The Reviews Are In!

We’ve reserved our best overall pick for a reliable standby that offers a large and diverse menu—including many gluten-free, vegan, and organic options—and great bang for the buck: Backpacker’s Pantry.

Apparently, Backpacker’s Pantry didn’t get the memo that hiking and camp food is supposed to be bland and boring, because every meal I’ve eaten from this company is surprisingly tasty. My personal favorites are the Pad Thai with Chicken and the Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans with Chicken.

Childrens’ blood sugar can define a trip. Having quick and easy Mac and Cheese on hand felt like a super power on camping trips. Even our pickiest three-year-old testers did not turn up little noses to this tender elbow pasta and parmesan, romano, and cheddar treat.

Whether you’re at a campsite or a roadside motel, these hot (and economical) dinners never fail to hit the spot. The best part? All meals are made and distributed from Backpacker Pantry’s facility in North Boulder.

Want to truly escape the crowds and land some primo campsites while you’re at it? Try backpacking. This handy guide explains everything you need to get started as a beginner backpacker.

Backpacker’s Pantry has introduced five new entrées for the 2024 season, offering a variety of flavors from around the world. These meals include Drunken Noodles with Chicken, which brings a taste of Thailand, and Fiesta Beef and Vegetable Bowl, a Tex-Mex-inspired dish.

I’ve been an avid backpacker for seven years, and I’ve tested countless assortments of gear out in the field. I’ve hiked in every US national park and on all seven continents, so I’d like to think that my awareness of what works across a variety of different climates is pretty darn high.

Backpacker’s Pantry donated five percent of its online revenue to The Conservation Alliance. These funds will support TCA’s ongoing advocacy efforts, including the push for National Monuments in 2024.

Increased awareness of gluten-free diets makes backpacking a little easier — and a lot more delicious — for gluten-free eaters. Here are some favorite freeze-dried gluten-free camping meals.

Mother’s Day provides an excellent opportunity for you and your siblings or children to try and one-up each other in an effort to prove yourself as The Favorite. Yes, being supportive is not a competition, but you can’t be the one who gives Mom a gift that doesn’t suit.

I like to bring backpacking meals for breakfast and dinner, and a sandwich for lunch. Plus, lots of snacks. As a vegetarian, a few meals I like include the Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai, the Backpacker’s Pantry Summit Breakfast Scramble and the Good To-Go Mushroom Risotto.

What a surprise to enjoy tender chicken chunks and noodles coated with a flavorful sauce, right out of the packet. All I had to do was wait a few minutes!

For adventurous moms who love the outdoors, get them something they really want this year. Rather than the traditional flowers, perfume, or home goods route, why not show the intrepid mothers in your life how much you really see them and care about their interests and passions?

The company’s special-edition Solar Eclipse Glasses are just $4 each, and say “Ice Cream On A Mission” on them. What more could you want?

For the 2024 total eclipse, Astronaut Foods is selling special edition Solar Eclipse Glasses for $3.99. These glasses are a must-have accessory to view the eclipse without searing your retinas.

Backpacker’s Pantry’s strongest selling point (other than price point) is its variety: breakfasts, entrees, fruits, desserts, and emergency meal kits. They also offer meals catered towards every type of dietary restriction, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, soy-free, tree-nut-free, and high-calorie.

Together, we raised $22,223.63 for Leave No Trace A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of you who participated in the 2024 Badger Sponsorship. Your generous contributions will directly aid Leave no Trace in its mission to foster responsible outdoor recreation and conservation practices.

The cheese and noodles are a merger made in corporate heaven. Every al dente noodle was perfectly coated in a creamy three cheese sauce that made our taste buds sing.

BP's meals are some of the best on the market that we have tried, with a large assortment of meals that are packed with high protein and the perfect amount of calories to keep you fueled up and focused, whether backpacking, camping, or in an emergency situation.

Just pour on boiling water, and you’ve got a hot meal in just a few minutes. Its hard to believe it’s not home-cooked!

With the help of Vegetarian Resource Group volunteer Stephanie Kumar, I examined the nutritional content of pouches of vegan entrées from several different companies.

Valentine’s Day presents an excellent opportunity to express affection and thoughtfulness to those who love the great outdoors, particularly hikers. Traditional gifts often focus on material goods, yet hikers typically value experiences and practicality over purely sentimental trinkets.

Snack like an astronaut with these freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches from Astronaut Foods! A stellar pick for an interstellar themed birthday party, and a way to show a kid what it’s like to eat like you’re living on the ISS, these real ice cream sandwiches are freeze-dried to be shelf stable in zero-gravity, or the comfort of your kitchen.

