ReadyWise 72-Hour Kit review
ReadyWise 72-Hour Emergency Food Kit (5 pouches)
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Shelf life
- 25 yrs
- Servings
- 36 servings
- Calories
- 6,780 kcal
A 3 lb box with 6,780 kcal: about 3.4 adult-days, so it covers the 72 hours FEMA and the Red Cross plan around, for one person, at a low price. It's the easy first step before a bigger store.
- Best for
- The cheapest proper 72 hours
- Skip it if
- You need food that eats cold with no water
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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
- Low price for a real 3 days
- Light enough for a go-bag
- Up to 25 years
Worth knowing
- One person only
- Needs water and heat
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Our review
ReadyWise's 72-Hour Emergency Food Kit is a 3-pound box of five pouches that ReadyWise says provides over 2,200 calories a day and keeps up to 25 years. This researched review covers what is in the box, the water and allergen details the maker gives, and where a single kit falls short of a household plan.
What it is and who it suits
ReadyWise sells this as a 72-hour emergency food kit and tells buyers to get a box for each person. The box holds five pouches: Cheesy Macaroni, Teriyaki Rice, Pasta Alfredo and Brown Sugar and Maple Multi-Grain Cereal at 6 servings each, and a Whey Milk Alternative at 12. ReadyWise lists the total at 6,780 calories and describes the box as lightweight enough to grab and built to stack for storage.
It suits a person who wants a 3-day food supply for a go-bag and does not want to assemble one. The Red Cross lists a 3-day supply of food for evacuation. This review is researched, not tested. It relies on ReadyWise's own product page and on Ready.gov and Red Cross guidance.
Calories, servings and weight
ReadyWise says the kit features over 2,200 calories per day and lists a total weight of 3 pounds. It says each pouch holds 6 to 12 servings, which it describes as a way to avoid waste. The pouches are described as sealed in Metallyte material, and ReadyWise rates the kit for up to 25 years of shelf life.
ReadyWise tells buyers to get a box for each person in the family. The listing is for one box, so scale it up for your household.
Water, cooking and allergens
ReadyWise's FAQ says each serving requires on average 1 cup of water. The page does not describe how to prepare each pouch or whether hot water is needed, so read the pouch directions before relying on it. The answer is oddly worded for a 3-day kit, since it goes on to talk about a 1-month supply, so treat the 1 cup per serving as the useful figure.
That water is for preparing the food. Ready.gov's kit list asks for one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation, which is separate, and CDC gives the same one-gallon figure. Our guide to how much water to store covers it. ReadyWise says milk, soy and wheat (gluten) are the common allergens in its products and tells buyers to read the nutritional label for specifics, so check before buying for anyone with an allergy.
Storage
ReadyWise says its foods are a mix of freeze-dried and dehydrated components and are affected by temperature, moisture, oxygen and light. Its optimal storage conditions are cool, dry places. The page gives no temperature range, so avoid a hot car trunk or attic for the long term. The 25-year figure is the maker's best case.
How it fits a plan
Ready.gov's kit list asks for at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, and the Red Cross lists 3 days for evacuation and 2 weeks for home. This kit is aimed at the first of those. It is a first step before a bigger store, and our emergency food comparison and emergency food storage guide cover the next ones. If you need to heat water, Ready.gov says camp stoves are for outdoor use only; our camp stove comparison covers.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need food that needs no water or heat, since this kit needs water and the page does not describe a no-cook method. Skip it for a family unless you buy a box per person, and skip it if anyone has a milk, soy or wheat allergy unless the pouch labels rule it out. The page also warned that orders placed on the day we checked were estimated to ship in late November, so do not count on quick delivery. See the go-bag checklist for what else belongs in the bag.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources: ReadyWise: 72-Hour Emergency Food Kit product page and FAQ; American Red Cross: Survival kit supplies; Ready.gov: Build a kit; Ready.gov: Food; CDC: How to create and store an emergency water supply.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you need food that eats cold with no water: try ration bars instead.
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 most calories and protein in one pouch here
See the comparison →Best for High calories that suit gluten-free and dairy-free diets
See the comparison →Best for A hearty classic with real protein
See the comparison →Questions
How many days does the ReadyWise 72-Hour kit last?
ReadyWise sells it as a 72-hour kit, with over 2,200 calories per day and 6,780 calories in the box. The listing is for one box, and the maker says to buy a box for each person.
How much water does it need?
ReadyWise says each serving needs on average 1 cup of water. That is for preparing food only. Ready.gov says one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
What allergens does it contain?
ReadyWise says milk, soy and wheat (gluten) are the common allergens in its products and points to the nutritional label for specifics. Check the pouches before use.
How long does it last in storage?
ReadyWise says up to 25 years, with the best conditions being cool, dry places. It gives no temperature range, so keep it out of hot spaces.