Australian Hiker

Rating

Radix Smokey BBQ Meal-Ultra 800 Review

When I tried the Radix Smokey BBQ meal I must admit my automatic assumption was that this was a beef meal because that’s what I associate ‘Smokey BBQ’ with. I was surprised to discover this was a plant based meal so score one for the vegetarian options!

The Radix Smokey BBQ Meal-Ultra 800 is part of the newly released ‘Ultra Meals v9.0’ which is a new range on the market. This range provides all the nutritional requirements (805 calories) in a 30% physically smaller package than the original 600 calorie meal range.

The packaging, like the rest of the Radix product range, is the attractive silver colouring and in this case a darker silver grey, that jumps out at you from the shelves. The size of the packaging was the thing I really noticed about this meal option; it is really compact and this small sizing is going to help with saving space in your pack for those extended trips.

While there aren’t any nuts in this meal, Radix advises it is made in a factory that processes nuts so keep this in mind if you have nut allergies. On the plus side, this meal is plant based and gluten free which helps make it more accessible if that’s you.

Meal size wise, I’m a big eater and at 805 calories, and on big days when I’m feeling really hungry, this meal would be ideal but when we tasted it we split it between the two of us and felt full. Sodium wise it has 758 mg of sodium which is within the recommended daily allowance and doesn’t taste overly salty.

The rehydration recommendation is 5 minutes with the addition of 190 ml of water but I added 200 ml of water for 7 minutes to get the right consistency.

Texture wise like other Radix Nutrition meals there is some crunch and texture to the meal which I love. Given that smell, taste and texture all play a part in the enjoyment of a meal, this offering from Radix hits the spot on the texture at least. So what about taste?

He said

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.

In this case, the Radix Smokey BBQ Meal-Ultra 800 while having a bit of heat, lacked the spice to the point I found it a bit bland. Yes there was a smokiness to the taste but it was more noticeable prior to rehydrating. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this meal and given most outdoor meal manufactures produce meals on the blander side, this isn’t surprising.

She said

I really liked this one – the tastes is great, the texture is good and it leaves you feeling satisfied. Everything you need after a good day on the trail.

One thing Radix has changed with this range is the design of the package – the base now opens out and sits flat which allows more stability while waiting for the mea1 to rehydrate.

The packaging contains all the relevant nutritional and ingredient information you need. The ingredients, apart from protein isolate, are very recognisable with Radix mainly using ‘real’ ingredients.

Price wise this meal sells at AUD $16.90 RRP and is comparable to other brands of the same size, even more so when you look at the quality of what you get – all in a tiny package. Freeze dried meals as a generalisation aren’t cheap but the time you save doing your own meals at home as well as on-trail preparation, is well worth the cost.

This was the first of the Ultra 800 range I tried and while I would be happy to eat this meal on-trail, I do prefer something with a bit more spice.

The Facts

• 805 calories – that’s heaps!
• 31.3 grams protein
• 50.1 grams fat
• 51.7 grams carbohydrates
• 13 grams fibre

This is a plant based meal.

We Like

• Great texture just like the rest of the Radix meals
• Plant based (vegetarian) for those that are into that but its great for vegetarians and non vegetarians alike
• Gluten free
• Freeze dried. This takes much of the weight out of the meal and helps to limit the weight in your pack
• Available in a range of calorie sizes to suit your needs
• Very small package which helps reduce the bulk in your pack
• Like other hiking meals, the bottom of the packet opens out to a broad base

We Don't Like

• The main negative of any commercially prepared dehydrated or freeze dried food is the cost. It really comes down to whether you have the time to make your own and if you can achieve the same flavour
• If you share this meal between two people then it comes out at approximately $8.45 per person
• Made in a factory that produces other meals that contain nuts so be careful if you have a nut allergy
• Increase the amount of water suggested from 190 mls up to 200 mls to get a better texture
• While this meal has ‘heat’, its a bit bland from a spice perspective

Best Uses

• Great option for a quick, filling and easy lunch or dinner

Buy One

You can purchase the Radix Smokey BBQ Meal-Ultra 800 from Radix Australia or from Snowys

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!

PLEASE NOTE: As a special offer Radix Australia is offering a 10% discount on meal purchases (information correct as at 25 December 2023). This discount will be applied at the checkout when you make your purchase via the Radix Australia link above and use the code AUSTRALIANHIKER

Other Versions

Radix Nutrition produces a wide variety of meal options in varying portion sizes

Investment

AUD $16.90 RRP

Radix Smokey BBQ Meal-Ultra 800 as purchased from the store

Radix Nutrition Smokey BBQ Meal nutrition and ingredient panel

Radix Nutrition Smokey BBQ Meal base opened out

Radix Nutrition Smokey BBQ Meal dry in the bag

Radix Nutrition Smokey BBQ Meal rehydrated and ready to eat

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by Radix Nutrition

Last updated

27 January 2024

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