Saddlebag Supplies may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. This doesn't change your price. Brands are examples we found and priced on Oct 25, 2026, not endorsements, and prices change. REI and Sportsman's Warehouse picks link to the product page here; Amazon and Walmart picks are linked on the 72-Hour Kit Shelf.
Our 72-hour kit food is canned meat plus freeze-dried meal pouches. Canned meat alone won't reach about 2,000 calories a person a day, so the pouches carry the rest. Freeze-dried pouches need water: about 1 to 2 cups each, boiling, or cold in a pinch (about twice as long, per Mountain House), taken from your stored water. Figure your household's calories with the calculator below, then plan other food for any gap. A manual can opener is in every kit for cans that aren't pull-top.
Canned chicken or beef, 12.5-28 oz
One bigger can to share or stretch over two meals. Needs the can opener.
72-hour kit: Trail-Ready · Fully Loaded (×2)
ShoestringGreat Value Chunk Chicken Breast with Rib Meat in Water, 12.5 oz can~$2.84 · WalmartAbout 290 calories a can (label). Needs the can opener.
Trail-TestedSwanson White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, 12.5 oz can~$4.78 · WalmartAbout 330 calories a can (label). Needs the can opener.
Top ShelfKeystone All Natural Beef, 28 oz can~$13.33 · WalmartAbout 990 calories a can (label). Needs the can opener.
Canned luncheon meat or beef, 12-14.5 oz
About 500 to 1,100 calories a can, ready to eat cold. Easy-open lids on the Shoestring and Trail-Tested picks.
72-hour kit: Starter (×2) · Trail-Ready (×2) · Fully Loaded (×2)
ShoestringGreat Value Original Luncheon Meat, 12 oz easy-open can~$2.32 · WalmartAbout 1,090 calories a can (label). Easy-open lid.
Trail-TestedSPAM Classic, 12 oz can~$3.72 · WalmartAbout 1,080 calories a can (label). Easy-open lid.
Top ShelfKeystone All Natural Beef, 14.5 oz can (beef and sea salt)~$7.52 · WalmartAbout 510 calories a can (label). Needs the can opener.
Freeze-dried breakfast pouch, 2 servings (just add water)
About 520 to 1,100 calories a pouch, per the labels. Same as the meal pouch: boiling water, or cold water in a pinch.
72-hour kit: Trail-Ready · Fully Loaded (×2)
ShoestringMountain House Breakfast Skillet pouch (2 servings)~$12.49 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 520 calories a pouch (label). Add boiling water per the pouch, or cold water in a pinch.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Trail-TestedMountain House Biscuits and Gravy pouch (2 servings)~$12.49 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 540 calories a pouch (label). Add boiling water per the pouch, or cold water in a pinch.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Top ShelfPeak Refuel Biscuits & Sausage Gravy pouch (2 servings)~$14.99 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 1,100 calories a pouch (label). Takes 1 cup of boiling water.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Freeze-dried meal pouch, 2 servings (just add water)
About 460 to 930 calories a pouch, per the labels. Add boiling water, or cold water if you can't heat any (it takes about twice as long, per Mountain House). Uses about 1 to 2 cups of your stored water.
72-hour kit: Starter · Trail-Ready (×2) · Fully Loaded (×3)
ShoestringMountain House Chili Mac with Beef pouch (2 servings)~$12.49 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 460 calories a pouch (label). Add boiling water per the pouch, or cold water in a pinch.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Trail-TestedPeak Refuel Beef Stroganoff pouch (2 servings)~$14.99 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 810 calories a pouch (label). Takes 1 1/4 cups of boiling water.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Top ShelfPeak Refuel Backcountry Bison Bowl pouch (2 servings)~$15.99 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 930 calories a pouch (label). Takes 1 3/4 cups of boiling water.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Manual can opener
For cans that aren't pull-top, like the bigger chicken and beef cans.
72-hour kit: Starter · Trail-Ready · Fully Loaded
ShoestringMainstays stainless steel can opener~$1.17 · Walmart
Trail-TestedSwing-A-Way portable can opener~$13.38 · Amazon
Top ShelfOXO Good Grips Smooth Edge can opener~$24.69 · Amazon
Tuna pouches or small cans, 2.6-5 oz
Single servings you can eat straight from the pouch or can, so nothing goes to waste without a fridge.
72-hour kit: Starter (×3) · Trail-Ready (×3) · Fully Loaded (×4)
ShoestringStarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water, 2.6 oz pouch~$1.28 · AmazonAbout 80 calories a pouch (label). Tear-open.
Trail-TestedWild Planet Skipjack Wild Tuna with Sea Salt, 5 oz can~$3.52 · WalmartAbout 150 calories a can (label).
