We obtained a food-obsessed hiker and nutritionist to taste-test a spread of meals from Campers Pantry. Jess shared what she appreciated and disliked, together with some ideas from fellow hikers she roped in alongside the way in which.
Within the nice open air, meals isn’t simply gasoline, it’s typically the spotlight of the day and a reward for hard-won kilometres underfoot. Whereas I’m barely biased as a nutritionist, I reckon it’s properly well worth the time to research the meals you propose on consuming earlier than you hit the path itself. Prior to now few months, I’ve been consuming my manner by way of numerous mountain climbing meals from totally different manufacturers to determine my favorite. The newest of those is Campers Pantry.
Shot by Lachlan Gardiner
Why am I the proper individual to do that evaluation?
Except for operating my very own mountain climbing vitamin enterprise in my spare time, I’m a frequent hiker who likes to eat. Meal instances are what I spend my hours on the path daydreaming about, and there’s nothing I hate greater than carrying an unsatisfying meal. Particularly if it’s tough on my guts.
I’ve examined many mountain climbing meals, from dehydrated and freeze-dried to ready-made. I’ve the vocabulary to explain what I’m tasting, and am not shy about saying what I actually assume.
Nothing’s higher than a meal with a view
Who’s Campers Pantry?
Campers Pantry is a comparatively new (began in 2016), Aussie-owned firm primarily based in Launceston that’s on a mission to make the best-tasting, most nutritious freeze-dried, light-weight mountain climbing meals doable. Get in an e-mail chain with their founder AJ, and you already know instantly that you simply’re within the presence of somebody obsessed with their merchandise. And who higher to make your meals than somebody obsessive about high quality?
You should purchase their meals from their web site in addition to a bunch of nice on-line journey retailers like Snowy’s Open air and Wild Earth. Essentially the most handy in-store stockist is Anaconda.
They usually’ve simply rolled out this snazzy darkish packaging | Shot by Wilkography
How These Meals Have Been Reviewed
Relating to style I price every meal, snack, and drink primarily based on style, texture, aroma, and aftertaste, giving a ultimate flavour rating out of 5 (0 = terrible, 5 = superb). Wherever doable I get a number of individuals to strive every meal and acquire their suggestions too.
Macronutrient information is listed per serving which implies you’ll get the listed quantity of vitamins, like proteins and carbohydrates, in case you end the meal.
Preparation & Cooking
The meals from Campers Pantry are tremendous straightforward to organize, and are designed to be cooked and eaten from the pouch itself. The packaging of those meals is intelligent in that they’ve been vacuum-packed to pack down tremendous small, and you may rip off (and recycle!) the cardboard label earlier than you head out.
When you rip off the highest, the surprises maintain coming – the meals are packed inside a paper bag, circa college lunch orders. In the event you’re extra coordinated than I’m, you possibly can rip off the highest then use the bag itself as a bowl, tipping 300ml of water in and roll the highest over to let it rehydrate. It’s beneficial to offer it a stir after 5 minutes, then let it sit for one more 5.
It is advisable to tip the meals out of the paper bag and into the principle bag earlier than including water
Except for ripping manner too low by accident, I discovered the underside of the packaging arduous to take a seat flat and located that utilizing a bowl or pot to pour it into as an alternative labored higher.
In idea, these minimise washing up and the packaging is designed to be as recyclable because it’s doable to be. The shorter packaging additionally means you don’t must convey that long-handled spoon – ultralight hikers rejoice!
Campers Pantry Climbing Meals Reviewed & In contrast
Breakfast
Spicy Mexican Beans
RRP: $16.95
Packed weight: 100g
Cooked weight: 400g
Flavour: 4/5
Protein/Fat/Carbs/Vitality: 14.7g / 8g / 62g / 411 energy
Sodium: 1090mg
Elements: 5 bean combine, rice, passata, roasted pink capsicum, onion, vegetable oil, cumin, corn flour, hen inventory (no animal content material), garlic, chilli, black pepper, salt, rosemary extract.
If you wish to maximise area in your pack you possibly can take away the cardboard sleeve earlier than you head out
Vitamin
This Spicy Mexican Beans meal is made with 10.5% Australian components and supplies a hearty 411 energy per serving. The substantial 62g of carbohydrates will enable you to begin your day on the path sturdy! You may eat this for dinner or lunch too, but it surely makes an excellent brekkie!
The 14.7g of protein from beans is helpful for muscle restore and helps maintain you feeling full, whereas the 8g of fat provide further vitality. The fibre from the beans is more likely to assist digestion, which is at all times a plus in case you’re consuming largely processed or pre-prepared meals.
