looked up what u r charging $14 compared to others camp save 130 for (12pk) and Blackovis even midway lower prices $11.33 per pack. you guy's are great but you purchase camp 2.0 (12 pack) for 130 you buy 12 off u 168 major difference. but will purchase shirt for support soon
@@tacoloco12 The fee on our site is the same as the fee on the actual Peak Refuel site. According to resale agreement other groups shouldn't be charging less. Again, this is if we're talking about Peak Refuel.
@@Equip2Endure could you reach out to these companies reps and ask if they can donate meals to people in need after Hurricane Ian, especially in S.W. Florida?
Glad i researched peak refuel b4 watching this. They ONLY have 4 Gluten-Free entrees. Not much for protein. Sweet pork And rice Strawberry granola Mixed berry granola Breakfast skillet No reason to smack my lips for those 4. Will stick to the company i bought that's been around for a decade with more gluten free options. Plus. Only 5 year shelf life?
As a truck driver I carry survival food with me especially during the winter months! You never know where and when you might be shut down due to weather! I really appreciate your review of the different meals and brands! Thank you for a job well done!
The big difference is Mountain House has a 30 year shelf life, while Peak Refuel has a 5 year shelf life. I do use both, Mountain House I store for long term emergency and Peak Refuel I take on our camping trips.
Yeah, the shelf life was not mentioned here. If you're actively using it for camping trips, Peak is good. But if your looking for long term storage, Mtn House is the way to go.
Actually peak is expected to have the same 25 year shelf life as mountain house. Peak has only been around for 5 years so technically they can’t say 25 years as it’s not been tested for as long. They are made exactly the same as the mountain house though. Don’t believe me give Peak a call or email and they will let you know 😉
I have enjoyed Mountain House for years. Peak Refuel is the new kid on the block and has definitely raised the bar for freeze dried food. I love the Peak Refuel meals and the protein content can’t be beat🙂👍 If you like Mountain House, definitely give these a try. With these meals and my Kelly Kettle, I’m definitely a Happy Camper❤
Glad i didn't waste my time. Peak Refuel has only 4 entrees gluten free: Sweet pork and rice Strawberry granola Mixed Berry Granola Breakfast skillet They sound tastey. But need protein. Guess i'll stick to my gluten free source i have.
@@pattijesinoski1958what is this new thing on the internet where people think you need huge amounts of protein with every meal? Are you trying to be a body builder? Like give your digestion a rest
true. having good food in a disaster boosts morale and lifts your spirit. even in the military, after long hard days work, officers and crew always look forward for a good meal (aircraft carriers and subs come to mind)…
I find that adding more water is usually better. There are exceptions though.. like with eggs, granola, biscuits and gravy or anything meant to be naturally wet.
My daughter and I did a four day backpacking trip around Mount Adams in Washington state. I ended up grabbing a mixed bag of some familiar Mountain House meals and found Peak Refuel. It was a little more expensive and I was skeptical but was pleasantly surprised and it quickly became a favorite, especially the chicken pesto pasta.
SO helpful. YES I’ll order from your site. Your testing review either saved me wasted dollars on things I wouldn’t care for, OR, (more likely), not making a purchase at all due to so many negative reports about various companies. Got an order ready to place! 👍👍👍
Glad it was helpful and much appreciated. We pride ourselves on giving real, candid feedback. We can confidently say Peak Refuel is our favorite freeze-dried meal brand on the market right now. -Rusty
Do it! And let us know what you think. Would be surprised if you tried any of the options we gave a 4.5 or 5 score to and weren't impressed with it. Thanks for watching! -Rusty
Peak refuel expires in a couple years. Mountain house, a couple decades. I would consider peak a camping meal or emergency if you’re constantly rotating them.
I have been waiting for this video since you interviewed them. Great video. I’d be curious of your thoughts on the Limited Edition Chad Mendes meals they do. Anyway, great job and always looking forward to the next video
Hey yooooo Stabba! Edible food is better than no food, right? Thanks for the welcome back. Have been juggling but making more time to slide into your sub feed. -Rusty
Peak Refuel is solid and you can't beat the consistency across meals... no matter what meal you have you know its going to be pretty good, depending on the meal heathers choice would give them a run for their money (but not a long shelf life), stowaway gourmet has a few good ones too. I agree with your assessment of the egg breakfast meal.... I've had a variety of freeze dried breakfasts from different companies and no company gets it perfect, the eggs seem to hold that freeze dried taste.
