Datrex 3600 vs SOS Rations 3600: which emergency food bar pack should you buy?
By PreparedStates editors · Checked October 22, 2026 · Researched from the makers' specs, not hands-on tested
Both are ready-to-eat 3,600-calorie ration packs for three days, with a five-year shelf life and Coast Guard approvals. Datrex packs 18 bars of 200 calories each, while SOS lists 9 bars per package. The Amazon listing linked here for Datrex is a single pack, while the SOS listing is five packs (Pack of 5), so its buy button covers five times as much food. Compare pack counts before comparing prices.
Choose Datrex if you want 18 smaller 200-calorie bars, which Datrex says are subpackaged for ease of rationing, sold as a single pack.
See price on Amazon →Choose SOS Rations if you want fewer, larger bars (nine per 3,600-calorie package), a stated storage range of -20 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit, or five packs in one purchase.
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Specs side by side
Specs as each maker states them.
The key differences at a glance
Datrex's 3600 pack holds 18 individually wrapped 200-calorie bars, and its Amazon listing is a single pack. SOS Food Lab's 3600 KCAL ration lists 9 bars per package, and the SOS listing linked here is titled as 5 Packs and sized 1 Count (Pack of 5), which matches SOS's own statement that one case contains 5 packages. Both makers give five years of shelf life and cite Coast Guard approval. For the wider field of no-cook rations, see our emergency food bars and MREs comparison.
Calories, bars and servings
Datrex says each package is a 3600 kcal ration of 18 bars at 200 kcal, and its Amazon listing describes it as lasting an individual for 3 days at 4 meals each day. The SOS 3600 page lists 9 bars per package but gives no per-bar figure. SOS's home page describes its separate 3-day kit as holding nine 400-calorie bars, which matches nine bars in a 3,600-calorie package. Asked how many calories to eat, SOS's FAQ says its products are designed to deliver minimum calorie levels of 1200 KCAL and are meant for emergencies and survival situations; spread over three days, either 3,600-calorie pack works out to 1,200 calories a day. Treat either as a survival ration, not a varied diet; for real meals look at emergency food supplies.
Eating them: water, taste and ingredients
Both are ready to eat. Datrex calls its bars non thirst provoking and says they can be eaten solid or mixed with water, and its Amazon listing describes a coconut flavor. SOS says there is no need to heat and that its bars do not promote thirst. Neither maker lists a water requirement.
Datrex lists wheat flour, palm shortening, cane sugar, water and natural coconut flavoring, calls its rations vegan and peanut-free, and its Amazon listing says they contain coconut and wheat. SOS says its facility is nut free and its products are Kosher, but its FAQ says it has no gluten-free ration at this time. Read the label if anyone in your household has an allergy.
Shelf life and storage
Datrex says five years from the date of manufacture. SOS says its rations are manufactured and packaged for a 5-year shelf life, and that its products can survive ranges from -20 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. Datrex's product page gives no storage temperature range. One practical note: a note on the SOS Amazon listing says the item does not have expiration dates on the product, so check what date information arrives with your order and keep a note of the purchase date.
Which to choose
The job is the same: a no-cook three-day backstop for a go bag, car kit or shelter-in-place shelf. Pick Datrex if you want smaller 200-calorie bars, which Datrex says are subpackaged for ease of rationing, plus a maker page that lists ingredients and a package weight of 24.8 oz. Pick SOS if you want nine bars per package, a stated storage range, or a five-pack in one purchase. Pair either with water; see how much water to store and water storage.
Choose Datrex if you want 18 smaller 200-calorie bars, which Datrex says are subpackaged for ease of rationing, sold as a single pack.
Choose SOS Rations if you want fewer, larger bars (nine per 3,600-calorie package), a stated storage range of -20 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit, or five packs in one purchase.
Common questions
Are the Datrex and SOS 3600 packs the same size?
Both are 3,600-calorie, three-day rations, but the format differs: Datrex lists 18 bars of 200 calories and SOS lists 9 bars per package. Also, the Datrex Amazon listing is a single pack while the SOS listing is titled as five packs.
Do these bars need water or cooking?
No cooking. Datrex says the bars are ready to eat and can be eaten solid or mixed with water, and SOS says there is no need to heat. Neither maker lists a water requirement, but you should still keep drinking water on hand.
How long do they last?
Datrex says 5 years from the date of manufacture and SOS says a 5-year shelf life. SOS also says its products can survive -20 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit.
Are they free of wheat, gluten or nuts?
Datrex lists wheat flour and its Amazon listing says the rations contain coconut and wheat. SOS says it has no gluten-free ration at this time and that its facility is nut free. Check the printed label.