Mainstay 3600 (10-pack) review
Mainstay 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Ration (pack of 10)
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Shelf life
- 5 yrs
- Servings
- —
- Calories
- 36,000 kcal
Ten packs, 36,000 kcal: about 18 adult-days. A simple way to put no-cook food in every family member's bag at once.
- Best for
- Ten 3,600-kcal packs for a family kit
- Skip it if
- You only need one kit
We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Ten packs at once
- 5-year shelf life
Worth knowing
- Bars, not meals
ⓘ 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.
Our review
Mainstay's 3600 is a ready-to-eat emergency food ration, sold here as ten packs. We found no maker website, so this review rests on a retailer's page, set beside Ready.gov's food advice. It covers the claimed contents, shelf life, temperature range and what the page leaves out.
What it is
The text on Best Glide ASE's page says each Mainstay 3600 Emergency Food Ration contains nine 400-calorie meals in individualized portions, and that it is ready to eat. Best Glide, a seller of survival kits, says the rations are sold by the case of 10 or individually; the product reviewed here is the 10-pack.
We could not find a Mainstay website or manufacturer page, so everything here comes from that retailer's text and not from a label or a spec sheet. Treat the numbers as claims to check against the wrapper when the pack arrives.
Shelf life, heat and cold
The page claims a 5-year shelf life, and says the rations are non-thirst provoking and withstand temperatures of -40 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not say whether the 5 years counts from manufacture or purchase, and the listing gives no date; look for the date printed on the pack.
A wide temperature range is useful for a vehicle kit or a boat, where storage can swing from freezing to hot. The page does not explain how the temperature range was tested. Our long-term food storage guide has the general rules for rotating food.
What the page says is in them
The page lists no cholesterol or tropical oils, and says the rations are enriched with vitamins and minerals exceeding RDA requirements, and are Kosher and meet the dictates for Halal. It describes a pleasant lemon flavor, and says the individualized portions avoid the breaking-up that other bars suffer.
It gives no ingredient list, nutrition panel or allergen statement. If anyone in your household has a food allergy, read the wrapper before you buy a case, since the retailer's page cannot answer that question.
Safety standards named on the page
The retailer says the Mainstay 3600 meets U.S. Coast Guard standards, and that its packaging meets guidelines set by the Department of Defense (SOLAS 74/83). Those are the retailer's statements, and the page does not give a certificate number or link to one.
For a boat or aircraft kit, check what your own rules require. A ration that meets a standard is not necessarily the one your vessel's rules name, and the page makes no claim about that.
How it fits a household kit
Ready.gov says to store at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food and to choose foods your family will eat, and it lists high-energy foods among its suggestions. A bar like this suits a go bag or car kit, where weight and no-cook matter, rather than the main pantry. Store water too: CDC recommends at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, with a 2-week supply if possible.
Our food bar and MRE comparison shows the alternatives, and the go bag checklist covers what else to pack.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want food you will enjoy over many days, since Ready.gov's advice is to pick foods your family will eat and the page gives no ingredient list to judge by. Buy a single pack first if you are unsure, and do not use it as your main food supply, where pantry staples and meal buckets work better.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources: Best Glide ASE: Mainstay 3600 Emergency Food Ration (retailer page); Ready.gov: food; CDC: how to create and store an emergency water supply.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you only need one kit.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for The lowest cost per adult-day here, in one bucket
Read the review →Best for A month of food at a full 2,000 kcal a day
Read the review →Best for Bigger servings, so the meals feel like meals
Read the review →Questions
How many calories are in one Mainstay 3600 pack?
The retailer's page says each pack holds nine 400-calorie meals. It gives no nutrition panel, so check the wrapper for exact calories, fat, sugar and allergens.
How long do the rations last?
The page claims a 5-year shelf life and a temperature range of -40 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It does not say what the 5 years is counted from, so look for the printed date on the pack when it arrives.
Do I need water to eat them?
The page calls them ready to eat and non-thirst provoking, so they need no preparation. You should still store drinking water: CDC advises at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, and a 2-week supply if possible.
Who makes Mainstay rations?
We could not find a manufacturer page or website. The only page available is a retailer's, and it does not name the maker either, so check the pack for the company name and contact details.