Heather’s Choice

[Wyobohunter]

Just listened to a BHA podcast with Heather Kelly. She’s the founder of Heather’s Choice backpacking meals. Her story is pretty cool and the podcast was worth listening to. Who has tried these? I have a bunch of them waiting for this summer and fall but haven’t tried them yet.

This thread is not meant to be about BHA. It’s just where I heard the interview.

 

[Jager1234]

I jump in our question, also very curious to hear about them…

 

[Bl704]

I tried one…wasn’t for me, but it may be your thing. If you’re curious, buy a couple to try preseason…

 

[bmejia]

I've had a few and were not my favorite. Some dinners were ok but the breakfast ones I had were almost inedible. The little snack cookie things (maybe called like packaroons) taste good but are so small I didn't see much value in carrying them. I very much prefer Peak meals but everyone has there own tastes, maybe you will love them.

 

[knale87]

I bought a couple when they were on sale a little while ago that I’ll be trying next month.

I’ve also heard the packaroons are delicious.

 

[Steve O]

HC are a love them, hate them kind of meal. I believe I’ve tried each one of them and like them all. They don’t sit well with many. Packaroons are what all seem to agree on being delicious.

I would take HC every time over Mountain House. Every time.

 

[justinspicher]

Not a fan, I don’t think my taste buds were sophisticated enough to enjoy the flavor.

 

[scott85]

They do have a very cool story but none of the flavors come close to appealing to me.

 

[hunt1up]

I like the breakfasts. All of my hunting buddies eat very little for breakfast on hunts but I always eat a meal. Either a MH Granola, Pack It-Gourment Good Day Sunshine Bowl(love these), or a Heathers Choice.

I called the Heathers Choice breakfasts "horse feed" since they're loaded with all sorts of various healthy stuff like Chia Seeds, Hemp seeds, and so on. Lots of chewing and lots of fiber. I just looked and they've got a whole new lineup of breakfasts that look very different from the past ones. I'll have to try them.

It looks like she has some new entres too. I've had the African Peanut Stew, Spaghetti, Bison Chili, Mole Chicken, and Salmon Chowder. The only one I really don't like is the Chicken Mole, the chocolate and cinnamon in there just don't work for me in that one.

I think the main difference in flavor differences from HC to meals like MH or Peak, is the stark difference in sodium. Her meals have very clean ingredients and aren't sodium bombs so they're sort of apples/oranges to the other mainstream bag meals.

 

[KHNC]

Those things are pure garbage. Especially the chili. Dont waste your money. Take Mtn House for back up. Sell what you have soon as you can.

 

[Wyobohunter]

I like the breakfasts. All of my hunting buddies eat very little for breakfast on hunts but I always eat a meal. Either a MH Granola, Pack It-Gourment Good Day Sunshine Bowl(love these), or a Heathers Choice.

I called the Heathers Choice breakfasts "horse feed" since they're loaded with all sorts of various healthy stuff like Chia Seeds, Hemp seeds, and so on. Lots of chewing and lots of fiber. I just looked and they've got a whole new lineup of breakfasts that look very different from the past ones. I'll have to try them.

It looks like she has some new entres too. I've had the African Peanut Stew, Spaghetti, Bison Chili, Mole Chicken, and Salmon Chowder. The only one I really don't like is the Chicken Mole, the chocolate and cinnamon in there just don't work for me in that one.

I think the main difference in flavor differences from HC to meals like MH or Peak, is the stark difference in sodium. Her meals have very clean ingredients and aren't sodium bombs so they're sort of apples/oranges to the other mainstream bag meals.

The low sodium was what appealed to me.

 

[mlgc20]

Here is how I would rank the backpacking meal companies I have tried.

1. Packit Gourmet
2. Outdoor Pantry
3. Pinnacle Foods
4. Peak Refuel
5. Mountain House
6. Backpackers Pantry
7. Good2Go
8. Trailtopia
9. Alpine Aire
10. Mary Janes Farm
11. Heathers Choice

In order to get a good variety, I will choose meals from any of the top 9 above. Although, I get probably 90% of my meals from the top 4. The bottom 3 I don't even consider. Some of these rankings I could easily swap a company one position higher or lower. But there is no doubt that Packit would be #1 and Heathers Choice would be last. Of course, taste is personal. I am grateful that we have so many companies in this space versus the old days of pretty much having only Mountain House and Backpackers Pantry.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I tried them and convinced my dad to try them. I really wanted to like them, but they were awful. My dad still makes jokes about how bad they were (we tried 2 or 3). I still get their packaroons though, just not the lemon lavender, a little to soapy for me.

 

[Cameron.25]

They are gross lol. Try some stowaway gourmet, off grid or packit gourmet if you want something healthier than peak or mountain house in my opinion. The packaroons from heather's choice are really good tho

 

[Wyobohunter]

There’s two endorsements for Packit. I’ll have to give them a try.

 

[Oregonboy]

I tried a few of them...not for me.

 

[MThuntr]

Packaroons good...I'm not a coconut person but they are good and to me fulling snacks.

The rest of the HC lineup is hot garbage. I see many of the meals I had are no longer offered and likely for good reasons. I once posted a reply on a, now deleted, post on Facebook and was promptly attacked by her fans for not thinking the food was good. I'll starve before I support her products. FWIW I don't think she was involved and I have no hate for her or her success story because small businesses growing up to a big business is literally the American Dream but the food and those fans left a real bad taste in my mouth.

Definitely try those on the list above and see if you like them. For your sake try them now before the season rolls around.

 

[peaceman]

The packaroons are excellent. I just bought some meals for my wife and daughter for some camping trips as they are all gluten free for those that need it. We'll see how they like them. I've given up on Mountain House since the Peak Refuel meals have come out, hands-down better than MH IMO.

 

[hunt1up]

There’s two endorsements for Packit. I’ll have to give them a try.

Pack-it Gourmet meals are great.

 

[fwafwow]

+1 for the packaroons. I went in on HC big time before a trip to CO in 2019. I was pretty methodical in trying the breakfasts and dinners before the trip, but some stuff that tasted great at home (the dinners) can be very heavy on your stomach at altitude - IMHO. The spaghetti was WAY too acidic and neither me nor my buddy could stomach it. Note that part of my experience might be due to a dramatic loss of appetite, perhaps due to altitude.