Thanks for watching and chiming in, Ryan. There are a couple MH options I think are better, but Peak is at the top of the heap in our humble opinions. -Rusty
I’m thinking of getting a harvest right freeze dryer so I can make my own. Yea they are around $2,000 but it will pay for itself in the long run. Buying all those freeze dried food will be expensive if your buying them all the time.
I ordered the beef stroganoff, which doesn't look like what you are testing. and it has a very powdery taste. My advice to anyone, add a tad more water to it, add some salt or garlic salt, pepper mix well let it sit for 25 minutes, not 10. tastes better after being doctored.
Absolutely love your videos fellas! I’ll say though is it fair to compare it to home cooked food? I think it should just be compared to freeze dried/emergency foods.
Thanks for watching @VIP! Fair input. We were trying to come up with some sort of objective standard to compare options to. Many have this idea that they are buying emergency food to just keep them alive and put no thought into its nutrition/taste. If you are truly preparing for a disaster and you are buying food for that purpose, why not buy food that is as close to a tasty, homemade (comfort) meal as possible?
Great reviews! I appreciate the effort. My only complaint is that you didn’t explain the calories. It doesn’t matter how much or how good it tastes if you don’t get enough calories. Carry on.
Thanks for watching and sounding off, Chuck! The tough part about these food comparison videos is trying to provide valuable information that people want that they can't really get unless they try it themselves (a vicarious taste-testing). We figured they could look up specific product info if they need it (calories, sodium content, protein, etc). We've been on hiatus for a while but will be making videos again soon. Hope to see you around! -Rusty
The best thing to do is check the history of your area and what the conditions were like - blizzard-wise, flood-wise, wind, and such which would make it difficult for you to get to the supper market. Start stocking up right after the normal disaster has passed - noting how long it had lasted and then buy food slowly for that period. 1. Freeze Dried - you have plenty of water to heat up. Taste the food you buy to make sure you like it. 2. MREs, canned food, none perishables - should your utilities go out, stock up on water and wood and a camping stove to cook on 3. Daytrexf or such - when you have to leave or haven't stocked up on the others. Better to have something rather than nothing. Remember to do this slowly so that you don't put a strain on your finances and get curious looks at the supermarkets and grocery stores. Love your videos and the comparisons that you did and the ones you have done with all the Mt. House and Peak Refuel. Good luck and stay well.
Chili Mac is one of the BEST MREs next to Jamabalaya. I feel like that’s why people say it’s so good. I got the biscuits and gravy and the chicken Alfredo. I’m excited to try more of them after I saw this review.
Just subscribed after watching a couple of videos. You guys seem to rate the foods fairly, even after changing your method here. We just got a few of the Mountain House meals to taste test as a family and will try a few of these ones next. Thanks for the reviews!
I really liked when you compared "Breakfast Skillet" against Mountain House. I wonder if you can also share how would you compare "Beef Stroganoff" against Mountain House, if you can remember :D
Old video but have to chime in one thing that has nothing to do with food quality or review really. They mentioned that people were raving about the chili mac previously and though maybe it was a regional thing. I have a theory, I might be wrong, but it I smiled as soon as they said it. I'm a USMC veteran and if someone asks me what the best MRE is, I will say Chili mac, its not really amazing, but taste is better than others and its almost a cultural answer. In my time in the corps, we were all in agreement that chili mac was the luckiest meal to draw. If you had a chili mac MRE, you had a blank check for trading whatever you needed basically, and watch your pack, because someone is gonna try to steal it. So, long story short, I suspect they happen to have a bunch of veterans commenting about chili mac in an almost reminiscent/nostalgic way. The veteran community really does love their chili mac. I'm not sure if these guys are vets themselves, and I could be totally wrong, but its my best guess.
I’ve eaten many different varieties of Peak Refuel freeze dried meals and they are all Very Good! But the Biscuits and Gravy are my #1 favorite!! HOWEVER: You need to break the ‘Biscuits’ up, before adding the hot water. 2nd best: Egg Scrambled meal, then the Beef Stroganoff. They Really Are the Best Emergency out there!!
I just tried the granola and strawberries, and added some blueberries… Yum… first time ever tried dry food packages. Really I don’t think I could tell a difference if I made it at home.
I just tried the Beef Pasta Marinara and had the same results as you. Tasted great but the beef was crunchy. I wonder if I didn’t prepare it properly? I bought the assortment and will try more soon
Hey guys love your channel was wondering if you have your shirts for sale didn’t see them on your website would love to support your channel and Rock your merch. Thanks for taking one for the team and testing some not so tasty products so we know what’s good and not! Much love and respect! God bless you and your families!
