I've been checking out this site, and really dig it. Can't believe how much I have learned about MREs (and how little I really knew before)
Live in California, and the Katrina situation has made me want to redouble my efforts to have adequate supplies on hand before the big earthquake comes calling. I still have some MREs from my, ahem, Y2K cache (remember that?) and have added a few fresh ones recently. But I noticed that there have been some Meals, Cold Weather (MCW's) listed on ebay recently, and they are sold out of Nevada, so the shipping won't kill me (like all of the Gulf Coast MRE's that are flooding ebay)
A couple questions:
1) Are the MCW's date coded in the same manner as MRE's? I mean, is there an inspection date, or other date code I should be asking about?
2) Are MCW's expected last as long as regular MRE's?
3) How do they taste?
4) Anybody ever eat them dry? (We used to eat some of the freeze dried backpacking entrees dry back in the day, and some of them were OK)
Thanks a bunch for any info.
MCW's -- who's tried 'em?
Hi donelurkin - welcome to the forums!
Are you sure you've been seeing MCWs on ebay? Those are the newer "Meal, Cold Weather" meals. I've been seeing a lot of the older (stopped making them around 2001) RCWs (Ration, Cold Weather) meals on Ebay. There are some differences between the two. Here are some links:
RCW
http://www.mreinfo.com/rcws.html
MCW
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/pr ... mcwabt.htm
But to answer your questions (they kind of apply to both rations)...
1) Yes, they are date coded exactly like MREs. In fact, a lot of the packaging is the same - but it's white instead of tan. Just be careful with RCWs. There are two types of RCW cases - until 1996, they used the older flat-style RCW case. From 1996-2001 they used the same type of case being used by MREs nowadays. So if you have a flat case of RCWs dated 1234, that is most likely from the year 1991 on the 234th day. Of course, back then, they were probably still marking the cases 7/91 but just in case you see a datecode like this on an old case, that's what it means.
2) MCWs and RCWs should last longer than MREs. I *think* they're rated for 5 years whereas MREs are for 3 years (at 80 degrees). But of course, we all know that MREs last much longer and I'm sure the MCWs and RCWs can last just as long if not longer.
3) How do they taste? I've had RCWs before and they taste just fine. I've read that Mountain House makes the freeze-dried/dehydrated main entrees for the MCWs/RCWs so if you've ever had any Mountain House food, that's what it tastes like. The other parts of the rations - crackers, spreads, etc. - are just like regular MREs.
4) Eat them dry? No sir...not me, but I've heard of it being done. Beats not eating, I guess.
Are you sure you've been seeing MCWs on ebay? Those are the newer "Meal, Cold Weather" meals. I've been seeing a lot of the older (stopped making them around 2001) RCWs (Ration, Cold Weather) meals on Ebay. There are some differences between the two. Here are some links:
RCW
http://www.mreinfo.com/rcws.html
MCW
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/pr ... mcwabt.htm
But to answer your questions (they kind of apply to both rations)...
1) Yes, they are date coded exactly like MREs. In fact, a lot of the packaging is the same - but it's white instead of tan. Just be careful with RCWs. There are two types of RCW cases - until 1996, they used the older flat-style RCW case. From 1996-2001 they used the same type of case being used by MREs nowadays. So if you have a flat case of RCWs dated 1234, that is most likely from the year 1991 on the 234th day. Of course, back then, they were probably still marking the cases 7/91 but just in case you see a datecode like this on an old case, that's what it means.
2) MCWs and RCWs should last longer than MREs. I *think* they're rated for 5 years whereas MREs are for 3 years (at 80 degrees). But of course, we all know that MREs last much longer and I'm sure the MCWs and RCWs can last just as long if not longer.
3) How do they taste? I've had RCWs before and they taste just fine. I've read that Mountain House makes the freeze-dried/dehydrated main entrees for the MCWs/RCWs so if you've ever had any Mountain House food, that's what it tastes like. The other parts of the rations - crackers, spreads, etc. - are just like regular MREs.
4) Eat them dry? No sir...not me, but I've heard of it being done. Beats not eating, I guess.
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donelurkin
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:32 pm
Hey Kman,
Thanks for the welcome and the info. You are right, the auction is for RCW's, not MCW's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cold-Weather-MREs-2 ... dZViewItem
The seller claims that they are manufactured between 2000 and 2004, but that may bear investigating. I would hate to buy some '91 production masquerading as '01 stuff. He does not include a picture of the case, making me a little skeptical.