Throughout the years, Backpacker’s Pantry has exemplified what it means to be an engaged member, and 2023 was no exception with the continued support of our grant program, engagement in cause marketing, and utilizing their voice in DC to support our conservation priorities.

we’ve reserved our best overall pick for a reliable standby that offers a large and diverse menu—including many gluten-free, vegan, and organic options—and great bang for the buck: Backpacker’s Pantry.

Backpacker’s Pantry has somehow managed to nail freeze-dried backpacking meals, thanks to a few decades of dialing in their recipes to offer one of the widest selections of meals and ensure quality consistency across all of their recipes.

Our goal is to help fan those flames of passion for the outdoors. We aim to not just attract but deeply engage the new wave of nature enthusiasts back to the backcountry.

As a family-owned company with nearly 75 years of history, the year underscored the value of strong partnerships and adaptability in the face of challenges.

A tasty and convenient meal for backcountry hikers and campers, the Mac & Cheese from Backpacker’s Pantry makes for an affordable stocking stuffer. Along with simply tasting delicious, it’s packed with all the nutrition necessary to fuel outdoor adventures. The company also offers pad thai, lasagna, and more, so there are plenty of entree options.

Backpacker’s Pantry, located in Boulder, CO, is the original gangster of freeze dried meals. Founded in 1971 with roots all the way back to the 50s, they’re still as relevant, available, and filling today as they were half a century ago. What’s more, BP is ethical, sustainable, and gives 1% for the Planet.

As part of my quest for better backpacking meals, I asked John Muir Trail hikers to share their favorite sources of calories on the trail.

Crumbly and sweet, the freeze-dried vanilla ice cream tasted just like it did in its traditional form. I remember being in awe that something this marvelous could exist. Imagine taking unmeltable ice cream anywhere you wanted! It was a treat straight out of a science fiction film!

Boulder-based Astronaut Products uses freeze-drying to turn ice cream treats into a light, crunchy bar of creamy sweetness that melts in your mouth. Flavors include Cookies & Cream and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream sandwiches.

It doesn’t matter how old, or cool, your teenager is, everyone loves Astronaut Ice Cream, a freeze-dried treat developed with NASA. Choose from new freeze-dried products this year: Cookies & Cream and Mint Chocolate Chip sandwiches and Cinnamon Apple Wedges.

For those who like to wander in the winter, having a hot meal in the backcountry is a welcomed luxury. And with about a 10-year shelf life, Backpacker’s Pantry meals actually taste like real food.

Want to feel like a bonafide backcountry chef as well? Do we have the meal for you. Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai ($10) not only tastes amazing, but also has you add several ingredients throughout the cooking process, making it feel like much more of a home-cooked meal than just pulling an oxygen absorber from the pouch and dumping water in.

Looking for an affordable stocking stuffer gift idea? After burning calories in the fresh air all day, campers crave food with flavor and substance. Backpacker's Pantry makes an array of delicious freeze-dried meals for fast cooking at the campsite, and their Dark Chocolate Cheesecake is great for campers who have a sweet tooth. All this two-serving dessert needs is a splash of cold water and a good stir to be ready to enjoy.

Packed with nine (yes, nine!) different backpacker meals and an ultralight stove, this holiday bundle from Backpacker’s Pantry is perfect for that thru-hiking phenom on your list who needs to keep their calorie count high.

I have added the salmon (mentioned above) along with other items to mix in with the cheesy noodles. This is also the one constant on any backpacking trip and I always keep a few extra on hand so it never misses making it into my pack.

You can’t go wrong with chocolate and Backcountry’s Pantry makes it even better with this just-add-water cheesecake dessert. One package delivers two modest—or one super-sized—treats after a day on the water.

For the outdoorsy folks, we love these camping meals! An out-of-this-world gift for the holidays is Boulder-based Astronaut Foods, the original source for freeze-dried astronaut ice cream developed with NASA in 1974.

Pad Thai ($10), fettuccine Alfredo with chicken ($13), and shepherd’s potato stew with beef ($13)—sounds like a list of entrées at a delicious (if slightly eclectic) Boulder restaurant. Nope. It’s the menu for your buddy’s next backpacking adventure. Boulder’s own Backpacker’s Pantry cooks up delectable, just-add-water main courses, as well as breakfast and dessert fare, that are perfect for the trail

Did the hubbub around October’s annular solar eclipse get your little ones thinking more seriously about a career in space travel? Go ahead and indulge their dreams–and their taste buds–with these palate pleasers from Boulder-based Astronaut Foods.

