I've heard things about them that make them sound worse than eating bark & bugs.

On a scale of 1 to 10, what do you think?

Depends on how hungry/exhausted one is....lol.... I have been in the field during exercises, and a had times when MRE's tasted like steak. *BUT* Under most circumstances, they rank about a 4 for me. There is a reason why EVERYBODY takes their own big bottle of hot sauce to the field with him/her.

In all fairness, it has been eleven years since I left active duty, so I don't know about improvements since that time.

Susan,
I have been eating a LOT of MREs for the last 13 years, they are much better than they used to be. As far as rating them I have to say, the first 2 weeks 8 or 9, then they start to decline at about a rate of 4 points a week until you can't stand to look at the outside wrapper. After about 2 months you would rather eat the wrapper. Chris

MREs are typically pretty close in flavor to Dinty Moore Beef Stew.

They are great camping food if you might be stuck in the tent due to weather and have the chemical heater. Freeze dried food is usually a step up, but takes longer to prepare and requires a stove.

We always carry two MRE main courses each. Probably eat one a week or so. I think they are great. Of course, we only eat 'em when we are HUNGRY!. ... But so far, I have not found anything as convenient or quick as a MRE cooked in its heater. There are a few menu's that I don't like. Best advice buy & try. I like 'em.

The worst MRE is at least a 5 over the best (if there is such a thing) C-Rat. Rumor has it that a steady diet of MRE's will plug up your digestive tract tho...

Plugging your digestive tract is a joke, unless you dont go to the head. They will stop you up, but if you take care of yourself and make sure you do a regular "movement' you will be OK.

MRE's are alot better than what they used to be, I agree, but I think after a while they all taste the same.

Garrett

I have tryed both MRE's and British ration packs. I find that the MRE's don't taste too bad, but BRIGHT PINK milk shake in a rat pack? Seems like a waste of space to me.
With the british packs, you get much more food for the size and weight of the package, as they are built for 24 hours. I've eaten a lot more Brit rat packs that US ones and find most of it to be edible, just one word of warning for both. Don't look in it when your eating <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

I prefer the MRE individual meals for kits as they are about 1/2 the size.

1. so where's a good place to get MRE's in bulk from and still get fresh/good selection from?

2. what's a good price for a case?

3. i've seen a look-a-like called TOTM (tailored operational training meal) which seems to have just about the same stuff in it for about half the MRE price. thoughts on these?

To answer the question: 5 edible but I have as of yet to get a real craving for them when regular food is available.

After a day or two of eating only MRE’s it seems like you are constantly belching MRE and they all belch as the same flavor.

I love them for supplementing dehydrated food on pack trips. I have found that it is best to open the main packages and get rid of all of the unwanted extras. Spoon, Creamer (don’t use it), little T.P. packets etc. The main packages are sealed full of air so they tend to take up about twice the space that they really need to. I am guessing the air is there for cushioning during shipping. Or maybe it is something other than just air to prolong shelf life. At any rate break em down they take less space and you aren’t carrying junk you don’t need. Unless you’re the type that insists on a “fresh” spoon for every meal.

Cameron