[soexcited]

Good alternative for food on the (wild) go, right?

[Dante]

They're not terrible, IMO, but they are not lightweight or particularly compact. They are designed for un-refrigerated shelf life, calorif content (fuel) and basic nutrition. They only have to be appetizing enough to ensure that a hungry soldier, sailor or Marine will eat them. I haven't eaten any recently, but was in the Army when they were new and haven't felt a need to try them again since. Draw your own conclusions from that

[graffiti]

Most of the ones I've tried have been anything from just ok to pretty good depending on what it was (and the fact that I'm a finicky eater) but as mentioned, they're not exactly lightweight. I normally break them all down and just take parts of the meal instead of leaving them in the bag and taking the whole thing. If you leave them in the bags, you won't have much room for anything else.

[forest gnome]

and now it's time for the gnome to mention PACKITGOURMET...WHY would u eat anything else!!??

[Jaberwock]

Knorr pasta and rice sides

[Jake Neiffer]

ate a lot on fires working for the FS. nothing to write home about. i wont repeat some of the derogatory terms i heard used to describe them

[williswall]

Some years ago, in the desert outside Cairo, this was all I ate for a week until some mess tents were set up. I didn't have a BM for 6 days. Draw your own conclusions.

[Voxxjin]

[Ranger Smith]

I personally think they are much better than most dehydrated meals but the weight and bulk are prohibitive for backpacking.

[harrymalamute]

I really like MRE's for certain trips like a single overnite or a big day hike or mtn climb. Its all relative to mountain hunger. at home they aren't so good but when your cranking calories some hot or cold chicken ala king goo works like few other food sources.. But then I didn't think the old C rations (in a can) during boot camp 1980 was that bad either. definitely too heavy for multi day trips but great for the single day with out a stove. another way to look at it. If its good enough for our troops then its more than good enough for you! its malamute approved

[Bandanabraids]

They aren't horrible tasting, but they are bulky just because of the way they're packed. I agree with harrymalamute, for certain things like a longer day trip or an overnight trip where you're not too far out, an MRE would work great. You could probably even get away with taking just one with some extra snacks. I pick one up almost every time I go to the commissary for our emergency bucket.

[graywolf]

"Meal Refusing to Exit".

[Voxxjin]

We always said it was Meals Refused by Ethiopians

[TheProfessor]

Not that I eat these, but you can get just the "pieces" from beprepared.com (or Emergency Essentials...same group) for $2-3 an item. Sites like: http://www.prepper-resources.com/mres-the-best-and-the-worst/ will give opinions as to what is edible, and what to stay away from. I had heard the "rear-end cork" reaction, and for my sensitivities have not gotten involved. I tend to go FD from the same supplier.

[cdestroyer]

In the national guard we were used as a test case for a then new food item for the military called LRRP (long range ration patrol) they were dehydrated and you had to reconstitute them before eating..precursor to todays freeze dried I think. Later the mre's came about. For my money mre's are expensive and the bulk it to much for extended hikes. The commercial freeze dried foods are also to expensive for me. I carry my own home food supply, tried and tested over many hikes. The list is way to long to post here..