Forclaz Repas Lyophilisé Sans Gluten (Rice and Curry Chicken) Review

Overview

Forclaz’s gluten-free rice and curry chicken is a single-serving, add-hot-water dinner built in France and sold through Decathlon. It targets trekkers who want a cheap, widely available meal with real chicken and no wheat. The trade-off is a ration sized for a modest appetite, not a full day’s worth of hiking.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight (packaged)	140 g
Dry contents	120 g
Rehydrated weight	420 g
Rehydration time	10 minutes, in the pouch
Energy	407 kcal per 100 g (about 488 kcal for the 120 g portion)
Dimensions	17.5 x 18.5 x 5.5 cm
Gluten-free	Yes
Made in	France
Price	About 8.49 € at Decathlon France

Performance

Ingredients. The recipe is rice-forward. One tester’s read of the label found precooked Italian rice at 64.2 percent and cooked, freeze-dried chicken with vegetables at 14.6 percent. Decathlon says the chicken is French and is cooked before it is freeze-dried, while the remaining ingredients are dehydrated. A curry sauce makes up another 5.8 percent. That tester noted the chicken share is higher than on comparably priced competitors, which he found stayed below 10 percent. He was less keen on the glucose syrup, milk proteins and maltodextrin in the recipe, though he finished the test anyway. The label also lists mustard in the curry blend and milk protein, so the meal is gluten-free but not allergen-free.

Preparation. The pouch is the practical selling point. It is graduated with a fill line, closes with a zip, and the meal is ready after 10 minutes with hot water. Eating straight from the bag means no pot to wash, though a stove and something to heat water in are still required. Decathlon recommends eating the whole portion once opened.

Calories and macros. At 407 kcal per 100 g, the 120 g portion comes to roughly 488 kcal. Spread over the 140 g packaged weight, that is about 3.5 kcal per gram carried. The macro split one tester worked out was about 67 percent carbohydrate, 10 percent fat and 23 percent protein. He judged that carb-heavy and recommended adding calories after a big day. The ratio suits a rice dish, but anyone burning 3,000 kcal or more will want a second pouch or a side of nuts or olive oil.

Taste and satisfaction. Decathlon France’s listing averages 4.5 out of 5 across 681 reviews, a strong score for a budget freeze-dried meal. Decathlon Switzerland’s page is more mixed, at 3.97 out of 5 from 133 reviews. Of those, 98 gave four or five stars and 17 gave one or two. A reviewer who tried it at a bivouac near Mont Thabor over two days of fine weather called it a good find and a decent reward after a long walk. He paid 6 € at the time. The price has since risen to 8.49 €.

Packability. The pouch is close to flat when dry, which owners of Forclaz meals say makes it easy to slot into a bear canister, a pot or the bottom of a pack.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Gluten-free recipe that doesn’t need a specialist-brand price
• Real cooked chicken at roughly 15 percent of the recipe
• Graduated, resealable pouch doubles as the bowl
• 10-minute rehydration
• Flat, compact pack
• Made in France, with chicken of French origin
• Sold in Decathlon stores and online, so easy to restock before a trek

Cons

• About 488 kcal is light for a full dinner on a high-mileage day
• Rice-heavy, carb-led macros
• Contains glucose syrup, maltodextrin and milk protein
• Allergen warnings include mustard and milk, plus trace warnings for several others
• Needs hot water; no cold-soak instructions
• Less appealing price per calorie than DIY couscous or instant rice dinners

Who Should Buy This

Gluten-avoiding hikers on weekend trips and multi-day treks in Europe will find this a convenient, tested choice. It also suits beginners who want a no-fuss hot dinner and can pick one up on the way to the trailhead. Thru-hikers resupplying in towns and counting every calorie per gram will do better with home-dehydrated or bulk dinners that cost less and pack more energy per ounce. Celiac hikers should read the trace-allergen line on the pouch before relying on it.

Verdict

This is a dependable, well-reviewed gluten-free dinner that does what it claims: 140 g in the pack, a hot curry in 10 minutes, no cleanup. It is best treated as a base meal and supplemented on hard days. For a casual trek or a gluten-free diet, it is a sensible buy.