Those who have eaten plenty of freeze-dried foods understand the value of having an insulated container to allow their meal plenty of time to re-hydrate, yet still be warm while the last is being consumed.
I have tried a number of different options for this, and settled on an insulated 16 ounce, Nalgene wide-mouth, straight-side jar.
First, it has a screw-on lid. Snap-on lids do not work well because if your meal gets shaken at all, the top will blow off, spewing your hot lasagna over you, and spreading scent for bears.
The 16 ounce size is perfect for MH Pro-pack meals, or anything smaller.
The straight sided jar is easy to insulate and duct tape, with closed cell foam (sides, top and bottom), windshield reflector etc.
The wide mouth top with no inner edge makes it easy to clean/keep clean.
I've used this system for about eight years and still have no complaints.
This summer, I will be doing a trip with five others, and since we decided on mostly freeze-dried meals, we decided that we would need some insulated containers, so I made these...




They are the first that I have made using a car sunscreen as insulation. I believe that they will work well enough. The sunscreen is thin, but the reflective value should mostly compensate for that.

So as the cold weather sets in and I find myself with more free time, I am intrigued with the idea of these insulated bowls. Looks like a perfect solution to the spillage that occurs with the shallow bowls we currently use.

Is the insulation taped onto the Nalgene containers or is it a sleeve that can be slid off and on for clean up?

It looks like it is taped on... were there any issues with your design? Did they keep the food hot?

Love the different color of tape used to facilitate keeping peoples bowls identified!

I never did try the ones insulated with the car sunscreen as those were made for others. The one that I use is insulated with the green closed cell foam camp mat. The lid has insulation held on by tape, but the bottom/bowl is taped to fit snug, yet slide off for cleaning. MH meals stay hot for twenty minutes or more with the lid on.

Thanks!

I was thinking I would do the snug fit sleeve as well for cleaning purposes. I will have to look around for some insulation options. I know I have reflectix hanging around in the basement but may look for something less "poofy" so that my bowls are less bulky.

I have been using a bag cozy made out of a grocery store frozen food "cooler" bag with and extra layer of the refectix that holds 2 bags of the MH meals, but would rather just rehydrate in the individual bowls. Less worry about the bag tipping over and spilling.

Another good option would be neoprene. Just glue and sew the seams.

I just use an insulated cup gas stations give away to lure you to buy their coffee. I fact I don't even bring any plates or bowls, if it can't be eaten out of the cup, it's not on my menu

Several good suggestions here. Thanks for posting.

Ive made insulator for my cups using furnace tape and cutting a reflective bed mat. Ive even used the reflective window covers for cars. just to size, wrap it around and tape.

I really like this thin stretchy Evazote foam I got from gossamer gear as a cozy material. I made these mug/bowls from those cheap (light) BPA free Ziploc twist-loc containers from the grocery store, and some 1/8" Evazote foam from gossamer gear. I added a pair of sipping holes to the lid.







I had to trim this edge ring that goes around the clear part of the container to get it into my evernew Ti teapot. But now I can stack two inside with a fuel container. Well, almost - the top of the teapot doesn't quite close down but close enough. I couldn't have made it fit with reflectix..







I really like the evazote. The evazote is way less bulky than the reflectix, easier to clean, and stretchy so you can take it on and off the mug for cleaning. The evazote is lighter than neoprene. I'm going to try to hand sew a pot cozy for the teapot sometime during the winter doldrums.

I haven't tried these yet but Maddy the goose seems to have a good idea and very cheap.

When I get done sewing all the bags and tarps I'm working on this is my next project.

quote okinaw55: "I haven't tried these yet but Maddy the goose seems to have a good idea and very cheap.


When I get done sewing all the bags and tarps I'm working on this is my next project."

I just tried making one tonight. The insulation I used ending up being a one side aluminum type with adhesive on the other. I folded it together, which made it about 1/4' thick. The aluminum tape didn't stick well to it and after I boiled some water and put the pot in the coozy the tape all came off. I think the adhesive caused the metallic side to have a residue. I might try and take the tape off and wipe the insulation with rubbing alcohol and try again, or just find some reflecix, It did keep boiling water at 165 degrees after a half hour though, and it was real, real ugly!

quote RainGearRight: "

quote okinaw55: "I haven't tried these yet but Maddy the goose seems to have a good idea and very cheap.



When I get done sewing all the bags and tarps I'm working on this is my next project."

I just tried making one tonight. The insulation I used ending up being a one side aluminum type with adhesive on the other. I folded it together, which made it about 1/4' thick. The aluminum tape didn't stick well to it and after I boiled some water and put the pot in the coozy the tape all came off. I think the adhesive caused the metallic side to have a residue. I might try and take the tape off and wipe the insulation with rubbing alcohol and try again, or just find some reflecix, It did keep boiling water at 165 degrees after a half hour though, and it was real, real ugly!"

You tried one from the video? I guess I didn't think that maybe some would have adhesive on one side. Thats something to consider. If youre going to wingfest I'd like to see what you came up with.

I made 4 of the Reflectix cozies for our eating vessels because I had all the necessary materials in the basement.

We use 10oz. IMUSA mugs with Pepperidge Farm Pirouette canister lids. I don't have a hack saw so the mug handles stayed on and I built the cozies to accommodate them. They are rather bulky with the cozies on but it does keep the food warm in the colder weather so for me it is worth the added space they take up in the pack.

I like the slim lines of PortageKeeper's and NotLight's materials and have been keeping an eye out for cheap yoga pads or other similar closed cell foam pads at thrift stores to try and make some cozies that are less bulky but still insulating.

I started by making a reflectix pot cozy and testing it. What I found is that a tight fitting lid on a pot or mug is much more important than a cozy. If you scroll up half a page on this link, there is a four-color graph by someone else who got the same results I did - lid is much more important than cozy.

I'd still use reflectix if I wanted to keep something hot for an hour (or maybe I'd just get a wide mouthed thermos). But, unless you are trying to keep something hot for an hour, or unless you are making a freezer bag cozy, I think you can get away with material a lot thinner than reflectix, as long as you have a lid. Or in many cases you can get away with no pot/mug cozy at all.

I really like the design of PortageKeepers original post. He has that tight fitting lid to keep heat in, and then the thinner cozy material from the car sunscreen. I think that thinner material is more than enough. I think you could even use something simpler like a cut off sock or something for insulation and it would be more than enough. The other thing that is nice about PortageKeepers original post, is that his containers don't lie flat and lose heat to the ground like a freezer bag would. You could use the Ziploc twist lock containers from the grocery store too if you don't have the same containers that PortageKeeper had, and get the same effect I think.

I know I'm resurrecting another old thread. :) Who knows I might not be the only person checking out old posts for ideas. Anyway here's another take on insulated bowls that I've been using for a while. I'm not taking credit for the idea. I can't remember if I came up with it or saw it somewhere.

I sew the little bottom flaps closed on a regular old 12 oz can neoprene koozie and slide it over a twist lock ziploc 2 cup container. Depending on the koozie it might be a really tight fit at first but after taking them on and off a few times they loosen up. The lid has a piece of reflectix glued to it. They've worked good for me.

Double post

That's a great idea for a cozy!