TrailFork Paleoats Review

Contents

Background

TrailFork is the Boulder, Colorado based brainchild of former teacher Lillian Hoodes and freelance graphic designer Cristyn Hypnar. They make healthy, customizable meals for backpackers. All of their meals are either vegan, vegetarian, paleo, or gluten-free, depending on what you choose. They all come packaged in 100% compostable packets. TrailFork sent us their Paleoats meal to review, so I packed it up and ate it for breakfast on a solo overnighter in the Rincon Mountains.

View at TrailFork

View on Amazon

Full Review

This past weekend, I went solo backpacking in the Rincon Mountains, located in Saguaro National Park. It was the perfect opportunity to field test the Paleoats meal that TrailFork sent.

On the first day, I woke up early and hiked 18 miles, with 6,300 feet accumulated elevation gain to Manning Camp. The next morning, I had a 13-mile, 5,300 foot descent on the agenda. I needed something robust for breakfast to give me energy and sustenance for the long hike out.

Not long ago, I tried a Paleo Meals to Go (by Wild Zora Foods) Canyon Chicken Chili and was left hungry and disappointed by the lack of flavor. One packet was only 310 calories and contained almost zero fat!

I am happy to report that the TrailFork Paleoats meal I ate had the opposite effect. With 520 calories and 41 g of fat, it gave me plenty of energy to get down the mountain. It was also downright delicious.

The packet required only 2 oz of boiled water and was ready in less than a minute. Organic cashews, banana chips, coconut milk, hemp seed, and walnuts combined for an exceptional flavor.

On long hikes, I prefer to eat every 2 hours, so I did not expect 520 calories to last me the whole way. However, it did give me the boost that I needed to comfortably cover some serious ground. As a result, my goal to eat well and hike happy was met on this trip. Thanks TrailFork!

Reservations

I do not have any reservations about TrailFork or its products. However, I do think it is important to note that because their packaging is made from compostable materials, you can’t pour water directly into the packet. Most freeze dried meals are packaged in heat resistant Mylar to eliminate the need for washing dishes in the backcountry.

Final Thoughts

TrailFork Paleoats is a nutritious, sufficiently portioned meal that is better tasting and better for you than most instant backpacking meals. At $7.79, it is reasonably priced and can be customized to suit your dietary needs. Contact TrailFork directly for options. I am looking forward to taste testing more TrailFork meals on upcoming backpacking trips.