For many people, food is a tricky factor when planning a hiking or camping trip. Those staying in campgrounds will most likely have coolers and cars at their disposal for storage, but what about those of us travelling to the more remote regions of the wilderness? While there are some that extend their minimalist tendencies to food and only bring the bare essentials, nutrition-wise, it’s still nice to be able to cook an actual meal at the end of the day or first thing in the morning. If you’re able to boil water over a fire on your trips, then any of the great products from Backpacker’s Pantry, a company well-known for its freeze-dried meals and snacks, will work for you. Keep reading for an inside look at a few items from this great company.
One of the greatest things about the Backpacker’s Pantry lineup is its variety. The company offers meals for all times of the day, ranging from juevos rancheros or granola in milk for breakfast, to chicken vindaloo, red beans and rice, or pasta salad for dinner. There are even crème brulee or ice cream sandwiches for dessert. The company also offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals for those who either won’t or can’t have certain food types. All the meals come in easily packable packages and only require boiled water for preparation.
That versatility doesn’t end with meal options, however; the meals also come in different serving sizes to accommodate varying numbers of travelers. The majority of them come in two serving sizes, though. However, there are also large canisters of specific foods (granola and bananas and red beans and rice, for example) that offer over 25 servings ($31 to $36). These are great for consistent meals throughout the trip, or to just keep around the house for an easy snack. Backpacker’s Pantry even offers a complete three-day meal kit ($75) that feeds two adults for three days on the trail and includes 3 breakfasts, 6 entrees, and 3 desserts.
The price of each meal from Backpacker’s Pantry will vary, depending on the food option and serving amount. Some two serving packages cost as little as $4.50, while others can cost over $10. The majority fall between $5 and $10, though. Some of the larger canisters contain more expensive foods, and can cost over $60, so it’s really up to you to decide which ones are worth the price.
The meals from Backpacker’s Pantry are so tasty, affordable, and easy to prepare that many people keep them in their own pantries to eat throughout the week. Even I have a canister of granola and milk that I snack on for breakfast throughout the week. I suggest checking out some of the company’s more popular meals to start with and then branching out from there if you have favorites or want to roll the dice on some new options. With a little fire and boiled water, they’ll be a great reward after a long day on the trail.
