Offgrid Provisions Range Reviewed & Tested

After months of taste-testing Offgrid Provisions’ meals and snacks across Australia with multiple groups of people, our in-house nutritionist shares her honest review of their range.

Whether you want to venture deep into isolated backcountry or just enjoy a relaxed weekend in nature with family or friends, enjoying what you eat matters. And if you’re hitting the trails or adventuring hard, having the right fuel can easily make or break your trip.

That’s where Offgrid Provisions comes in. They’re rapidly gaining traction as providers of hearty, tasty food that keep Explorers well-fed and far away from kitchens, recipes, and arduous amounts of planning. Just grab a few sachets and you’re ready to hit the road.

Why am I the right person to write this review?

I’m a sucker for convenient meals, no more so than when I’m prepping for my next adventure. This year I’ve been taste-testing hiking food on offer in Australia for my side hustle as The Hiker’s Nutritionist.

The Offgrid range has been part of that testing for a few months now. I’ve taken the Wetlands Hydration sachets on multiple outdoor adventures, including a hot multi-day hike in the Top End and a quick hike in the state forest behind my house.

Their hearty meals have kept me fed in three states, I’ve shared the snacks with my friends, taken the Nutrient Rich Broth to work multiple times, and the new Drifter Bars are sitting at the top of my ‘To Try’ list.

All this is to say, I’m pretty familiar with the brand, and I know a lot about food. Let’s go.

Meal times are the best times. Especially in a luxe chair like the Nemo Stargazer | @jackjbrookes

Who is Offgrid Provisions?

The brand Offgrid began out of a desire to make it easier to stay off the grid for longer – no surprises there, it’s literally in the name. That meant making outdoor cooking easier and tastier with real ingredients and fresh herbs.

Offgrid says they use the best ingredients that are ethically sourced, delicious, and full of the good stuff. And with a little bit of digging around their website, their money appears to be where their mouth is. They’re 1% For the Planet certified, support OzHarvest, care about supporting local farmers, and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where they source their ingredients.

Their meals are fresh, shelf-stable, natural, gluten-free, preservative-free, and ready to heat and eat for ultimate convenience on your next adventure.

Plus they’re Australian-made, with most of the ingredients locally sourced

My Review Process

When it comes to taste I rate each meal, snack, and drink based on taste, texture, aroma, and aftertaste, giving a final score out of 5 (0 = awful, 5 = amazing).

Macronutrient info is listed per serving which means you’ll get the listed amount of nutrients, like proteins and carbohydrates, if you finish the meal.

Offgrid Provisions Range Reviewed & Taste Tested

Camping Meals

Wagyu Bolognaise

RRP: $21.99
Weight: 250g
Flavour: 4.5/5
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Protein/Fats/Carbs: 29g / 25.5g / 9.2g
Total energy: 385 calories

I’ve never tasted the richness and depth of flavour in this sauce in a dehydrated spag bol. The difference is huge

Flavour

The Wagyu Bolognaise has received overwhelmingly positive feedback every time I’ve taken it on the trail. My mate said that if she’d had it served as a dish in a restaurant, she wouldn’t have been disappointed.

The only negative I’ve heard is that it’d be easier if it came with a carbohydrate or pasta – though you can buy them separately, or pair it with Debs like my colleague Claire did (she reckons that was great as it soaked up the slightly oily sauce).

Overall, everyone seems to think this one tastes homemade. It’s soft but firm with recognisable spag bol ingredients and no aftertaste.

Nutrition

At only 933mg of sodium, this is one of the lower-sodium-content meals on offer with Offgrid. It’s still not what I’d call low sodium though. It’s lighter on the calories but once you add a carbohydrate like pasta, it’ll bump this up to quite a big meal.

I’ve shared the sauce between two people and a generous portion of Debs and it worked perfectly as a light dinner option.

Frank & Beans

RRP: $21.99
Weight: 300g
Flavour: 4.5/5
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Protein/Fats/Carbs: 31.7g / 29.5g / 31.6g
Total energy: 507 calories

I’m not normally a fan of beans but I devoured this. It was heavy on the oil and salt though

Flavour

The Frank & Beans meal smells a lot more appealing than it looks when you plop it out of the packet and into a pot/bowl! 40% of this meal is made up of a giant chorizo sausage, and it’s everything you want it to be. It’s fatty, meaty, and easy to chew without a hint of rubberiness.

It’s moist, the beans were fresh, and the flavour was delicious. It makes a killer lunch on a hike. For a camp meal, it’d be a good candidate to pair with a salad to balance out the oily goodness! I’m also pretty keen to try it with an egg on top for brekky – let me know if you’ve tried this in the comments!

Nutrition

This is a well-balanced meal that’ll fuel even the hungriest of Explorers. It’s got all your nutrient needs covered, especially sodium with 1530mg per serve. Keeping water intake high is important to offset that, especially if you’re not out hiking or moving too much.

