MREs (Meals ready-to-eat) are the standard military ration that are used for treks, outdoor missions, and any other activity that requires a quick-prep meal. But can this food be used by hikers on the trail?
MREs can be used as food during backpacking trips, hikes, or any other outdoor activity. There are about 1,250 calories in each MRE, which makes them a compact and nutritious food choice. MREs are usually best if they can be heated up, so bring along a flameless heater as well.
MREs can be used by both civilians and members of the military, and they are always evolving. To learn more about standard food requirements while hiking, MRE benefits, and resources on where to buy them, read below.
Backpacking Food Requirements
Many products and foods have been developed to serve the needs of hungry hikers, but MREs are definitely a good option.
Hiking and backpacking require a lot of energy. Many hikers burn between 3,000-6,000 calories every day, so they need meals that will be hearty and nutritious. If a hiker ate 3 square MRE meals per day, they would clock in around 3,750 calories.
So if you have a particularly fast metabolism or just need more calories in a day, consider packing some extra food. You can also bring along a few of your favorite high-calorie snacks as a supplement.
Apart from calories, backpackers need food supplies that are compact, light, and enjoyable to eat. While MREs aren’t famous as culinary masterpieces, they are available in several flavors and combinations. It would get boring to eat the same meal over and over, so there are options to mix and match.
They’re also safe to transport and are firmly sealed until you’re ready to eat. Backpackers could easily transport multiple MREs without issue, and your bag will only get lighter as you eat through the supplies.
However, if you’re a backpacker who prefers to eat organic foods, MREs might not be the right choice for you. They often include GMO ingredients to maximize flavor and nutrition and sometimes have common allergens as well. Those who are picky eaters might find that MREs aren’t to their liking.
At the end of the day, only you can decide if MREs will be a good addition to your backpacking trip. Because of their high-calorie content and compact design, I’d say that they’re definitely a strong option to keep in mind.
MRE Benefits And Variations
The military has always needed rations for its soldiers. Over the years, the standard rations have changed and evolved from the early years of the k-rations and c-rations that were used in World War II.
The MREs that are available today are fairly refined. They might not be pretty to look at and they won’t win any cooking show awards. But at the end of the day, they deliver a hearty, nutritious meal that has a good variety of different elements.
Each full-meal MRE should contain an entree, side dish, bread or crackers, spread, and a desert. Additional elements like candies, seasonings, beverages, accessories/utensils, and a flameless ration heater might be included in some options.
Both civilians and soldiers can purchase MREs, but there are some differences between the options that are available to them. Official military MREs cannot be sold to civilians, but many companies make similar products for both of their customer bases.
Civilian MREs
Civilian MREs were previously quite limited in availability and options. There were only a few select meals that people were able to purchase as well as a limited number of vendors that supplied them.
Over the years, the technology and nutrition benefits of MREs have evolved. Nowadays, they can serve as a quick, hearty, and portable meal, which has made them popular both inside and outside the military.
The options of civilian MREs are very similar to the military counterparts, although they have some different options when it comes to the dessert and spread. As a drawback though, civilian kits don’t always include all the accessories, and a ration heater might need to be purchased separately.
Civilian MREs also have slightly weaker packaging when compared to the military versions. They’ll both hold up well under the wear and tear of life, but there’s a greater risk of breaking the packaging of a civilian ration.
Military MREs
Military MREs are similar to civilian ones in almost every way, but aside from the usual meal supplies, their MREs usually include additional items such as Tabasco sauce, chewing gum, and toilet paper. Source
They also come with flameless ration heaters that will make them warm and easier to enjoy outdoors. There is also a larger catalog of meal options in military MRE kits, but these are only available to active members of the military.
Over the years, the shelf life of MREs have decreased a bit. The improved flavor and variety of food have come at the cost of some of their longevity. The current storage life of most military MREs is 5 years, which is half of what it used to be.
This shelf life is still considerable and most civilians can work their way through their stock within the allotted time frame.
The packaging of military MREs is designed to hold up under rough transport and the changing altitudes of a plane flight. It’s quite hardy and will remain strong throughout day-to-day use.
Where To Buy MREs
Again, it’s against U.S. law to sell official military MREs to civilians. But there are several legal avenues that civilians can use to gather a stockpile of MREs for an emergency kit, food storage, or a long backpacking trip!
Online Retailers:
Many online retailers have begun to manufacture and sell their own versions of MREs. These will vary in quality, taste, and shelf life, but they can be a good resource for civilian MREs. To view a catalog of online MRE options, visit this link.
Military Surplus Stores:
Military surplus outlets will sometimes receive MREs that were accidentally overstocked or have a minor manufacturing flaw that made the military reject them.
Be sure to check the expiration date and price tags on these options though! Sometimes flawed products can slip through the cracks and they might be overpriced.