Any parent will tell you: Getting little ones to eat at camp is as difficult as shouldering an 80-pound pack up the side of Denali. The distractions are bad enough (birds! bugs! dirt! tent!), but most kids simply don’t like backcountry cuisine. Enter Backpacker’s Pantry Three Cheese Mac & Cheese. Packed with cheddar, Parmesan and Romano cheeses and topped with a butter sauce, this ooey-gooey goodness is a child’s culinary nirvana.

If you’ve ever walked into an REI, you may recognize Backpacker’s Pantry. With 23 entrees, 9 breakfast meals, and 10 fruit and dessert options, the brand has one of the most diverse catalogs of freeze-dried and dehydrated meals out there. Importantly, it also offers some of the tastier dishes in this category, such as its Fettuccine Alfredo, Pad Thai with Chicken, and Rocky Mountain Scramble.

Backpacker’s Pantry meals are handy, delicious, and nutritious shorelunch options, with more than 30 meals, from breakfasts, to entrees, and deserts, ranging from classics like Louisiana Red Beans and Rice, to Wild West Chili & Beans, to Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, and Beef and more eclectic choices like Pad Thai Chicken, and Three Sister Southwest Quinoa & Beans.

It’s good enough I’d eat this at home in a power outage happily. It’s light and well flavored. I like the pasta texture as well. It’s not pasty or thick.

This nonfrozen treat is thick with both deliciousness and nostalgia. Lovable and chalky-sweet, it has a three-year shelf life, can be enjoyed straight from the wrapper, and weighs about one ounce, making it ideal for the weight-conscious backcountry traveler on your list.

Astronaut Foods, the pioneers in the freeze-dried ice cream industry, have once again brought the taste of space to everyone with their latest product launches for Fall 2023. With an array of delightful new flavors and a unique collection pack, these offerings are sure to tempt your tastebuds.

Much to our happy surprise, there wasn't a single dud in the batch. While we had our favorites, all of the meals reconstituted to have an appetizing texture and great taste, and they satisfied our hungry hiker appetites.

It may be freeze-dried survival food with a three-year shelf life, but it sure tastes fresh and satisfying. When you’re hovering over a camp stove on a backcountry ski or paddling trip, something this tasty (and easy to prepare) is truly a small miracle.

These Emergency Meal Kits allow you to construct custom eats for either three or seven days, letting you select the specific meals you desire in your personalized survival meal plan. These custom kits are available in meat, vegan, and vegetarian options, offering various meal choices.

Now in its 36th year, ColoradoBiz magazine’s Top Company Awards program recognizes businesses and organizations based in Colorado or with a significant presence in the state that are leading the way in their fields, as demonstrated by financial performance, notable company achievements and community engagement.

My recommended gluten free camping meals: Backpacker’s Pantry: Many of their flavors are gluten free but not all. My favorites are the Kathmandu curry and Summit breakfast scramble (possibly my fave of all time).

Boulder, Colo.-based Backpacker’s Pantry, a family-owned maker of gourmet adventure meals, announces a revamped Emergency Meal Kit offering that allows you to build your own custom kit for three or seven days, and choose the meals you want to have included in your own personalized survival meal kit.

The new custom meal kits bundle breakfasts, lunches, and dinner entrees, offering an easy preparedness solution. You can also curate a personalized selection of meals for your emergency preparedness from each category and save 5-10%, depending on the quantity.

While there's something immensely satisfying about creating elaborate post-climbing dinners, there are some days when you're too exhausted and too hungry to wait for that delicate demi-glace to reduce. For those instances or any time you want a healthy and easy-to-prepare meal, consider some of the offerings from Backpacker's Pantry.

In order to healthfully coexist with my growing lactose intolerance, I needed to be more intentional about what I ate in the backcountry. That learning process led me to some fun ideas and delicious alternatives to the classic thru-hiking staples.

After trying what feels like nearly every dehydrated meal on the planet, I’ve come to the conclusion that Backpacker’s Pantry is the best of the widely available brands you’re likely to encounter in your local gear shop. In my years of peak bagging and traipsing across the Rocky Mountains, the Pad Thai flavor is always a big hit, and it’s vegan.

Making it through a natural disaster or food shortage comfortably means having enough calories to see you through strenuous activity levels. Fortunately the days of having to meticulously grow and preserve your own food are behind us for the time being. Backpacker's Pantry has put together a FEMA recommended three day meal kit with enough options and variety to keep your palate happy.