Peak is delicious and if you need a few meals for backpacking that would be ok. I wanted to have enough freeze dried food for several months so financially for me it made more sense to spend the money on a freeze drier.
I too am a big mountain house fan…..they reorganized several years back and have been wondering about Peak….will order some and try. Can you actually put them in a pot….add boiling water and lid?
So far my preference is 1.) Mountain House overall 2.) Peak Refuel butttt I recently tried a Pad Thai meal from Backpacker’s Pantry and it was delicious! Maybe a brand to put on your radar to try. Thank you guys for putting these together. Very thorough and informative!
We did try out backpacker's pantry in one of our other videos. We weren't that impressed. Definitely agree with you on the top two, though we give the edge to Peak. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed them! -Rusty
What did he mean when he said when you eat Mountain House that you want to sneak off to a restaurant and eat an actual meal? Is Mountain House not satisfying, nutritious or filling?
The thing that I can’t get past with Peak Refuel is the stated shelf life. Why is it so much shorter than the shelf life for Mountain House if they’re made essentially the same way?
It’s not about if you can cook it better in your house?.. Of course you can. The point is if the SHTF would you be happy to eat this food over an extended period of time?
I agree you should only buy what is good otherwise you are wasting your money and pace to store because of you guys I had purchasing both brands that you have liked
I don't know if taste testing canned soups is really your primary theme, based on the videos I've seen so far, but you do talk a lot about "camp" meals and filling foods for hunting outings, which will usually involve some sort of conveyance that takes the weight issue down a notch in the overall equation. Lots of outdoor activities involve eating quick meals with little regard for anything other than convenience. Freeze dried meals require water, which has weight, unless you are dipping from a stream and filtering with a device that also has weight, and heating in a container that has weight, you see where I'm going with this. Canned meats, stews and soups can also be tasty at camp and are much cheaper than freeze dried meals, which fill a very specific niche, as in, "foot-packable" meals, IMO. Don't need to worry about that if your on an ATV, horse, donkey ,etc. Canned foods, in general, store for 3 years or more and that will get you through several hunting seasons as "camp stores". Anyway, my point and question is, would you do some comparisons of, firstly, Campbell's Chunky soups, and maybe later, if you get some favorable results in those tests, compare them with other canned soups or stews as to their taste and how filling they are as a complete meal. If you are willing to try them, I recommend that you start with New England Style Clam Chowder and Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and go from there. I and some friends have a fish camp that we keep stocked with Chunky Soups, Corned Beef, Canned Bacon, Canned Turkey, Canned Chicken, etc. You can add those things to soups or stews to really punch them up. Try a can of Libby's Sausage Gravy over some canned biscuits sometime. The biscuits can be baked ahead of time and will last 4 or 5 days in a Ziplock Bag. Just throwin' out some suggestions for camp specific meals that can also be used as emergency prep.
I’ve tried many Mountain House Meals, and there really great. However from a lot of different media reviews, including yours….I’ve been hearing and seeing that Peak Refuel is a serious contender in the dehydrated food market…… So my question is. Is Peak Refuel worth the price for larger assortment buckets, in other words is it worth the money vs Mountain House??
Thanks for watching and fair question, William! We’ll start with this, try the ones we rated highly that look interesting to you and see if you like them before committing to larger quantities. As for me, if I have to walk out the door and grab one of the two, I’m usually going to reach for Peak. Though I really like the yellow curry from MH. -Rusty
I had the same question and asked the owner. (I'm paraphrasing the following) Peak Refuel - "We use the same packaging material and process and Mountain House. It should last just as long." ME- "Then why didn't you put that on the label?" Peak Refuel - "Because we don't want to be branded as an emergency food. We want people to eat our meals and not just stuff them in their storage room for 30 years." I don't agree with their reasoning, but it's not my company. They are really trying to be the premium "adventure" meal. Not an emergency food. I will say this though... if I have to choose only one, I'm picking Peak Refuel. For real. -Rusty
Does anyone know a company that has food that people with food limitations? Diabetics cannot eat this food as it’s very high in carbs. Most of these prepped food are as well. Fruit, vegetables and meat can be freeze dried.
Chili Mac is one of the best MREs you can get. That’s where a lot of people get that from. I’m including myself with that. Never even thought about putting macaroni in chili until the military. Now I make it myself all the time.
can you please do a review on pinnacle foods? They don't have a huge variety but thats all i've been hearing about lately! Also thanks for this review lol im watching u guys on the AT!