Sadly, the sodium content material could be very excessive at 1090mg, over midway to the utmost beneficial consumption for adults (2,000mg), which might change into extreme if paired with different salty meals all through the day. Moreover, the presence of allergens like wheat, gluten, egg, soy, nuts, and lupin might restrict its suitability for some hikers.
With solely 10.5% Australian components, it’s not a best choice for these prioritising domestically sourced meals. General, it’s a flavourful, filling possibility however greatest loved moderately on account of its sodium degree.
Instantly you possibly can see actual meals
Flavour
The Spicy Mexican Beans meal is made up of rice with blended beans, a roasted capsicum and tomato sauce with spices, and a pop of chilli. The dominating aroma and flavour was tomato, with sturdy spicy overtones. Regardless of the depth of flavour there wasn’t a lingering aftertaste, which was a aid. Nothing worse than tasting your brekkie for the following three hours.
The consistency is just like risotto and there isn’t numerous distinction between the sauce itself and the rice, which’ll be a plus for some and a adverse for others. Primarily, it goes down very simply and wasn’t too spicy for somebody who usually avoids something however the mildest possibility! This makes it a good selection for youths or the fussy eater in your group.
Fazz mentioned: ‘This would be an awesome choice for a winter meal. It’s very warming.’
Lunch
Indian Hen Pilaf
RRP: $16.95
Packed weight: 100g
Serving dimension: 400g
Flavour: 5/5
Protein/Fat/Carbs/Vitality: 13.4g / 10.8g / 33.9g / 296 energy
Sodium: 455mg
Elements: Rice, hen breast, tomatoes, inexperienced peas, onion, coconut powder, inexperienced beans, ginger, garlic, curry powder, vegetable oil, hen inventory, corn flour, salt, rosemary extract.
The bag is vacuum sealed so it takes up minimal area, however is densely packed so you possibly can’t squish it round issues
Vitamin
This Campers Pantry meal is produced from 65% Australian components and supplies a balanced mixture of protein, carbs, and fat. I needed to be fairly choosy to attempt to discover issues with it! The 13.4g of protein aids muscle restoration, whereas the 33.9g of carbs assist replenish vitality. The coconut-based fat provide quick-burning gasoline, and the 296 energy make it a lightweight, filling possibility.
The 455mg of sodium, might be thought of to be a disadvantage if mixed with different salty meals. For reference, 460mg of sodium is taken into account an ample every day consumption and represents a couple of ¼ of the utmost beneficial consumption. However! 455mg of sodium is a comparatively low quantity in terms of premade mountain climbing meals. In the event you’re working arduous, it’s essential replenish sodium misplaced by way of sweat, so whereas initially it’s possible you’ll baulk on the 455mg, it must be checked out in relation to the larger image. My level is, it isn’t a dealbreaker.
The rice absorbs the sauce properly and there’s loads of it if you wish to add extra rice or throw in some debs potato for extra energy on greater days
Flavour
The Indian Hen Pilaf meal is made up of a basmati rice soaked in a aromatic coconut sauce with peas, inexperienced beans, and hen items of various textures. The peas and beans had been a bit rubbery in locations however all of us agreed it wasn’t that unhealthy and was an excellent compromise if it meant a lightweight meal.
The sauce was very well balanced and the quantity of hen was beneficiant – you would truly determine it within the sauce (rarer than you may assume!). As a bonus, the hen tasted and felt like actual hen if you chewed it. This makes an enormous distinction after days on the path craving actual tasting meals.
My preliminary response: ‘100g of bloody excellent! The sauce is delicious and it smells so nice too – like it’s selfmade.
Dinner
Hen Cacciatore
RRP: $16.95
Packed weight: 80g
Serving dimension: 380g
Flavour: 4/5
Protein/Fat/Carbs/Vitality: 30g / 12.8g / 42.7g / 425 energy
Sodium: 861mg
Elements: Rice, hen breast, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, tomato paste, onion, celery, vegetable oil, garlic, corn flour, hen inventory, black pepper, salt, blended herbs, rosemary extract.
Ripping the highest so you need to use it like a bowl might be unpredictable so I’d advocate utilizing a knife
Vitamin
This Hen Cacciatore meal supplies a beneficiant 425 energy per serving, with a excessive protein content material of 30g, which is great for muscle restoration and satiety on the path. The 42.7g of carbs from rice and greens assist replenish vitality shops, whereas the 12.8g of fat present a slower-burning vitality supply, contributing to sustained vitality over time.
