Rating: | 8.1 / 10 |
Value for Money | 1.7 / 2.5 |
Taste | 1.6 / 2.5 |
Convenience | 2.4 / 2.5 |
Weight | 2.4 / 2.5 |
Radix Nutrition has become well entrenched on the Australian market and is now commonly stocked in many outdoor stores. The range has evolved over the years and now the Original 600 range of which this meal is a part, has become a great option for single hikers or for couples not wanting big meals to share.
First let’s look at the positives of this meal. As is common with all products in the Radix range, the packaging is very attractive and grabs your attention which is half the battle with this ever growing segment of the market. The packaging across the range is also very small and while you could be fooled into thinking there isn’t much food in the bag, it’s comparable, if not lighter weight-wise when compared to other brands. The other plus with this compact packing is that it takes up less space in your pack.
This Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri size comes in at 601 calories and is loaded with nutrients including 30.4 grams of protein that helps muscle repair at the end of a big day of hiking. While this meal is marketed as a single serve meal, Gill and I usually share one between us and; as big an eater as I am, it fills us up quite well.
The original version of this meal came in a packet that didn’t have a base that opened out but this feature has now been updated so it opens flat to help prevent it from falling over when you put the bag down. Water wise the recommendation to rehydrate is 250 ml and this amount was spot on to get a ‘goldilocks’ constancy (not too wet, not too dry) because good food is more than about taste. The packet recommends leaving the food to rehydrate for five minutes but we find an extra 2-3 minutes helps improve the texture.
So what about taste? I’m a big fan of spicy food and my measure is based on whether it makes my head sweat but I know I’m in the minority here. If someone mentions Peri Peri then I expect some spiciness, and with it a bit of ‘kick’. Sadly, in this case when we taste tested this meal we found that it does contain some ‘heat’ but it does so without the spiciness which is a pretty good trick. I’ve talked to a number of suppliers on the market and they all say the same thing – its easy to add spice but you can’t take it out and as the majority of people aren’t spice lovers, suppliers opt to go less spicy. Like other meals in this range, the sodium (salt) level is high at 767 mg per serve and as people who typically don’t add salt to our food, the salt level of this meal offering was good and we didn’t notice any saltiness.
Be warned that if you have a nut or dairy allergy because this meal came with a warning that there may be traces of nuts and/or dairy given it is made in a factory where other nut/dairy products are used. On the plus side this meal is plant based and gluten free which helps to make it more accessible if that’s you.
Price wise this meal sells at AUD $14.99 RRP and is comparable to other brands of the same size, even more so when you look at the quality of what you get and all in a tiny little package.
So what’s the final verdict? For my tastes while I would have preferred a bit of extra spiciness, for me this is one of the better meals in their range. Out of the Radix meals that I have tested in the ‘600’ range, this is my favourite!
You can purchase the Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri from Radix, Snowys, Wild Earth or Wildfire Sports
Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us! below
PLEASE NOTE: As a special offer, Radix Australia is offering a 10% discount on meal purchases (information correct as at 3 March 2025). This discount will be applied at the checkout when you make your purchase via the Radix Australia link above and use the code AUSTRALIANHIKER
Radix produces a wide range of meals delivering a range calories. The Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri comes in 400, 600, and 800 calorie sizings
AUD $14.99 RRP
Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri as purchased
Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri nutrition and ingredient panel as well as instructions for rehydrating. Note the water fill line on the top right to make it easy on the trail to get the water level right
Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri packet with the base folded open
Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri packet showing un-rehydrated food ready to add water
Radix Nutrition Original 600 KCal Meal – Peri Peri rehydrated and ready to eat
This review was done with product provided to Australian Hiker for test by Radix Nutrition
6 March 2025