Today i’m testing out a self heating meal, or self heating ration pack as some people call it. Is it one of those fantastic hiking food ideas? or will it not live up to expectations? Having a meal that heats itself would be a great camping food hack for short trips wild camping in the UK or on day hikes where you dont necessarily want to take your cooking gear out with you. It’s a lightweight option for overnight camping trips and a great hiking snack when you are in areas where cooking isnt convenient.
The pack i am testing today is called a Hot Pack flameless meal. The heating sachet is activated by adding water and it comes with a bio-degradeable spork. I bought mine from ebay but you can also purchase them from
There are a range of flavours of self heating food, i decided to try the Vegetable Curry ration pack. It cost me £5.99. You just heat it up and eat it straight out of the pouch. Other flavours include a self heating hot pot and you can even get an all day breakfast.
I’m hoping to do a lot of long distance hikes UK and a lot of camping UK this year, so have been looking for some options i can take with me for times that i want food on the go, the idea of the flameless heater in the ration pack was novel as sometimes you just cant be arsed to get out your camping stove!
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Seen these before in army ration packs, can’t seem to find a ribeye steak 🥩 and pepper sauce 🤣🤣🤣 Tc ATB
@Steve Woods 😂😂😂
Brilliant yet again.. the perfect companion for Holme Fen.. I got a slap on the wrist in a nice way by The Great Fen due to lighting my Trangia just for a coffee on a trail.. Peat Soil, one of the largest silver birch woods in the UK, dry and.. What could of happened.. destroyed.. Wouldn’t of happened as on log etc.. know area well.. but accidents do happen I guess.. and well I’ve been to Hampton many of times.. but only Serpentine Green area. Food and Tesco.. really enjoying your content, more places to explore.. shopping now may take longer.. 👍
Ahh thanks so much, yes if you go to Hampton vale there is a gorgeous nature reserve right at the end and it’s always empty … you can also walk round the outside of it by the big lakes x lots of pretty places there 😃
@Drunk On Wanderlust I’ll be heading there for sure.. cheers, glad I found your channel for all the new local areas to explore.. what with Barnack and now Hampton, happy days. keep safe and the content coming..
@Fenland Coddiwompler ahh that’s lovely ☺️ thanks so much x enjoy your day
Ooh, thats interesting 🙂. Will have to give them a go 👍
Yeah they are really handy tbf x 🤗 hope your ok and having a good week
Proper pricey, home bargains do a good few different packet Currys like that for a quid, add an uncle bens ready rice for a quid and a packet of long life naan bread, its on the same shelf, and two people are stuffed for two pound fifty, all in good sturdy packaging for hiking too …or to save weight get a dehydrator and at home make your own just add hot water meals . Depends how far you want to go with it but I always swerve those special hiking foods that are a fiver for one meal for one…don’t get me wrong I’m good for a few quid but it’s the principle you can get a better Scran for two for half the price from the local home bargains . Av a mooch and see what ya think .
Hey there 😃 no I completely agree, as a rule I don’t usually buy hiking ration packs… I take my own food to cook in my camp stove, but I wanted to see how the self heating pouch worked and if it would be handy if you weren’t able to take a stove etc etc … but you can also but the self heating element separate and use it with your own food so happy days 😄 xx thanks for watching and thanks for the tip
Theres loads of other one a like the chicken tikka with rice steak and potato spicy meatball pasta give them a try
Hey Andy how are ya? Oooh yeah I saw some of the other flavours too, I’ll have to give them a try x
Hot 👍
Hey there, how are you? Ahh thanks so much for watching 🤗 yeah it wasn’t too bad at all which was handy as I was bloody starving ha ha x
Thanks for this 👍 definitely going to be investing in some of these as I currently don’t own a stove so this is a great solution 😊
Hey Brendan, how’s it going? Yeah they are mega handy for certain circumstances 😃👌🏻 I’ll defo stock up on a few for day hikes and things x thanks for watching!
