What To Look For
Backpacking meals should be light, easy to prepare, and they should taste good. Pre-packaged backpack meals are made from freeze-dried or dehydrated foods. Freeze-dried foods often take less time to prepare and rehydrate. Look for meals that do not need to be cooked or heated in a pan. Some meals rehydrate and heat with boiling water in the same container they're packaged in. These are more convenient and require you to pack less gear. Mountain House offers freeze-dried meals that taste great, are inexpensive and are easy to prepare.
Common Pitfalls
Packaged backpack meals that claim to take little water and a short time to cook are more appealing to backpackers, but often a little extra water and a few extra minutes add a lot to the flavor and texture of the meals. Check the shelf life of all meals. Meals purchased in bulk usually cost less, but won't do you any good if they have a shelf life of one year and you don't use them before they expire. Mountain House meals have a shelf life of seven years.
Where To Buy
The fastest way to purchase Mountain House backpacking meals is directly from sporting goods stores like REI and Cabela's. Amazon.com carries Mountain House products for less money, but the choices are not as varied as they are on Mountain House's website. Mountain House has fast shipping and good customer service.
Cost
Mountain House backpacking meals cost between $4 and $8. They range from snacks and dessert to full entrees. Some of the meals are packaged in multiple servings. The meals are the most cost effective when purchased in larger quantities. Shop Mountain House's website for the best choice in meals, along with customer reviews. Orders are shipped within two business days, and arrive within one week.
Comparison Shopping
Other popular backpacking meal brands include Alpine Aire and Backpacker's Pantry. For an all-organic alternative that includes fully vegetarian meals, try Mary Jane's Farm brand. Mary Jane's meals are dehydrated and include instant-cook or meals that require cookware. These meals are more expensive than other brands, but they do offer a few ethnic dishes along with the more traditional pasta and potato meals.
Accessories
Any backpacker knows, the lighter the better, but not everyone likes to eat meals out of foil pouches. To avoid extra weight but still have tableware, you can buy Orikaso products at a local sporting goods store. Orikaso makes tableware from heat-resistant plastic that fold like origami into bowls, plates, mugs and serving and eating utensils.
Insider Tips
No matter how good the quality, some backpacking meals should be avoided. Most brands make a dish that includes macaroni, cheese and chili---often referred to as chilimac. While this may sound appetizing, across backpacking meal brands the macaroni noodles get mushy, and you usually end up with more of a stew than a pasta dish.
References
- Mountain House: Pouch Meals
- "Hiking and Backpacking: Essential Skills, Equipment, and Safety"; Victoria Logue; 2004
- "The advanced backpacker: a handbook of year-round, long-distance hiking"; Chris Townsend; 2000
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