Going out into the wild after a long work week, and you want a proper bushcraft adventure. So, bringing premade meals with you defeats the purpose of developing your bushcraft skills. All you need is a proper mess kit with you, and you can forage and fish for your meals.
Mess kits are incredibly convenient when you are going on a camping trip. They are compact and easy to pack without taking up too much space. They are specifically designed to be efficient. But you don’t know what is in a mess kit? No worries, here you can discover it; thus, let’s get started.
What Is in a Mess Kit?
In a mess kit, you will find all the pieces you need for cooking when camping outdoors. Modern mess kits include a cooking pot, bowl, cup, spoon, fork, etc., that are put together in a compact package. You can easily fit the mess kit in your backpack without taking up too much space.
Elements
If you plan to develop your bushcraft skills, you will need a mess kit to learn and survive in the wilderness. It would be best if you had the proper equipment to prepare food and eat it. Otherwise, you will hold a dry granola bar while admiring the scenery.
A mess kit will provide you with all the pieces you need to cook yourself a good hearty meal, including spoons, a cooking pot, a bowl, forks, cups, etc. Eating some fish you have caught yourself from a nearby creek makes more sense if you are out in the mountains.
You might as well eat as much food from naturally occurring sources as possible if you have packed the survival supplies, a survival knife, and storage space for everything in your backpack. Even just a little bit of fresh food can feel incredibly rewarding on a bushcraft adventure.
If allowed, a straightforward deadfall trap can give you access to some naturally occurring wild game. That is much more satisfying than having packaged dinner bought at a supermarket.
It does not take a lot of additional survival gear to cook outdoors. Most are smaller than one pound in weight. One mess kit can be enough for up to eight people; best of all, it does not take up too much space.
Mess tin
The mess tin is the part of your kit in which you can put the food that needs to be cooked, like fish or meat, over a fire. When they were first introduced, mess tins were intended for the military, much like the entire mess kit.
However, today they are also used by civilians who want to develop their bushcraft skills. You will not have to worry about eating undercooked food when camping with a mess tin.
Read more: How to Build a Hut in the Woods
What Can You Use the Mess Kit For?
A mess kit’s goal is to offer the barest necessities so that meals can be appropriately prepared and consumed. They are also made small and light to take up the least amount of space in a bag.
Having pieces that perform several purposes means good functionality. A metal plate that can be used for eating and serves as the lid for a pan part of the kit illustrates this.
You do not have to bring food from home when camping. Around the campsite, you may gather food. Your adventure may involve both camping and hunting. If you find yourself near a river, you can also go fishing and cook tasty fish using the mess kit.
Hunting and fishing
A successful hunt can provide you with meat superior to any quality steak. A trek built around the tailwaters of a stream stocked with trout can also provide a fantastic lunch or dinner for the day.
You only need a sturdy hunting knife to gut and fillet fish. After seasoning the insides, you may dress a fish and cook it immediately over the fire.
Foraging
You can also go foraging. The work here is much more seasonal. You may find some edible mushrooms in the woods, but ensure that you understand which are edible and poisonous. You can also find some fiddlehead ferns and ramps if you venture into the woods in the winter.
Garlic mustard is a great springtime vegetable to simmer down, and not only is it flavorful and incredibly nutritious. Look near the lake in the summer for items like nuts and perhaps even some cattails. There are many wild foods available for foraging.
Read more: How to Find a Spring in the Woods
Why Are Mess Kits Important for the Development of Bushcraft Skills?
Mess kits allow you to develop your cooking skills and the ability to locate food without relying on modern technology. In addition to finding your food, whether foraging or hunting and fishing, you also develop your ability to set a fire.
It allows you to complete your survival skills. You will learn how to fend for yourself for longer periods without needing to run to the nearest gas station. After all, why would you go out into the wild for an adventure if you plan on bringing the modern world with you?
Conclusion
We have come to the very end of this short article. Therefore, having all the right equipment and a mess kit is vital if you want to go camping and have a good time doing so.
So, if you wonder what is in a mess kit, the answer is all the essentials you will need to make yourself a good meal, such as spoons, bowls, cups, cook pots, etc., in a compact package.
Due to their compact size, mess kits are easy to pack in a backpack and do not take up too much space. This makes them perfect for camping and enjoying longer outdoor adventures.