The company also makes a new Backpacker’s Pantry Emergency Meal Kit that lets you buy three days’ worth of tasty, freeze-dried breakfasts and entrées for two people in one box. Use the dozen meals for backpacking and camping or stash the kit in a corner of your garage or in your car while road-tripping, in case of an emergency.

But Backpacker’s Pantry has somehow managed to nail freeze-dried backpacking meals, thanks to a few decades of dialing in their recipes to offer one of the widest selections of meals and ensure quality consistency across all of their recipes.

Backpacker’s Pantry’s Pad Thai? A hit, one I’d enjoy fireside or just on my couch.

But then you carefully pour the boiling water into that package of Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai and spend the next 10 minutes drooling, counting down the seconds till those morsels are rehydrated and ready to be wolfed down. The second it hits your tongue, it’s like you’ve died and gone to heaven. That savory, salty, thick, hearty goodness. It’s like there’s nothing more satisfying in the entire world!

Camp-style meals aren’t just for hiking. Keep one of these pack-flat pouches from Backpacker’s Pantry on-hand – in your suitcase or the car –because you can usually access hot water from a coffee counter at the airport or a gas station.

We loved digging into the Pad Thai and Blueberry Peach Crisp after a long day of climbing—any meal that serves real peanut butter and sriracha-lime flavors followed up with sweet summer fruits is slam dunk, in our books.

Hearty and filling, Backpacker’s Pantry Three Cheese Mac & Cheese is a protein-packed freeze-dried camping food staple you’ll enjoy with creamy real cheeses and elbow pasta. Whether you’re at your campsite, in the field, at the cabin, or at home, you can’t go wrong with this comfort food.

Whether seeking gourmet cooking options in the wild, a sleep experience rivaling your cozy home bed, attire to ward off desert chills, or activities for an enjoyable downtime, our all-encompassing glamping list will enhance your outdoor adventure. With these essentials, your summer glamping escapades will be unforgettable and well-prepared.

Backpacker’s Pantry is a 72-year old Boulder, Colorado-based, family-owned company that makes lightweight, freeze dried meals that are packed with protein. I stock up at the beginning of every season.

One of our all-time favorites, Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai brings homecooked flavor no matter where you adventure. Inside the bag, you’ll find a fresh peanut butter packet for a fresh and nutty flavor as well as chopped peanuts to add some crunch to your meal. Our outdoor gear tester and seasoned backpacker Emily Pennington says, “I’m never not obsessed with Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai — it comes in a fun kit that feels like a little backcountry craft project.”

In a world of beef jerky and cheese, what is a hiker to do if they don’t eat any of that? Many of the foods we typically think of when planning backpacking meals or hiking snacks aren’t options for vegetarians — and especially vegans. Here are some ideas for your next backpacking trip!

Whether you’re into roughing it in a tent and sleeping bag or going glamping in an air-conditioned RV, you don’t want to forget your vegan ethics at home. To ensure you have the best cruelty-free camping trip ever, we’re highlighting a few of our favorite foods, supplies, and essentials to ensure you have a peaceful weekend in nature.

We’ve tried almost every last thing in the company’s catalog, and it’s always high-quality, nutrient-dense, and, most importantly, delicious. Incidentally, it’s all sustainably sourced, too. That’s true of its à la carte backpacker meals, and we found it’s just as true of its emergency food supply kits.

Are you tired of pulling a smushed PB&J from your bag? Are you finding yourself choking down bland oatmeal or trying to eat enough protein bars to fill your morning belly?

Pad Thai with chicken, fettuccine alfredo, and dark chocolate cheesecake are some of the lightweight freeze-dried meals you can bring with you, courtesy of Backpacker's Pantry. These nutritious, easy-to-carry meals are perfect for outdoor excursions and won't take up too much space in your backpack. Easy to rehydrate with boiling water, these compact meals have a shelf life ranging from three to 10 years. Plus, there's even options for vegetarian and gluten-free diets.

Well-loved gourmet adventure meal company Backpacker’s Pantry has been feeding us since the 50s and operating out of Boulder, Colorado since the early 90s, and the company has always been dedicated to giving back.

Bottom line: the Backpacker’s Pantry meals taste great. We are talking healthy ingredients, real flavor and a good variety of meal options.

Backpacker's Pantry creates a wide range of dehydrated and freeze-dried gourmet backpacking meals. They create authentic recipes using healthy & sustainable ingredients for all dietary needs.

