Mainstay Emergency Food Rations. One Pack. (3600-cal-1pk)

I read some of the reviews of this product before writing my own. First of all I'd like to say that these bars aren't meant to be a nutritionally balanced, filling, enjoyable snack. They're designed to give someone in extreme conditions much needed calories so they can wait to be rescued or walk out of whatever emergency they are facing. Our own 72-hour bags contains Mainstay Emergency Food Bars, some mylar packets of drinking water, a small jar of peanut butter, some mylar packets of tuna, some beef jerky, a personal water purifier and other items. Since we may have to carry those packs on our backs for a long distance, how much it all weighs is important. Mainstay bars are the most calories you can pack into a little packet. The bars themselves aren't bad. They taste like a dense lemon shortcake breakfast type bar. They're a little pasty, but totally edible. And if I'm hungry enough, they'll taste great. They don't leave you feeling thirsty, which is also good in an emergency when water might be rationed. Each person's backpack should have one packet to see them through to their next hot meal. Because they're sealed in heavy mylar packaging, they will last for several years without spoiling, which adds to my peace of mind. Each 400 calorie portion (there are 9 in each packet) contains 400 calories, 3 grams of fiber, 46 grams of carbs, 69 grams of fat, vitamins A (16%), C (30%), D (16%), calcium (16%), and lesser amounts of niacin, iron, folic acid, magnesium and thiamine. If you really don't like these bars, try Datrex Emergency Food bars. They are coconut flavored, and have similar packaging and calories.

I bought a bunch of emergency rations for the family to sample and decide which ones we would rather have in our 72 -hour kits. These were the overall winner in taste and texture. The flavor is very reminiscent of a sugar cookie that you would buy at the store in a large clear plastic container. The rations are about an inch thick and it's not difficult to bite a piece off. The texture is the same as eating a 1 inch thick sugar cookie. Honestly, I plan to keep these in my daily carry bag just as a snack for when I miss a meal on the train or wherever. Some of the other rations may have had a better flavor, or a better texture, but these ones had the overall highest score for the whole family. I plan to have two of the 3600 calorie packages in each emergency kit. I do not feel that 1200 calories per day is enough, especially in a high-stress situation. While I would appreciate a bit of water while chewing the cookie, when I finished the ration I was not especially thirsty. This matters in an emergency situation as water may not always be easy to come by.

While this is not gourmet eating, it is food. Purchased 8/2012 with an expiration date of 7/2017, so it's prettty "fresh". I tried a package on a recent backpacking trip to test bugout equipment and It got old really, really fast (the taste that is). However when faced with a survival situation I am sure eating one of these will not be an issue. My package came sealed neatly and when opened the 9 bars within broke apart easily into the proper portion size. Though a little but cumbly, they did not fall apart in crumbs when I took a bite and I was able to eat them without any trouble. They say non thirst-provoking however I found myself (like most other reviewers) wanting a drink after every couple small bites. Overall for $8 it's a great addition to ANY emergency kit as you will at least have some kind of food for 3 days for one person. I recommend these at this price.

I've read about several emergency rations and seen YouTube reviews about emergency rations. Then I taste-tested these and have had friends taste these and everyone and my family tried these and they're very filling and taste good. Eating these and a whole bar for a meal substitute you'll be very full and won't need much else to eat. Non-thirst-provoking and are thick but easily broken apart. Probably the best-tasting emergency rations.

I received these quickly however upon receipt I noticed that they were manufactured 2 1/2 years ago on 04/2011, this means they expire on 04/2016, so upon receipt they are already 1/2 way through their shelf life!!! I bought these in order to store in case of emergency but being 1/2 way through the shelf life I would need to replenish in just over 2 years... not acceptable, especially when advertised as a 5 year shelf life!!! I would expect at most for them to be 1 year past manufacturing as I expect them to sit for awhile but 2 1/2 years old???? I opened one just to try it as I ordered 5 total, the taste is not bad for the purpose they serve... survival, but I need to know I can store these for as long as possible and sending me ones that are already 1/2 way through the shelf life is not OK in my book, so I am sending the other 4 back and hopefully will find a supplier that will send "fresh" product.

They're lightweight, good vitamins, tons of calories. Package can survive most mayhem (most things they wouldn't survive, you wouldn't either). But I heard a rumor about them when I was considering buying a couple cases, so I bought an extra 3600 pack to test it. The rumor was that if you eat too many at once, they'll make you sick. Turns out it's true. I'd recommend buying an extra pack and doing a taste test, to find out where your tolerance for the things is. In my own test, the first tasted like a slightly too crunchy lemon shortbread cookie. The second was almost as good as the first. The third, I noticed an odd, not unpleasant, but hard to define after taste. The fourth the after taste got stronger. And halfway through the fifth, it suddenly turned into the most revolting thing I had ever had in my mouth, and it was all I could do not to spit it out on the floor. The exact point varies from one individual to another. Some people never get sick from them, others (as described in their own reviews) hit that point on the first or second bite. So it's good, in my opinion, to try them out, so you know where your limit is, before you find yourself relying on them for survival (being unable to swallow the first bite of your 6+ months of food during a major disaster would not be good).

I bought them to into the car emergency kit after reading about a family trapped in their car on a forest road during the winter and a woman trapped in her car on an Arizona road during the summer. I like them for their long shelf life and that they wouldn't melt like chocolate bars and would have their shelf life drastically shorten due to heat like MREs. As other reviewers have noted, the rations are actually one large "brick" with "break" lines dividing the brick into 9 (400-calorie) cubes. I have mine in a 1-gallon ziploc bag. If you need to open the mylar packaging, the ziploc bag should keep it from drying out. I have sampled the rations. The cubes have a slightly oily texture and crumble in the mouth. They have a moist shortbread quality. They are not awful and they are not gourmet cookies. I have used them when I have been driving and missed a meal. There is also a possible secondary use for them. If you have a family member than needs caloric supplementation, these maybe crumbled and stirred into oatmeal or porridge. I'M NO DOCTOR THOUGH. Overall, the rations are convenient and calorie-dense.

This product can help you in times when food preparation is not possible. It comes very well sealed and packaged,its size is large (like a small notebook) and has a regular weight, but that's not a problem, since it is understood that this is food that has been pressed to maximize its use and every gram counts. Its flavor is pleasant and if there was a situation in which there are more sources of food available, no doubt this is a good option. Is pre-divided into blocks for ease of use and save what is not consumed. I recommend this product as a very important addition to your survival , emergency or camp kits. It does not cause thirst and is easy to consume over a moderate period of time as the sole source of food.