The ingredients list is mostly recognisable as real foods with a couple of expected preservatives and minimal added sugar to help create that tasty favour. Overall, a good pick.

Curried Chickpeas & Pepitas

RRP: $21.99
Weight: 300g
Flavour: 4.5/5
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Protein/Fats/Carbs: 25.1g / 22.7g / 50.5g
Total energy: 530 calories

Nothing’s better than a hot meal after a tough hike by the red light of a head torch | @jackjbrookes

Flavour

The Curried Chickpeas and Pepitas doesn’t come with pasta or rice so you’ll need to add an accompaniment. It’s already pretty heavy on the carbs and Offgrid actually recommends eating it cold with salad leaves. My workmate Jack took this on a hiking trip, pairing it with couscous and Deb. He found the sauce was pretty mild but this could be due to the added carbs.

The chickpeas didn’t turn to mush and the texture was great. Despite the huge amount of carbs it doesn’t weigh you down and heats well.

Nutrition

Jack’s no stranger to packet curries from the supermarket, and he was mighty impressed that there’s no funky stuff in this. And he’s right, it’s natural as. 89% chickpeas, 4.6% pepitas, and the rest is sunflower oil, cumin, sweet paprika, lemon juice, sea salt, and garlic.

I’m not sure how they’ve managed so few ingredients in this one compared to the much bigger ingredient lists on the other two meals, but I’m not complaining. Grab this one if you’ve got a sensitive tummy.

It’s also the lowest in sodium of the meals we tested, with only 633mg, so if you need to keep intake especially low and want to enjoy a dish or two, this is a better choice for you.

No Kidding Curry

RRP: $21.99
Weight: 250g
Flavour: 5/5
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Protein/Fat/Carbs: 26.1g / 14g / 10.2g
Total energy: 282 calories

Flavour

Holy guacamole. This goat curry was one of the best things my workmate, Amy, has ever eaten for dinner on the trail. The sauciness of the meal paired perfectly with a generous side of dehydrated mashed potato, and the meat was utterly tender. The tomato-based gravy wasn’t overly tomato-y and the spices were well-balanced, bringing just enough heat to the dish. * Chef’s kiss *

Nutrition

The No Kidding Curry is low in sodium, but also low in total energy compared to other Offgrid meals, so you’ll definitely need to pop a nice side with it.

Goat meat is a relatively rare ingredient to see in meals, but it’s really good for you. It’s leaner than lamb and beef, which means it’s a good choice for anyone with heart health or cholesterol concerns, as it’s lower in saturated fat.

The ingredients list is on the long side, but it’s all recognisable real food, and like most Offgrid meals, it’s made with 89% Australian ingredients. Even when meals are said to be made in Australia, very often it’s from predominantly imported ingredients. With Offgrid you can be confident you’re eating the best stuff, grown and farmed here.

Offgrid Provisions Camping Snacks

Wood Smoked Fire Sticks

RRP: $9.99
Weight: 100g
Taste: 4/5
Energy: 220 calories
Sodium: 1000mg
Protein/Fats/Carbs: 17.5g / 15.5g / 3g
Ingredients: Pork, salt, herbs & spices, garlic, (curing agents: starter culture E250 & naturally occurring E251)

The chunks are like pieces of diced sausage, and very moist

Flavour

I don’t think a food item has ever divided a group so much as these Wood Smoked Firesticks. One mate thought they were too oily. Her exact words were, ‘This is a greasy slime ball’ – ouch. She didn’t like that the smokey flavour sat heavily in her throat after eating either.

But my other friend couldn’t have loved them more. He agreed they were oily and a bit messy to eat, but loved the substantial feel and that they were chewy and moist without being rubbery.

I really enjoyed them as an alternative to dry jerky. The flavour felt decadent. Like jerky they were pretty salty, but the fatty pork balanced it out pretty well.

Nutrition

Unsurprisingly this snack is very high in sodium. It’s worth noting that the macros listed above reflect a 40g serving…and each packet is 100g. We polished off a packet between three of us, but you could easily knock back a full pack alone in a day. If you eat 100g you’re looking at 2,000mg of sodium. The recommended daily intake is 2,300mg so it doesn’t leave a lot of room for other food or electrolytes.

The ingredients are mostly pretty good – this smashes your average protein bar out of the park. There’s plenty of protein for muscle performance and while 10g of the 15.5g is saturated fat, you’re out there moving so you’ll be putting these to use right away.

The curing agent preservatives aren’t a huge deal – Offgrid had to use something to preserve the meat and E251 occurs naturally in leafy vegetables so it’s definitely on the good end of the additive spectrum.