Whether you’re headed out for a quick overnight or embarking on a multi-day mission deep into the backcountry, the gear below is what we bring on every trip to comfortably spend days and nights outdoors.

Backpacker’s Pantry meals will definitely be a staple for me this summer; not only do I feel energized after eating them, but they also pack down small, have restaurant quality taste, and are made by a company whose values closely align with my own.

Whether you are vegan, old-school vegetarian or a run-of-the-mill omnivore, there are plenty of options to choose from here. Then even get more specific, from dairy-free to nut-free, if you can't find something here, then you might be a plant. We got to sample a mix of breakfast fare, snacky stuff and full blown entrees and enjoyed them all.

All that said, we’ve reserved our best overall pick for a reliable standby that offers a large and diverse menu—including many gluten-free, vegan, and organic options—and great bang for the buck: Backpacker’s Pantry. Their Pad Thai, which comes complete with a small package of peanut butter and handful of separately packaged peanuts, is one of our all-time favorites.

After a decade of bikepacking and touring on a plant-based diet, Dakota Gale compiled this handy resource that includes practical tips, some essential considerations, his favorite meals/ingredients, and more to help anyone curious about plant-based (or plant-leaning) bikepacking give it a try on their next trip.

Camp cooking can involve a lot of grilled cheese, reheated soups, and boxed mac and cheese. These aren’t bad meals, but sometimes that mom deserves something a little more five-star after a long day of hikes.

If after a full day of adventuring, you don't have the time or energy to Francis Mallman your way through a campfire-made meal, never fear: Dehydrated camping meals have gotten pretty damn good in recent years.

Let’s face it, camping can be tough. But fear not, my fellow nature enthusiasts, because with the right camping gear, you can turn your wilderness experience from a survival test to a luxurious getaway.

For those of you out there planning on one day tackling the AT (or most any thru-hike) with your precious little cargo, or you’re a curious hiker (and perhaps a touch inspired by the likes of us) and want to know the logistics of how it’s done, this article is for you.

Resupply is fine art. As a thru-hiker, you must to learn to identify foods that will keep well without refrigeration, survive the abuse of being rattled around in a backpack for days on end, and deliver sufficient calories and nutrition without weighing you down.

When a disaster or emergency happens, you'll want to be extra prepared with emergency snacks to keep you fueled, which is why we've curated just the list for you.

The process of preparing for a backpacking trip can be daunting, so we chatted with Leilah Grace, an avid backpacker and vice president of the American Perimeter Trail, for tips and tricks that’ll have you feeling at home in nature in no time.

Backpacker's Pantry has a whole selection of tasty freeze-dried meals that'll keep your tastebuds happy on any outing. They take barely any effort to prepare—just fill to the line with hot water and enjoy the sunset (or sunrise).

As a skier, you know that staying fueled and energized during your adventures is crucial. Whether you’re carving down a resort or poking around in the backcountry, it’s essential to have access to nutritious and delicious meals to keep you going.

Nowadays, the best backingpacking meals taste like something you can get in a restaurant or whip up yourself at home. Not to mention, they’re also packed with nutrients and made with healthy and sustainable ingredients.

Backpacker’s Pantry will provide financial support to its Camping to Connect program for youth from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (“BIPOC”) communities in New York and Colorado. Backpacker’s Pantry will also make food donations throughout the year for their excursions.

All you have to do is add hot water, reseal the bag, and bam, you have a practically zero-effort meal that's delicious in the backcountry! My personal favorites are the pad thai and the mango sticky rice dessert by Backpacker's Pantry.

As someone that only recently started to try backpacking meals, I had a lot of questions about sourcing, packaging materials, and the general carbon footprint of these convenient backcountry options.

Packing for SUP camping has some similarities to backpacking—with the added flexibility of a large, flat, load-carrying deck that allows for a few luxuries.

Backpacker’s Pantry, a family-owned maker of gourmet adventure meals, announces today the hire of Sarah Raizk as its new Vice President of Finance and Accounting.

As the weather warms up, many of us are gearing up to hit the trails and campgrounds. Backpacker’s Pantry are great to throw in your backpack for easy meals on the trail.

Though minimal cooking is possible in the backcountry if you want to make your own camping meals, it is often easier to prepare a freeze dried or dehydrated meal. Both of these options are prepackaged dried foods—usually elaborate meals, where you simply add boiling water and wait for the food to rehydrate.

With weight limits to keep your board safely afloat and space limitations, you have to capitalize every inch and pound to ensure you can carry everything you might need (and want) for your SUP camping excursion, from creature comforts to preparedness must-haves.

