mountain house, freeze dried, food, bugging out
Preparedness

The best food for bug out bags

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I have messed around a lot with different foods for bug out bags, get home kits, and general backpacking. There are advantages and disadvantages to every type. While there is no one food that will fit everyone’s menu and needs I have come to a conclusion:

Freeze dried foods are the best foods for bug out bags.

Here’s why: If someone is bugging out they are likely traveling some distance on foot. Weight is a major factor and that is where freeze dried food really shines. Freeze dried foods are extremely light weight. I can throw in several meal pouches for just a couple poundsThey are also very simple to prepare and are very nutritious. Most of the freeze dried food that I have eaten has tasted no different than regular food although a few samples were on the salty side.

Drawbacks? They require water to reconstitute and prepare. If you live in a desert this could be a serious dilemma as carrying water is quite a task due to its weight. They also do not provide a ton of calories in the smaller pouch-sized packages. For longer term time periods this could be an issue.

MRE’s are another option and not a bad one either. Again – weight is the issue at hand as they are on the heavy side. Sure – a few cans of soup can be thrown in a pack as well as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or twelve but to me freeze dried foods make a lot better choice.

My favorites:

Chili Mac

Lasagna with Meat Sauce

Chicken Fried Rice

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

 

Anyone have a favorite they have tried?

JR

 

 

 

 

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12 Comments

  1. JAS says:

    Spot on. Having spent as many as 30 days at a time on the trail hiking, I can say with confidence that freeze dried is the only way to go when traveling by foot. They have made great improvements in quality and taste over the years. My suggestion is to try different ones and find a few that you really like. Try using some spices as well. A little garlic powder added to some of the pasta dishes makes all the difference. Also carry some means of filtering water, so you don’t have to rely on chemicals like iodine. In my opinion, the chemicals do seem to effect the taste of the food.

    Reply
  2. Irish-7 says:

    I look at “Bug Out” as 72 hours or less than 3 days. For both space and weight reasons, I pack foods that are high in sugar or fat. I purchased several types of life raft food from Emergency Essentials: DATREX, Mainstay or SOS food bars. I have also used granola bars and fruit snacks. I have considerable freeze dried food cached, the canned version with the 30 year shelf life. I also keep several cases of MREs near the door with other Bug Out equipment. However, our bags only contain the food and granola bars. If we were to drive away, I’d take some MREs. If we had to grab a bag and take off by foot, they would remain in the house.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Thanks Irish-7.

      I have added Payday bars to some of my kits. No chocolate to melt and make a mess and lots of protein. Granola bars are a good idea too.

      Reply
      1. Irish-7 says:

        You’re right, chocolate melts and makes a mess! While I was in the Army, I use to buy Trail Mix before we went to the field. Or make my own (peanuts, M&Ms plus raisins). However, hot climates destroyed it.

        Reply
  3. goingray58 says:

    Good information.. Do you find some of the freeze dried a little expensive ? or am I looking in the wrong places. Hard to tell with all the adds and junk that we get covered up with if you sign into retail sites. Living in the South East, water is not a huge deal, nor is food except in dead winter. Of course finding it takes time, as does preparing it and while sustainable it doesn’t get you there if you have a destination and time table. Short term high calorie is a big deal .. right? 600 calories a day or more for an all day hike. I have a friend who hikes, and has begun to cook rice and then dehydrate it, because cooking takes time for rice and energy. Now he just adds water with a little heat and poof .. high calorie starch you can mix with anything .. Santa brought a dehydrator .. so I’m going to try it to see how it goes. Should be fairly low cost as well .. I expect you could do beans and other starchy foods.. Not sure whether to do vacuum pack or mylar bags for storage .. at 384 calories a cup quick oats are fairly effective too. Just looking for a way to put dollars somewhere that I can’t make it. If it turns out hours for pennies then nope .. we’ll see.

    random thought..
    John do you have a click forward relationship with Amazon here on the new site ? just curious.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Hi goingray58 – Some fo the freeze dried foods can be expensive however I shop around. A pouch of chili mac at Wally World or Amazon may run around $6. If that is a complete meal that is not too bad. If I run to BT Burger for lunch I am out $12. Of course I do not get nearly the calories but I think you get my point. Having a pack of freeze dried foods and a few Payday bars are a good combination too(few packs of peanut butter as well).

      Regarding vacuum pack versus Mylar bags if the length of storage is measured as a few years vacuum packing WITH an oxygen absorber is a great method. For longer term Mylar with the O2 absorber is my preferred way. Drawback to vacuum packing only is it seems that the plastic begins to leak over time and of course light can get to the food as well.

      Lastly – yes there are Amazon click-through s on this site as well. In the upper right-hand corner of the front page there is an Amazon “Shop Now” blurb you can click on.

      Appreciate the support!

      Reply
  4. Panhandle Rancher says:

    Your favorites are mine too. In addition to commercial freeze dried, I like to have quickly available raisons and dried fruit as a last minute addition – and of course a pint jar of peanut butter!
    PR

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      I love raisins Panhandle Rancher. It has been quite awhile since I have had some. Next grocery store trip will have to pick some up.

      Reply
  5. Badger359 says:

    you can a make some pemican to go along with your supplies also. My company moved to South Lake Texas from Fort Worth, that puts me 6.4 miles from home.

    I use a cheap two compartment zipper ditty bag for my speed rations on one side and beverages packets on the other side in my (GHB)

    A hand full of 390-400 calories bars (36 grms-protein) each, and a few main meal and peanut butter packs from MRE’s.

    sugar packs and s&p go in the beverage side of kit.

    Badger359

    Reply

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