Wise Food vs Mountain House – We Tested Them Both

You never know when an emergency might happen. And arranging a steady food supply is a must while preparing for such an event. 

Both Wise Food and Mountain House are two of the top brands in the market. There are preppers who swear by the quality and flavor of each of these brands. 

Wise Food vs Mountain House- which is the better brand of survival food?

Actually, that depends on your preferences. In terms of food range and flavor, Mountain House is the clear winner. Besides, their food products offer more calories per serving and longer shelf life. On the other hand, Wise Food has a healthier range of meals and a lower cost per serving.

Whether you’re a doomsday prepper or an outdoor lover, freeze-dried meals are one of the easiest ways to gain those much-needed calories. But choosing between the various options in the market can be a tough task. You need to balance multiple factors like cost, reliability, and flavor.

To help you make the right choice, we decided to try out both Wise Food vs Mountain House products and list out their main differences. In this article, we will directly compare the two brands.

To be honest, comparing food in terms of flavor is difficult as individual requirements and tastes vary. In order to clearly differentiate between these two brands, it’s necessary to take a closer look at some of the products.

Let’s start the journey.

Wise Food vs Mountain House: Brand Features

“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.”

Bethenny Frankel

Mountain House has been around for around 50 years and their food products have even visited the moon! The parent company was Oregon Freeze Dry and it started by preparing freeze-dried food for the US military.

Mountain House has a higher product range based on various categories like Adventure meals, Just in case, and Pro-Paks. Each section has been created for a different category of outdoor activity and you get more choices.

If all that sounds complicated to you Wise Company has simpler options. They have a single emergency foods section which is classified into three categories- breakfast and entree, meat, fruit and vegetables, and milk and eggs.

All Wise Company food products are packed in Mylar pouches that work as a barrier against environmental contaminants. Wise Company products also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Any unopened, unused product can be returned within that period.

Comparison: Survival and Emergency Food Kits

Data	Wise Company Grab and Go Emergency Food Kit	Mountain House Emergency Essential Assortment Bucket
No. of Servings	60	22
Price per Serving	$2.67	$5
Shelf Life	25 years	30 years
Package type	4 serving Metallyte™ pouches	12 Adventure Meal Pouches
Food Type	13 different food types	Beef Stew, Breakfast Skillet, Scrambled Eggs with Bacon, Rice and Chicken
Total Weight	11 lbs	6.15 lbs

Detailed Comparison

At a first glance, the Mountain house product is more expensive while the Wise Company Kit offers more value. 

But that’s not the only factor you should consider.

Firstly, the Mountain House bucket comes with a higher shelf life. That adds to the overall value.

Next, there’s the flavor factor. Since the buckets have different recipes, it’s not easy to compare tastes. But overall, the Mountain House meals taste better and smell great. Quite simply, the Cheesy Lasagna and Creamy Pasta of Wise Foods don’t have the same impact on the palate.

Then again, Mountain House meals also have the edge in terms of visual appeal.

Note, Mountain house products are not only gluten-free but are also free from artificial colors and flavors. We can’t say the same about the Wise Company product.

The calories in each of the recipes vary. But the number of calories per serving is higher for the Mountain House meals.

Since the contents are different, it’s hard to compare nutritional data. The essential nutrient levels are mostly the same for both products. But the Wise Company kit is vegetarian and contains less protein per serving. But they also have a lower sodium content 

On the other hand, the Mountain House servings have a higher fat content. That can be advantageous in survival scenarios that may require the consumption of energy-dense meals.

With lesser servings, the weight of the Mountain House product is on the lower side. But when you consider the weight per serving, the Wise Foods pack is lighter. And the fact is, for survivalists every ounce matters.

Outcome

In the end, it all comes down to individual preferences. 

Firstly, we feel that the five-year difference in shelf life between the two products can be ignored. Any survival food that lasts for 25 years is good enough for us. However, some users might find it to be a significant difference.