Thanks for watching Rubicon! We actually encourage people to have a year's worth of food storage at home. In a situation that legitimately requires evacuation though, these meals are hard to beat. -Rusty
How about the proportion between meat and carbs in the meals: reach (meat in every single spoon) or poor (you need to search these 1-2 pieces in the whole pack)?
I would certainly try some envelopes of this food, but my emergency food storage is primarily #10 cans that are pest and rodent proof, and at least have the possibility of surviving flood or fire conditions and remaining usable. If Peak wants my attention as a customer, they will have to offer that as an option. Until then, it is Mountain House, even though they have done some 'shrink-flation' recently in their canned products.
Its interesting, I wasnt very impressed with the strogonof. And I love strogonof its one of my all time favorite dishes. Im gonna have to try it again. Iv tried most of these and agree on the beef pasta marinara. Thats been my go to. Iv been holding off on the squash dish but will definetly pull the trigger on it now. Did you guys test those special release flavors last year? Bison mash ?
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Have you tried out Peak Refuel yet? What's your favorite Peak Refuel meak?
looked up what u r charging $14 compared to others camp save 130 for (12pk) and Blackovis even midway lower prices $11.33 per pack.
you guy's are great but you purchase camp 2.0 (12 pack) for 130 you buy 12 off u 168 major difference.
but will purchase shirt for support soon
@@tacoloco12 The fee on our site is the same as the fee on the actual Peak Refuel site. According to resale agreement other groups shouldn't be charging less. Again, this is if we're talking about Peak Refuel.
@@Equip2Endure could you reach out to these companies reps and ask if they can donate meals to people in need after Hurricane Ian, especially in S.W. Florida?
Glad i researched peak refuel b4 watching this.
They ONLY have 4 Gluten-Free entrees. Not much for protein.
Sweet pork And rice
Strawberry granola
Mixed berry granola
Breakfast skillet
No reason to smack my lips for those 4.
Will stick to the company i bought that's been around for a decade with more gluten free options.
Plus. Only 5 year shelf life?
@@pattijesinoski1958 glad u mentioned the 5yr shelf life
As a truck driver I carry survival food with me especially during the winter months! You never know where and when you might be shut down due to weather! I really appreciate your review of the different meals and brands! Thank you for a job well done!
And we really appreciate your work on the roads. Truck drivers keep the country running. Thanks for watching Essy! -Rusty
I don't know who needs to hear this but I dug out some Mountain House beef stroganoff that was 10 years out of date and it was just as good as ever.
Yeah I agree I heard mountain house is pretty awesome
The big difference is Mountain House has a 30 year shelf life, while Peak Refuel has a 5 year shelf life. I do use both, Mountain House I store for long term emergency and Peak Refuel I take on our camping trips.
Yeah, the shelf life was not mentioned here.
If you're actively using it for camping trips, Peak is good.
But if your looking for long term storage, Mtn House is the way to go.
Actually peak is expected to have the same 25 year shelf life as mountain house. Peak has only been around for 5 years so technically they can’t say 25 years as it’s not been tested for as long. They are made exactly the same as the mountain house though. Don’t believe me give Peak a call or email and they will let you know 😉
I am considering purchasing Mountain house and Peak for the same reasons. Camping and emergency.
I have enjoyed Mountain House for years. Peak Refuel is the new kid on the block and has definitely raised the bar for freeze dried food. I love the Peak Refuel meals and the protein content can’t be beat🙂👍 If you like Mountain House, definitely give these a try. With these meals and my Kelly Kettle, I’m definitely a Happy Camper❤
Glad i didn't waste my time. Peak Refuel has only 4 entrees gluten free:
Sweet pork and rice
Strawberry granola
Mixed Berry Granola
Breakfast skillet
They sound tastey. But need protein.
Guess i'll stick to my gluten free source i have.
@@pattijesinoski1958 I order the GF entrees for my wife. All the meals are great.
@@Besty66 that is gelatinous and without form. You can't possibly be serious? Nooooooo....
Peak has a way shorter shelf life
@@pattijesinoski1958what is this new thing on the internet where people think you need huge amounts of protein with every meal? Are you trying to be a body builder? Like give your digestion a rest
Fantasic review. Thank's for taking the time to do it. Will check out the links for sure. Well done guys!
