In the 1980s I worked for a ww2 vet. He worked for Sandia Corporation in the 1950s. He and his wife would go on 2-3 day weekend trips into the Rocky's. They tested different mess kits for their trips. He said they settled on the boy scout mess kits. They each carried one. You can imagine 2 people with two scout kits. Two pots with lids, 2 skillets with lids. two cups for coffee and measuring. Two plates(lids) to eat from. You can have a real banquet going on.

That British kit is even better if you get the stove that nests with it

my go-to set is the Czech set...does it all, almost.

Good to see a mess kit update. I collected quite a few after watching your videos.

When you connect them Side by side, rotate the plate, so than the d ring goes over the hook on the end of the handle, then rotate the ring all the way under, till it presses up against the flat of the handle. Makes it a bit more stable.

Are you the only vintage mess kit cooking cooking show in the world, haha? I love your channel.

👍. Oh for the good old days when Rob was operating The Canteen Shop. He was the best supplier and reviewer of Bushcraft/camping (call it what you will) gear ever. The stuff Rob sold never let anyone down. I enjoyed your video and appreciate you mentioning The Canteen Shop.

I'm surprised you don't have more subscribers. You've got the most diverse videos on KZfaq about military mess kits.

I have the USGI and boy scout sets and have used both. I really like the USGI set, it just works well and is compact. I've even gone backpacking with just the canteen cup and a spoon and it works fantastic. The difference in mess kits is interesting. The American sets are more for frying and such while the European sets are built more for cooking soups.

My favorite set is the Czech Republic mess kit.

I have the British army kit and I love it.

czeck lid handle: pliers or a camping pot handle clamp... any camping outdoor shop, even the camping isle of some big-box stores

I live in central fl to glad to see some one at home thanks for the video

Hi John! Long time no see🙂 when i'm out there and even sometimes at home i prefer to use the polish wz-70 messkit(dated 1988) to cook my meals and the german 3 pc.canteen set as my water bottle and to brew my hot chocolate. You got videos on both that helped me a lot. Thanks again and nice to see you and your vids again.stay safe.👍🙂

You should try the USGI Mountain Cook Set. Its a 3 piece kit. 2 nesting aluminum pots with bails and 1 steel frying pan with handle that also acts as a lid.

No food in sight but like Pavlovs dogs I`m starting to salivate. Breakfast tomorrow will be made on my Swedish military Trangia. That is the one I always take on cycle tours. On a bike I can afford to take a little extra weight and it`s worth it for the sheer versatility. Cheers John.

You have the best set ups, thanks for the video.

Great video. Alway nice to hear folks thought process behind their gear.

I’ve using the USGI mess kit for years, it’s solid, but recently acquired the Russian mess kit, which looks to be a very nice one as well. Good video!

I definitely use a GI canteen kit, and I’ve been using my French mess kit. I have the Russian mess kit, but I haven’t used it yet.

Nice collection of cook sets you use

I have 6 of those "soup bowls" you pulled out of the Swedish mess kit. I love those! They're like plastic military kuksas. Sure you cant cook in it but its great for drinking, eating, scooping and pouring food and water or even light digging! Love that piece of kit.

Real glad to run across this video absolutely love military mess kit kinda obsessed 🤣

I cannot find the east german mess kit. But im happy enough with my Austrian mess kit. I actually bought 2 when they popped up just to be safe.

my favorite cooking set has always been the swedish Trangia, but I really liked the CZ-kit seen here! I also use the W-German mess kit sometimes in connection with the Tangia burner and triangle... nice review John!

Another excellent video 😀 I have a few different sets too but I tend to use the same one all the time. Surplus Swedish trangia burner,the larger army issue type. A Russian mess tin set (same style as the German ones) and my old issue 58 pattern water bottle. It's stuff that's never let me down

Hi John, good to see you. Great minds think alike - I also have both the aluminum and stainless Swedish mess kits, but I do love my Czech mess kit. I have even thought of having the pots anodized to provide a better cooking surface.

Thanks for sharing John. My favorite is a Swedish Army stainless mess kit that was given to me by an old friend. It's very durable, and pretty easy to clean and the windscreen is perfect for a cast iron skillet for those times when I want a steak. Take care and God bless, Ken

Very good video. Thanks.

Very enjoyable.

