The following is in response to a question asked by a user which is no longer in the database:
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I used to work for Oregon Freeze Dry (Mountain House). But I don't use freeze dried food because it costs too much, and it doesn't save any weight unless you can count on getting water where you are going. In the desert where I like to spend my time, I have to carry all my water anyway, so I use canned food.

Backpacking in the Cascades, where water is plentiful, I'll stick with what I know, Mountain House. I really like the Beef Stroganof and the Beans and Franks.

your mileage will vary,
tom

My vote goes for Mountain House. I like the taste the best, we buy the large cans then vacuum seal it in smaller amounts. Much cheaper that way.

I like the Alpine Aire, I don't think I've had a meal from them that I didn't like. But to be fair after a long day of hiking I could eat anything and would think it was the best ever.

Backpacker's Pantry is pretty much on par with Mountain House, and some of the meals were really good.

I have a MSR Miniworks backpacking water filter to avoid having to carry too much water, so I really like the concept of freeze dried meals. But yeah, they can get expensive. Sometimes it's just cheaper to do Pasta Roni or something from the grocery.

jmtgt wrote: lets keep the thread on target please..

Listen to you, #1 thread hijacker!!!

zane wrote:

jmtgt wrote: lets keep the thread on target please..

Listen to you, #1 thread hijacker!!!

No kidding... I was too polite to say anything, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope I never have to fly plane that is so light on the gross that I need freeze dried food. Who makes a freeze dried hot link anyway.

I would rather have a can of soda in my pack than a water filtration system. This giardia bull is nothing more that hype to sell a bunch of yuppie backpackers extra stuff. Who backpacks where the only water to find is in a hoof track.

Now I do know a couple of guys that collapsed there nose fork on a 205. Seams the federales dug ditches across the runway to close it and did not get the word out. They were three days hiking out and there filter came in handy.

Tim

I've always wondered how that stuff would taste but I never have tried it. Good to see this thread here by the #1 Hijacker. Trouble is I'm so used to good food I would hate to waste a meal on something that didn't taste good. Maybe I'll just get a few meals and leave them in my emergency bag for those times in Idaho when I get weathered in.

qmdv wrote:
I would rather have a can of soda in my pack than a water filtration system.

Tim

Howz that freeze dried stuff mix with beer? Hate to waste room in a perfectly good airplane by filling it with water.

Gump

A good 18 year old scotch might be a better substitute, but then I don't put anything in my scotch or mix it with anything either.

zane wrote: ....I have a MSR Miniworks backpacking water filter to avoid having to carry too much water, so I really like the concept of freeze dried meals. ...........

Along with freeze-dried food, I usually pack along some drehydrated water. Just add H2O....
How about MRE's? I've never had one, but I have read where MRE doesn't stand for "meal ready to eat" but instead for "meal rejected by ethiopians"-- don't know if that BS or for real. You can sometimes buy MRS's cheap, esp in quantities. Cheaper than specialty-house hiker's freeze-dried, anyway (I think).

Eric

Not intending to hijack the thread, but for airplane travel, the Heater Meals are hard to beat. They come with their own water, heat themselves,, and taste pretty good as well.

Kinda spendy, but quick and easy. I'm into quick and easy when it comes to camp food.

The only problem with these is you have some trash to haul out, but no dishes to do, at least.

THEN the Scotch.

MTV

I have son-in-law that was in army rangers in Afganistan about four years ago and for four months they ate MRE's. If you get all three meals that is about 6000 calories a day. Because of there mission they had no problem burning up the calories but for me I would end up out waying the gun trader.

I guess you could share with the squirels. Not a bad thing to keep in the plane though.

If I am planning a trip I have enough good stuff for the planned activity and then freeze dried for three more days in case I get weathered in. Ran out of food one trip and it was a bummer.

Tim

zero.one.victor wrote:

zane wrote: ....I have a MSR Miniworks backpacking water filter to avoid having to carry too much water, so I really like the concept of freeze dried meals. ...........

Along with freeze-dried food, I usually pack along some drehydrated water. Just add H2O....
How about MRE's? I've never had one, but I have read where MRE doesn't stand for "meal ready to eat" but instead for "meal rejected by ethiopians"-- don't know if that BS or for real. You can sometimes buy MRS's cheap, esp in quantities. Cheaper than specialty-house hiker's freeze-dried, anyway (I think).

Eric

I have several MRE's in my survival backpack. They take the place of fishing gear. We have an ARMY/Navy store here so they're easy to find and cheap. Change 'em out every couple of years, they don't taste too bad and they'll be a gourmet meal if you really need them.

Hmm, now I've had MREs and they aren't that bad. Back in the late 70's when I worked as a ground pounder for the feds as a far fighter we had Sea Rats from Korean era. Now the pound cake was a joy. I'm sure is was called pound cake beacuse you needed a 16 oz of water to wash it down.

Where do you all find these other RTE meals? Never seen them at the local grocery store.

See ya, Bub

I think you can get Mountain House or Backpacker's Pantry at REI or Sportsmans's Warehouse. With any of them, there are hit and miss entrees.

The first MRE's were mostly freeze dried. A few things like the peanut butter, and cheese weren't, but the fruit and meat were. The Army chose to do away with the freeze dried stuff saying you didn't save any weight because you had to hump the water anyway. I think cost had something to do with it. The shelf life of MRE's is shorter than you might think, but as a complete meal, they are hard to beat.
Damn, are we off topic already?

I choose and use Mountain House but I got to tell you I prefer cans. MRE's and packages that are heat activated with water end up being too much waste and weight. Plus the freeze dried packages are too easy to spill.

I backpack and canoe maybe 15 to 20 days a year. Nothing beats a can of Dinty Moore stew. Open, dump in small pan, heat, eat out of pan, clean with bread. Done. Well, actually I do rinse with a little boiling water but not on the last day!

Maybe it is different in the West but in the East and Canada (Algonquin Provincal Park mainly) I have lost count of the number of times buddies and Scouts got sick drinking water from lakes and streams. I always carry a water filter.

I know a guy who used to carry instant oatmeal exclusively on his hunting trips. Mush--morning,noon, and night! Cheap, quick, easy, and even kinda tasty- but kinda monotonous after a week. Or even a day.

Eric

Thread bump - last post is from 2007 so its time for an update as food may have changed or brands have come and gone.

I'm getting ready to buy some to replace emergency stocks, but normally don't eat the stuff so I'm curious as to which brand or choices from various brands are the most tasty. Does anyone use these for breakfasts too?

BladeRunner's thread on Alaska State Survival Equipment Requirements made me realize it was time to restock.

Zzz, maybe the poll should be reset, too.

I did some looking around on line and found this review and rating. But like everything we read on line, who knows...

http://wessonresearch.org/?gclid=CPaPydj_2swCFQeTfgodYRwE3Q

I used to eat a lot of freeze dried food and don't mind it at all. I thought I should clarify my statement above about "not eating the stuff", that could be interpreted badly. The reason I don't normally eat it is due to the very high sodium levels and how it affects my blood pressure, so I carry it and store it for emergency purposes. What I have eaten, and that was a lot back in the day, I've mostly liked. It sure is convenient and easy to prepare.