AP Seasoning

RRP: $18.90
Weight: 270g (I take some in a Ziplock on trips)
Taste: 5/5
Ingredients: Sweet paprika, black pepper, onion flake, kashmiri pepper, coconut sugar, saltbush, umami powder

If you were a milo first, milk later kind of kid, this gives the same experience, only healthier

Flavour

If you’re a fan of Debs Potato you need to get yourself some of this AP Seasoning stat. It’s bloody incredible. Paprika is the main vibe I get from it, but the blend is so unique – I haven’t tasted an all-purpose seasoning even remotely like it. I churned my way through a full packet of Deb – by myself – on a multi-day hike recently because I wanted an excuse to eat more of the seasoning. Dump a bunch on Deb, mix it in, and you’re in for a treat. It’s also really good as a rub on chicken, and apparently fish (though I haven’t had it on fish myself).

Nutrition

This is a super balanced and nutritious mix. The Kashmiri pepper gives it a kick without overwhelming the other ingredients and is rich in antioxidants and beta-carotene. Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index than refined sugar, a nice touch for stable energy. Saltbush, which is used in many Offgrid meals, is high in potassium and magnesium which support electrolyte balance and muscle function – perfect for a hiking trip.

Obviously the quantity you eat is going to be pretty low so it isn’t going to be a superfood to elevate your performance, but it’s way tastier and more nutrient-dense than plain salt or pepper.

Offgrid Provisions Camping Drinks

Sandover Nutrient Rich Broth

RRP: $15.99 for 7 sachets
Weight: 20g per sachet
Water required: 500ml
Taste: 5/5
Sodium: 79mg
Protein/Fats/Carbs: 2.9g / 0.5g / 1.2g

I legitimately can’t emphasise enough how much you need this in your life

Flavour

This beefy, chilli, mushroom-flavoured hot drink blew me away. It’s 100% delicious. I haven’t come across another product quite like it for the trail, well, excluding soup. It’s perfect for a cold evening by the campfire and those frigid mornings when it’s too wet to get one started.

The rich broth is wholesome, hearty, and reminds me of the camp stew my Dad makes on winter camping trips. I’ve started many mornings at home with one of these since having my first mug (it makes two!) and I can’t fault it.

Nutrition

The Sandover Nutrient Rich Broth is aptly named – it’s full of nutrients. The ingredients list is short too, with pasture-fed beef bone broth powder, chilli, saltbush, garlic, mushroom, seaweed, and the umami-tasting shio koji. It’s super light on the sodium and doesn’t hit you with a lot of energy, aside from a minimal 2.9g protein.

If you’re chasing ideas for hot drink alternatives, you can’t go wrong with this. If you want to beef up the calories and turn it into a meal, add some noodles or rehydrate some dried veg in it. Yum!

Wetlands Formulated Hydration Drink

RRP: $15.99 for 7 sachets
Weight: 20g per sachet
Water required: 500ml
Taste: 3.5/5
Sodium: 62mg
Magnesium: 307mg
Potassium: 61.5mg

Flavours are mild enough that your drink bottle won’t absorb them and supply you with a weird mishmash of flavours for the rest of your hike

Flavour

My mate Joanna chucked the Wetlands Formulated Hydration Drink (the overly formal name is a bit odd) in her bottle on the Jatbula Trail and said it picked her up and did the job she wanted it to do. When it comes to electrolytes, that’s pretty much the most important thing.

Taste-wise I found this one akin to weak red cordial commonly found at kid’s parties in the 90s (specific yes, but that’s where it took me!), but it was easy to put away and I didn’t get sick of the taste. It was on the sweeter side so if you like a pop of sugar as you walk, you’ll probably like it. If you want more depth of flavour you can reduce the amount of water you use, just be aware that it doesn’t dissolve as well.

It also comes in passionfruit flavour which is a bit more zingy and refreshing.

Nutrition

This is intriguingly low in sodium for a hydration drink – especially considering the high sodium in most of Offgrid’s other food options. On the plus side it’s high in magnesium to prevent cramping, has enough potassium to assist hydration and muscle function, and has some glutamine and branched-chain amino acids to support muscle recovery and ward off fatigue.

If you paired this with an Offgrid Provisions meal for a day of hiking, I think you’d be pretty well equipped overall on the electrolyte front. But if you weren’t having high-sodium meals on the same day as this drink (or taking another electrolyte), I’d recommend peeping the ingredients list of your food to make sure you get enough salts to replenish those lost through sweat.

FAQs Offgrid Provisions

Are Offgrid meals good for a camping trip?

They were literally made for easy and yummy eats with the family around the campfire, so that’s a firm yes. You can also take them hiking, but note that as fresh meals with high water content, they’re on the heavier side compared to dehydrated meals.

What’s the shelf life of Offgrid Meals?

Offgrid’s tasty meals are safe to eat within two years of their production date (check the packaging!).

What other products does Offgrid make?

Offgrid has recently launched a breakfast range and selection of protein bars (called Drifter Bars). They’ve also got coffee (it’s called Jungle Juice!) for raw pressed fuel to kick off your day, adventure bundles, and a bunch more meals filled with good stuff.