Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm happy with the purchase - It arrived with about 3 years and 4 months shelf life left on the box. The box was sealed and has the two straps securing the outside intact. Its a tradeoff for these vs other options that you can get that are almost brand new. These are surplus - so they've been in the field then sold to surplus dealers since they cannot be restocked once they leave the warehouse (due to lack of control for temperature / handling, etc). Being an ex service member, the reality of it is that these are just fine for 4+ years. That said, please take some advice. On Amazon, these are a cheaper option, and I think if you're buying them for more immediate term coverage then you're good. If you want something that will have the longest shelf life possible and is of a known quality then you're probably better off buying the ones made for civilian distribution - they're shipped direct from the factory and most of them have 4+ shelf years left on them. (see my other reviews for these) For my need - throwing a few meals in the Jeep that will be eaten sometime over the next 3-6 months after serving as a back up plan just in case I get stranded - they're perfect. If you're buying these for disaster preparedness you probably should spend a few extra dollars and get something that's of a known quality and history.