Funky Is,That Thailand/Vietnam Doesn't have Cows!I mention Vietnam because That is Where The DeDe products come from!Be Careful!:)

Looks like a good set up. The one thing that caught my eye was the Vitamin A content - yikes!

I don't think that amount is toxic, but too much Vitamin A can kill.

Excellent choice with the Mini-Trangia. I quite like the Tatonka Trangia system.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tatonka-Stainles...mp;sr=8-2-fkmr1



Trangia Burner, MSR Kettle (Primus Litech tea kettle works well also), Tantonka Stand (The stand folds down and can be stored along with the Trangia burner in the Kettle) and a Titanium Foil Windshield.


The Swedish Trangia Mess Kit is quite a useful bit of cheap kit, if a little heavy.



Overall Trangias are simple to operate, reliable in most conditions if a little slow and heavy. (due to the inefficient fuel source)

For something a little quicker and lighter, then a Titanium Alpkit Mug and el cheapo Gelert PZ Micro Ti stove is pretty effective.



For something a little more robust and fuel flexible then a Primus Himalaya OmniFuel stove might be taken along.



For a fuel efficient Pot, the EtaPower pots are excellent.

And for those day trips, where just a cup of coffee or tea might be required or heat just enough water for a Mountain House meal;



Lifeventure Ti-Cup and Ebit ti wing stove.

My favourite little gas burner is currently the Hi Gear Blaze Ti Gas Stove which weighs around half the weight of an MSR Pocket Rocket!!

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/blaze-titanium-stove-p158215

Yes I suppose I am a gear junkie.

DRI for Vitamin A is 900µg/day for adult male
Upper limit is 3000µg/day
170% of 900µg is 1530µg

1 IU is the biological equivalent of 0.3 µg retinol, 1530µg/0.3µg = 5100IU

toxicity

Conclusion, if you're not an infant, and you don't have renal faliure, you're safe eating 5100IU of Vitamin A in this meal

The only problem with the Moutain House Meals is basically the cost and that they cannot be eaten without being re hydrated.

A typical Mountain House meal ony has around 500-700 Kcal per 2 serving sachet. In the UK one of these sachets cost around $7.50 or more.

For about $10 I can get this at the local supermarket.



Weight is 1.6 Kg or 3.5lbs but contains the following

Heinz Spotted Dick Pudding - 285 grams net = 960 Kcal - $1.50
Princes Lean Corned Beef - 340 grams net = 660 Kcal - $3.00
Halva - 400 grams net = 2160 Kcal - $3.00
Smash Instant Potato - 176 grams net - 570 Kcal - $1.50
Birds Instant Custard - 75 grams net - 318 Kcal - $1.00
Sage and Onion Stuffing - 85 grams net - 435 Kcal - $1.00

Total Kcal - 5,100 Kcal - $10.50

To put it in more palatable form, apparently one 7 1/2" carrot equals around 7,000 IU of vitamin A, based on this info:

Vitamin A in a carrot.

It is all about trade offs. Being dehydrated, you are carrying less weight, the assumption being that you have a good water source once you are on the trail.

You can get many good lightweight foods at your local grocery store, such as the dehydrated potatoes you feature. But if weight is really critical, nothing beats freeze dried.


n desert conditions, I often carry canned foods (especially fruits). They are mostly water, something you will need to pack anyway

am fear--always fun to see what the shopping across the pond is like..good kit also--