Thanks for watching and glad you liked it, Breakerwave! -Rusty
EXCELLENT review. Thorough, (covering so many meals, preparing per directions, etc). THIS is the kind of review that is really needed. Thank you.
true. having good food in a disaster boosts morale and lifts your spirit. even in the military, after long hard days work, officers and crew always look forward for a good meal (aircraft carriers and subs come to mind)…
Agreed, So far I am just addicted to Beef Stroganoff, but need to try the other top 5's on your list.
My step kid is currently on the Appalachian trail doing a walk thru....I'm going to get him some! Thanks for telling us about this brand!
Let us know how he likes it! Be sure to try the options we rated as 5 on the article linked in the video description. And thanks for watching! -Rusty
I find that adding more water is usually better. There are exceptions though.. like with eggs, granola, biscuits and gravy or anything meant to be naturally wet.
My daughter and I did a four day backpacking trip around Mount Adams in Washington state. I ended up grabbing a mixed bag of some familiar Mountain House meals and found Peak Refuel. It was a little more expensive and I was skeptical but was pleasantly surprised and it quickly became a favorite, especially the chicken pesto pasta.
I have the chicken pesto pasta and wondering how it tasted. Thanks
SO helpful. YES I’ll order from your site. Your testing review either saved me wasted dollars on things I wouldn’t care for, OR, (more likely), not making a purchase at all due to so many negative reports about various companies. Got an order ready to place! 👍👍👍
Glad it was helpful and much appreciated. We pride ourselves on giving real, candid feedback. We can confidently say Peak Refuel is our favorite freeze-dried meal brand on the market right now. -Rusty
Very helpful to see the consistency of the food and hear your comments on the taste. Looking forward to future videos. Welcome back!
Just tried the beef stroganoff and yes it was stupefyingly good.
Ha! Thanks for watching, Gunner. Yes, it's amazingly good for just adding hot water. Would be thrilled to have it in a pinch. -Rusty
So good to see you guys back! I definitely have to try some of those.
Do it! And let us know what you think. Would be surprised if you tried any of the options we gave a 4.5 or 5 score to and weren't impressed with it. Thanks for watching! -Rusty
Peak refuel expires in a couple years. Mountain house, a couple decades. I would consider peak a camping meal or emergency if you’re constantly rotating them.
LOL today is the first time I've seen your channel and I've been binging some videos. Now this is the kind of content I want to see!
I have been waiting for this video since you interviewed them. Great video. I’d be curious of your thoughts on the Limited Edition Chad Mendes meals they do. Anyway, great job and always looking forward to the next video
Glad you liked it, Mike! Have not tried the “exotics.” Didn’t want to include those because they aren’t part of the standard lineup. -Rusty
You guys should make a level 6. and it should be "homemade and Unattainable" and used for reference point. Great video.
I have a mix of cheap (Ready Hour) and better quality (Mountain House, Nutrient Survival and Peak.) Great video and welcome back!
Hey yooooo Stabba! Edible food is better than no food, right? Thanks for the welcome back. Have been juggling but making more time to slide into your sub feed. -Rusty
Peak Refuel is solid and you can't beat the consistency across meals... no matter what meal you have you know its going to be pretty good, depending on the meal heathers choice would give them a run for their money (but not a long shelf life), stowaway gourmet has a few good ones too. I agree with your assessment of the egg breakfast meal.... I've had a variety of freeze dried breakfasts from different companies and no company gets it perfect, the eggs seem to hold that freeze dried taste.
Thanks for watching and chiming in, Ryan. There are a couple MH options I think are better, but Peak is at the top of the heap in our humble opinions. -Rusty
I’m thinking of getting a harvest right freeze dryer so I can make my own. Yea they are around $2,000 but it will pay for itself in the long run. Buying all those freeze dried food will be expensive if your buying them all the time.
THEY'RE BACK!!!!!
I love the cookie bites. I work in an ER and sometimes no time to eat. What a great snack!
I ordered the beef stroganoff, which doesn't look like what you are testing. and it has a very powdery taste. My advice to anyone, add a tad more water to it, add some salt or garlic salt, pepper mix well let it sit for 25 minutes, not 10. tastes better after being doctored.
It's all about how much water you use. That breakfast skillet is kick ass in my opinion.
Absolutely love your videos fellas! I’ll say though is it fair to compare it to home cooked food? I think it should just be compared to freeze dried/emergency foods.
Thanks for watching @VIP! Fair input. We were trying to come up with some sort of objective standard to compare options to. Many have this idea that they are buying emergency food to just keep them alive and put no thought into its nutrition/taste. If you are truly preparing for a disaster and you are buying food for that purpose, why not buy food that is as close to a tasty, homemade (comfort) meal as possible?
