Taste test! Homemade mac & "cheese" vs. store-bought. Both are good, but one is a clear winner.

Recipe: thruhikers.co/mac-and-cheese/
Our dehydrators: thruhikers.co/dehydrators/
Music by ‎@tellyourstorymusicbyikson

[@almaguillot8597]

If you guys wrote a recipe book, you could travel all year with the earnings. I'll be waiting.

[@Fitzroyfallz]

They’ve got all their recipes online on their website!

[@Im_really_sleepy]

@@Fitzroyfallzthank you so much

[@stephanieloomis9547]

I'll buy it.

[@user-ko4ge8zz5i]

​@@Fitzroyfallz That's amazing but I'd love to have this cookbook in my collection, it would be a dream to show it off..

[@mleczyk5292]

Omg yes

[@sailingoksi]

I love these recipe videos from you two. Store meals are so expensive. Showing these alternatives is great! Pls continue!!!

[@phoenixgate007]

I have so many food sensitivities and you both are showing me great ways of making not only camping meals but meals in case of emergency or even just a road trip ❤ Thanks!

[@pyronymph-868]

Good point that your meal is ready before the freeze dried one rehydrates. Bonus that you can customize ingredients, it's low cost, and no messy bag to carry.

[@hunterm5566]

Never seen these two without the biggest smile on there faces, great to see I hope you two are doing well!

[@lyssums]

Good content. Real people. Thank you. Much love and adventure to you two

[@pastelsheepy]

I'm physically diasbled so i know I'll never be able to do something like this out in the wild but i love seeing these recipes!!? these would honestly make great quick meals especially isnce i live somewhere where the power often goes out so we have to switch to propane stoves outside

[@Matt..S]

Depending on where you are, there are very accessible, while still natural looking hiking spots. Source: My grandparents did organize those kinds of trips for disabled and elderly people with the Red Cross.

[@donttalktomebye]

Im disabled and struggling to feed myself sometimes so i like lookingat recipes like this to prep during 'seasons' i have more energy

[@donttalktomebye]

There are some places that are disability friendly but there still is so much that has to be dine

[@Whitbarrow]

These guys are way too nice, they’re either Canadian or robots

[@Corteso42]

I know one of them was German

[@sakurakiyori]

A lot of the Midwest is also, culturally, very friendly. The South, too, but those accents are usually stronger.

[@alicecain4851]

Yours looked so much better! I'm glad you've found a way to save money and on trash to carry.

[@nox1994]

Looks amazing, cant wait to give this a go! Training for an AT thruhike 2025, so im having a ton of fun degydrating my own meals and taking them on overnights. Im gluten free but this is an easy swap for GF noodles or rice. Thanks for the inspo!

[@thecma3]

I love how fair you are in these videos, acknowledging the merits and inconveniences of both. I only rarely get out for multi-night trips and it's just not worth the time, energy, or space in my kitchen for a dehydrator to make my own meals. For the 1-2 trips a year where I'm out long enough to bring dehydrated meals, I'm content paying the (admittedly still painful) cost of the store-bought solutions. I'd certainly be more open to homemade solutions if I got out more!

[@ChibiChula]

If you have a vacuum food saver system, creating a bunch packages of food like this ahead of time helps a lot in trips but also in case of emergency or even for a lazy day. It's worth having a few options on hand if you think about it. 😉

[@amyharding4208]

You guys have definitely motivated me to get out my dehydrator and start using it! Thanks to you I have so many ideas!

[@Leah1run]

You probably won’t see this but I want to thank you both for having a clean, wholesome channel we can all freely enjoy

[@milospang9402]

I love watching y’all’s videos. It makes me want to go hiking and have a freeze dryer. With my current situation , I can’t have both.

[@chemistryflavored]

I need to see the orzo bolognese homemade version too! I love the idea of taking store recipes and making them at home and I also try to do this but you two always excel at it and I use so many of your recipes on trips!

[@wiliiamp5609]

im a back packer aswell and if your on the trail those expensive ones can add up to be much more than expected

[@tybyrd875]

Have you ever considered writing a cook book!?

[@tombradshaw2000]

Ye! The backpackers cook book 👌

[@Fitzroyfallz]

They have a website with all their recipes :)

[@tombradshaw2000]

@@Fitzroyfallz not the same as a good old book though!

[@bodyofhope]

​@@tombradshaw2000 The Backpacker's Guide to freeze dried trail meals

[@tombradshaw2000]

@@bodyofhope that's the type of thing!

[@Gangstaguru3000]

I love watching you guys!

[@Myrtle2911]

I don't hike, but I love these dehydrated meal ideas. I feel like they'd be great to take to work for lunch since all I would need is hot water. They are perfect for emergency kits, too.

[@TragedyClub98]

The price difference is insane and so cool at the same time. Homemade for sure is so much better! We need a cookbook from you two! I think everyone should learn how to do these!

[@leeisanerd8332]

Id love a video on how you got started with hiking!

