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ProView – Good To-Go Pasta Marinara Review

We had four Outdoor Prolink Pros test four different Good To-Go meals, and each flavor got its own review. See below for the review of Pasta Marinara and the three other flavors below!

Good To-Go Pasta Marinara

Product Name: Good To-Go Pasta Marinara

Product Description: There is nothing more comforting than a steaming bowl of slow simmered marinara sauce over pasta. Our classic Italian tomato sauce is served with the finest brown rice pasta we could find.

Offer price: MSRP: $8.60 - $88.95

Currency: USD

  • Flavor
    (4)
  • Rehydration
    (3.5)
  • Taste
    (4.5)
  • Eco-Friendly
    (5)

Summary

Good to Go’s backpacking meals are a game-changer for outdoor adventurers. With flavorful options for gluten-free, vegan, and pescatarians, these meals offer a gourmet dining experience in the wilderness.

Overall
4.3

Pros

  • Rehydrates easily
  • Classic flavors

Cons

  • Not as much protein or calories as others

Flavor

Sam Kilburn

Good To-Go’s pasta marinara brings a classic comfort food into the backcountry. Made with the same ingredients as your mother’s famous marinara sauce, the tomato, onion, olive oil, garlic, and thyme will transport you back to home-cooked meals. This meal is an excellent option if you’re looking for a healthy, easy, and delicious Italian night from your sleeping bag. 

Brenna Fletcher

The pasta marinara was even better than I expected. I wasn’t as excited about this one since it’s just sauce and pasta, but it was delicious and didn’t need anything else, except maybe some parmesan!

Bryson Webb

I was not impressed with this flavor. Maybe it was because it seemed to be a basic marinara sauce. It wasn’t bad. Just bland red marinara sauce.  

Heather Smith

The Pasta Marinara was a delightful surprise, closely resembling a home-cooked meal. Gluten-free noodles can be tricky, but the brown rice pasta was a fantastic choice.

Rehydration

Sam Kilburn

The pasta marinara rehydrated without issue. All ingredients were fully cooked, with no crunchy pasta or undercooked ingredients. The 12 minutes of wait time required for water absorption is a great time to read your book, set up the bear hang, or inflate your sleeping pad.

Brenna Fletcher

Rehydration took a few minutes longer than instructed for this one at high elevation. I again forgot to stir it before letting it sit, so that may also be why it took a little longer.

Bryson Webb

I’m guessing they use brown rice noodles to keep all of their meal gluten free but I didn’t like this. The noodles didn’t taste like pasta. They tasted out of place. 

Heather Smith

Impressive rehydration, even at a high elevation of 8390 feet.

Ease of Use

Sam Kilburn

As simple as it comes. The directions are clear and easy to follow. I could see some folks wanting an exact volume of boiling water to add instead of “a little more than one cup”, but in my experience estimations are easier when camping. 

Brenna Fletcher

This meal was just as easy to prepare as the others. During car camping, I used my tea kettle and a camp stove.

Bryson Webb

This flavor was difficult to eat. The sauce and noodles didn’t seem to jive. I found it easier to just squeeze the food out rather than use utensils. 

Heather Smith

It couldn’t be simpler – just add hot water, wait a bit, and it’s ready to eat.

Nutritional Value

Sam Kilburn

Good To-Go’s pasta marinara has good nutritional value. It is high in fiber and protein, and is packed with quality ingredients. It is slightly high in sodium, especially if you opt for the 2-serving option. The 1-serving option only has 370 calories, so if you’re expending a lot of energy I would strongly consider the 2-serving option. 

Brenna Fletcher

I had more of an appetite during car camping than on the backpacking trip, so I actually could have gone for a bigger portion and more calories because I was still hungry after eating it. Some extra vegetables or sources of protein would be nice to give it a little more nutritional value.

Bryson Webb

This was the lowest calorie count in the bunch, which I did not like. I feel like I need more calories after a long day in the back country. This flavor was also gluten free and vegan.

Heather Smith

This meal packs a punch with 12 grams of protein and 370 calories, leaving you satisfied.

Quality

Sam Kilburn

This was a delicious meal! High quality ingredients, easy to use, packs down small, and great taste. Not to mention, it’s gluten-free and vegan, so this makes for a perfect meal if those food groups aren’t a part of your diet. 

Brenna Fletcher

The quality of this meal is good. Not exactly restaurant quality but the sauce tasted like one of the nicer sauces you could buy. I didn’t want to bring this one backpacking because I was worried that red sauce would give me heartburn, but I felt great after eating it so I would not worry about that in the future.

Bryson Webb

Pasta Marinara was not my favorite flavor. I think I was still stuck on the fact that they used brown rice pasta instead of ordinary gluten filled pasta. It just didn’t work. 

Heather Smith

High-quality ingredients shine through, particularly in the delicious red sauce with Italian herbs.

Packaging Durability/Packability

Sam Kilburn

The packaging on Good To-Go’s meals is extremely good. I’ve put the packaging through the wringer on some multi-week trips, to the point where the label has begun to wear off. However, the structure remained intact and waterproof, and the meal rehydrated with no issues. The packages have some air in them at times, but it’s unclear if that’s because I live at elevation in Colorado. 

Brenna Fletcher

This meal is durable, lightweight, and very packable.

Bryson Webb

The packaging was strong. Good To-Go is all made and packaged in the US. Even the packaging itself is made in the US.

Heather Smith

The compact and sturdy packaging held up well throughout the journey.


Shop the Good To-Go Backpacking Meals on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today!

About the Gear Tester

Outdoor Prolink Pro
sam-kilburn
Sam Kilburn
Ranger-Naturalist :: Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Sam’s background is as a farmer, trail worker, ski patroller, and ice climbing guide in New England, but he currently works as a Park Ranger in Boulder County. When not at work, Sam enjoys backcountry skiing, mountain biking, woodworking, volunteering and reading a good non-fiction book. Someday down the road you’ll be able to find Sam in Vermont working in the garden and building his house in the woods.

Outdoor Prolink Pro
Brenna Fletcher
Bookkeeper :: Outdoor Prolink

Brenna is the Bookkeeper at Outdoor Prolink.  When she’s not working, she is either reading a book, riding her e-bike, sitting in her yard with her cat on a leash, hiking slowly, playing mediocre piano, or roller skating badly.  

Outdoor Prolink Pro
bryson-webb
Bryson Webb
Firefighter/Paramedic

Bryson is a full-time firefighter/paramedic who also works in a variety of outdoor professions including ski and bike instructing, adaptive sports, and student guiding. When Bryson is not working one of his many jobs, he is living out of his truck that takes him on outdoor adventures all around the beautiful state of Utah.

Outdoor Prolink Pro
Heather Smith
CS & Ops :: Outdoor Prolink

Originally from Arkansas, Heather now resides in Boulder, Colorado and currently works for Outdoor Prolink! Heather has completed a Thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a 1000-mile bike tour, the Colorado Trail, and the Montana section of the CDT (Dreams of a triple crown). You can now find her outdoor time revolving around gravel cycling and bikepacking. Connect with her on Instagram by following @tiltgravity

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