Great to see you guys with a new video!
Yep. Great to be back. We've just had a lot going on (as many people have). Thanks for watching! -Rusty
Great reviews! I appreciate the effort. My only complaint is that you didn’t explain the calories. It doesn’t matter how much or how good it tastes if you don’t get enough calories.
Carry on.
Thanks for watching and sounding off, Chuck! The tough part about these food comparison videos is trying to provide valuable information that people want that they can't really get unless they try it themselves (a vicarious taste-testing). We figured they could look up specific product info if they need it (calories, sodium content, protein, etc). We've been on hiatus for a while but will be making videos again soon. Hope to see you around! -Rusty
The best thing to do is check the history of your area and what the conditions were like - blizzard-wise, flood-wise, wind, and such which would make it difficult for you to get to the supper market. Start stocking up right after the normal disaster has passed - noting how long it had lasted and then buy food slowly for that period.
1. Freeze Dried - you have plenty of water to heat up. Taste the food you buy to make sure you like it.
2. MREs, canned food, none perishables - should your utilities go out, stock up on water and wood and a camping stove to cook on
3. Daytrexf or such - when you have to leave or haven't stocked up on the others. Better to have something rather than nothing.
Remember to do this slowly so that you don't put a strain on your finances and get curious looks at the supermarkets and grocery stores.
Love your videos and the comparisons that you did and the ones you have done with all the Mt. House and Peak Refuel.
Good luck and stay well.
Chili Mac is one of the BEST MREs next to Jamabalaya. I feel like that’s why people say it’s so good. I got the biscuits and gravy and the chicken Alfredo. I’m excited to try more of them after I saw this review.
Just subscribed after watching a couple of videos. You guys seem to rate the foods fairly, even after changing your method here. We just got a few of the Mountain House meals to taste test as a family and will try a few of these ones next. Thanks for the reviews!
Thank you for the review! I was gonna buy some but wondering if they were really good.
The Peak meals only last 5 years vs 30 years for Mountain House. I'll choose Mountain House for this reason alone.
Have been purchasing the Peak for the past couple of weeks after seeing your reviews on the other brands
I really liked when you compared "Breakfast Skillet" against Mountain House. I wonder if you can also share how would you compare "Beef Stroganoff" against Mountain House, if you can remember :D
The Peak Stroganoff is better. I don't want to oversell it... but they are different levels. -Rusty
@@Equip2Endure Thank you, Rusty! I can trust your opinion since you've preferred Mountain House for "Breakfast Skillet"!
You will always regret the chili mac style meals in the backcountry~
You should try the new Chad Mendes Peak Refuel meals and review them!
$7.50 per ser not bad go out for dinner for 2 probably 35$ or more after tip and tax
Old video but have to chime in one thing that has nothing to do with food quality or review really.
They mentioned that people were raving about the chili mac previously and though maybe it was a regional thing. I have a theory, I might be wrong, but it I smiled as soon as they said it.
I'm a USMC veteran and if someone asks me what the best MRE is, I will say Chili mac, its not really amazing, but taste is better than others and its almost a cultural answer. In my time in the corps, we were all in agreement that chili mac was the luckiest meal to draw. If you had a chili mac MRE, you had a blank check for trading whatever you needed basically, and watch your pack, because someone is gonna try to steal it.
So, long story short, I suspect they happen to have a bunch of veterans commenting about chili mac in an almost reminiscent/nostalgic way. The veteran community really does love their chili mac. I'm not sure if these guys are vets themselves, and I could be totally wrong, but its my best guess.
I’ve eaten many different varieties of Peak Refuel freeze dried meals and they are all Very Good! But the Biscuits and Gravy are my #1 favorite!!
HOWEVER: You need to break the ‘Biscuits’ up, before adding the hot water.
2nd best: Egg Scrambled meal, then the Beef Stroganoff.
They Really Are the Best Emergency out there!!
I just tried the granola and strawberries, and added some blueberries… Yum… first time ever tried dry food packages.
Really I don’t think I could tell a difference if I made it at home.
I just tried the Beef Pasta Marinara and had the same results as you. Tasted great but the beef was crunchy. I wonder if I didn’t prepare it properly? I bought the assortment and will try more soon
That is the result that I had as well. The Three Bean Chili & Chicken Rice Broccoli are worth a try, IMO.
I was looking for freeze dried food for a long hunting trip. I think you sold me on these
What you said at the onset is a huge part of MREs, morale
Definitely going to order some,great job guys, I’m hungry.
