Good Tips, the knowledge thread

[SwiftandSure]

i gave up using mess tins a few years back and replaced it with a metal mug smaller and as useful and will fit on the bottom of a US water bottle , for when you get hot locks a tip i heard and have yet to use is to get one of those tin foil baking trays like a Chinese comes in and squash it flat when you need it open it out it takes up less space then mess tin,

I like that tip! Might have to go back to the drawing board with that one!
I'm not a big fan of mess tins myself, but I've got them from my BA days, and I'm trying not to spend more money on Army-Barmy gear; or else the long-haired-general will have me lynched for not putting that money aside for our wedding!

[DeV]

Check out the good tips thread

[apod]

I like that tip! Might have to go back to the drawing board with that one!
I'm not a big fan of mess tins myself, but I've got them from my BA days, and I'm trying not to spend more money on Army-Barmy gear; or else the long-haired-general will have me lynched for not putting that money aside for our wedding!

If you can get your hands on the "Crusader" metal mugs issued to both PDF and BA than you can ditch the mess tins. Crusader mugs can be used to brew up boil in the bags and the 58 pattern waterbottle is designed to fit into it. Very few PDF use mess tins anymore. And you can use 'em for stew/curry from hotlocks(norwegians) as well.
Apods tip: Ziplocks bags can be used to line your mug when getting a container meal.No washing out after. Just bin the bag.:wink:

[hedgehog]

carry 2 bits of tin foil as well

1 can go on the bottom and keep the end clean from the flames of the hexi

the other can make a nice little lid and help heat water etc up a lot quicker

[Dazzler]

If you can get your hands on the "Crusader" metal mugs issued to both PDF

I'll just leave this here

http://store.irishmilitaryonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_26&products_id=5&zenid=b018deb267ed750cb4712c01ecf0f7d2

Hedgie is totally right about the Tin Foil. That's how I do it too. Alot easier and faster than cleaning up after.

but this is definitely deviating into the Good Tips territory.

[HavocIRL]

One of the things that I liked about Chad, there wasn't many, was that you didn't need to cook your food. Just leave a ration pack on top of a rock for 15 minutes and when you came back it was cooked.

To cook noodles you cut a bottle in half, left about a quarter of it filled with water and poured the noodles in. Cover it up and 15 minutes later it would be cooked.

[ZULU]

Now that you were wearing the IPLCS out on patrols in chad, without a smock, what did you end up carrying havoc?

[SwiftandSure]

If you can get your hands on the "Crusader" metal mugs issued to both PDF and BA than you can ditch the mess tins.Crusader mugs can be used to brew up boil in the bags and the 58 pattern waterbottle is designed to fit into it.Vey few PDF use mess tins anymore.And you can use em for stew/curry from hotlocks(norwegians) as well.
Apods tip: Ziplocks bags can be used to line you mug when getting a container meal.No washing out after just bin the bag.:wink:

Jaysus, now I'm thinking I'll stick my jetboil in the webbing (which fits better anyway) and use Greyfox's tip of one or two collapsed tin foil tubs for hot-locks meals. In the meantime, just in case, I'll leave the mess tins in the front pouch of my bergan, until such time i pick up a crusader mug.

[Dazzler]

Jaysus, now I'm thinking I'll stick my jetboil in the webbing (which fits better anyway) and use Greyfox's tip of one or two collapsed tin foil tubs for hot-locks meals. In the meantime, just in case, I'll leave the mess tins in the front pouch of my bergan, until such time i pick up a crusader mug.

I hate that phrase. Start putting in things "just in case" and it leads to more things "Just in case" which leads to an extremely Heavy Bergan.

The Mugs are probably the greatest thing I have ever come across though. Noodles make perfectly with a small amount of water, and none of it wasted.

[Goldie fish]

"Every soldier should carry an axe lest he may need to break down a door....."


(Just in case, from hundreds of years ago)

[paul]

"Every soldier should carry an axe lest he may need to break down a door....."


(Just in case, from hundreds of years ago)

I prefer explosives, failing that use the biggest guy in your section

[ZULU]

Hooligan tool in an assault pack works quite well

[SwiftandSure]

I hate that phrase. Start putting in things "just in case" and it leads to more things "Just in case" which leads to an extremely Heavy Bergan.

The Mugs are probably the greatest thing I have ever come across though. Noodles make perfectly with a small amount of water, and none of it wasted.

Oh believe me Dazzler, I take a lot of time, pride and tend to be very stringent when it comes to packing my kit; and for all intents and purposes a Jetboil PCS, tinfoil tub and Crusader mug (when I get around to getting one) is more than adequate for me. But summer camp is the second part of my 2 star training, and so "just in case" I'm landed with a head the ball cpl/pl sgt who insists that I eat with the same utensils as everyone else for the sake of uniformity, I'll keep my mess tins in my bergan. Besides, I dunno how heavy the issued sleeping bags are, but mine's nicely small and lightweight without compromising too much on warmth; so where I'm saving in some areas, I can afford to carry a little extra in others.

Once I've got the 3 stars on my chest, I'll be a lot more confident to pack (or not pack) what I feel is most combat effective.

[paul]

Hooligan tool in an assault pack works quite well

There expensive though. A inexpensive sledge hammer or anything from the surrounding houses to use as such.

[Liachta Cultaca]

Putting on a backpack

How to put on a backpack without injuring your back

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HIpi5HQ0rQ