Nevertheless, the 861mg of sodium content material is so much larger than I’d like, and may very well be a priority for these watching their salt consumption, particularly when mixed with different salty meals all through the day. The meal additionally incorporates frequent allergens (wheat, gluten, egg, soy, nuts, lupin), limiting its suitability for these with sensitivities.
Using solely 48% Australian components could also be a minor draw back for many who prioritise native sourcing, however that is nonetheless larger than lots of the meals merchandise on our cabinets. General, it’s a nutritionally balanced however considerably sodium-heavy alternative for lively hikers.
The sauce is extra absolutely absorbed in comparison with the Indian Hen Pilaf
Flavour
The Hen Cacciatore meal has a base of rice with a wealthy tomato sauce, mushrooms, kalamata olives, and hen items. It smells actually appetising, largely tomato with a touch of mushroom coming by way of. It wasn’t as flavoursome because the Indian Hen Pilaf. General it’s obtained a reasonably gentle flavour, and was unanimously voted as ‘yummy’ by three taste-testers.
The feel is kind of mushy. It completely seems like there’s barely an excessive amount of rice at instances, however that may very well be all the way down to lazy mixing. Granted, if there’s ever a time I’m going to be lazy mixing it’s at dinnertime after a giant hike, however even with the shoddy combine, this was greater than palatable.
Joanna mentioned: ‘This is really tasty! It would be good on cold trips especially.’
Dessert
Freeze Dried Whiskey Ice Cream
RRP: $9.05
Packed weight: 50g
Serving dimension: 50g
Flavour: 5/5
Protein/Fat/Carbs/Vitality: 5.7g/ 16.5g / 22g /270 energy
Sodium: 193mg
Elements: Milk, cream and/or butter, sugar, skim milk powder, fibre (inulin), whiskey (1%), dextrose, pure flavour, vanilla bean extract, espresso, emulsifier (471), stabilisers (cellulose, cellulose gum, carrageenan, tara gum, guar gum)
This indulgent dessert boasts a splash (or two) of single malt Tasmanian whiskey blended with a wealthy caramel sauce swirled by way of velvety Tasmanian ice cream, freeze-dried so that you can get pleasure from in your favorite tracks and trails.
Sadly the packets aren’t resealable – I like to recommend taking a ziplock so that you eat over a number of days
Vitamin
This freeze-dried whiskey ice cream, produced from over 97% Australian components, affords a wealthy, high-energy deal with at 270 energy per serving, with a good quantity of fat (16.5g) for long-lasting vitality on the path. The reasonable protein content material (5.7g) provides a small restoration increase, and the 22g of carbs replenish what you’ve probably misplaced that day. Its 50g dimension makes it a compact, handy dessert possibility.
On the draw back, the presence of a number of stabilisers and emulsifiers (like cellulose, carrageenan, and guar gum) could also be an issue for these susceptible to digestive discomfort. The sodium is on the excessive aspect once more, however offered you’re preserving tabs in your consumption, this isn’t a purpose to keep away from this snack.
Flavour
This dessert was delivered to you by a collaboration between Campers Pantry and the long-lasting Tasmanian Van Diemans Land Creamery. In the event you’ve had their ice cream earlier than, you’ll know that is one thing to be very, very, enthusiastic about. I used to be past psyched to do that path snack – ice chilly ice cream on a hike? Heck sure!
Alas, the ice-cream isn’t an merchandise it’s essential rehydrate, however is able to eat out of the packet, and is type of like more-solid macaron chunks. Pushing my disappointment to at least one aspect I used to be in a position to come to phrases with this devastating growth.
The ice cream chunks are gentle and ethereal, and dissolve in your mouth. Honest warning – they do an excellent job at coating your tooth so having some water helpful for a sleek round afterwards is beneficial.
That is what it appears to be like like
Out of the Chocolate Gelato, Pepperberry & Leatherwood, and Whiskey flavours I shared with a gaggle of hikers on a sizzling multi-day path, the whiskey was the overwhelming favorite.
The whiskey ice cream was candy and creamy, and tasted like caramel with only a sprint of whiskey vibes all through. It was a totally distinctive expertise and it was a enjoyable novelty as most of us don’t usually take dessert.
One bag is sufficient for 4 or 5 individuals to share. We didn’t discover it overly moreish, so in case you’re mountain climbing in a duo you would simply get pleasure from a couple of pieces over a number of nights on the path, which improves the worth for cash barely as these are about $9 a packet.
Group consensus: ‘It type of melts in your mouth and stays there. It’s positively scrumptious however you don’t want so much’.
