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Don’t see your answer on these pages?
Give us a call at 1-888-210-4959 or email us at trailfood@packitgourmet.com
I’m a vegetarian, which meals are available to me?
Almost all of our meals have a meat-free counterpart. Some meals do feature TVP (textured vegetable protein) with a meat flavor, such as beef TVP or sausage TVP. TVP contains the protein found in meat but is made out of soy flour. If you’d rather not have any meat flavor in your meal, please contact us and we’ll try to accommodate your needs.
Why don’t you combine all of the ingredients rather than dividing them up inside the main bag?
We’ve discovered that most meals taste more authentic when ingredients are added in steps, the same way that you would cook them at home. Separating ingredients also allows campers to control the amount of each ingredient that they add to their meal. We always include salt and pepper packets so that you can decide how much spice you’d like in your meal.
Is there really enough food for two people?
We’ve tested the quantity of our meal packs on many people with many different appetites. We’ve packed enough food for one large eater and one smaller eater (a man and a woman after a good day of hiking) or two medium sized eaters (two men after a more relaxing day).
ABOUT OUR INGREDIENTS
What kind of ingredients do you use?
We carefully choose our ingredients based on flavor, price and whether they are organic or natural. When possible, we use natural and organic ingredients, however we are conscious of the higher prices that come with organics and take all factors into account when choosing ingredients. This makes it possible for us to bring you the most flavorful ingredients at the best possible prices.
We use a combination of dehydrated and freeze-dried foods as well as items in packets (such as salsa or peanut butter). We sample each ingredient on its own as well as in our meals to make sure that we choose foods with the best possible flavors. Some items taste better when they’ve been dehydrated and others are much better freeze-dried. We do our best to bring you the best of both worlds.
What is the difference between dehydrated and freeze-dried?
Dehydrated foods have had the water removed by drying them. This can be done by air-drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying. Dehydrated foods are chewy and retain some of their moistness – think of a raisin or prune.
Freeze-dried foods have been frozen and have then had the water removed by reducing the air pressure while heating the food. This allows the food to retain the original shape and helps to retain the flavor but can interfere with the texture. Most freeze-dried foods are crunchy before you cook them and may or may not get their original texture back once they’ve been cooked.
What does dehydrated v. freeze-dried foods mean to me? What do you use?
Both dehydrated and freeze-dried foods do well in long term storage and offer about the same amount of shelf life. The main difference is in the flavor, size and cost of the food.
Flavor
There are no hard guidelines about which type of food tastes better. Some foods taste better when they’ve been dehydrated while others taste better freeze-dried. We sample each ingredient on its own as well as in our meals to make sure that we choose foods with the best possible flavors, so you get the best of both worlds.
Size
Dehydrated ingredients shrink as they dry where freeze-dried ingredients retain their shape. When flavor is not a factor, we use dehydrated ingredients, which allows us to pack more food in a smaller amount of space.
Price
Dehydrated food will always cost less than freeze-dried food. This is because dehydrating has been done for hundreds of years (think of Native Americans drying buffalo in the sun) where freeze-drying requires expensive machinery. We use dehydrated food when possible so that we can pass our savings along to you but if a freeze-dried ingredient tastes better, that will be the one that we choose.
What is the average shelf life of your meals?
We primarily use dehydrated and freeze-dried food items in our meals resulting in an average shelf life of about two years.
What is the average shelf life of the fruit, vegetables and other food items in your grocery store?
The dehydrated and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables available in our grocery store as well as many of the packets have a shelf life of about two years.
What can I do to extend the shelf life of my meals, freeze-dried fruit, vegetables or other food items?
The single most important factor in shelf life is temperature. Your food should be stored at a cool and constant temperature – below 75° but above freezing.
Keep your food in a dry place and away from moisture. Exposure to excessive moisture can cause your food to deteriorate and spoil. If you live in a humid location, be extra careful to seal your food after opening and store in an airtight container, if possible.
Fats, vitamins, flavors and the color of your food can all be impacted by exposure to the oxygen in the air. Keep your food sealed until you use it and be sure to reseal the bag or place in an airtight container after opening.
Fats, proteins and vitamins can all be affected by overexposure to light. Off-flavors, discoloration and the loss of some vitamins can occur. Keep your food in a pantry or other place without much exposure to direct light. 
ABOUT OUR PACKAGING
Are your bags recyclable?
Yes, our bags are made from a common food grade plastic that can be recycled at most recycling centers.
Can I cook in your bags?
Our bags are made of a thick, food grade plastic but they are not FDA approved for use with boiling water. They’re great for mixing in or using with cool/warm water to rehydrate your meals.
What can I use your bag for?
Campers have come up with multiple ways to use our bags while on the trail. Some of our favorites are:
- A pitcher for mixing up powdered drinks
- A cooking pot
- A sealable trash bag
- A mixing bowl – you can seal and mash the ingredients around without getting your fingers or a spoon dirty.
SHIPPING
What are your shipping rates?
Please visit our shipping page.
Can you drop-ship to hikers doing the AT, CDT, etc.?
Yes. Please call us before you start your trip and set up your account. You can choose your meals ahead of time or call in as you go with new orders. Please see our delivery schedule for a list of towns along the Appalachian Trail and other useful information.
I’m flying into the US from another country and would like to have a package of your food delivered to me when I arrive. Is that possible?
Yes. The US Post Office will hold general delivery packages for recipients for up to 30 days free of charge. Let us know which Post Office you would like your package to be shipped to and it will be waiting for you when you arrive.
I’m traveling around the US and would like to have packages of your food delivered to me throughout my trip. Is that possible?
Yes. The US Post Office will hold general delivery packages for recipients for up to 30 days free of charge. Let us know which Post Office you would like your package to be shipped to and it will be waiting for you when you arrive.
I would like to send a package of your food to military personnel serving overseas. Is that possible?
Yes. We send all military care packages via USPS to military APO/FPO addresses. If you do not know your serviceperson’s APO/FPO address, please visit USA.gov. When entering APO/FPO address information, please include the following information:
Name
Unit
APO/FPO Address
Zip Code
Example:
SSGT Kevin Taylor
Unit 2050 Box 4190
APO AP 96278-2050
*Please be aware that pork products are often not allowed to be shipped to Islamic countries. You may want to consider choosing a meal with pork TVP if your loved one is missing the flavor of sausage.
Do you offer military/student/scout/group discounts?
Yes, please visit our discounts page.
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