@Drunk On Wanderlust I’m good thanks 👍 looking forward to getting out and having one of these half way through a long hike 😊
Must have improved immensely since I last used one of these in a tactical situation. First and only time I used it I was with the TA many moons ago and they were “acquired ” from a US unit who swapped our rat packs for the MRE’s . Ours were not good , but lets say my mates who used it and myself where on stag duty all night!!!ha ha
🤣🤣🤣 ahhh no this one was actually really nice, probably tasted better as I was so bloody hungry! Lol
@Drunk On Wanderlust Maybe give it a try but as the Mrs likes a tipple what wine would you recommend goes with it . hahah stay safe
@DEREK BURNS well as it’s obviously very classy eating curry out of a bag with a spork, I would recommend lambrini 😂😂😂
Good on ya lass 😀👍
@Drunk On Wanderlust is it the end of the month when all this crap is over? that’s when we’re going carol knows he’s good with a calender anyhoo come with you’re both more than welcome 👍
Not camping out our kid just picking off Wainwright’s with sherpa coleman in the weekends between we camp out so you can join us on them sesh’s n’ all no worries you’ll be more than welcome pal😀👍
@Jonny Tent Peg sure… grab me on insta or fb messenger and you can let me know exact dates etc defo up for it x
@Drunk On Wanderlust will do I only do WhatsApp so if I send you my number through our suzies Facebook would it be alright to WhatsApp details dates etc. to each other
@Drunk On Wanderlust oh just to add they might be a couple of wild camps up the lakes but that will be with sherpa coleman (check out dave coleman YT channel) the main wild camps I do are with the camping philosopher who I believe is a big fan of yours you’re also more than welcome to come out on them
Great idea Kerry I have been using these self heating packs for years. Always keep an extra just in case. I ordered 15 for my sons birthday and they loved it. I use EVAQ8. Check there stock. Another good one. I am sure your subs will be at 2k very soon. ATB. Grays
Hey 👋 how’s your week going? Thanks so much for watching 🤗🤗 oooh ok yes I’ll defo check them out thanks for the tip 👌🏻xxxx enjoy your weekend let’s hope the weather improves
@Drunk On Wanderlust All well. just started pissing with rain in Richmond. Can’t wait for 12 April. I am counting this as the Wildcamping date. 👍👍 when r u going out to camp.
@Grays Outdoors yeah April 12th, a month today!!! 😃 Freeeeeeddddooooom!!! There are so many national trails I want to do this year .. well at least it might be a bit warmer at night by then? Lol 😂
I knew this would work out ok, your videos are always lit 🔥🔥 🤣🤣🤣
🤣 your funny x
@Drunk On Wanderlust thanks! I do try from time to time x
Fab idea. Such a shame they aren’t gluten free. 🙁
Hi Clare, now I found some ration pack pouches in Aldi of all places, vegan and gluten free for only 2.49 you could then buy just the heating pouch separately for £1.60 on eBay and do the same thing!! They do loads of diff flavours in the pouches too
@Drunk On Wanderlust fantastic. Thanks
I’ve seen a few videos of others using these and they’ve popped open before the ten minutes. However you seem to have mastered it with this.
Hi Rachel thanks so much for watching 🤗 i placed the sticky bit face down so it wouldn’t pop open and it worked a treat! 🤣🙈 not sure if that was protocol but hey it solved the issue xx
@Drunk On Wanderlust Sorry, just a quick question. Does the water inside totally evaporate or could it be used to make a hot brew? X
@Rambling Rachel UK I think there was still a fair bit left! I’m guessing if you put a little extra in then it would defo be ok x I know you can get self heating tea or coffee packs too
They do look good, not too bad price wise either.
Great presentation, real energy in your narrative.
Hardy
🤗🤗🤗 awww thanks so much for watching xx it’s all those years of being a kids presenter ha ha still fall into old habits
Excellent vid. How much do they weigh?
Hi the meal is 300g
Flameless heaters come in many different packs now , first developed for military mres. I use Norwegian Artic Rations absolutely beautiful . Need boiling water as they’re freeze dried, but with a superlight alcohol stove it’s no Biggie . Great vid Kerry very handy 👍👍
Hi honey buy a ridgemonkey 🥪👍
The Vegetable Rigatoni option has 350 calories, which isn’t bad for what you pay.
That’s good to know Rod thanks 😊 yeah they are pretty nifty especially for day walks etc x thanks so much for watching
Hi did you say there was a link for bloopers somewhere ? Great video by the way. I don’t know how you do all of your videos so naturally.
Yeah if you look in the description of the videos I have some ‘extras’ videos … these can also be found on a playlist on my channel … they include bloopers, interviews and lots more x 😃
@Drunk On Wanderlust Oh okay. Thanks for the reply. Yes I do like those so I will check them out. I watched your Cleveland Way video which was super.
@David Keel awww so glad you enjoyed it, the trail was incredible! What an experience
Just bought 6 of these. Nice review. Thanks
Hey Tony, yeah they are so handy!! Hope you enjoy them 🤗