Sustainability
Earlier than deciding to go on a deep dive into the Campers Pantry web site, I wasn’t conscious of any sustainability initiatives. However, because it seems, they’ve obtained their finger on the heart beat. They’re simply not shouting about it.
Whereas they should use the triple-layer mylar pouches to keep up product high quality (which at the moment have to be binned generally waste), they’ve had conversations with Terracycle to determine a greater technique to take care of the hard-to-recycle materials. Manufacturing quantity limitations have thus far prevented a partnership. Within the interim, they’ve produced an superior checklist of how to upcycle their meal packets.
Past packaging, Campers Pantry shares a kitchen with and helps the Tassie-based Loaves & Fishes program, which produces nutritious college lunches for underprivileged college students. Income from the partnership with Campers Pantry are fed again into the college lunches program and through college holidays employees change from producing college meals, to producing Campers Pantry meals for hikers. It’s an excellent initiative to take advantage of present assets and folks energy. Sooner or later, they intention to increase these efforts, offering meals to the homeless and providing mentorship to younger cooks by way of out of doors actions.
Campers Pantry’s strategy exhibits a deep-rooted dedication to group and sustainability.
The packaging has been by way of a number of iterations and there’s a brand new model already on the way in which | Shot by Lachlan Gardiner
Worth
At $16.95 per meal, these are about what I’d anticipate to pay for a dehydrated mountain climbing meal today. Whereas extra gourmand manufacturers like Alps & Amici command costs which can be a lot larger, most manufacturers available on the market hover within the mid-teens for pricing. These aren’t low-cost, however in addition they shouldn’t be.
Whereas I’ve by no means liked paying this a lot for a single meal I’ve to successfully make myself, you possibly can’t argue with the value when you perceive how a lot analysis and growth goes into the curation of them. It’s a small worth to pay for a meal you possibly can cook dinner in the course of nowhere that’s nutritionally balanced, tastes good, and doesn’t set your abdomen cartwheeling.
The $9 price ticket on the dehydrated ice cream does really feel a bit a lot although. I’d say the value is a results of the small manufacturing runs typical of a small enterprise, however it’s greater than I’d fortunately half with for a dessert or path snack, until it was for sharing amongst a gaggle.
Ultimate Ideas
The Campers Pantry vary affords a implausible mix of comfort, style, and vitamin, making it a wonderful alternative for the path. The meals are the lightest I’ve come throughout and if I had to decide on any model at this cut-off date to tackle the path with me, it’d be Campers Pantry.
I belief the components are good. I like that my cash goes in the direction of a smaller Aussie enterprise that’s doing every part it might to be sustainable and supply nutritious meals, and it tastes nice!
The primary downsides I see are that the majority meals might comprise the frequent potential allergens of wheat, gluten, soy, and nuts, limiting their suitability for some hikers. And the sodium ranges in some meals are fairly excessive. Realistically although, sodium is excessive in most bought mountain climbing meals and as shoppers we’ve got to train some degree of duty in selecting meals to swimsuit our wants.
What do you consider their meals? I’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback!
Campers Pantry FAQs
What different meals does Campers Pantry have?
Campers Pantry has a wide range of different meals on provide, together with meals like Penne Bolognaise and the Cauliflower & Pea Dahl. In addition they have marshmallows!
How can I inform rapidly if a meal is wholesome?
In the event you don’t know how you can learn a meals label or decide if an ingredient is a goodie or a baddie, the Yuka App is a good possibility. It lets you scan product barcodes for a well being overview of the components, even offering a ranking and visitors gentle system code in case you simply desire a fast look for a sure/no verdict.
What kinds of meals does Campers Pantry provide?
Campers Pantry supplies a wide range of freeze-dried meals, together with choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Some are appropriate for vegetarians.
How do you put together Campers Pantry meals?
Merely add boiling water to the meal pouch, seal it, and let it sit for ten minutes till absolutely rehydrated. For greatest outcomes it’s best to stir it after 5 minutes or so.
What flavours of freeze-dried ice cream can be found?
Except for the chocolate, whiskey, and pepperberry & leatherwood flavours I already talked about, Campers Pantry have just lately launched Banana Ice Cream, Cafe Latte Ice Cream, and Raspberry Ice Cream.
Need extra out of doors meal evaluations?
- Offgrid Provisions Vary Reviewed & Examined
- Climbing Meals Comparability: Pre-Cooked, Dehydrated & Freeze Dried
- Radix Vitamin Breakfast and Protein Powder – Reviewed & Examined
- On Monitor Meals – Reviewed & Examined
Function picture and Desk of Contents picture by Lachlan Gardiner
