View Full Version : "LuRP" rations
Does anyone know where to get military Long Range Patrol rations? (LRP)
LRP rats are 10 day power packed rations for extended duty in the field. They are not produced in the same quantities as MREs, but look to me like an AT hikers dream food.
LRP rations are Dehydrated, so weigh a lot less. Here's a link:
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/programs/mcw/mcwabt.htm
SGT Rock
10-17-2005, 10:00
As I have understood it, you cannot get them without a contact in the military because of a contracting issue:
How can I order it?
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/images/space.gif The NSN for the MCW portion of the combined ration/meal is 8970-01-467-1753. For the LRP portion it is 8970-01-467-1749. Point of contact is at (215) 737-8523, DSN: 444-8523, or to e-mail, Click Here (Terry.Reynolds@dla.mil).
http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/images/space.gif We can only sell Operational Rations (MREs, UGRs, etc) to the U.S. Military Services and other authorized federally-funded agencies. We can not sell to the private sector (individual, business, or other organizations). For further information, please click here (http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/rations/index.htm) and read our Customer Eligibility Policy towards the bottom of the page.
Spartan Hiker
10-17-2005, 10:23
Dream food? LOL!!
johnny quest
10-17-2005, 10:59
the lurps i used to get back in the mid 80s were very much like the dehydrated mre's of the time. they are ok, but not dream foods by any means. i still have nightmares about the pork pattie!
while we are on the general subject of military rations for hiking, i think that the mre has gotten a bum rap here at whiteblaze. i agree with most everyone that the mre as it is packaged is inconsistent with light weight hiking. but if you break the mre meal down to individual components there are some items that fit in perfect with long range...and light weight...hiking.
my recommendation is to pick up a variety of the menus and take them all apart and try them. you may find that the crackers, peanut butter, cheese spread and several other items pack and taste as good as any civilian version.
and if your wondering what the best way to get some mre's is i can tell you:
own a house on the gulf coast. after it is destroyed by a hurricane there will be folks throwing them at you from all sides.
Footslogger
10-17-2005, 11:05
Haven't seen a packet of LRP rats since I got out in 1971. But we would have damn near killed for one at times back then. Good compact calories and not much waste.
'Slogger
Just Jeff
10-17-2005, 11:59
my recommendation is to pick up a variety of the menus and take them all apart and try them. you may find that the crackers, peanut butter, cheese spread and several other items pack and taste as good as any civilian version.
Kind of an expensive way to get some cheese and crackers, isn't it? :)
The new MREs aren't dehydrated. The entrees are like canned food in foil packs, and the sides are things like canned fruit in foil packs...lots of water weight. They taste SOOOO much better than the old ones, but they sure aren't lightweight food even after you repackage them. They're still not bad hiking food, but I wouldn't use them for a long distance hike.
And those old pork patties once tried to eat me back!
SGT Rock
10-17-2005, 12:11
Well MREs and LRP rations are not the same thing. MREs can be eaten "as is" no rehydration for almost anythin in them any more, and they only have about 1,200 calories per at a weight of about 2.5 pounds per meal and a good deal of trash. The latest LRPs are supposed to be low trash, dehydrated meals with lots of calories in them.
These meals make lots of sense if you have the logistic train of Uncle Sam supplying you. :)
Otherwise, your local grocery store is more or less going to get you the same thing for less money:
Take a looksee at one menu:
Beef Stroganoff w/Noodles
Fruit Bar
MRE Crackers
MRE Peanut Butter
MRE Beverage Base
So I'll buy a lipton's noodle pack for $1.50, add some summer sausage (2 oz maybe?),
Some saltine's, fruit bar, peanut butter and some gatorade powder.
Volia! I have a LRP meal it looks like...witout having to join the US Military. :)
Another menu actually metions Ramen noodles! Seens like a typical backpacker meal prepackaged for you.
johnny quest
10-17-2005, 13:41
but you get so much more than just the meal when you join up! not only is there the constipating food (a good thing in many instances) there is the wonderful fitness program, the great vacation locales and the incredible extra curricular activities. (i highly recommend the shooting sports program. its top notch.)
i wouldnt have missed a single minute of it. i'd go back in a heartbeat if they would let me.
Just Jeff
10-17-2005, 14:07
And you get some good hiking gear!
Geez, you people amaze me. I just asked if anyone knew of a civilian sector source for the ColdWeather/LRP rations and I get all this. If you were a SERIOUS hiker, you'd carry only these food bars ... Tough guys.
http://saratogatradingcompany.com/food_bars.html
johnny quest
10-17-2005, 16:48
ive got some of those. absolutely no taste whatsoever but they smell great! coconut.
no, if you were a serious hiker you would make your own pemmican
Spartan Hiker
10-17-2005, 17:01
Geez, you people amaze me. I just asked if anyone knew of a civilian sector source for the ColdWeather/LRP rations and I get all this. If you were a SERIOUS hiker, you'd carry only these food bars ... Tough guys.LOL! I've had a career of that "serious hiking". I want my future hikes to be 25 lbs lighter, arms free, in broad daylight, and enjoyable for my taste buds and my stomach. I'd give you my old LRRPs if I still had some.
Geez, you people amaze me. I just asked if anyone knew of a civilian sector source for the ColdWeather/LRP rations and I get all this. If you were a SERIOUS hiker, you'd carry only these food bars ... Tough guys.
http://saratogatradingcompany.com/food_bars.html I am an admitted wimp and a not-so-serious hiker.
I'll stick to civillian source for my LRPs: the GROCERY STORE.
Just Jeff
10-17-2005, 18:08
Non thirst provoking.
Delicious short-bread cookie taste
Isn't ALL food thrist-provoking since digestion requires hydration? In survival, you never eat if you've run out of water.
And the short-bread taste - if these are like the old K-rations, they're actually not bad. We had dense granola bars and short-bread bars that tasted much better than the MREs of the time. IIRC, they had calorie/oz counts up there with Snickers, but with better nutrition.
But no, I don't know of a commercial source for LURPS. But I'm glad we could amaze you... :p
Geez, you people amaze me. I just asked if anyone knew of a civilian sector source for the ColdWeather/LRP rations and I get all this. If you were a SERIOUS hiker, you'd carry only these food bars ... Tough guys.
http://saratogatradingcompany.com/food_bars.html
Lol!! I needed a good laugh after work. Us serious hikers know how to eat good-and be frugal ;) Visit my website and be enlightened!
Kind of an expensive way to get some cheese and crackers, isn't it? :) And those old pork patties once tried to eat me back!
hey! i loved the old dehydrated beef and pork patties! used to wedge the bag into a crevice in my tank somewhere and soak it all day as i drove around... added a little of that beef bullion/soup mix (or whatever it was) and it was tasty... could always get them too... everyone wanted to trade. but then, i liked the ham and eggs c-rat and the omelet with ham MRE too... chicken with rice, meatballs in tomato sauce, beef stew, corned beef hash... mmmm mmmm... the dehydrated fruit was great, especially the peaches... fruit cocktail was ok, and the strawberries were just nasty unless they were really really cold... the c-ration cakes were better too. pound cake and cinnamon nut roll were good...
then there were the 'failures', imho... chicken ala king.... that weird shelf-stable bread... tuna noodle something or other...mre fruitcake and chocolate nut roll were more like putty or plastic...
mountain house and a few other companies make decent dehydrated meals.... a little pricey at times, but for a nice gourmet break once a week or so, they're not bad (said the guy who liked ham and eggs c-rats...)