Mess kit

One of the oldest, still used, pieces of a soldiers equipment. The mess kit is a simple, usually kettle-like object used for cooking food in the field. For the newer, three-part VDV mess kit, see VDV mess kit.

The standard Soviet and Russian mess kit of the 20th, and now the 21st century is a simple two-part model. It consists of the main, pot-like part, usually used for boiling in or eating out of. This pot is covered with a handle equipped lid, that can be used as a frying pan or saucer. The material used in these is aluminum, which has great heat-conducting qualities. It is common practice to store a spoon and cup inside the mess kit, this simple package is all you need to live like a king in the field.

Note: If you are not restricted to using an aluminum mess kit on the field, it is better that you use a mess kit made out of steel and not aluminum. The reason for this is that aluminum is a neuro-toxic metal, it is not suggested to cook using aluminum cookware.