I snagged a few RecPaks on my PCT thruhike this summer since they were at an on-trail event having a sale. Snagged 4 coffee flavored packs without having tasted them first. I had 2 packs singly for breakfast for a couple days, and 2 packs overnight on a 36hr challenge segment.
Taste-wise, they're slightly better than meal replacement or bulking powders, but don't expect Nesquick or anything super easily palatable. I was kinda let down by the coffee flavor, was pretty weak or overpowered by other ingredients - adding a sachet of instant coffee did help greatly with that. They do mix pretty well, and the pouches are convenient (the pouches have been recently redesigned so they've got 28mm threading and are compatible with squeeze filters and the UL swig rigs, which is cool) compared to bringing a dedicated bottle out to mix in. I felt satiated after drinking mine, and didn't really see any noticeable differences compared to eating normal food - no significant boost or lack of energy, no digestive issues whatsoever.
I personally don't think I'll be swapping to these for any sort of mainstream use, just because I didn't find the process any easier than my usual breakfast of 5-6 bars and the bulk of each pack was somewhat annoying (per the rep at the event, they're currently hand sealing their packages but will have automated sealers soon that will let them trim some bulk). I do think these have a place for single day prolonged endurance efforts, like my 36hr hike where I didn't want to stop to whip the stove out and make food, or if you're mountaineering and finding a suitable place to post up for food is kinda sketch, or if you're doing a long distance bike race and need nutrition that you can consume easily without dismounting.
Some tips -
1. As mentioned, adding a coffee packet was super nice. My buddy had the chai flavor and added some broth powder and he said that was good too.
2. Keep them topped up with water. If you only drink half a pack for breakfast and want to finish the rest later in the day fill it up to full volume with water. Helps with the texture and prevents them from getting gummy.
3. Before you fill the packet, unscrew the lid and blow into the bag to inflate it, then replace the lid and shake the pack. This loosens up the powder and prevents clumps from forming in creases or corners that will hydrate poorly and lead to lumpy meals.
