DIY Backpacking Food | Recipes for Adventure (2024)

FAQs

What is the best food to eat when backpacking? ›

The more you stash in a backpack, the harder it is to hike, so opt mainly for non-perishable foods that are relatively lightweight and nutrient dense, such as: Trail mix. Nuts, seeds, nut-based bars or nut butter packs. Fresh, whole fruit that doesn't require refrigeration such as apples, bananas and oranges.

Many ultralight backpackers aim for about 1½ to 2 lbs. of food (or 2,500 to 4,500 calories) per person per day, depending on many factors such as their size, weight, intensity of exercise, exertion level or how many days they'll be out.

Calorie Dense Trail Foods:

Nuts – particularly macadamias, brazils, walnuts, almonds. Nut butters – almond butter, peanut butter. Chocolate, chocolate-covered nuts.

Best meats and cheeses to pack:

Hard salami. Beef or turkey jerky. Summer sausage. Salmon, chicken, or tuna in foil packets.

Salami, cheese, tuna and peanut butter are great and energy dense, but your pack gets heavy fast. If you include or exclusively use dehydrated or dry food, your total carry will be much lighter. We never take wraps or bread anymore – Geoff's seeded crackers are lighter, yummier, and last longer.

Here is a complete 5-day backpacking meal plan similar to what I eat on my hikes. It includes three meals and four snacks, providing 3,500 calories from 2 lbs of food per day. 3,500 calories a day is a good baseline calorie goal for most backpacking trips. I eat this amount on hikes up to 500 miles.

For lightweight and ultralightweight backpackers, the combined weight of food and water will regularly exceed that of all the gear they are carrying. For example, five days food equates to approximately 10 lbs (4.5 kg). Half a gallon of water is roughly 4 lbs (1.8 kg).

Peanut butter and non refrigerated jam or jellies can be stored easily in a Ziploc bag, or there are also prepackaged single serving nut butters you can buy that work as a great option too. When you are ready to eat your sandwich just cut the corners off the baggy and spread your peanut butter and jelly over the bread!

Pack Weight for Backpacking and Hiking

When determining your pack weight, follow these very general guidelines: A loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.)

Why are backpacking meals so expensive? ›

The Cost of Ingredients.

And more exotic vegetables. Cheaper meals use a lot more carbs, and less meat/vegetables. They also use thickeners, so the meal tends to remind you of Chef Boyardee cans, rather than real food.

The food is freeze-dried or dehydrated to extend shelf-life. Freeze-dried food can last up to 30 years, while dehydrated food can last up to 5 years, depending on the climate, the amount of water in the food, and their storage conditions.

Eat Small and Often

Snacking regularly (every one to two hours), as opposed to three big set meals a day, is conducive to a more efficient hiking approach. You are not as weighed down with a full stomach, your muscles won't be as stiff because your breaks aren't as long and it's better for your digestive system.

What Foods to Bring? If you are backpacking for more than a day, the food safety situation gets a little more complicated. You can still bring cold foods for the first day, but you'll have to pack shelf-stable items for the next day. Canned goods are safe, but heavy, so plan your menu carefully.

As stated above, carbs are key. For a short morning hike, fuel yourself with a light breakfast like eggs, whole grain non-sugary cereal or oatmeal. Other pre-day hike food ideas include whole-wheat toast, low-fat yogurt, whole grain pasta, brown rice, fruits, and vegetables.

For backpackers focused on optimizing caloric intake while minimizing pack weight, freeze-dried meals offer an ingenious solution. Their reduced moisture content translates to a lighter load and a lower calorie density, strategically meeting the energy needs of hikers and campers.