Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 >
Topic Options
#281544 - 07/31/16 06:09 AM Changing content recommendations for survival kits
WesleyH Offline
Member

Registered: 05/26/16
Posts: 101
Loc: Unknown
I have noticed that most current survival recommendations seem to have moved away from bouillon cubes as an element. Even though John McCann's book, "Stay Alive, Survival skills you need" (1st ed) does mention them for smaller kits. While Len McDougall's book "Practical Outdoor survival" does not mention them. Bradford Angier's book, "How to stay alive in the woods," Casually mentions broth or soup, while Creek Stewart's book, "Build the perfect Bug out bag," does not. .


What is the current thinking on Bouillion cubes? How many for a small or medium kit?
_________________________
WesleyH

Top
#281549 - 07/31/16 07:56 AM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: WesleyH]
M_a_x Offline
Veteran

Registered: 08/16/02
Posts: 1206
Loc: Germany
Food is not a priority for short term survival. A pocket sized container does not offer much room for luxury.
For a small or medium sized kit my answer would be zero. The room could be used for more imoprtant things like matches, water purification or water containers. In a medium sized kit, Iīd rather include a space blanket. That will save more calories than the same volume of boullion cubes can provide.
Boullion cubes should be kept cool for storage. Carried on the body they tend to go bad fairly fast and they sometimes leak some fat too. IMHO itīs just not worth the hassle.
_________________________
If it isnīt broken, it doesnīt have enough features yet.

Top
#281552 - 07/31/16 12:36 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: WesleyH]
jshannon Offline
Addict

Registered: 02/02/03
Posts: 647
Loc: North Texas
A bouillion cube might save someone from hyponatremia.

Top
#281553 - 07/31/16 01:53 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: jshannon]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
I am unaware of any peer reviewed, double blind study not financed by the bouillon cube cartel that has assessed the efficacy of cubes in a survival context, so the jury is still out, or, rather, hasn't yet been selected...

While food in of relatively less priority in most short time survival contexts, dehydration and electrolyte balance is critical, as is morale. I usually have room in a carefully packed kit to insert packets of tea, coffee (Via is preferred), sugar, or what have you. Bouillon cubes are just fine, provided you have water, but they aren't critical.
_________________________
Geezer in Chief

Top
#281559 - 07/31/16 06:29 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: WesleyH]
WesleyH Offline
Member

Registered: 05/26/16
Posts: 101
Loc: Unknown
I had always thought of bouillon cubes as more of a morale issue, as hikemor mentioned above. In a wilderness or outdoor situation, the ability to sit down and have a cup of broth as an excellent way to "Relax and refresh" while taking a mental break. Tea is also an excellent possibility.

Just looking at the nutritional info on Wyler' brand of bouillon cubes:

1 cube
6 calories
<1 Gram protein
<1 Gram fat
1 Gram carbohydrate
Sodium 930 Mg.

Have to agree with jshannon, an amazing amount of Sodium.


Edited by WesleyH (07/31/16 06:35 PM)
_________________________
WesleyH

Top
#281560 - 07/31/16 09:02 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: WesleyH]
gonewiththewind Offline
Veteran

Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
More comfort than survival necessity/supply

Top
#281569 - 08/02/16 06:41 AM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: gonewiththewind]
CANOEDOGS Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 1853
Loc: MINNESOTA
it seems to me the cubes made their way into kits when there was not really much else to be had in the way of a survival "food".
in the 50's when kits really got started there were no power bars or energy gups on the market.if you were lucky surplus military life boat or bail out kits could be broken down for the compact rations in them.i take the larger bouillon cubes on canoe trips and every few years boil one up on a nasty wet and cold day to go with a MRE cracker and like it was said they can be a comfort food if you happen to have developed a taste for them.the hassle with them is of course you need to "cook" them for best results and that means a pot,water and fire all of those are a survival problems in themselves.
sorry,another 1:30am ramble.

Top
#281577 - 08/02/16 03:04 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: jshannon]
bacpacjac Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted By: jshannon
A boullion cube might save someone from hypothermia.



Hypothermia is always a real consideration for my survival kits, even in the summer, and especially around the water. I like to have a tasty hot brew up at the ready in all my kits.

Bullion cubes or cup-o-soup are lightweight and take up little space, ditto tea, instant coffee/hot chocolate/cider/Koolaid. I suspect my hot chocolate or 3-in-1 coffee provide me with more benefit than a bullion cube, so they are my basic short-term emergency go tos these days, rather than bullion, except in my fishing kit emerg kit. I've got one of each in there! Bullion goes great with fresh fish and I can't imagine a better survival meal than that, frankly!

(FYI - I keep a sachet of koolaid in my kits too, for fighting hypothermia in the kiddos, and also for cool re-hydration.)
_________________________
Mom & Adventurer

You can find me on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9fpZEy5XSWkYy7sgz-mSA

Top
#281579 - 08/02/16 03:52 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: bacpacjac]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Originally Posted By: bacpacjac
...Bullion cubes or cup-o-soup are lightweight and take up little space, ditto tea, instant coffee/hot chocolate/cider/Koolaid...
Ditto, these are the small packets you can pack inside your favorite cup (Snow Peak 700) with a box of matches/lighter and tinder; put it all in one place. Then just get a fire going and add water. As MAX indicates in the second post, bullion cubes are not exactly stable in warmer temps. But then if it's too warm for a bullion cube, hypothermia may not be an issue. If it's cool enough, carrying a bullion cube should not be a problem. This is one of those things that changes with the seasons.

Top
#281580 - 08/02/16 04:37 PM Re: Changing content recommendations for survival kits [Re: WesleyH]
LCranston Offline
2
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/31/09
Posts: 201
Loc: Nebraska
I keep a small 2 ounce thingy of gatorade powder in the car in the summer. Flavor + calories + salts. I used to just carry those little sugar free lemonades, but I figured it made more sense to get something more out of it..

I agree with Bacpacjac completely on the coffee thing- have a few of those powdered cappuccino things in the winter; close enough to coffee for me, close enough to hot chocolate for the kids

Top
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 >



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
October
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
Who's Online
0 registered (), 388 Guests and 252 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Aaron_Guinn, israfaceVity, Explorer9, GallenR, Jeebo
5370 Registered Users
Newest Posts
For your Halloween enjoyment
by brandtb
Today at 01:29 PM
Chronic Wasting Disease, How are people dealing?
by clearwater
Yesterday at 05:41 PM
Things I Have Learned About Generators
by roberttheiii
10/29/24 07:32 PM
Gift ideas for a fire station?
by brandtb
10/27/24 12:35 AM
Emergency Toilets for Obese People
by dougwalkabout
10/21/24 12:34 AM
The price of gold
by dougwalkabout
10/20/24 11:51 PM
Man rescued, floating on cooler
by Ren
10/16/24 02:39 PM
Satellite texting via iPhone, 911 via Pixel
by Ren
10/11/24 11:25 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.