Thanks for watching, cTristan! Let us know how they are after you try them. -Rusty
the $4 differance between Mt house and these is an easy answer for me MT HOUSE.. mant I see are single meal but mt house is 2 servings or more
Hey guys love your channel was wondering if you have your shirts for sale didn’t see them on your website would love to support your channel and Rock your merch. Thanks for taking one for the team and testing some not so tasty products so we know what’s good and not! Much love and respect! God bless you and your families!
Glad you're digging the channel! We'll try to get some merchandise up this year. Keep a look out. -Rusty
Butternut Dhal is the one i JUST Ordered hope i enjoy it as much as u do
For the biscuits & gravy. Try breaking the biscuts into chunks before adding liquid. Might help
Peak is delicious and if you need a few meals for backpacking that would be ok. I wanted to have enough freeze dried food for several months so financially for me it made more sense to spend the money on a freeze drier.
I like that they are made in america and have American sized portions
big help thanks.
what do you recommend that tastes great but much more affordable?
My first time here. Loved it...will try.
Tried Peak Refuel biscuits/gravy and beef stroganoff in the past two days. They need more water than the package says...very dry meat.
love your reviews. Always very fair.
Fair? They sell this stuff on their website!
I am excited to try these meals.
I too am a big mountain house fan…..they reorganized several years back and have been wondering about Peak….will order some and try. Can you actually put them in a pot….add boiling water and lid?
So far my preference is 1.) Mountain House overall 2.) Peak Refuel butttt I recently tried a Pad Thai meal from Backpacker’s Pantry and it was delicious! Maybe a brand to put on your radar to try. Thank you guys for putting these together. Very thorough and informative!
We did try out backpacker's pantry in one of our other videos. We weren't that impressed. Definitely agree with you on the top two, though we give the edge to Peak. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed them! -Rusty
I don’t really care much for backpackers pantry BUT, their Chana Masala is the exception for me. It really is delicious 👍
cheesy broccoli and chicken cannot be beaten its the best tasting by far imo
👍
Love these videos. Thanks!
Thanks for watching and glad you love them, @R Trif! -Rusty
Great scoring system!
What did he mean when he said when you eat Mountain House that you want to sneak off to a restaurant and eat an actual meal? Is Mountain House not satisfying, nutritious or filling?
It's gross tbh
IF THERE THE BEST! THEN THEY NEED TO DO 30 DAY SURVIVAL BINS!
Have you guys taste tested Augason Farms freeze dried food?
Surprisingly really good. But at $25 CAN plus tax... Very expensive!
You should compare the Beyond Outdoor Meals vs Peak Refuel meals.
The thing that I can’t get past with Peak Refuel is the stated shelf life. Why is it so much shorter than the shelf life for Mountain House if they’re made essentially the same way?
Chili Mac is a mre favorite.
It’s not about if you can cook it better in your house?.. Of course you can. The point is if the SHTF would you be happy to eat this food over an extended period of time?
Great to know taste but can you speak about servings and calories to compare , thanks
I agree you should only buy what is good otherwise you are wasting your money and pace to store because of you guys I had purchasing both brands that you have liked
I don't know if taste testing canned soups is really your primary theme, based on the videos I've seen so far, but you do talk a lot about "camp" meals and filling foods for hunting outings, which will usually involve some sort of conveyance that takes the weight issue down a notch in the overall equation. Lots of outdoor activities involve eating quick meals with little regard for anything other than convenience. Freeze dried meals require water, which has weight, unless you are dipping from a stream and filtering with a device that also has weight, and heating in a container that has weight, you see where I'm going with this. Canned meats, stews and soups can also be tasty at camp and are much cheaper than freeze dried meals, which fill a very specific niche, as in, "foot-packable" meals, IMO. Don't need to worry about that if your on an ATV, horse, donkey ,etc. Canned foods, in general, store for 3 years or more and that will get you through several hunting seasons as "camp stores". Anyway, my point and question is, would you do some comparisons of, firstly, Campbell's Chunky soups, and maybe later, if you get some favorable results in those tests, compare them with other canned soups or stews as to their taste and how filling they are as a complete meal. If you are willing to try them, I recommend that you start with New England Style Clam Chowder and Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and go from there. I and some friends have a fish camp that we keep stocked with Chunky Soups, Corned Beef, Canned Bacon, Canned Turkey, Canned Chicken, etc. You can add those things to soups or stews to really punch them up. Try a can of Libby's Sausage Gravy over some canned biscuits sometime. The biscuits can be baked ahead of time and will last 4 or 5 days in a Ziplock Bag. Just throwin' out some suggestions for camp specific meals that can also be used as emergency prep.
