Emergency Preparedness
A three-day kit gets you through a short outage, but the Red Cross and The Prepared suggest two weeks of food at home. Freeze-dried kits are the easiest way to get there: they keep for up to 30 years and need only hot water. The Prepared rates Mountain House's 14-day kit best for taste and nutrition and Emergency Essentials' 2-week kit the best value. Field & Stream's long-term pick, the Mountain House Classic Bucket, is a cheaper way to stretch the 3-day kit. Check calories per day, not just servings, and store the kits somewhere cool and dry.
Why it's hereThe Prepared's premium two-week pick: best taste, nutrition and protein of the kits they tested. Just add hot water; 30-year shelf life.
Recommended by The PreparedOne person, 14 days. In stock.
| Rank | Product & source | Key note | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Top Pick | Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food SupplyRecommended by The Prepared | The Prepared's premium two-week pick: best taste, nutrition and protein of the kits they tested. | ~$457.99Price checked Oct 20, 2026at mountainhouse.com View product | |
| Runner-up | Emergency Essentials 2-Week True Survival Food KitRecommended by The Prepared | The Prepared's best value for most people: two weeks of calories for a lot less than Mountain House. | ~$309.90Price checked Oct 20, 2026at beprepared.com View product | |
| Runner-up | Mountain House Classic Meal Assortment BucketRecommended by Field & Stream | Field & Stream's best long-term survival food: 12 pouches (24 servings) of popular meals in a stackable bucket. | $126 – $134.99From $126 at The Outdoor Warehouse (Same bucket (24 servings))Up to $134.99 at Sportsman's Warehouse (Same bucket)Price checked Oct 20, 2026This link: $134.49 at mountainhouse.com View product | |
