Eating On Trail: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Backpacking Food has come a long way since I first started backpacking over thirty years ago. When I would pack for a trip, there were not a lot of options, and for whatever reason, I am still haunted by the idea of Turkey Tettrazini, as it seems like back then, that was my only choice. Now, with backpacking hitting the mainstream, coupled with social media advertising, there is an endless chain of food companies and choices. I’ve tried a lot of them. Some I like, some are ok, and some I’d rather die from starvation than attempt to stomach (I’m looking right at you Trailtopia). The purpose of this blog post is going to talk about some of the choices the big companies offer and my experience with some of their food. It’s also going to talk about a company that I will not do business with and encourage you all to not give them any of your money either (again, I’m looking at you Trailtopia), and lastly, some recipes and food ideas that are staples for me, that incorporate food that is not freeze dried or rehydrated.

I think the king of backpacking meals is Mountain House. This opinion comes from both the large amount of choices you have coupled with how many Mountain House meals I see purchased at REI. I’ve tried a few different ones. The only meal I will buy again is the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese. As long as you let the noodles fully rehydrate, you have a darn good meal. This is key with any meal though. The starches have to fully rehydrate. Most of the time, the directions need to be modified by atleast 5 extra minutes, and it’s loaded with 36 grams of protein.

Peak Refuel is one of my favorites.

Both the Chicken Pesto Pasta and Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli are absolute BOMB. Again, the key is to let the noodles and rice fully hydrate, but when you do, you have two dinners that are restaurant quality, and even more impressive, 43 grams and 52 grams of protein. They are large meals too, so if you are by yourself, you might want to split this into two dinners. You will not be disappointed. I like to add some dehydrated mushrooms to the pesto and siracha to the cheesy chicken, for just a little kick.

Pack It Gourmet has some solid offerings and have thought outside the box. Let me explain.

Pack it Gourmet has some unique meals. They have a great peach and berry protein shake for the morning. And all you need to do is add some water to it, shake it up, and start drinking. It’s the quickest breakfast you can have. In the past they had an “All American Hamburger,” complete with ketchup, mustard, and relish. You rehydrate the meat and cheese, add the mixture to a tortilla, add the condiments, and boom, you have a hamburger on trail that tastes pretty damn good. They aren’t offering it right now, so hopefully it reappears on their site soon. They also have a great margarita mix, “Moonshine Margarita”. Just bring a little flask of tequila and you are sipping refreshing margaritas at camp. They also offer various amounts of freze-dried meats, from ground beef, to chicken, to sausage, to roast beef. This is a great way to add some protein to your meals and they all taste great and the shelf life is going to outlive me!

Stowaway Gourmet has some excellent dinners. They offer unique twists on meals, the food is abundant, calorie rich and very tasty. I have had three meals and would recommend them all.

There are a couple downsides to Stowaway. First, they are probably the most expensive meal on the market. Each meal costs about $18 a bag. They cook in small batches, so once they are sold out, it takes a long time for them to have it back in production. And lastly, you won’t find Stowaway at REI or any local outdoor retailer. It takes a long time for them to ship your food. For example, I purchased a new recipe, “Drunken Noodles” on April 12, 2025. I bought it to taste test it. It finally arrived on May 1, 2025. This has been my experience for all three or four times I have purchased meals from them. If you plan ahead, the meals are great. Especially if you like shrimp on trail. Both of the dinners I tried were fantastic.

Now the bad… Let’s quickly discuss Trailtopia.

This food is horse shit in a wrapper. Any other questions? Now, in their defense, they were one of the first companies to come out and think outside the box. For that, I will commend them. However, I first attempted to eat one of their dinners on the first night of a four day trip to Joshua Tree National Park about 5 years ago. I bought Szechuan Chicken and Rice. I ended up eating about three or four bites and couldn’t eat another one. And the next morning, I really paid the price. About six months later I pulled out two Trailtopia dinners while in Yosemite for me, and two others. I rehydrated Jumbalaya and Ginger Chicken Stir Fry. The next day all three of us paid the price with violent diarrhea. When I got back, I then went on their website and posted an honest review. The review was not good but it was honest, and not rude. To this day, they have not posted my review on their website. In fact, the only reviews on their site are 4 and 5 star reviews. Ironically, REI sells their Beef Stroganoff. Their online review is 2 1/2 stars. On Trailtopia’s, it’s 5 stars. Curry Ramen Noodles? REI: 2 1/4 stars. Trailtopia: 4 stars. Hmmmm…. I was able to leave a review on REI’s Trailtopia page, and will always blast this company every way I can for their dishonest business practices and subpar food options.

What Are My Go To Staple Foods On Trail?

Mexican Pepperoni Quesadilla Pizza! A couple caveats: This is usually a first or second night on trail meal because of the Mozzerella Cheese. Second, you need a pan. I use the Jet Boil 10′ pan. It is non-stick, has a foldable handle that has a spatual attached to it, and is not too heavy. It comes in real handy if you decide to eat fresh fish you have caught on trail as well.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS: Two 10″ flour tortillas, Mama Mary’s Traditional Pizza Sauce (2 pack on Amazon $19), Package of shredded Mozzerella Cheese (should make 2 “pizza’s), One package sliced Hormel Pepperoni

Directions: It’s nice to have a stove with a regulator for this recipe, as I will turn the flame down. But just like a grilled cheese sandwich at home, put your ingrediants together, warm the bottom tortilla until the cheese sticks to the top tortilla. Flip it a few times to get everything warm and gooey. When it’s done, add the packet of parmesan cheese and red chili pepper flake packets you took from the last time you ordered pizza at a restaurant and dig in. It’s fantastic.

Italian Pasta with Andouille Sausage, Mushrooms, Onions, and Olives! This one hits all the right spots. Plenty of carbs, protein, and fats. Again, it’s a first night or two on trail meal because of the sausage (I use Aidelle’s pre-cooked sausage). I also dehydrate the mushrooms, onions, and olives. I could dehydrate the pasta too, but honestly, I just buy a $.50 pack of Ramen and use those noodles.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS: 1 package of Top Ramen Noodles, 1 package Aidelle’s Andouille Sausage (or any other flavor), Mama Mia’s Traditional Pizza Sauce, Dehydrated Mushrooms, Onions, and Olives (Optional: Red Chili Pepper Flakes or Parmesan Cheese)

Directions: This one is easy. Boil water and add it to the Ramen. While the Ramen is rehydrating, make sure to add the dehydrated vegetables to the water as well. While this is rehydrating, cut up a couple sausage links and add it to the pot or a pan along with the pasta sauce and warm it up. When it’s warm, combine all ingredients, add the chili pepper flakes and parmesan cheese, and enjoy an italian feast in the backcountry

Skurka’s Rice and Beans! This is one of my favorite backcountry meals. I’ve still yet to find a better recipe than this. Couple this dinner with Pack It Gourmet’s Moonshine Mararita, and you’ve got a backcountry feast like you’ve never had before.

Salami, Chipotle Cheddar Cheese, and a Tortilla. This is my go to for a quck lunch on trail. The cheese will last a few days as will the salami. If I’ve grabbed some packaged condiments and packed them, I can add mustard, or mayo, or even some Philadelphia Cream Cheese. I try to have the cheese and salami not sweat, and when I’m sucessful, I’ve got an easy lunch for atleast a couple days on trail.

So there you have it. With sierra backpacking season so close, I hope this can help a few of you make decisions to quench your palette after a solid day on (or off trail). Why suffer with crappy food if you can eat something that you look forward to eating! That way you can stave off the hunger pangs that lead you to the amazing first meal once you get off trail! Happy Trails!