This is awesome!
I’ve tried many Mountain House Meals, and there really great. However from a lot of different media reviews, including yours….I’ve been hearing and seeing that Peak Refuel is a serious contender in the dehydrated food market…… So my question is. Is Peak Refuel worth the price for larger assortment buckets, in other words is it worth the money vs Mountain House??
Thanks for watching and fair question, William! We’ll start with this, try the ones we rated highly that look interesting to you and see if you like them before committing to larger quantities. As for me, if I have to walk out the door and grab one of the two, I’m usually going to reach for Peak. Though I really like the yellow curry from MH. -Rusty
Peak stores 5 yrs, Mtn House lasts 25 yrs.
Chili max for me gos back to the service haha
Is it on the same level for emergency food ? Can you confirm the shelf life of 5 years for Peak vs 30 year for Mountain House ?
I had the same question and asked the owner. (I'm paraphrasing the following) Peak Refuel - "We use the same packaging material and process and Mountain House. It should last just as long." ME- "Then why didn't you put that on the label?" Peak Refuel - "Because we don't want to be branded as an emergency food. We want people to eat our meals and not just stuff them in their storage room for 30 years." I don't agree with their reasoning, but it's not my company. They are really trying to be the premium "adventure" meal. Not an emergency food. I will say this though... if I have to choose only one, I'm picking Peak Refuel. For real. -Rusty
The Three Bean Chili & Chicken Rice Broccoli are very good. 👍
Does anyone know a company that has food that people with food limitations? Diabetics cannot eat this food as it’s very high in carbs. Most of these prepped food are as well. Fruit, vegetables and meat can be freeze dried.
Break the biscuits apart before adding the water. Even says behind the bag if you so choose.
Chili Mac is one of the best MREs you can get. That’s where a lot of people get that from. I’m including myself with that. Never even thought about putting macaroni in chili until the military. Now I make it myself all the time.
Good input, TheSteve! Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed it. -Rusty
Granola is breakfast cereal lol. Its supposed to be the consistency of a bowl of cereal.
can you please do a review on pinnacle foods? They don't have a huge variety but thats all i've been hearing about lately! Also thanks for this review lol im watching u guys on the AT!
Only downside to Peak Refuel is their shelf life. However their chicken pesto is my favorite. Tastes like something you would order from a restaurant.
Totally unrelated question, but what model of shirt do you use for your merch?? That black shirt is a good fit and super deep black.
Very helpful!
You can break up the biscuit before adding water. It reconstitutes better.
Most people hate the Cheesy Chicken Broccoli one
Taking to go makes sence, however, everyone should have a weeks worth of food stacked.
Thanks for watching Rubicon! We actually encourage people to have a year's worth of food storage at home. In a situation that legitimately requires evacuation though, these meals are hard to beat. -Rusty
How about the proportion between meat and carbs in the meals: reach (meat in every single spoon) or poor (you need to search these 1-2 pieces in the whole pack)?
I would certainly try some envelopes of this food, but my emergency food storage is primarily #10 cans that are pest and rodent proof, and at least have the possibility of surviving flood or fire conditions and remaining usable. If Peak wants my attention as a customer, they will have to offer that as an option. Until then, it is Mountain House, even though they have done some 'shrink-flation' recently in their canned products.
Yall really would have different scores after hiking all day on the top of a mountain in cold weather
Its interesting, I wasnt very impressed with the strogonof. And I love strogonof its one of my all time favorite dishes. Im gonna have to try it again.
Iv tried most of these and agree on the beef pasta marinara. Thats been my go to. Iv been holding off on the squash dish but will definetly pull the trigger on it now.
Did you guys test those special release flavors last year? Bison mash ?
TY Rusty N Chris
Roger that, Red! Thanks for hanging out with us! -Rusty
Thank you guys!
The fact that you said Mountain House was a strong #2 behind these meals already makes me incredibly skeptical..lol
It's hard to top mountain house breakfast skillet...I can't even do it with fresh ingredients
Thanks for watching and sounding off, Freethinker! Yes, the Mountain House breakfast skillet is solid. -Rusty
I appreciate you doing the comparisons, thats a lot of work. Did you guys rate the ... My Patriot Foods ..? If so, how did it rate?
Glad it was helpful! Yes, please check our video called Which Is The Best emergency Food? -Rusty