MREs v. dehydrated meals

[LandCruisers4Life]

Moderator note:  this topic was split off from the Backpacker Magazine Editor's Choice Awards thread.

I have to agree on the Mountain House. They produce a quality product. Beef Stroganoff is my favorite. I also enjoy the meals made by Alpine Aire 

Once years ago I and a friend of mine bought some Backpackers Pantry meals. They were horrible, and we nicknamed them Backpackers Panties. A friend of ours came along on a day trip hiking at Enchanted Rock and we gave him what we had left. He said "Thanks!" ... then we looked at each other and said "No, thank YOU!!!" 

[homerboy2u]

How are the MRE's ?....being that they are stored for years...sounds corny , better to ask first then buy one...or two.

[LandCruisers4Life]

I ate plenty of MREs, to be sure. However the best MREs in my opinion were some of the first ones. They have gone through 3 different phases or more by now and I don't really like how they sell the current ones. Originally, you got a MRE, and it included a full meal. Now they are selling separate entrees and whatever. I dunno if that's a purely civillian thing or not? Also, if you look for the cold weather MREs, they supply a lot more fat and calories for cold weather, and are packaged in a white plastic pouch. You can eat one of those to supply a whole days nutrition if you HAD to.

My experience with earlier MREs was great. I really liked them. I am sure things can only have improved with time.

[bdann]

Once years ago I and a friend of mine bought some Backpackers Pantry meals. They were horrible...

Agreed, stay away from Backpackers Pantry, nasty stuff.  I like the Mountain House stuff too, quite tasty, though the eggs are a little weird.  Chili Mac is my favorite!

[homerboy2u]

Second question: What would you choose, either MRE's or Mountain House foods ?

[LandCruisers4Life]

I like em both. However if you can get an MRE that is a 'meal' in one package, I would opt for the MRE because you would have a main entree, desert, coffee, whatever.. I remember some of the packaged cakes being pretty good. I was actually thinking of buying a couple cases of MREs at some point soon, just to have around.

Off topic - Just came from the gas pump. Exxon is $4.05/Gal for premium...

[lighter fluid]

Once years ago I and a friend of mine bought some Backpackers Pantry meals. They were horrible...

Agreed, stay away from Backpackers Pantry, nasty stuff.  I like the Mountain House stuff too, quite tasty, though the eggs are a little weird.  Chili Mac is my favorite!

I agree about the Mountain House Chili Mac. It's great! I like the lasagna too.
I tried the Mountain House Neopolitan ice cream once, and though the texture was a bit stange it did actully taste like ice cream.

I ate plenty of MREs, to be sure. However the best MREs in my opinion were some of the first ones. They have gone through 3 different phases or more by now and I don't really like how they sell the current ones. Originally, you got a MRE, and it included a full meal. Now they are selling separate entrees and whatever. I dunno if that's a purely civillian thing or not? Also, if you look for the cold weather MREs, they supply a lot more fat and calories for cold weather, and are packaged in a white plastic pouch. You can eat one of those to supply a whole days nutrition if you HAD to.

My experience with earlier MREs was great. I really liked them. I am sure things can only have improved with time.

I have used MRE's and would have to say that I was pretty happy with them. The ones I used were the full meal variety.
They just weighted a bit to much for my liking, but aside from that I liked them.

The jalepeno cheese spread was about as processed as you can make a food item and I will tell you right now that it was pure Heaven on day 3 at 12,000 feet.
My brother, a Marine, told me that it was like gold while out in the field. You could trade it for just about anything.

.........I remember some of the packaged cakes being pretty good. I was actually thinking of buying a couple cases of MREs at some point soon, just to have around.

I have had the Lemon poppyseed cake LC4L. It was very good. It was another of the items my brother told me was extremely popular.

[SHANEA]

Second question: What would you choose, either MRE's or Mountain House foods ?

If you are backpacking, Mountain House - all it needs is water and very light and compact.  Even better if you have a potable water source. 

If I'm not backpacking, then good ole steaks and burgers and sweet potatoes, etc. from Krogers...

[LandCruisers4Life]

They still have Krogers in Texas? 

In the first MREs, they also had little bottles of tobasco sauce we would trade if we wanted something someone else had. Some guys just detested MREs (meals refused by ethiopians) and wanted the tobasco just to cover up the taste. I never had that problem, so I always traded the tobasco. Sometimes I'd save up 4 or 5 bottles and trade for something good, like fruit cake 

[lighter fluid]

They still have Krogers in Texas? 

In the first MREs, they also had little bottles of tobasco sauce we would trade if we wanted something someone else had. Some guys just detested MREs (meals refused by ethiopians) and wanted the tobasco just to cover up the taste. I never had that problem, so I always traded the tobasco. Sometimes I'd save up 4 or 5 bottles and trade for something good, like fruit cake 

I forgot about the little bottles of tabasco. I could see how they would have value. 

[homerboy2u]

If you are backpacking, Mountain House - all it needs is water and very light and compact.  Even better if you have a potable water source. 

 Yes Shane, so do the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ydJcSEzJxVc&rel=0" >http://www.youtube.com/v/ydJcSEzJxVc&rel=0</a>...and overall, they look and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/K-_sKXOTbog&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/K-_sKXOTbog&rel=0</a>.

  Third question: Where do you get your MRE's or Mountain House stuff?

  This is so  that i wonder why, we have not gotten chopped off yet...anyhow. It is a matter of the moderators to see it.

[SHANEA]

  Third question: Where do you get your MRE's or Mountain House stuff?

  This is so  that i wonder why, we have not gotten chopped off yet...anyhow. It is a matter of the moderators to see it.

Academy, REI, Internet, etc.  I would say the worlds largest retailer Wally World, but I shy away from shopping there so I really don't have a clue as to if they carry it or not. 

Ah, it's Memorial Day weekend, the primary moderator must be off burning petrol somewhere... pouring money into the coffers of Standard Oil.

Yes, Kroger is alive and well in Texas, thankfully.

[SHANEA]

 Yes Shane, so do the MRE's ...

But, they look heavy and bulky for the backpack.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Homero you can try Brigade Quartermasters, or U.S. Cavalry, who supply aftermarket military items both authentic, and geared towards military and police (swat for instance).

You can get Mountain House, or Alpine Aire food usually at REI or Whole Earth Provision. If you need more help, just drop a line.

[homerboy2u]

Agreed Shane, they are bulky but i doubt they would be heavy...it is practically one course meal for one person. How heavy can it be. It looks tempting and the general opinions say they are tasty too.Plus the bag is waterproof. I think it is a nice option for one or two day camping...or kayaking.

 Thank you LC4L, i just wanted to see if there was more options outthere than the ones i currently outsource. I use:
* Sportsmanguide.com
* Cheaperthandirt.com
* Cabelas.com
* Basspro.com
 and now will check out yours too.

  In the meantime, check <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uflWey-arhQ&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uflWey-arhQ&rel=0</a>. He opened up alot of MRE's to see if he could bagged a better meal than the supplier, finding out further down the road he was better off leaving them as they were initially. Thank God for people who share their experiences on the internet, we all learn a whole lot faster this way. My mishaps as well...

Muchas Gracias