The Data Lab for Trail, Freeze-Dried & Prep Food
A structured database of 284 freeze-dried and dehydrated meals - the same shelf-stable food used for trail trips and long-term food prep - ranked by calories per ounce, protein, and cost per 1,000 kcal.
› Why FoodEverest
Two meals can carry the same calories while one weighs noticeably more. Over a week on trail, that difference is pounds. FoodEverest measures every meal the same way, so you can compare them honestly - by weight, protein, and cost.
How we rank› The method
Calorie density uses each brand's published net food weight - never the padded shipping figure.
284 meals from 14 brands, measured the same way so comparisons are honest.
The number ultralight hikers optimise for, computed for every meal in the database.
Real energy value, not sticker price - so you see which meals actually stretch a budget.
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free tags on every meal that qualifies.
Turn a trip into an optimised food list in minutes - lightest, cheapest, or most protein.
› Explore
The single number ultralight hikers optimise for. Leader: Trailtopia Egg Scramble at 185 cal/oz (653 kcal/100g).
View ranking →Set days, calories, and diet - get an optimised food list built from the database.
Open planner →Coming next: Packit Gourmet Kickin' Chicken Hot Wings Wrap leads at 179 g protein per 1,000 kcal.
In progress› The planner
Days on trail, meals per day, calorie target, and any dietary filters.
Lightest pack, lowest cost, or the most protein - the planner does the maths.
A ranked set of meals that hits your target, ready to check against the shops.
› Good to know
A common ultralight target is roughly 100+ calories per ounce (about 353 kcal per 100 g), with 125+ cal/oz (about 441 kcal per 100 g) considered excellent. Below ~100 cal/oz you carry more weight per calorie than you need to.
Freeze-drying removes moisture at low temperature and rehydrates faster while keeping texture; dehydrating uses heat and is often cheaper but slower to rehydrate. Both cut water weight - the numbers here compare them on equal footing.
Most backpackers plan 2,500-4,500 calories per day depending on effort, terrain, and temperature. Use the planner to set a target and build a list that hits it at the lowest weight.
No. Prices are brand-direct MSRP captured on the date shown and are not live. Always confirm the current price on the retailer page before buying.
The database currently covers 284 meals across 14 brands: Adventure Food, Backpacker's Pantry, Campers Pantry, Expedition Foods, Good To-Go, LyoFood, Mountain House, Packit Gourmet, Peak Refuel, Radix Nutrition, Strive Food, Tent Meals, Trailtopia, Wild Zora.