[@AprilMaeT]

YES, I agree with everyone here!! Please make a cookbook for backpacking travelers!! 📖🍝

[@bhojani13]

Okay but the “is it hot?” Was just so sweet to me

[@Corteso42]

You can actually buy your own Mylar bags and seal your prepped meals so you can rip it open, fill it with boiling water, zip it up and eat it after some time. And it's only a downgrade for mother nature If you reuse your ziplocks... But i doubt it tbh... Ah and Mylar bags can be vacuum sealed ..So If you need a new way to seal and transport your food, maybe it's something for you 👌🏼 But make sure to buy heat resistant mylars!!!

[@ulogy]

They reuse the baggies for containing stuff that would smell if left out.

[@yosoyroman875]

I never thought of this!! Why? Thanks for sharing guys!!!

[@jessicaA62618]

I just luv these two!!! 💚

[@ShawnaCosmica]

Gosh you two are just adorable and I think you guys need your own documentary or at least more longer videos! I think I speak for everyone when I say I can't get enough of learning about your lifestyle!

[@SheilaR.08]

I love these comparisons!!

[@Jellymasterjellyking]

Once again love these people and thanks to them we know how to do what they do if we want to ❤️

[@RadDadisRad]

I like to add dehydrated fish to pasta dishes. Great source of Omega 3 and 6

[@Mordfustang847]

Same but i like to use the starkist packets of either tuna or salmon😊

[@vogeltje]

Mac and ‘greens’ - love it!

[@YourGuyDan]

15 mins is crazy long bc most cup noodles only take 5 mins max to cook

[@kattyrevel5910]

You guys are amazing I'm commenting so I get to see 👀 more of your shorts 🌈

[@HappyHabit]

Your Mac and cheese looked so much better I would definitely have picked yours! I love watching you guys on the trail am a paraplegic so I get my outdoor enjoyment from watching your videos thank you so much! ❤❤

[@mmirandaaaax]

Yours looks soooooo good

[@ChibiChula]

I'm considering doing something like this but with vacuum sealed bags to keep on hand for emergencies and lazy food days. Thanks for sharing! 😁👍

[@smudge82_]

Homemade one looks delish!!! Yum

[@amandawildy135]

Yours looks so yummy! I love these videos!

[@wisdomismysister8630]

Love the recipe vids❤

[@slm2747]

Backpacking cookbook time!! ❤🎉

[@Makeitbymandy]

Love watching these dehydrator meals you two make!! I HIGHLY suggest look at a cabellas pro dehydrator. I think its Bass Pro Shops down there. I had an excalibur and went to the 12 tray Cabellas pro. I KNOW you would love it, you can dehydrate a way larger qty!!

[@HappyHabit]

Your Mac and cheese looked so much better I would definitely have picked yours! I love watching you guys on the trail am a paraplegic so I get my outdoor enjoyment from watching your videos thank you so much! You guys need to create your own line of dehydrated meals for the trail wouldn’t that be great especially since your meals always look so good!

[@gregkinyon3316]

If it hasn’t been said, I’ll say it now! Write a cookbook. You have the recipes and the skills. Great videos, even though I’m not an outdoors person I love your videos!

[@eatfood9647]

the spoon on the gravel is a war crime

[@Tosadar_Outdoors]

Awesome, bon appetit 👌🔥🤘❤️🍻💯

[@wiliiamp5609]

btw i lovvee your vids

[@davematz1802]

You guys should get compostable baggies so you can just leave them on the trail or in the dirt instead of having to carry the plastic on your hikes. I have some, and they work great. They are made out of plant starch so you don't have to worry about the environment properly breaking them down. Also I love your content keep up the great work.

[@lilywhetsell8106]

How durable are they? And would the smell of the food left on the baggies attract any animals to the area? I like the idea though.

[@mariachristina6203]

Yours look way better. You guys are awesome. Maria Daytona Beach Florida ⛱️

[@ellenradford8582]

I would love to know what you do for the cheese sauce and also what is your favorite dehydrator.

[@stephaniesnyder4091]

You should make a cook book for backpacking.

[@YGisSimple]

I love your videos so much❤❤❤❤

[@irenecontreras3247]

You can use a shorter spoon if you shorten the bag.

[@noneyabusiness1565]

$14.95 for 1 serving is atrocious. I am so glad you two do your own recipes. You can actually make a very pleasant meal ready to eat of your own. Google recipes, until you get the hand of ratios and then experiment. Yum!

[@arier1989]

How do you wash stuff? Do you have extra water?

[@danielleterry2331]

I love cooking with my dehydrated veggies, rice or noodles plus the savings I get from my garden to make it all possible, tastes way better also lol my family is always wanting me to dehydrate them large jars every year but this year deer tore up my garden so having to buy my veggies and when I told them bring me the veggies and I will dehydrate what you need that didn’t meet well with their response 😂

[@KSlivelove123]

Love your videos! ❤ Your serving size looks like not enough food for two people

[@reneeandtim]

Most of our videos show servings for two. This is a serving for 1 (to match the store-bought stuff).

[@carolclarkson4859]

We got a freeze dryer machine and have been making some of the best back packing meals. If you can get your hands on one you will love it.

[@TH-sx6we]

Winner winner!!!

