Are you planning meals for your upcoming backpacking trip? We have put together a collection of our preferred backpacking meals, ingredients, and meal suggestions to assist you in getting started. Learn about the most suitable food options for hiking, explore novel ingredients, and find inspiration in our mouthwatering do-it-yourself backpacking meals.
Experienced backpackers understand that despite the breathtaking natural beauty, a significant part of the day is dedicated to contemplating the upcoming meal while engaging in a physically and mentally challenging adventure that allows one to disconnect and embrace nature.
Deciding what food to bring can pose a challenge in itself! Due to the need to carry it on your back, backpacking food must find a perfect equilibrium among nutrition, weight, and simplicity of preparation.
We will be sharing our favorite backpacking food ideas that we have gathered from many miles hiked during the past few years. Whether it’s freeze-dried choices or meals that you can make yourself, you will discover various types of satisfying and lightweight trail food that will provide you with energy and please your taste buds.
BENEFITS OF NO-COOK BACKPACKING MEALS
Lighter gear
Hikers choose to go stoveless and cold soak their meals as a means of reducing weight. The weight of backpacking stoves can vary from 1 oz to 14 oz, while even small fuel canisters weigh around 7 ounces when filled. By opting for a stoveless approach, you can potentially eliminate anywhere from half to over a pound of weight from your backpack, depending on your cooking equipment.
No worrying about carrying adequate fuel
One more advantage of not bringing your fuel along is the elimination of concerns about carrying sufficient fuel for each segment of the trail. Additionally, avoiding the need to purchase fuel throughout a lengthy thru-hike can result in monetary savings.
Less time spent “cooking” and more time spent hiking
Conveniently, no-cook backpacking recipes are quick to prepare. Although cold soak recipes require soaking for some time, most backpackers allow their food to rehydrate while hiking. By adding water at a rest stop a few miles away from the camp, you can enjoy your meal as soon as you reach your destination.
No strong food odors that attract animals
Cooking can have disadvantages, particularly in areas with a lot of animal activity. The act of cooking can intensify smells that lure animals, including bears, to your campsite. That is why campers are advised to prepare meals away from their camping area. Opting for no-cook backpacking meals is a solution to this problem, as it helps prevent animals from getting close to your tent during nighttime.
Safety in areas with fire bans
Backpacking stoves are typically not a cause of wildfires and are generally permitted during fire restrictions if equipped with an automatic shutoff valve. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that they still carry some level of risk. Given the rising incidence of wildfires, it is always advisable to exercise additional caution.
Completely eliminating the risk is achieved by consuming meals that require no cooking. Smokey the Bear would give his endorsement.
DOWNSIDES OF NO-COOK BACKPACKING MEALS
The main disadvantage of no-cook backpacking meals is easily noticeable – you will need to consume food that is not heated. This factor may or may not be an issue depending on the weather conditions where you will be trekking and the time of year. It will be more challenging to forgo warm meals on the rainy Appalachian Trail in March compared to the desert portion of the Pacific Crest Trail in early June. Additionally, numerous no-cook recipes such as hummus or meal replacement shakes are designed to be consumed cold.
Some individuals may not find it appealing to consume unheated foods that are typically served hot. Occasionally, flavors that are enjoyable when hot are considered merely satisfactory when cold. If you wish to completely eliminate the use of a stove, it might be advisable to conduct a trial at home beforehand to ensure that the foods you intend to bring will be appetizing during the journey.
If you dislike eating food that is typically hot when it is cold, you have the option of packing mostly or entirely no-cook foods that are intended to be consumed cold. These foods include items like hummus, meal replacement shakes, instant guacamole, various trail mixes, crackers with hard cheese, salami, jerky, energy bites, and cold cereals.
MEALS WE RECOMMEND
Freeze-Dried Or Dehydrated Meals
When you want a filling breakfast, there is no simpler way than pouring boiling water into a pouch containing a meal. Here are a few of our preferred freeze-dried and dehydrated breakfast options.
- Mountain House Breakfast Skillet
- Mountain House Biscuits & Gravy
- Backpacker’s Pantry Granola with Milk & Blueberries
- Peak Refuel Mountain Berry Granola
- Pinnacle Foods Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits & Gravy
- Packit Gourmet Polenta with Pork Sausage
OvaEasy Eggs
If cooking in the morning is not a problem for you, OvaEasy’s powdered egg crystals are a surprisingly close substitute for real eggs. You can enjoy scrambled eggs on their own, with dehydrated hash browns, or in a veggie scramble.
Instant Oatmeal
Instant oatmeal is a convenient, effortless, cost-effective, and entirely modifiable option. All you have to do is pour hot water on it. Valuable Tip: Utilize the packet itself as your container. Simply tear off the upper part, pour the water inside, and mix. The bag may become hot, but it won’t spill. Increase the calorie content by incorporating coconut or whole milk powder, or by stirring in a packet of nut butter.
Greenbelly Mud Meal
One more fast and easy breakfast option is the Greenbelly’s MUD Meal, a meal replacement shake. Despite its unappealing name, it is a delicious drink that mixes better than most protein powders. It provides a wide range of nutrients, including carbs, proteins, and fats.
Instant Coffee
In recent years, the QUALITY of instant coffee has experienced a significant improvement, with Mt. Hagen and Alpine Start being our preferred choices.
Greenbelly Meal Bars
The Greenbelly meal bars, which come in various flavors, provide 650 calories per serving. These bars are essentially a complete meal that doesn’t need to be cooked, making them ideal for trail lunches.
No-Cook Meals
There is a range of meal options that require no cooking, including Outdoor Herbivore’s Waldorf Slaw and Lazy Lentil Salad, as well as Packit Gourmet’s Curry Mango or Cajun Ranch Chicken Salads.
DIY Cold Soak Meals
If you own a food dehydrator, give making your own cold-soak meals a try by using a mixture of pasta, beans, and vegetables. To begin, take a look at these recipes: Pasta Salad or Cowboy Caviar.
Energy Bars
When packing bars, our top recommendation is to choose a variety of options. Avoid packing only your favorite bar for a multi-day hike, as it may lose its appeal after the trip. We have tried numerous energy bar brands, and here are some of the notable ones: Bobo, RX Bars, Munkpack Nut & Seeds, Kate’s Real Food bars, GoMacro, Lara Bar, Bearded Brothers, and Aloha.
Nut Butter
When it comes to trail lunches, nut butter is a wonderful addition whether you choose to have it on a tortilla or directly from the packet. If you’re not sure where to begin, Justin’s, Rx, and TrailButter are all excellent options to consider. We personally loved having RX Vanilla Almond Butter while hiking on the JMT.
Jerky And Meat Bars
Both jerky and meat bars have a slightly low calorie content, but they are rich in protein, which is important for repairing muscles. Our preferred brands are Epic Provisions and Wild Zora. For longer hikes spanning multiple days, it is advisable to consume these towards the end of the day to aid in the body’s repair process. Primal Spirit Food and Louisville Vegan Jerky Co offer excellent vegan alternatives to consider.
