We Tried The Most Popular Backpacking Meals So You Don't Have To

Hey hey everyone! This was such a fun video to make, and has been one we have been wanting to do for a while now.
Freeze dried backpacking meals definitely have their place, and we really wanted to help you plan your next backpacking trip without having to stress about which meal to choose (or better yet, which meals to NOT choose).
So, our stomachs are your guinea pigs this week as we rank the best and worst backpacking meals on the market. We chose to only use Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry this week, as they are some of the most common and readily found brands. However, we'd love to do this again with other brands too!
If you liked this video, let us know if you'd like to see more! We could do a vegetarian/vegan version, a breakfast version, and other brands that may be able to compete with these top two brands. I also am excited to chat more about how to dehydrate your own meals (starting next week?!)!
Which meal are we missing out on? Share all of your favorites below!
Here are the meals we tried:
Mountain House Chili Mac: app.rockporch.com/prd/bIJoNNn1B7
Mountain House Lasagna: app.rockporch.com/prd/mYbscs38Z8
Mountain House Chicken and Rice: app.rockporch.com/prd/8OGlU2svR8
Mountain House Chicken and Dumplings: app.rockporch.com/prd/2i5NIvUi4Q
Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki: app.rockporch.com/prd/FdHAIjgj4D
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff: app.rockporch.com/prd/Tek7wSt2Nz
Backpacker's Pantry Fettuccini Alfredo: app.rockporch.com/prd/DFh5J4FVVc
Backpacker's Pantry Mashed Potatoes and Gravy with Beef: backpackerspantry.com/product...
Backpacker's Pantry Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese: app.rockporch.com/prd/EvykV2NnUG
Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai: app.rockporch.com/prd/mTV4BwCNoI
** All of the above links are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to purchase from them, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you (It really helps show the brand any impact we have!).
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[@adevillatoro6043]

Omg, would you consider teaching us how to dehydrate our food and what kinds of meals you take?

[@katlw136]

Super helpful, thanks. Can't wait for your homemade dehydrated meals videos & recipes!

[@klayisbae3144]

Great reviews! Would love to see some more vegeterian options

[@amyroberts19]

Love all of your videos! I love to create a lot of my own food/meals for backpacking and would love to hear more from you about making your own dehydrated meals! Another favorite go to for me if I need to purchase some and since I prefer organic/high quality ingredients and minimal/no additives, etc is Heather’s Choice.

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Thank you! We may be biased but we love the ones we make way more than any of these. We have never tried Heather's Choice but that is good to know!

[@AdventuresofGraywolf]

Subscribed. I might suggest dumping the sporks and going for long titanium spoons instead. I've eaten rehydrated MREs for decades and the spork just doesn't add anything since it's a terrible fork and a terrible spoon at the same time. A spoon can almost always stand in for a fork and you can just stab something with a knife if you really need a fork, and in many cases, grabbing two sticks for chopsticks works even better. Can't wait to dig through your homemade dehydrated recipes. I just got a dehydrator and I think I've eaten more beef jerky in the past month than in my whole life

[@mercantilehousing]

Got notified on IG! Loved this!!! Always curious about how these taste. I would say, after filming I would move the monstera closer towards the window :)

[@the_adventureaddicts]

haha okay I am hoping to find a plant stand so it can stay in that spot but it will be raised up above the couch so it will get plenty of light!! Thank you 😂. I am determined to keep her alive

[@brittneydouville]

In my opinion Mountain House pad Thai is WAY better than the Backpackers Pantry pad Thai! Though it has more stir fry flavour and less traditional pad Thai flavour - it’s almost good enough to eat at home! I’ve also heard great things about Mountain House yellow curry but have yet to try it myself. I would be super interested in videos on DIY dehydrated meals!

[@the_adventureaddicts]

That's good to know about the Mountain House version! Stay tuned, that video just might make an appearance 👀

[@samismith8455]

Mac and Cheese is a hard one, but also one I lean towards while backpacking. I tried the AlpineAire Forever Young Mac and Cheese last year on a backpacking trip and it ranks above all other Mac and cheese ones that I've tried. Definitely has that creamy flavor of a true Mac and cheese!

