When on my OE I lived in Oxford, UK, for two years. One day a large parcel from my parents landed on the doorstep. Inside were dozens of freeze-dried food packets from a then fledgling company called Back Country Cuisine. 

In those far-off days I was a struggling barista, serving coffee to train commuters heading to London. My parents probably intended the meals for my planned European tramps, but what I saw inside that box was a month of free dinners. Each night I was in the garden with my gas stove, boiling water to make my evening meal.

Because it was largely a survival exercise I didn’t bother to rate the meals, and I don’t have many fond memories of the food I did eat. But that’s mostly because ready-made tramping meals are not meant to be eaten at home. You have to earn them through hours of exertion and sweat. Freeze-dried or dehy meals taste best when they complement a stunning view or are accompanied by the cosy camaraderie in a hut. 

I would have treasured the resource you will find in this issue. In the biggest review we’ve ever undertaken, we taste-tested and ranked 30 different tramping meals. It would have helped me choose the meals that were sure to please. 

For the record, my favourite BCC meal is honey soy chicken. Trust me, it’s a winner. On a recent tramp to Whakapapaiti Hut I also tried Real Meals’ Sri Lankan Chicken Curry for the first time. It’s definitely one of the best dishes I’ve had in the wilderness, although I recommend taking a side of rice or wraps to ensure it fills you up. 

I’d love to hear what your favourite ready-made tramping meals are. Read the reviews and email us your recommendations.