Really enjoyed the video, looking forward to the next Atb Paul uk

Hi John - it's great to see you again! I never bothered with mess kits until I started watching your videos - now I have 6 or 7 kits plus a boy scout kit. Thank you for all the great work you've put out - always enjoyable and enlightening! Atb - Luther

Really enjoyed your video. I have picked up some old aluminum cookware these last 2 years, and just recently a barely used Coleman aluminum percolator. I too have a bag in my car for just in case. In it I have an aluminum pot with the lid that can also be used as a bowl or cup, a nice set of silverware, a plate, and a stove piece to use with the can of butane/propane. As well as some snacks and single serving foods, for avoiding the fast food, and saving money.

The Czech one is still in production. But it is Stainless Steel now (healthier but heavier) and no loops. It costs less than 15 bucks tho.

Another great video John thank you, game me some great ideas for modding my kit. Ive been using the Crusader kit for years and love it its basic but does everything put that together with a set of British mess tins and you cant go wrong. All the best - Jim

Going to be a good day. Thank you!

Great video .man. from Glenn CATT in Massachusetts. God bless.

The Self Reliance Outfitters school has a NEW Swedish mess kit (Stove is extra I think) that is stainless steel and cost $59.00 or so... (And a bunch of other stuff up your alley!)

God bless you thank you for sharing your time stay safe 🙏

The Swedish kit is missing the cutlery set and the alcohol bottle. I’m not sure if I’d call it Germany style though. The swedes used the same type of shape since the 1880s.

I usually use the West German mess kit with stainless US canteen set. But i also like the BCB UK set with it. If it isn't a long trek i use the Soviet VDV set or only the US canteen set or the Yugoslavian kit. PS The loops on the Swedish kit are for a stick they had eight different bayonets since 1895 but the loops haven't changed on any of the kits.

I think the D ring in the GI mess kit goes in the other direction and fits over the 90 end of the handle.

I have all those except the boy scouts one, the East German is the best in my opinion.

Best wishes from Northern Ireland.

Hi John, How are you today? Hope you're surviving the Florida heat and humidity. Great video. I have many of the same sets you have just shown. I like the same canteen cup set with nalgene bottle and small esbit, twigs, or alcohol burner base. I prefer to use a cookset called MSR Seagull or stowaway kit. I've used my old boy scout cookkit so much the bottom is getting weak and almost ready to make a burn hole in it. It's just aluminum so I knew it would fail one day. (It wasn't a result from burning so many meals in it I am just sure it wasn't from that ha ha ha), I love the videos you make. Keep up the good work. A couple years ago you were going to email me one ways to fix the straps on an old canvas bucket style backpack I have that's got leather connecting straps and canvas arm straps on it. Can I have the email address again please? would love to have some advise on how to fix this thing or what you think I should even do with it. Thanks John. Keep up the great work. Nice talking with you again...

Nice video. How come every time I see pathfinder gear I notice lots of people don't use the canteen it comes with. Too heavy? That's why I use a military issue canteen.great video.

Nice video John. The US GI kit really is hard to beat. I often pair the Crusader kit with the Dutch stainless steel pans, and a set German utensils.

Hey john great video I carry pathfinder bottel set .or my GI set .with blackhawk canteen like yours .or just a small pot if im useing different foods I subbed

john, have you tried the swedish ranger stove? No cup, but lots of cooking options. Miltary Mart has them from time to time. I'd like to see your take on it!

Good video

Nice set up does the polish one fit in the sweedish wind screen stand as well of coarse with some modifications because there are no east Germans ones to be found .

My "current" fav is the Soviet vdv spetnaz set. I want to get a Czech set. My SS Swede set is hard to beat, except for its weight. Thanks John.

I have a boy scout round mess kit with the pot and cup. The cup in mine is plastic, but the kit is stainless steel . I have looked for one more and I finally found one a sportsman. But it was so thin I would be afraid to use it . I think you called it a World War 2 kit . It is SS I believe I got it at Yellow Front a couple of years before they closed . The downfall with it is when the handle is out on the Fry Pan, it wants to do a wheelie when empty. If you know of a place to get another quality SS, shoot me a note . Appreciate it .

I think the Hungarian can fit the sweedish stand but hard to find as well

Were do you get your cook sets from

Is there a bag for the us mess kit?

Hey John, that USSR child's gas mask case you use to pack a mess kit - will a Swedish mess kit and stove fit in the case? How about the Czech round mess kit, will that fit? Thanks buddy!

How many ounces is the enamel cup . From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts God bless.

im in Lakeland

Eggs are gonna be scrambled brother 🤷‍♂️😂