Never thought along these lines but watching you it seems to be a good idea. Certainly good knowledge to have in an emergency where I might not have other supplies or can't have a flame. Thank you, Mr. Thomas.
Blackie , Another Great Video and Outstanding Information Thanks For Sharing and Passing On Your Knowledge and Craft . Making sure what we need to know how to be prepared . Thanks Again . Tim L.
I do ration reviews on my channel and I save all the flameless ration heaters I get from the rations --- I boil the entree instead of putting it in the ration heater. I have put salt in ration heaters to help them work better, especially the older ones
Great video. A tip to get those heaters hotter quicker is to take the heater out of the green bag, fold it in half, then half again and stick it back in the green bag (makes like a “w” shape). Be careful not to rip the bag when you put it back in. Add same amount of water and your in business. Don’t know why it works, but every time I’m in the field and hear up an MRE, folding the heater like that then putting the main meal in the middle of the “w” always makes it get hotter quicker.
The old felt lined canteen pouches help hold in the heat. Also a flameless heater that aint working can sometimes be kicked off by adding the salt pack from the mre.
Blackie the video motion (not sound) is freezing at about 7:03 and then again at 8:38. With that being said, I got the message so I don't know if it is even a deal.
That's a great trick Blackie, I also have the Nalgene canteen and some spare ration heaters. I also seen at a local Army surplus store where you can just buy the ration heaters by themselves. Thanks for the video, I was wondering too, how that would work inside your vehicle. Take care.👍
seal the ration heater in plastic for storage. they absorb water and oxygen from the air over time - hence are less reactive! discard your plastic before use. the plastic bag they come in has vents to allow steam to escape so is not air tight.
Good advice indeed. I have run with a brew kit in the back for years - these days it has evolved to the point where I cook for a car load though they may have to share cups.
Very good idea. I like to keep what is called a DC water kettle and an extra thermos. Obviously if your engine is dead this won't be of great use, but if you are stuck then you still have the ability to make hot water. Works well for regular travel. Heat up enough to fill the thermos twice if you want to store for later. Other wise you don't have to put up with gas station hot drinks. Their coffee, tea or hot chocolate is rarely that good. I have even warmed up canned soup like Chunky in it.
if you find you have a FRH that is weak . adding table salt to the water helps to drive the reaction faster. it works with some but not all. hope this helps
I have been using Nalgene canteens ever since I saw you use one in a video many years ago. They are excellent, but they have become very scarce due to supply line problems. I hope the company can sort the problems out, they are excellent canteens.
Another good one, Ty for sharing…….another reason to use the nalgene canteen is that your water doesn’t taste like it came out of the military plastic one…..also kind of surprised that the us military hasn’t gone back to metal water containers of some sort..
FYI, the old heater emit hydrogen gas, which is flammable. We made ranger candles by breaking up the contents of the heater and pouring into an empty water bottle. Pour in a little water. Put a hole in the cap, put it on the bottle and light it! The US Air Force found out about the hydrogen gas and band them from their air planes. So I think around 2005ish the MRE heater was changed and no longer emits a flammable gas!
for your thoughts, folks love hot chocolate, I started using whey protein powder and tried something. Using hot water from the tap I mixed the chocolate protein powder slowly. No clumps, tastes just like 'swiss miss' chocolate ,and mix. It offers all that extra for the person in the field. I switched out my kit to now carry this powder in a nalgene bottle instead of hot chocolate mix.