Beyond that, if you’re looking for a more flavorful meal, go with the Mountain House bucket. It also has the advantage of being gluten-free. We also found the preparation of the Mountain House items to be easier.

However, the Wise Company products give you more choices that can help you to plan out the meals better. The low sodium and fat content also make it a healthier choice in the long run. But this food kit isn’t an option for non-vegetarians.

Does Wise Food only offer vegetarian options?

Not really. You can buy dried meat buckets that contain chicken and beef meals, or powdered eggs. 

Likewise, Mountain House has separate buckets for diced chicken and diced or ground beef.

If you’re on a budget, the Wise Company emergency food kit is the better option. It also has the advantage of being lighter in weight. 

But if you want your taste buds to cheer you up in a gloomy survival scenario, the bucket from Mountain House is definitely the better option.

Comparison: 72-hour Emergency Food Package

Data	Wise Company 72-hour emergency food supply	Mountain House 3-Day Emergency Food Supply
No. of Servings	4-12 servings per pouch	18
Price per Serving	~ $1.1	$4.18
Shelf Life	25 years	30 years
Package type	One box with 6 pouches	One box with 9 pouches
Food Type	Entree, Breakfast Buckets, and energy drinks	Breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees
Total Weight	3 lbs	3.6 lbs.

Detailed Comparison

As expected, the Wise Company product comes at a more affordable price. But the Mountain House pack comes with a longer shelf life.

Remember, the Mountain house product is free from gluten and any artificial colors or flavors.

Cooking the meals is simple for both brands. All you need to do is just add water, hot or cold. However, hot water delivers better results.

The fat and cholesterol content in Mountain House meals is on the higher side. As a result, the calories per serving of Mountain House meals are higher. 

For example, the Teriyaki rice from Wise Company delivers 270 calories for each serving. Whereas, the chicken fried rice from Mountain House delivers 300 calories.

What about the flavor factor?

The chicken fried rice, the chicken and dumplings and the beef stroganoff with noodles in the Mountain House pack serve as gratifying meals. Even the granola with milk & blueberries tastes great.

Now don’t get me wrong…

The cheese macaroni, teriyaki rice, and the brown sugar and maple multi-grain cereal in the Wise Company package aren’t bad. But they lack the rich taste of the Mountain House meals.

Both the products are almost equal in weight. But if you want to count every ounce you pack, the Wise Company product is slightly lighter.

Outcome

We feel that both options are great grab-and-go kits for any short-term emergency. But when it comes to choosing one, we would go with the Wide company pack

Here’s why…

Obviously, if you’re looking for more variety and better flavors, the Mountain House food pack is the clear winner. The other advantage is that the meals are gluten-free.

But the Mountain House product is priced higher. That makes the Wise Food pack a more pocket-friendly option.

Beyond that, the high fat and sodium content in the Mountain House meals is not something we appreciate. The higher level of cholesterol in the items can also be a cause of concern. But if you are into strenuous activity, that should not be a problem.

Since this is a short-term emergency kit, the extra calories won’t be necessary as such. So, we would prefer the more affordable and healthier option and pick the Wise Food emergency pack.

Conclusion

The simple truth is this: when it comes to Wise vs Mountain House is there’s no definite winner. The final choice will depend on your preferences, the type of outdoor activity you are aiming for, and your budget.

Needless to say, picking the right survival food depends on finding the right combination of nutrition, health, and value. In addition, there are factors like flavor and food preferences.

In terms of taste and variety, Mountain House has the edge. On the other hand, Wise Company products are more affordable and healthier.

While both are good choices as bug-out supplies, the Mountain House products offer more calories. If you plan to be active for long hours, it’s the best bet.

The Wise Company buckets are great when you are based in a shelter and looking forward to riding out an emergency. 

Keep in mind, no matter the product or brand you choose, it’s always important to check the label and find out if the ingredients meet your requirements.

Now it’s your turn to make a choice.