[@victoriadu993]

My favorite outdoors/travel account! Love the KZbin content ❤❤❤

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Wow, thank you so much!

[@bobsuruncle4a]

Enjoyed your reviews. Would like to see some videos showing how to dehydrate meals too.

[@angeedraper]

Great video. Would love to see you try some Peak Refuel meals. In my experience, I have not enjoyed any backpacker's pantry meals.

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Thanks! We have had a few of the Peak Refuel and they have good flavor, but we have found that they feel like they are lacking in the calories, no matter what the bag says. Always feeling like we need more food! Maybe we should give them another shot?

[@nicolasreed8002]

Thanks for the perspectives! I definitely think freeze dried meals have a place in our options for food while adventuring and I use them too. I'm very interested in some of your dehydrated meal suggestions! I've been experimenting with DIY stuff as well and I've perfected some unusual meals like backcountry Fondue and protein pancakes. Looking forward to seeing what you share!

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Totally agree! I am planning to get the first video out next Sunday all about dehydrating your own meals and a simple recipe to start with! Also, backcountry FONDUE?! need to try that!

[@brigleaton]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this 👏🏼 🫶🏼

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Thank you from the bottom of ours for watching!

[@randallthorpe4773]

Wish I was your age and as brave. Just saw that hike up a weird rock formation which got scarier by the foot ! Admiration!

[@kellywiggins2621]

The pad Thai with chicken or just the pad Thai is my favorite one too!

[@andrewhenderson7333]

Loved the video! Beef stroganoff has always been a go to for me. Also interested in trying the pad Thai. Also like those bowls you used! Can I ask where they are from?

[@the_adventureaddicts]

These are from crate and barrel! Got them from our wedding registry 😅

[@andrewhenderson7333]

@@the_adventureaddicts thank you!!

[@IronTrev5820]

You should check out Pinnacle - small batch meals from CO are amazing! High in calories and actually taste like meals you’d cook at home.

[@user-vn2cm5ok1o]

Have you guys tried Peak?

[@sheilahenry7279]

I’m planning to prep most of my own. I just can’t see spending $15. For 1 bag of food. At that rate by the time I’ve had 2 meals I can stay at a hostel & eat their food! Please post s few of your EASY dehydrated meals.

[@the_adventureaddicts]

I totally feel that! It feels crazy to spend that much on a backcountry meal. That's what it costs to eat out at a restaurant! I am hoping to get a video out next week all about how to start dehydrating your own meals and a simple recipe to start with!

[@amanthichandraratna9361]

Thank you for the video. In my opinion Backpacker’s Pantry meals are awful- I remember taking an Indian Curry meal and it was inedible- I had my buddies instant mashed potatoes instead. I’ve had good luck with Peak Refuel, I feel like it’s also closer to a 2 person meal and it doesn’t give you the toots like a lot of other backpacking meals 😂 Would ❤ some videos on how you prep your own meals and recipes.

[@user-my3ku2xi2s]

9:22 Beef stroganoff is one of my safe bets but at elevation the beef doesn’t always soften like you’d want 😮

[@the_adventureaddicts]

Great flavor in that one for a backpacking meal! That is interesting, I wonder if letting it sit longer helps? I know I don't have the patience to wait any extra time while I'm hungry in the backcountry though 😂

[@mckennawestern557]

“do you like it?” 😂😂😂😂

[@rockyracoonanddogman1720]

Give the Peak Refuel stroganoff a try. MH was our favorite, but the Peak Refuel is much better. We would eat it at home.

[@Cperez2002]

People get bored so they want to try new things, but make no mistake - mountain house is the best tasting backpacking/emergency/freeze dried meal. I think if you compared MH to the other brands, instead of comparing it to what we know these foods to taste like when they’re made fresh, you’d be higher on MH. I’ve tried most of them, and nothing taste more like normal food than MH

[@Cperez2002]

Love the Video by the way peeps!

[@AnimusZen]

As cute as their names, didn't fulfill the objective.