Backpacking Food Ideas

The best foods for backpackers are items that are non-perishable, easy to carry, calorie-dense, and nutritious.

Staying nourished and energized on the trail takes a bit of planning. Take a look at some of our favorites that are tasty and easy to pack.

Resealable bag with peanuts, chocolate candy pieces, raisins, and almonds.

Planters Nut and Chocolate Trail Mix Info

Serving Size 1 Serving (28g)
Calories per Serving 150 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 4g
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 13g
Fibre: 2g
Sugar: 11g

Single-serve packs of crunchy glazed walnuts, roasted cashews, granola clusters, shaved coconut, banana chips, dried mango, and dried pineapple.

Emerald Tropical Blend Trail Mix (Pack of 6) Info

Serving Size 1 Serving (28g)
Calories per Serving 130 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 2g
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 17g
Fibre: 1g
Sugar: 9g

Tender Teriyaki Beef Jerky that's a favorite on the trail and off.

Jack Links Tender Bites Teriyaki Beef Steak (10-Pack) Info

Serving Size 1 Package (35g)
Calories per Serving 90 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 13g
Fat: 1.5g
Carbs: 6g
Fibre: 0g
Sugar: 6g

Beef jerky and dried fruits are excellent trail food and making your own is tastier, healthier, and you'll save money in the long run.

Open Country Dehydrator and Jerky Kit Info

  • Large capacity square unit with 6 trays for drying.
  • Powerful 700 watt motor with top mounted fan and thermostat adjustable from 96 to 155 F
  • Trays and jerky gun are dishwasher-safe and BPA free.

Tasy and compact, high in protein, these tuna packets are lighter and more environmentally friendly to bring along than cans.

Starkist Tuna Creations (4 Variety Pack) Info

Serving Size 1 Pouch (74g)
Calories per Serving 80 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 18g
Fat: 0.5g
Carbs: 1g
Fibre: 0g
Sugar: 0g

Instant oatmeal in convenenient single-serve envelopes are a quick and easy breakfast to prepare in a camping mug.

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Packets (18-Count Variety Pack) Info

Serving Size 1 Packet (43g)
Calories per Serving 160 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 4g
Fat: 2g
Carbs: 32g
Fibre: 4g
Sugar: 12g

Dehydrated meal kits are light and you simply add boiling water and wait for a full nutritious and flavorful meal.

Mountain House 72 Hour Meal Kit (9 Meals) Info

  • 1 Granola with milk and blueberries
  • 2 Scrambled eggs with Bacon
  • 2 Beef Stroganoff with noodles
  • 2 Chicken Teriyaki with rice
  • 1 Rice and Chicken
  • 1 Pasta Rrimavera

Delicious real fruit flavored bars are great to bring for an easy source of calories to give you that extra energy to keep going.

Millennium Energy Bars (Assorted 18-pack) Info

Serving Size 1 Bar (84g)
Calories per Serving 160 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 8g
Fat: 18g
Carbs: 53g
Fibre: 1g
Sugar: 32g

Quest Bars have no added sugar, and are full of high quality whey and milk protein isolates.

Quest Nutrition Protein Bars (12-Pack) Info

Serving Size 1 Bar (60g)
Calories per Serving 190 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 21g
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 20g
Fibre: 14g
Sugar: <1g

With one tablet every hour you can get minimum vitamins and nutrition for your body each day, especially great when you're not carrying much food.

LB1 Survival Tabs (8-Day Supply) Info

Serving Size 12 Tabs
Calories per Serving 240 Calories
Nutritional Values Protein: 4g
Fat: 12g
Carbs: 30g
Fibre: 0g
Sugar: 12g

These popular electrolyte tablets are made with clean, plant-based ingredients, are vegan, gluten free, soy and dairy free, and are low in sugar.

Nuun Active Hydrating Electrolyte Tablets (4 Tubes) Info

  • Each portable tube contains 10 tablets.
  • Each tablet makes one 16pz sports drink.
  • Citrus Berry Mix contains one tube each of Lemon Lime, Orange, Citrus Fruit, and Tri-Berry.

Convenient single serve packets of Starbucks coffee for when you're nowhere near a coffee shop.

Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee (12 Single Serve Packets) Info

  • Individually packaged single servings.
  • 100% Arabica coffee, ethically sourced.
  • Available in Italian Roast, French Roast, Pike Place, and Columbian.

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