A growing number of people have food allergies, sensitivities, or other dietary concerns. It’s hard enough finding “safe” foods when you’re home, never mind on the trail. And foods that check those boxes and taste good? Forget it!

Wild Zora sought to change that with its freeze dried backpacking meals — and has, by all accounts, succeeded. Everything is paleo-friendly, meaning gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free, and most items are also nut-, grain-, and soy-free. The company goes a step further and uses top-quality ingredients like free-range meat and organic veggies. Must-try: Mountain Beef Stew

As the company name suggests, Peak Refuel meals are particularly high in protein, calories, and fat. In fact, with the exception of Three Bean Chili, all Peak Refuel entrees contain a minimum of 40 grams of protein. That’s about double what’s in most other healthy backpacking meals!

What’s not high in Peak Refuel’s meals is sodium. The company takes great pride in the fact that its meals have substantially less sodium than the competition. As a bonus, the lower sodium content means Peak Refuel meals require less water for cooking. That may seem like a relatively small detail, but using less cooking water means getting to carry less water. Must-try: Sweet Pork & Rice

For as long as anyone remembers, even the very best freeze dried backpacking meals have come in bulky Mylar boil-in-bag packaging. Not anymore. Pinnacle Foods uses paper-and-corn-based omnidegradable bags, meaning you can safely burn them. That means no packing out used pouches! It gets even better: you can still cook directly inside Pinnacle Foods’ bags.

If the game-changing packaging isn’t enough to convince you, Pinnacle Foods also makes some of the best creative backpacking meals on the market. Owned by two brothers in Bozeman, Montana, this startup sells only made-from-scratch entrees and doesn’t use any preservatives or additives. Pinnacle Foods entrees also include about twice as much protein as bigger, commercially-produced brands. Must-try: Jalapeno-cheddar Biscuits and Herbed Sausage Gravy

Backpacker’s Pantry is a powerhouse in the world of dehydrated and freeze dried backpacking meals. The company is known for tasty, innovative flavors, as well as its focus on natural ingredients. Many of the meals are organic, and all are MSG-free.

Another unique thing about Backpacker’s Pantry is that they offer a large selection of globally-inspired meals, particularly Asian and Indian foods. Everything you need to enhance the meal, including powdered condiments, is included. In addition, you’ll find vegan options, reduced-sodium meals, and snacks. Must-try: Louisiana Red Beans & Rice

Like Wild Zora, all Heather’s Choice meals are paleo-friendly. Not only is everything gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free, but all ingredients are also responsibly sourced.

Heather’s Choice is one of the smallest companies on our list, and it started with owner Heather Kelly making meals in her own home dehydrator. She has reportedly never even tried a Mountain House product. That’s believable when you look at some of the company’s offerings, including Smoked Sockeye Salmon Chowder and Lemon-Lavender Packaroons. Must-try: Dark Chocolate Chili with Bison

You knew it was coming: No list of the best freeze dried backpacking meals is complete without mentioning Mountain House. The company has been in the niche since the late 1960s, initially making meals for the military.

To that point, Mountain House meals are somewhat utilitarian. Their ingredient lists contain stabilizers and preservatives, like lots of salt. Portion sizes are also on the small side in comparison to other brands. Still, Mountain House makes cheap backpacking food that’s surprisingly flavorful, and the consistency is excellent. Must-try: Chili Mac with Beef

Like some of the other small companies making the best freeze dried backpacking meals, Packit Gourmet was born from the owners simply making food for their family. All meals feature ample amounts of protein, which is sometimes lacking in other brands. Packit Gourmet also includes thoughtful “extras,” such as hot sauce or malt vinegar, as well as fats, like cheese.

The Austin, Texas-based company makes primarily Tex-Mex-inspired creative backpacking meals, but also sells an extensive range of dehydrated grocery staples geared specifically to hikers. Think pesto paste, butter powder (yup, it’s a thing), and even hot fudge toppings. Must-try: All-American Works Burger

Not only does Outdoor Herbivore solely make vegetarian and vegan meals, but they’re legitimately some of the best freeze dried backpacking meals available. The company doesn’t use any artificial colors or flavors, and most ingredients are sourced from the Americas.

You may associate plant-based backpacking meals with being on the lighter side (admittedly, we did at first). However, Outdoor Herbivore cleverly adds caloric density to its meals by including ground beans or seeds, like chickpeas and flaxseed. All the entrees are incredibly well-seasoned also, which is rare among even the most creative backpacking meals. Must-try: Chickpea Sesame Zetti (also available gluten-free)