[@RanDom-if2ee]

❤

[@lmartinez1324]

I don't even do backpacking. I like to watch your channel because you guys are so darn cute.

[@lauriekennedy2859]

Favorite couple

[@lisaleete3859]

You need to make a recipe book!

[@ShaunaMichelle]

Mac and greens?

[@TylerSmith-hi5zh]

Please give me that recipe that looks amazing

[@reneeandtim]

It's linked in the description 😍

[@1One2Three5Eight13]

@@reneeandtimThank you! I was looking at your recipe index, and couldn't find it, so I came back to the videos to look for it.

[@CannaMomLife]

A feel a cookbook coming on. Or maybe an online store?

[@Juurdy]

Dang, the price difference is crazy

[@Swanky95472]

I love smart people

[@nope2075]

Yalls looks way better. And you can see all the veggies you added. I like that yall pointed out the fact that if you get store bought, you have to carry around the trash which is heavier than your tiny zip block bag. And since the store bought bag is dirty, you have to throw it away soon or put it up away from bears. And probably attract bugs. So, I see so many cons with the store bought.

[@yipeekaye]

Hi! I was watching one of your tarp pitching videos and i got really curious about what you do during extreme weather conditions? I assume you check the weather reports constantly, do you check into hotels? Are there instances where you’re faced with unexpected bad weather? Sorry for the multiple questions! I just find your lifestyle so fascinating!

[@chrishock5975]

But a dehydrator and a vacuum sealer and you can pack your own meals and no need to dirty the pot. I make my own veggie chilli, pasta primavera, rice bowls, etc. I made an envelope out of reflectix (car windshield shade) and duct tape. Same process as the store bought meals without the mess or cost. Most of the time, I just dehydrate my leftovers and make my meals throughout the year. Just pick one up and go!

[@lizh1988]

Some people don't like cooking in a plastic bag, though.

[@hookecho8283]

I'd be shocked if theirs didn't win.

[@roxiestirling5922]

What do you do with all the leftover plastic bags from the dehydrated food

[@Athena0922]

Curious question: during your thourough hikes is there a chance or some time for intimate stuffs?

[@Kayaaayak]

I'd like to hear more about how that small bowl is enough to sustain two people doing do much physical activity :o

[@lizh1988]

That's what I wonder. Maybe they are chomping Choco covered granola bars on the sly. Then again I did a lot of city walking for years, but managed to stay overweight.

[@CarolChillsCasually]

Home made always wins! And yalls looks way better than the store bought

[@tripendicular]

Please drop your recipes!

[@brianfagan8734]

I smell confirmation bias 😋

[@Duckduckobtusegoose]

Do you guys include cost of dehydrating in the price for your meals? I imagine the dehydrator being in for so long uses a fair amount of energy

[@dmmchugh3714]

When you wash out the pot, do you rinse out on to the ground ? Just wondering about the logistics, in case of animals, etc....

[@vinnybalzano]

Where do you guys buy your sleeping pads what brand are they are they comfortable

[@MyGoogleYoutube]

The only thing missing is a calorie comparison?

[@elizawebster9451]

what’s the protein difference between homemade & store-bought??

[@michaelfrymus]

I'm curious on pot sizing. I have the jetboil minimo. But i feel like that's probably not big enough for 2 meals for 2 big guys.

[@kaseyh1948]

Did I see yall use 2 different spoons?😮😉

[@ViiOlet810]

Does one of those meals that you guys make really feed you both? In all of your videos I see that you share them but the little pot that you use to prepare them doesn't seem all that big. Is one really enough for both of you? Maybe the pot is a bit bigger in person than it seems in the videos? 😅

[@VOTE.AMERICA]

I bet firepot loves these videos 😂surprised they haven't tried to sue for showing there products and giving bad reviews

[@samanthamendoza3012]

Do you guys get full.portions from the pot you cook from?

[@GarC170]

Are u able to get the cheese packs in bulk or no?

[@OliverLonge-ln9nm]

Can we buy this

[@andresbetancourt2709]

Home made looks more appetizing than store bought

[@ashleigheutsey6896]

I ate one of the "fancy dinners" one time on the trail. I got SO SICK. I'm talking violent vomiting, the loudest viking burps I've ever hear and explosive diarrhea. I told my friends to just leave me and I would catch up. Obv they didn't leave me. But man I was messed up for acouple days. Never again. Lol

[@bigred1363]

If you had a recipe book I'd buy just to save more food for my home....sustainable living 😊

[@danskhansen]

And, if you use food sealer bags instead of ziplocs, you can burn them in your campfire. Zero garbage :)

[@user-jt4xd4gu4k]

How do you make the cheese part?

[@mixedmediaartgirl300]

Yours wven looks way better tho🎉

[@stormygcannon1229]

Homemade is always better🎉🎉

[@Jon-jk8vd]

so romantic

[@christinaaa_xo]

I feel like the store-bought one would have a bunch of uncooked, hard noodles in it still 😂

[@renerenettoki]

Hi, what watch are you using?

[@babyblue7130]

What kind of conversations do you have while hiking? 🙂