Backpacker’s Pantry Meals Review
Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In 1971, Ronald Smith purchased Dri-Lite foods from an innovative Girl Scout leader who was tired of carrying canned foods. Dri-Lite foods became Backpacker’s Pantry. In the last 50 years, this family owned business has continued to improve their line of food to what it is today. Backpacker’s Pantry offers freeze-dried and dehydrated meals that are not only lightweight, but that carry the nutrients and taste that backpackers need and love.
Backpacking Meals by Diet
When I looked into the website for Backpacker’s Pantry, I was pleased to find that they had their meals organized by diet. Choose from a drop down menu to select vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, soy free, or tree nut free. There is even a selection for high calories meals for those backpacker’s who are really laying down the miles and effort. There was no need for me to sort through every meal on their website because my preference was vegetarian. This was a super time saver and was greatly appreciated. I ended up with the following vegetarian selections: Pad Thai, Three Cheese Mac and Cheese, The Rocky Mountain Scramble, Creme Brulee, a freeze dried Ice Cream Sandwich, and freeze dried peaches.
Backpacker’s Pantry Meals are Easy to Prepare
We took our meal selections on a two night backpacking trip into the Rocky Mountains. We took a close look at the nutrition information and were pleased to find that the there was ample protein and calorie content in all of the meals despite them being vegetarian. The Pad Thai, Mac and Cheese and the Rocky Mountain Scramble all required boiling water to be added. The normal directions suggest adding boiling water to the bag, reseal, wait 7 minutes, stir, then wait an additional 8 minutes. The package instructions included high elevation instructions which was helpful because we were at 10,000 ft. According to the instructions, extra soaking time is necessary at high elevation. With the extra time, it took about 30 minutes for the food to be ready. We added the water right to the bags and found the bags sturdy and functional to eat from.
How Do Backpacker’s Pantry Meals Taste?
The Three Cheese Mac and Cheese made a great side dish for the trout we caught in the lake. We found that the 2-serving size was just right as a side dish but both agreed we could’ve eaten the whole bag if it was our main entrée. It was delicious! The noodles were cooked el dante and were not mushy. There was a cheese sauce like you would expect but also some real cheese that was melted into the mix. The real cheese added some additional texture and we really enjoyed that. The Pad Thai was INCREDIBLE! It was full of veggies and noodles with an included peanut butter packet to add to the bag AND real peanuts to sprinkle on top. It tasted like it was right out of a Thai restaurant. The 2-serving size was plenty for us both for dinner without any side dishes.
The Rocky Mountain scramble was good with potatoes, eggs and cheese. We did find that dish to have an excessive amount of black pepper but was otherwise very tasty. We both agreed that a little less pepper would make the dish exceptional! The texture and heft of the breakfast was consistent with cooking breakfast at home.
Overall, we thought the hot meals were delicious. They were not excessively salty like some other brands of backpacking foods we have tried in the past. This was a big plus. They were flavorful and filling but not full of excess sugar and salt.
Don’t Forget Dessert!
We like our dessert! Backpacker’s pantry had some great options that did not require additional boiling of hot water, a huge plus when conserving fuel in the backcountry. The Creme Brulee is prepared by adding cold water and allowing the bag to sit for 15 minutes. The result was a fluffy custard that was delicious! The package included a packet of crunchy caramelized sugar that added a crunch and a burst of flavor to the top of the dessert. We both loved it and found that the 2 serving package was a good size for the both of us.
I hate to admit that we ate all of our desserts on the first day. Yup! In addition to the Creme Brulee, we brought along the freeze dried ice cream sandwich and some freeze dried peaches. Both were light and easy to eat. The sandwich didn’t stand up too well riding in my backpack and was a little broken when I opened it. This did not take away from the delicious taste and we were happy for the extra calories on our rough terrain. The peaches were delicious and did not have an excessive amount of added sugar. This was awesome and suited my palate well.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations on Backpacker’s Pantry Meals
It is evident from the simple ingredients, excellent flavor with sufficient calories and protein that Backpacker’s Pantry knows what backpackers need and want. The packaging was easy to open and the bags had secure seals to re-close the bag after adding the hot water. These same bags became our trash bags for the weekend because they were sturdy and held in the contents without leaking. Backpacker’s Pantry is in the process of working on more sustainable packaging as I write this review. I felt that the packaging was a bit hefty so I was glad to read that the company is working on the packaging. The flavor and consistency of every thing we tried was top notch! The selection of foods was also excellent, especial since we are vegetarian. Backpacker’s Pantry will definitely be one of our staples on future trips.
The meals are reasonably priced ranging from $9.99-$12.99 for the two serving packages on most entrees. The single serving entrees range from $6.99-$10.99. Most of the deserts were priced in the range of $3.99-9.99 depending on the portion size. These prices are excellent for the quality and quantity of food you receive. If you would like to order Backpacker’s Panty meals for yourself, visit their easy-to-filter website at www.backpackerspantry.com, meals are also available from www.rei.com and www.amazon.com.