I'll check out those links, and thanks again for the cool site.
Donelurkin
Thanks for the welcome and the info. You are right, the auction is for RCW's, not MCW's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cold-Weather-MREs-2 ... dZViewItem
The seller claims that they are manufactured between 2000 and 2004, but that may bear investigating. I would hate to buy some '91 production masquerading as '01 stuff. He does not include a picture of the case, making me a little skeptical.
I'll check out those links, and thanks again for the cool site.
Donelurkin
That asshat...the pics in that auction are from mreinfo.com. Even worse...that RCW and those two cases are mine! Yep...took those pictures myself. 
The case on top is a newer MRE case and the case on the bottom is an older MRE case - but neither of them are RCWs. Sure, the RCW cases look like that, but it's not an image of what's in the auction at all.
And you're right about those production dates - I don't think he has any from 2002-2004 - maybe he's thinking 1992-1994.
The case on top is a newer MRE case and the case on the bottom is an older MRE case - but neither of them are RCWs. Sure, the RCW cases look like that, but it's not an image of what's in the auction at all.
And you're right about those production dates - I don't think he has any from 2002-2004 - maybe he's thinking 1992-1994.
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donelurkin
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:32 pm
donelurkin,
Hey I've had the MCW's before too, although the white ones were the meals I scarffed down. They are really good, eating dry I would not advised, and eating enough just to fill you up is recommended. The MCW's are highly prized because you get so much in them that you can't possibly finish them in one sitting. I know guys have tried but couldn't do. If you get any of the older ones or newer ones as well do try them at least the freeze-dried portions. They are still good. And also check the dates I've had a scam or two pulled on me as far as date swapping. Kind of made me mad as well.
Hey I've had the MCW's before too, although the white ones were the meals I scarffed down. They are really good, eating dry I would not advised, and eating enough just to fill you up is recommended. The MCW's are highly prized because you get so much in them that you can't possibly finish them in one sitting. I know guys have tried but couldn't do. If you get any of the older ones or newer ones as well do try them at least the freeze-dried portions. They are still good. And also check the dates I've had a scam or two pulled on me as far as date swapping. Kind of made me mad as well.
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donelurkin
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:32 pm
Thanks guys. This is good stuff. The guy who is ripping off graphics from this site obviously cannot be trusted, but I think I will keep scanning the auctions for a more reputable seller.
I guess every ten years somebody can try a scam on the dates on the old stuff. Everything old is new again--at least to the unsuspecting.
I've had a lot of great experiences buying all sorts of stuff on ebay, but some of these mre sellers seem very slick and sleazy...
I guess every ten years somebody can try a scam on the dates on the old stuff. Everything old is new again--at least to the unsuspecting.
I've had a lot of great experiences buying all sorts of stuff on ebay, but some of these mre sellers seem very slick and sleazy...
donelurkin,
Yeah, that's common on ebay. Unless your a real expert on these things, like some of us, you really can't tell. Although it's excellent that we have this forum to converse and find out the truth of some of these jerks. You best bet is to keep looking and ask questions. If you still don't know post them here. Somebody will help you out.
As for the RCW's the white always came two to a unit. I say that because long ago the white ones always came in two packets joined together so you could break them apart and put them into your cargo pockets. So if your looking on ebay and there only one packet or two packets of two different entree's something is up or the person found two and is selling them as one. In the end it's up to you on what you what. I will warn you that the RCW's can really do a number on you if you try to eat both of them. I can't really commnet on the new tan ones since I have never seen those as of yet.
Yeah, that's common on ebay. Unless your a real expert on these things, like some of us, you really can't tell. Although it's excellent that we have this forum to converse and find out the truth of some of these jerks. You best bet is to keep looking and ask questions. If you still don't know post them here. Somebody will help you out.
As for the RCW's the white always came two to a unit. I say that because long ago the white ones always came in two packets joined together so you could break them apart and put them into your cargo pockets. So if your looking on ebay and there only one packet or two packets of two different entree's something is up or the person found two and is selling them as one. In the end it's up to you on what you what. I will warn you that the RCW's can really do a number on you if you try to eat both of them. I can't really commnet on the new tan ones since I have never seen those as of yet.
BTW...I noticed yesterday there's an auction up for some real MCWs:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-MRE-COLD-WEATHER- ... dZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-MRE-COLD-WEATHER- ... dZViewItem