Freeze-dried food

[Huggy]

All looks like solid option.. looks like im going to have variety this year!! Thank you all for the suggestions. Looks like i need to plan out more hunts so i can have the opportunity to try your suggestions.

I cannot think of many FD foods I haven't tried over the years both for camping and hunting, but for MY money, Mountain House seems to have the best flavor profiles compared to others.
Obviously, my tastebuds are different than yours so when comparing flavors of one manufacturer against another, YMMV.
One thing about salt content of some manufacturers offerings.
I've read where folks bemoan the fact of too much salt and I can appreciate their perspective, however, remember that you'll be perspiring with significant effort and likely for a sustained period. With sweating comes a loss of salt and other electrolyte sources that MUST be put back in if you don't want to suffer from cramping or partial shutdown of other bodily functions due to lack of whatever you've leaked out.
That said, what you might find less than tasteful if sitting around a campfire having not exerted much or heavily perspiring, WILL be a welcome addition to your body in the opposite situation.
Just be aware that salt tends to make you thirstier so plan to hydrate more frequently.
Overall, you have a plethora (FINALLY got to use that word! Hahaha!!) of options and only your tastebuds can tell you what you'll like. Even so, might I suggest you experiment at home FIRST to see if Brand X, Meal Number (fill in the blank) is palatable to YOU. Better to find out if it "Binds you up" while at home and can take appropriate measures than out in the field a LONG way from home.
And on the flip side of that coin, well, you probably aren't going to want to find out your Gutz will be wanting to make a mess in your britches when you have Many Miles Before Your Journey Is Complete, not to be too crude on the topic.
Catch my drift??
Good Luck and Happy Tasting!
Overnout

 

[Sam Aspacher]

Following along, want to try this peak refuel chicken Alfredo but 12.99 is steep for one meal.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BR2J6FH/?tag=lrhmag19-20

 

[Doublezranch]

The Z's and I like Mountain House. A good amount of choices, reasonably tasty and real easy to make with a JetBoil.

 

[claybreaker]

So Kraft Deluxe Mac n Cheese with a packet of Arby's sauce (eat after dark, you won't like the color) or Taco Bell's Fire sauce (OK to eat in the light) aren't the suggestions that you're looking for?

HAHAHA LOL I got a kick out of "eat after dark..."

I ( or wifey) mainly cook my stuff here and dehydrate seal and pack on my backcountry hunts. And I always like the taste and get the serving size I want.

Be Safe.

 

[davewilson]

I asked a friend of mine what he takes when he goes on one of his many extended hikes. He said any grocery store has little packages made by Knorr, many different flavors, mostly noodles of some sort. Mixes in packets of tuna or chicken. I've tried several of them, all very tasty. Said it's what most of the hikers he knows take with them. Gonna have a bunch of them in Utah next month!

 

[Owyheehuntr]

I take the packets of chicken and mix with instant noodles, I also do ramen and throw in some jerky.

 

[Huggy]

Following along, want to try this peak refuel chicken Alfredo but 12.99 is steep for one meal.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BR2J6FH/?tag=lrhmag19-20

KOWABUNGA!!!
They are pretty PROUD of their products to be asking what they do!!
Surely these must be primarily for the Well-Heeled folk for when they go Glamping in the KOA Campsites.
Of course, if you DO buy them, think about how much further you could hike or hunt!!
With your wallet empty except for tumbleweeds blowing about, you'll be light as a feather and not bogged down by excess weight!
Hahahahaha!!
INCONCEIVABLE!!

 

[CLP]

I agree with everyone that the Peak Refuels are expensive! However, I just finished up a 10 day hunt and used their meals and couldn't have been happier. I felt like their in another league compared to Mountain House and some of the others. They might be a little more expensive, but every night when I got to camp I felt as though the extra money was more than justified.

I also took Off Grid's oatmeal (Predator Fuel if I recall) and it was also amazing.

There are definitely some great options out there right now.

 

[kbaerg]

There are many many great options out there, My wife and I have been doing our own dehydrated meals and have found them to be perfect for us so far in terms of price, taste, and filling our needs. It is definitely something you want to test out before you go out on an adventure to find what works (tastes) well and what does not.

 

[WanderingGoatie]

Huggy nailed it.

 

[TangoOscarMike]

I order some different powders from a company called true nutrition. If you go this route you can eliminate all of your cooking supplies from your gear. Two scoops each of protein powder, carbohydrate powder, and fat powder mixed with water gives you 752 calories that require almost zero preparation. It comes in any flavor that you like and it can be sweetened to your liking. You can drink three of these drinks per day and get 2,256 calories in a decent tasting drink. You haven't wasted any time on preparation and you can even "eat" on the go if you need to. I would also bring a fiber supplement and a good multi-vitamin with me as well.

Until you get used to it, you will be hungry as you are not eating any actual solid food. However, you are going to have a hard time finding a replacement that supplies this kind of nutrition at the weight and space of the powdered mixes. When you throw in the fact that you no longer need pots, pans, tongs, spatulas etc you come out way ahead.

You also get the benefit of not having any wildlife, or in some scenarios two legged wildlife, alerted to your camp position by following their nose like Toucan Sam to your odoriferous breakfast bacon frying away in the pan.

I would recommend trying this at home for a few weekends to get the feel for it before you need to use it in the backwoods. This will give you a chance to see how it feels to eat this way without being in a situation where you have no other choice, but to eat this way. Its always nice to know exactly how full you will feel? if it will make you sleepy? if it tastes okay? how much energy you get from it? how your mood is? and all of the other factors that can be determined by food.

I don't see any down fall to this arrangement unless you lose your food supply in an accident or robbery, or you have to stay out in the wilderness longer than planned and you run out of food and now have no pots or pans to cook traditional food in. Everything you do has its risks.

 

[Steelthowl]

I think it's always online..

 

[jarheadhunter]

I agree with CLP. Peak Refuel meals are are the bomb. Some of these comments have me really LOL though. These guys will not bat an eye to go to the drive through at Arby's or MCdonalds and drop $10-15 on a meal. When it comes to a Dehydrated meal most of which I think taste better then the fast food joints they freak out at the price. I personally only eat one good meal a day while backpack hunting and that is dinner. The rest is just granola bars and jerky maybe some trail mix. Its nice to cook up a tasty hot meal. MRE's are heavy and disgusting at least after eating them for 4 years....

 

[Rockchuck27]

I avoid Mtn house and the swamp-guts it causes these days! For the last couple years, I have been using meals from packit gourmet. I ordered every dinner and lunch they made a few years ago and they have been great. No ill effect to the gut either. They are more expensive, but well worth it to me! A couple favorites would be the deli roated roast beef wrap, dotties turkey and dumplings, and shepherds pie. honerable mentions to the cold chcken wraps for the trail and the pico and cheddar jack cheese spread. I cant speak to their breakfasts. i have a few, but have yet to try them.