Mountain House 3-Day vs ReadyWise 72-Hour: which food kit should you buy?
By PreparedStates editors · Checked October 22, 2026 · Researched from the makers' specs, not hands-on tested
Mountain House packs nine pouches for one person for 72 hours at approximately 1,706 calories a day, and states a whole-kit water need of just under a gallon. ReadyWise packs five pouches of 6 to 12 servings each at over 2,200 calories a day in a lighter box and gives only a per-serving water average. Mountain House advertises 30 years; ReadyWise says up to 25. Their serving counts are not comparable.
Choose Mountain House if you want nine pouches of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, a stated water need for the whole kit and a 30-year guarantee.
See price on Amazon →Choose ReadyWise if you want the higher daily calorie figure, a lighter 3 lb box and a milk alternative included.
$49.99 at ReadyWise · checked Oct 22, 2026See price at ReadyWise →As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we recommend. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.
Specs side by side
Specs as each maker states them.
The key differences at a glance
Mountain House's Just in Case 3 Day kit holds 9 pouches and 18 servings, at approximately 1,706 calories per day for one person. ReadyWise's 72 Hour kit holds 5 pouches and 6,780 total calories, with over 2,200 calories per day, and the maker says to grab a box for each person. Mountain House says its kit weighs 3.6 lbs and ReadyWise lists a total weight of 3 lbs. For the wider field of kits, see our emergency food supply comparison.
Calories and servings as each maker lists them
Mountain House lists two servings in each pouch, so nine pouches make 18 servings. ReadyWise lists its five pouches at 6, 6, 6, 6 and 12 servings, and says each pouch holds 6 to 12 servings to avoid waste. Those are very different serving sizes, so do not compare the counts. Compare calories instead: approximately 1,706 per day from Mountain House against over 2,200 per day from ReadyWise.
What is in each box
Mountain House lists granola with milk and blueberries, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried rice, chicken and dumplings, and beef stroganoff with noodles. Only the chicken fried rice carries the note certified gluten-free by GFCO, and the page offers ingredient lists for each meal. ReadyWise lists cheesy macaroni, teriyaki rice, pasta alfredo, a brown sugar and maple multi-grain cereal and a whey milk alternative, sealed in Metallyte pouches. ReadyWise says milk, soy and wheat (gluten) are the common allergens in its products and points to the nutritional labels for specifics.
Water and preparation
Mountain House is the more specific. Its page says the kit requires 12 total cups of water to rehydrate, or just under 1 gallon (0.75 gallon). Its FAQ says to add boiling water, stir and seal, with a hot meal in 15 minutes or less, or about twice as long with cold water in a pinch.
ReadyWise gives no kit total. Its FAQ says each individual serving requires 1 cup of water on average and to plan enough water to cover all the servings in your kit, and its site says to add hot water and wait 12 to 15 minutes. Read the pouch directions for the portions you prepare. Our guide to how much water to store and the water storage page help with the rest, and a camp stove covers the heat.
Shelf life and storage
Mountain House says its Just in Case kits carry a shelf life and taste guarantee of 30 years from the date of manufacture, and the kit page shows the same 30-year taste guarantee. It adds that the guarantee depends on following its storage guidelines, which say to avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures above 75°F. ReadyWise says up to 25 years and that optimal storage is a cool, dry place. It also says that if a product does not taste as good in 25 years as today, it will work to make it right. Our emergency food storage guide covers rotation.
Which to choose
Pick Mountain House if you want a whole-kit water figure, nine pouches of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees and a 30-year guarantee. Pick ReadyWise if you want the higher daily calorie figure, a lighter box and a milk alternative included. Both are built for three days per person, so a household needs a box per person or a larger supply.
Choose Mountain House if you want nine pouches of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, a stated water need for the whole kit and a 30-year guarantee.
Choose ReadyWise if you want the higher daily calorie figure, a lighter 3 lb box and a milk alternative included.
Common questions
How much water does the Mountain House 3 Day kit need?
Mountain House says the kit requires 12 total cups of water to rehydrate, or just under 1 gallon (0.75 gallon). Its FAQ says meals vary, so follow the directions on each package.
How much water does the ReadyWise 72 Hour kit need?
ReadyWise gives no total for this kit. Its FAQ says each individual serving requires 1 cup of water on average, and its pouches list 6 to 12 servings each, so check the pouch directions for the portion you prepare.
Which kit has the longer shelf life?
On the makers' own words, Mountain House says 30 years from the date of manufacture for its Just in Case kits, and ReadyWise says up to 25 years. Both depend on storage conditions, so keep either in a cool, dry place.
Is either kit gluten-free?
Only Mountain House's chicken fried rice is marked certified gluten-free by GFCO on the product page. ReadyWise says wheat (gluten), milk and soy are common allergens in its products, so check the labels.