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• Mainstay vs Datrex

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  167 of 319 people found this review helpful

  ***Posting this review on both bars***
  
  I bought both a Mainstay and a Datrex 2400 calorie bar to try out the flavor of each to determine which one I would end up wanting to use in my ditch kits. From some other reviews I thought they might both be the same, they're not. Here's a short review.
  
  Datrex bars are broken up in to 12 individually sealed 200 calorie cakes. They have a taste not unlike stale graham crackers. They can be somewhat crumbly, though. I grabbed a few while at a convention and they broke in my pocket. They were still edible, but were falling apart.
  
  Mainstay bars are one big bar sectioned into six 400 calorie blocks. They're thicker than the Datrex cakes. These have a slight lemon sugar cookie taste, but its very mild. They're less crumbly than the Datrex bars, however, you CANNOT reseal the package once its open. (Unless I'm retarded and missed something.)
  
  In the end, I think Datrex bars are better for ditch kits, car kits, or anywhere you might have multiple people around. They're very easy to divide up. Mainstay bars seem less prone to falling apart and making a mess, so would probably do well in shelter in place kits. The taste of both is pleasant (to me) so you'll probably just have to find your preference there. I'll probably end up getting both for variety.
  
  On a side note: It may just isolated to my insane cat, but both bars seem to drive her mad. She was trying very hard to get to them when I tried them.

  2/23/11

  ethanwolfe

• A MUST HAVE!!!

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  2 of 5 people found this review helpful

  I ordered this product to keep in my bug out bag, for myself and my family. Price is great, and its purpose also. This item will not weigh you down like canned foods.

  5/24/12

  Gloria

• Good

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  0 of 2 people found this review helpful

  If rationed it could be for 2 days, otherwise it's one day for someone who is burning a lot of energy. About the same price as if you bought energy bars.

  6/17/12

  Daniele

• great for boating and in your car

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  2 of 2 people found this review helpful

  These are good to store on a boat incase you get stranded and are also great to keep in the trunk of your car for the same reason. They keep for 5 years and you really dont have to do anything to them. I keep them in my car, boat and in the house just incase of emergency. Think about it, if you get stranded in your car for lets say 1 day, chances are you dont have any food in your car. These you can put in your trunk and forget their there until you need them. Driving through mountains in the winter, you can get stuck for hours or days and its nice to know I have these incase it happens. Buy the water pouches as well for the same purpose.

  11/16/12

  Brian

• Great for 72 hour kits in the car.

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  23 of 44 people found this review helpful

  I was told that no matter what these will keep you alive! They are packed full of calories and taste kind of like short bread. We get them to keep in our cars in case of an emergency since they can withstand cold/ hot temps and last like 5 years.

  2/27/12

  Annelise

• Survival Food Only

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  212 of 418 people found this review helpful

  I think I could eat these for only about 3 days and then I would need some real food. But it tastes like a not so sweet cookie or something. I put them in our survival kits along with candy bars. I think my kids will eat the candy bars first, but if they got hungry enough probably this too!

  9/23/10

  CC

• It's different

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  3 of 4 people found this review helpful

  In case of emergency I'll be happy to have these around. And they WILL BE around because this is something I wouldn't want to regularly eat. It tastes fine, and I like the way it's packaged in the smaller servings, but I could only eat 2 little squares at a time. And I definitely had to have something nearby to drink while eating.

  8/22/12

  CG

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    • What is a high calorie emergency food bar?

      You will see these types of bars in many survival kits. Originally, these types of food bars were designed for use by the U.S Coast Guard for survival on life boats. Because they were designed for this intense survival environment, they are excellent for use in your emergency supplies. Here are the main attributes of [...]

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    • High Calorie Food Bars?

      A high calorie food bar is a short bread that contains anywhere from 1200, 2400, and 3600 calories in each bar and is intended to be used as an emergency ration.  When you run out of food or if you need access to more calories a food calorie bar is what you should have.  Datrex [...]

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