Top ShelfSafe Catch Elite Wild Pure Tuna, 5 oz cans, 3-pack~$12.04 (3 per pack) · WalmartAbout 180 calories a can (label).
Vienna sausage, sardines, or mackerel tins
Pull-top tins with about 160 to 240 calories each, per the labels.
72-hour kit: Starter (×3) · Trail-Ready (×3) · Fully Loaded (×4)
How to use it: Using Your Winter Car Kit (and What to Do If You're Stranded)
ShoestringLibby's Vienna Sausage in Chicken Broth, 4.6 oz pull-top can~$1.13 · WalmartAbout 160 calories a can (label).
Trail-TestedKing Oscar Brisling Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 3.75 oz pull-top tin~$3.63 · WalmartAbout 230 calories a tin (label).
Top ShelfKing Oscar Skinless & Boneless Mackerel in Olive Oil with Lemon, 4.05 oz tin~$3.68 · WalmartAbout 240 calories a tin (label).
Biodegradable soap + scrub sponge
Clean pots keep everyone from getting sick.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
ShoestringCoghlan's biodegradable camp soap~$8.99 · AmazonAdd a sponge (not priced).
Trail-TestedDr. Bronner's unscented pure-castile soap, 8 oz~$9.99 · Amazon
Top ShelfSea to Summit Wilderness Wash liquid soap~$23.85 · Amazon
Butane/propane fuel canister, 7.75 oz
Enough for several days of simple cooking.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
How to use it: Making Water Safe: Boiling, Bleach, and Purification Tablets
ShoestringColeman Butane/Propane Mix fuel, 7.75 oz~$5.97 · WalmartIn-store pickup avoids hazmat shipping.
Trail-TestedColeman Butane/Propane Mix fuel, 7.75 oz~$5.97 · Walmart
Top ShelfJetboil Jetpower fuel 230 g, 2-pack~$27.95 (2 per pack) · AmazonOnline fuel carries hazmat markup.
Camp cook pot or mess kit
One pot to boil, cook, and eat from.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
How to use it: Making Water Safe: Boiling, Bleach, and Purification Tablets
ShoestringOzark Trail 5-piece camping mess kit~$12.46 · Walmart
Trail-TestedStanley Adventure stainless cook set for two, 1.0 L~$39.97 · Amazon
Top ShelfTOAKS titanium 900 ml pot~$45.00 · Amazon
Camp utensil set
Spoon, fork, and spatula for the pot.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
ShoestringOzark Trail 3-piece stainless/plastic utensil set~$6.44 · Walmart
Trail-TestedTOAKS titanium spork~$8.95 · Amazon
Top ShelfSnow Peak titanium fork & spoon set~$24.95 · Amazon
Folding cutting board + paring knife
Food prep anywhere.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
ShoestringMainstays + GSI paring knife + GSI Ultralight cutting board~$9.22 · Walmart
Trail-TestedGSI Outdoors + Mainstays GSI folding cutting board + Mainstays paring knife~$12.22 · Amazon
Top ShelfGSI Outdoors GSI Santoku 6-pc camp chef kit with cutting board~$49.95 · Amazon
Freeze-dried meal pouches (add hot water)
Hot meals from the stove for the crew, on top of the base kit's food. Each pouch takes about 1 to 2 cups of boiling water, per its label: plan it from the cooking water.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
ShoestringMountain House Chili Mac with Beef pouch (2 servings)~$12.49 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 460 calories a pouch (label). Add boiling water per the pouch, or cold water in a pinch.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Trail-TestedPeak Refuel Beef Stroganoff pouch (2 servings)~$14.99 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 810 calories a pouch (label). Takes 1 1/4 cups of boiling water.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Top ShelfPeak Refuel Backcountry Bison Bowl pouch (2 servings)~$15.99 · Sportsman's WarehouseAbout 930 calories a pouch (label). Takes 1 3/4 cups of boiling water.Shop Sportsman's Warehouse ↗ Paper plates, 100 count
Saves wash water when water is short.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
ShoestringAmazon Basics paper plates, 8.6 in, 100 count~$5.97 · Amazon
Trail-TestedDixie Ultra heavy-duty paper plates, 10 in, 100 count~$13.42 · Amazon
Top ShelfChinet Classic White fiber plates, 8.75 in, 100 count~$20.47 · Amazon
Single-burner backpacking stove (canister)
Hot meals and boiled water with the power out.
Role add-on: Cookie (Cook)
How to use it: Making Water Safe: Boiling, Bleach, and Purification Tablets
ShoestringOdoland windproof canister camp stove, piezo~$23.99 · Amazon
Trail-TestedColeman Classic 1-burner backpacking stove~$29.87 · Amazon
Top ShelfJetboil Flash 1.0 L cooking system~$144.95 · Amazon
