Rehydrated food might not sound appetizing, but when you’re out in the wild, hot meals are a welcome upgrade from sad sandwiches. We tried a handful of brands and flavors (available at your local REI), and found some so delectable we might even make them at home.
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Mountain House scrambled eggs with ham
The spongey texture and un-flavor smack more of fake meat than real egg, though hunks of salty ham and bitter green pepper add some depth. Wrapped in a tortilla with salsa, we wouldn’t kick this out of bed. $6
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Backpacker’s Pantry beef pho
Pho in the wild? You betcha! It might have milder broth, stiffer noodles and strange little cubes of meat, but crystallized lime, powdered sriracha and cilantro flakes make it taste fresh when it really shouldn’t. $9
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Good To-Go Thai curry
This one smelled the most suspect dry, and it has the best flavor. If the veggies were a tad less mushy, it could almost pass for restaurant curry, from fish sauce to ginger to kaffir lime leaf. $10.75
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MaryJanesFarm organic chilimac
How is it possible that this tastes better than any mac and cheese we’ve made in an actual kitchen?! Seriously, the sharp cheddar goo should be a condiment for all camp food. And lentils? Genius! $5.93
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AlpineAire bananas foster
Kinda like breakfast, in a good way. The fruit retains a nice chew, somewhere between fresh and dried. And the silky bath of butter and brown sugar makes you not give a damn what else is in the bag. $4.93
