Backpacker Magazine – 2010 Editors' Choice/Gear Guide

Gear Review: Fast Camp Breakfasts

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, don't leave camp without inhaling one of these tasty options.

by: The Backpacker Editors & Contributors

MEAL	VERDICT	PREP
Packit Gourmet TexMex Breakfast Tacos (pictured above; $8; 9 oz.)*	“The best dehydrated breakfast I’ve ever tasted,” says a self-proclaimed food snob with more than 15 years of experience testing camp meals. “It has real-egg texture and flavor, and the tangy salsa has chunks of tomatoes and just the right amount of kick.” The egg-potato-cheese combo has long-lasting fuel, so we didn’t need an energy bar an hour after leaving camp.	It takes about 10 minutes (rehydrate and heat in a frying pan), which fans found reasonable. But get-up-and-go hikers said that was too long, with more cleanup than they liked. (“I’d make it on rest days,” says one). Note: Bring your own tortillas.
Snoqualmie Falls Pancake Mix ($3.50; 1 lb. 8 oz.)	“The best tasting, most filling, and most reasonably priced add-water-only mix I’ve found in two decades of searching,” says a staff flapjack fiend. They cook up light and puffy—surprising for a whole-grain mix—and have a slight nutty taste.	Just add water, stir, and fry. Pack small squirt bottles of syrup and oil to keep mess to a minimum. Favorite mix-ins: pecans and fresh-picked berries.
Packit Gourmet Jump-Start Fruit Smoothie ($7; 6 oz.)	“Exactly what I want in a breakfast,” says one tester, “fast, no mess, great taste. It’s like a creamy yogurt drink without a strong yogurt flavor, and you can really taste the fruit.” And with 420 calories, 42 grams of carbs, and 35 grams of protein, this really can serve as breakfast. Testers’ only wish: even more fruit chunks. Prep couldn’t be easier: Add cold water and stir. Comes in four flavors: Berry-Berry (our fave), Tropic Fusion, Kiwi Berry, and Eat a Peach.
Cache Lake Hash Brown Egg Scramble ($5.59; 6.7 oz.)	“Everything tastes better with bacon!” proclaimed one tester, and he didn’t change his mind after learning that the “bacon” in this hearty breakfast classic is made with soy.	After rehydrating in boiling water (8-10 minutes), fry the hash browns in an oiled pan for a minute or two.
Bear Naked All Natural Granola Fruit & Nut ($4.84; 12 oz.)	There are a lot of good granolas out there, but testers loved this one’s just-right sweetness (honey and maple syrup) and crunch (whole grains and nuts). Combine this with PackIt Gourmet’s Fruit Smoothie (above), and it’s an energy-packed meal.	Pack powdered milk (not included) to have a classic granola breakfast, or just munch it dry, as many testers did.

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