Favorite (and why) Backcountry Pre-Packaged Meals

[Jonathan_S]

Mountain house because it's all I've ever tried.  Heard guys talk about making their own.

https://harvestright.com/store/#sthash.u3fomrV4.dpbs

Got $3,500 to spend?  One of these can be yours.

We're hoping to have one of these within 3 years.  I figure we'll make up the cost of Mountain House meals in about 5 years or so.

[Jonathan_S]

Mountain house for me.  I try and doctor them up when I can though.  I add a packet of olive oil to every single MH I eat.  Tapatio packet to some.  My favorite is the Chicken and Rice with an olive oil packet and a tapatio packet.  I'll eat that at home its so good.

Tapatio in the Turkey Tettrazini (and not just for the sake of alliteration) is one of my favorites.

[kentrek]

Mountain house because it's all I've ever tried.  Heard guys talk about making their own.

https://harvestright.com/store/#sthash.u3fomrV4.dpbs

Got $3,500 to spend?  One of these can be yours.

We're hoping to have one of these within 3 years.  I figure we'll make up the cost of Mountain House meals in about 5 years or so.

Id think that'd be a great item for a group purchase

[Jonathan_S]

Mountain house because it's all I've ever tried.  Heard guys talk about making their own.

https://harvestright.com/store/#sthash.u3fomrV4.dpbs

Got $3,500 to spend?  One of these can be yours.

We're hoping to have one of these within 3 years.  I figure we'll make up the cost of Mountain House meals in about 5 years or so.

Id think that'd be a great item for a group purchase

Yeah it would be.  Expensive as heck but definitely worth it in the long run.

[Karl Blanchard]

Mountain house for me.  I try and doctor them up when I can though.  I add a packet of olive oil to every single MH I eat.  Tapatio packet to some.  My favorite is the Chicken and Rice with an olive oil packet and a tapatio packet.  I'll eat that at home its so good.

good with tapatio and other Sricha, etc.  Can you explain what the olive oil does?

bumps the calorie count a bit and also adds good fats.  Hard to come by on the hill.  I mix them in my tuna packets with a relish and tapatio as well.  Makes for a great lunch.

[Fl0und3rz]

Nutritional Value (protein:carb:fat)
Ease of Preparation (time/items needed to prep etc.)
Flavor and Consistency
Price & Availability

Mountain House, for all of the above.  Chili mac and lasagna are my favorite.

MRE's mostly for nutrition and ease (not thought required).

[aorams]

Hawks Vittles will cook with a ridiculously small amount of water!  And they taste amazing

[Jonathan_S]

Looks like Mountain House is a favorite.  I guess not many of us have a backup to MH.  I like the Hawk Vittles quite a bit but not enough to plan ahead and buy them online.

[carpsniperg2]

Mountain house for me.  I try and doctor them up when I can though.  I add a packet of olive oil to every single MH I eat.  Tapatio packet to some.  My favorite is the Chicken and Rice with an olive oil packet and a tapatio packet.  I'll eat that at home its so good.

good with tapatio and other Sricha, etc.  Can you explain what the olive oil does?

bumps the calorie count a bit and also adds good fats.  Hard to come by on the hill.  I mix them in my tuna packets with a relish and tapatio as well.  Makes for a great lunch.

  On extended hunts I always have a few pouches of tuna and carry restaurant style mayo in the little packs. Love me some back country tuna 

[Eric M]

I like some of the Mountain House, but sometimes I feel "heavy" when I eat them. One guy I know takes MRE's so he doesn't have to take a stove, but I've had enough for one lifetime. Look forward to trying some of these other ones.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Did mres for years and switched to mountain house a few years ago.  Too much sodium for me.  2500 mg of sodium every meal is too much.  I hope to buy a freeze dryer soon then I can eat venison at the top of every mountain I climb.  Harvest right is the brand of freeze dryer I was looking at.  Not just for hunting food but to preserve all our extra food too. 

[kentrek]

Mostly mountain house here...not always a fan of it but it works...i try and stash good canned food & idaho mashed spuds if I can..for short non hunting trips the last year I've been total anti freeze dried for what ever reason

But when hunting space begins to become an issue and a pro pack is pretty nice

[BeWitty]

MH biscuits and gravy and beef stroganoff.

Backpackers Pantry isn't as good.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Depends on duration of the hunt.  If less than 2 days, or in an area that is very dry, we'll use MREs or canned food.  If longer than freeze dried is best, usually mountain house.  It seems to rehydrate best.  I don't like the sodium in them as well.  I'll substitute with dried fruit, jerky, oatmeal, ramen, and cliff bars.  Never thought of adding oil, will need to try that.  I've ate hundreds of MREs, and if given the choice prefer them, other than packing the weight/size.

[Karl Blanchard]

For anyone wondering about the olive oil, these are the ones I use.  Every one of my MH gets one.  Like I mentioned before, the nutrition enhancement is good but the oil really enhances the flavor as well.  Plus, when you kill something, smother a tenderloin in olive oil, season with some salt and pepper packets from the mini mart, let sit in a ziplock till dinner time, and fire roast that sucker.  Next level mountain dining right there

I buy em by the 100 pack because any other way is a tad expensive and I go through a ton of them so it is worth it to me


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003MZFL1I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1454169454&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=olive+oil+single+serve+packets&dpPl=1&dpID=31dP-NCs4EL&ref=plSrch#