Context
Three consecutive days in cold, wet terrain with variable light. No stove or cook kit carried. Food entirely based on QRR units, supported by water from known sources and added salts. Objective: maintain pace and decision quality while reducing handling and fuel reliance.

Method

• Intake: fixed units per phase (morning, mid-day, evening)

• Water: refilled where available; electrolytes added deliberately

• Eating: always while moving or during short pauses; gloves kept on

• Tracking: notes on pace, energy, focus, digestion, and handling

Observations

Energy and pace

• Eating on the move was practical, no enforced halts

• Energy release per unit was predictable, no crashes or spikes

• Counting in units simplified day planning and ration tracking

Cognition and decision-making

• Decision tempo stayed consistent under pressure

• No lapses linked to food intake timing

Digestion and chewability

• No gastrointestinal issues

• Bars stayed chewable in cold if carried close to body

• Small bites were easier to manage during exertion

Cold-weather handling

• Wrapper opened with gloves

• Break lines allowed half portions without crumbling

Time, fuel, exposure

• No cooking halts, ignition or cleaning required

• Result: more continuous movement and less time exposed on open ground

Pack and waste

• On-body carry improved access and reduced pack shifts

• Wrappers contained crumbs, easy to pocket and pack out

Limitations and trade-offs

• Flavour fatigue appeared by day two

• Lack of hot food reduced morale and warmth in evenings

• Hydration discipline remained critical; bars did not offset water needs

Practical notes

• Plan one moving meal for each intensive phase; reserve hot meals for morale and recovery when carried

• Keep next unit on-body in cold; rotate to avoid hardening

• Carry a small waste pouch for wrappers

• Label units clearly to ease accounting alongside freeze-dried meals

Bottom line
Across three stove-free days, QRR supported continuous movement with low handling cost. It proved viable as a non-reliant ration in cold, wet, time-compressed conditions — provided hydration and morale from hot fluids are addressed separately.