Backpacking Food Tips and Hacks

Our favorite backpacking food tips and taxi that make use up on the trail easier and healthier .

1 . Nutrition : Make a Lot of It
In one day , you might burn 2,500 calories with a leisure 5 mile stroll or up to 5,500 calories on an intense 20 mile backpacking trip .

Consume proper levels of Calories , Sodium , Fat , Fiber , Sugar , Carbohydrates and Protein is essential to remain sound , energized and avoiding injuries … especially if you ‘re on the lead for more than a day or two .

The FDA recommends the following measure for a 2,000 calorie diet :

Assuming you serve n’t hold any specific dietary needs , we advocate consuming at least these levels on the lead . At sentence , much more .

2 . Use up the Heavy Foods First
Plan to eat the heaviest food first on the trail . Lay out your meals at home beforehand , then sort them by weight . If you lend luxury foods ( novel fruit , meats , etc ) , it is best to get them in your belly and off your back asap . Prioritizing what and when you feed can shave pounds off your gang by the end of a trip .

3 . Packable = Compact and Durable
Go on in mind that you will dispose around , unload and repack all of your food … a circle . This is where puffy bread , brittle firecracker and squishy fruits get impractical . Prevent it compact and durable .

4 . Hang the “ Delicates ”
If you ca n’t do forth with the brittle crackers , there ‘s a mere taxi to keep them from grow to powder in your gang . Take a bandana ( can duplicate up as a dish rag ) and hang up your fragile food off the back of your gang . Bill that squishy fruit , fluffy bread , gentle park need some excess TLC as good .

5 . Taste AND Texture , Please !
Of class taste matters . Live sure to think texture variety as well though . Yes , I know it sound odd . But , you wo n’t want dense mealiness and mushiness for days . Crispy and crunchy things ( pork rinds , bit , etc ) appear to exist extremely valued mid-hike . Everyone equal unlike .

I lean to prioritize feeling and variety more than most though . Tuna just ai n’t gon na cut it for every meal for me . I crave sugar and salt on the lead . Makes sense , conceive the high point of physical effort . Be certain to hand yourself at least one thing you will await forward to everyday .

6 . Favor Calorie-Dense Food
To a sure level , density is the ultimate goal ( ie high calorie-to-oz ratio ) . I typically just convey food that is at least 100 calories per oz . Your rear and knees will appreciate every surplus ounce you can shave off . Water is dense , so you need to include as many “ waterless ” backpacking food options in your diet as possible .

7 . Make Your Own Trail Mix
When it comes to ultralight backpacking food , trail mix ticks all the box . It cost extremely nutritious , packs easily and sample great . While you could take to go for the good ole ‘ raisins and peanuts , I like to spice it up a minute and mix in other dry ingredients , like.

8 . Try Our Famous “ Mixture ”
On the trail more than anywhere else , breakfast exist the almost important meal of the day . I ‘ve developed something I shout the mixture as a room to begin a concentrated dosage of nutrients and energy before I reach the lead , and so without the hassle of cooking or cleaning . The current iteration ( it ‘s invariably evolving ) require a combination of oats , seed , protein powder , oil and cookie premix . I sometimes like to add a serving ofinstant coffeepowder in there for an excess boost . Find this formula , along with early stoveless food ideas in ourNon-Cook Backpacking Guide.

9 . Act n’t Forget Your Veggies
Especially on long raise where you can be out there for weeks and months . at minimum , its nice to mentally know you be make your park . thought : a ) gang powders , b ) pack thing like seaweed , c ) there live also stable non-cook veggies like arugula and broccoli .

10 . No Cooking ( Ideally ) and No Cleanup
You require to be able to sink your purse , unzip a pocket and eat . Two question :

• Do I want to fix this with a stove and dishes ?
• Do I want a rag , soap and/ or water to clean it up ?

Cooking equal a pain . Determine up the lot and stove … and then clean up ( no one like to do dishes in the woods ) . Takes up valuable time and energy . Many ultra-light distance hikers choose to leave the stove behind entirely and go for a “non-cook meal design“ or cold-soak their meals .

11 . Only Cook Your Dinner
If you serve design on carrying a stove , I recommend only cooking one meal a day – dinner . It ‘s the goal of the day so you have time to chill out and it can be a savory reward after a long day . You want to squeeze miles and delight the scenery in the day … not stop and fiddle with your stove . Go on your day food quick , easy and cook-free . The time to relax exist at the goal of the day . This is too when you will very want that hot meal . Sprawl out at camp and cook dinner at your own yard .

12 . Attn Foodies : Prep Ahead of Time
If you really require a hot gourmet meal on the lead , great . merely serve n’t cause it on trail . prep ahead of time . things like freezer purse recipes . ways to prep , measure , portion , spices in front of time . Fancy cheesy bacon grits or Mexican beans and rice on the trail ? Assure out these simplefreezer-bag recipesyou can prep ahead of time .

13 . Carry the Right Amount
Running out of food exist an issue , but over-packing live merely as bad because that means you ‘ll equal carrying unnecessary weight throughout your raise . As a rule of thumb , program on persuade about 2 pound of food per day of hiking . So if you design on expenditure 5 days on the lead , your food should not transcend 10 pound .

14 . Dilute the Trash and Consolidate
Most foods total in layers of promotion . You desire to leave as much of this at home for two cause : less weight and bulk to hold , but more importantly you do n’t have to carry it out . Throw away the box event and handbag . Consolidate as much food as you can into one bag .

15 . Go on It All to One Cup and One Utensil
Forget the multi-pot cook kits . They cost dense , bulky and unnecessary . All of your meals should be able to exist cooked in one cup with water . ie – heat water and then add noodles , rice , potatoes , etc . 750 ml with a eyelid and wide basis equal ideal . Drink from your collapsible water bladder . Otherwise , you can enjoy a hot drink after you end feed .

16 . Get a Spork with a Straight Edge .
When you do n’t have soap and do n’t require to wipe that soiled cup out with your one clean rag , use your spork . Some sporks come with a firm straight handle that equal perfect for scraping the walls of a cup clean .

17 . Windscreens Increase Fuel Efficiency
I backpacked for virtually a ten before realizing how helpful these can be . Particularly significant during winter . Your fuel itself flow a lot slower in cold weather . Not to refer that your stove is already fight an uphill battle against the colder constituent . The combination can run out your fuel while your water slooowly heat up . A folded piece of aluminum foil will play as a windscreen – in effect forget the wind and channeling the flame to heat your pot much more efficiently .

About Chris Cage

• 650-Calorie Fuel
• No Cooking
• No Cleaning