After a ton of research and a few trial-and-error experiences, I finally have a grasp on which dietary-restriction-friendly camp meals have me racing to camp.

Many backpackers choose freeze-dried meals because they're a lightweight dinner option. The process of freeze-drying a meal removes 80% of it's water weight, while retaining a high level of calorically-dense nutrition.

It may be freeze-dried survival food with a three-year shelf life, but it sure tastes fresh and restaurant-ready. When you’re hovering over a camp stove on a backcountry ski or paddling trip, something this good and easy to prepare is truly a small miracle.

Dehydrated meals are perfect when only a substantial snack will do the trick — or the in-flight meal just isn’t cutting it. They're lightweight and easy to pack, making them perfect for hiking, road trips, and long plane rides.

Over the years, I’ve hiked in every U.S. national park, completed the John Muir Trail, and crossed the Greenstone Ridge Trail, and I’m convinced that this is the perfect camping feast for one or sensible shared meal for two.

As part of my quest for better backpacking meals, I ask John Muir Trail hikers to share their favorite sources of calories whilst on the trail.

Dinner is my favorite meal of the day on and off trail. Since I’ll only be on trail for 4 nights total, I decided to splurge on the vegan options that Backpacker’s Pantry carries since they’re high calorie and high protein.

Their meals are well reviewed by outdoorsmen for taste and fairly high in calories and protein. They offer a good variety of meal flavors and are fairly priced.

Backpacker’s Pantry is an industry leader in the pouch meals market. They pride themselves on creating delicious and diverse meals with authentic recipes, using healthy & sustainable ingredients.

For the final piece of the resupply puzzle, we take a look at hiker dietary restrictions, how easy they found resupplying with these restrictions, and which meals and backpacking snacks hikers enjoyed most out on the CDT.

To give back to the community we love, the places we adventure and the planet we must protect, Backpacker’s Pantry donates 1% of every sale, every day to nonprofits around the world through 1% For the Planet and is 100% solar powered.

We wrap the show with a new backcountry meal critic (mac and cheese edition!)

In our ultimate guide to vegan backpacking food, we offer food ideas for every meal you have on the trail. Learn about vegan nutrition, discover new vegan foods, and develop your next backcountry, vegan meal plan!

Whether you’re in the wild, at the cabin, or at sea, these gourmet camping food staples check all the boxes when it comes to freeze-dried meals and our holiday gift guide recommendations.

Outdoor adventurist Clay Abney shares what should be in every backpack before hitting the great outdoors.

Smith has been creating recipes for Backpacker’s Pantry since 2010, and has, she says, a good sense of how flavors—and freeze-dried ingredients, in particular—will mesh.

Backpacker’s Pantry, a family-owned maker of gourmet adventure meals, welcomes Duane Primozich as the company’s new CEO.

If you’re looking for light and simple, Backpackers Pantry makes a mean, Outside editor-approved freeze-dried dish that’s made with real peanut butter and dry roasted peanuts.

Freeze-dried camping meals make it easy to enjoy hearty, delicious food in the backcountry. From breakfast to dinner and dessert, these are the ones to try.

Made of featherlight freeze-dried ingredients, each meal is packed into a single pouch. In most cases all you do is boil water, pour it into the pouch, and wait a bit, and then voilà—the food is ready.

This vegan stew is incredibly easy to prepare—as in, just add hot water and the included olive oil packet. Fifteen minutes later, you have a filling meal that’s got 14 grams of both protein and dietary fiber.

Backpacker’s Pantry takes a different approach to their food; they freeze-dry ingredients without cooking them, so your boiling water cooks them fresh for a vastly improved taste.

I’m not the only one who is obsessed with Backpacker’s Pantry. Owen Eigenbrot, another fantastic Trek writer, sings the praises of their Pad Thai as well.

I compiled some fan favorites, and I based these off on my own experiences and user reviews. Here are 12 meals to stock up on for the coming season — or, if you’re a prepper, the coming apocalypse.

American Outdoor Products President Soraya Smith discusses her leading freeze-dried food manufacturer and its win at the 2020 Colorado Manufacturing Awards (CMAs) as Outstanding Food Brand/Co-Packer.

Whether you’re looking for something specific like healthy vegan backpacking food or just low waste hiking snacks, we hope you find something on this list that makes your mouth water.

President Soraya Smith makes freeze-dried foods for folks to prepare by the campfire or as a side dish at home -- or even enjoy an ice cream sandwich suitable for outer space.