Top 10 Ultralight Backpacking Foods

By Erik The Black

The best ultralight backpacking foods are: lightweight, non-perishable, high in calories, require minimal prep and taste good enough that you want to eat them after a long day on the trail. Here are ten of my favorite high-calorie hiking foods. They provide, on average, more than 100 calories per ounce, making them ideal for ultralight backpacking.

1. Nuts & Trail Mixes

Nuts & Trail Mix

Nuts and trail mixes are one of the very best ultralight backpacking foods. They are high calories, lightweight, non-perishable and they contain a perfect ratio of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

2. Dried Fruits

Dried Fruit

Dried fruits are one of the most nutritious ultralight backpacking foods, even though they are not super high in calories. A great source of natural energy, plus micro-nutrients, fiber and antioxidants.

3. Nut Butters

Nut Butters

Peanut butter has been a backpacking essential for decades. With the recent popularity of gourmet nut butters and now single-serve packaging options, this classic ultralight backpacking food has gotten even better.

4. Pasta, Rice & Dried Potatoes

Pasta, Rice & Potatoes

These are the “staple” carbohydrates of most backpacking diets. They are cheap, lightweight, non-perishable, available in stores everywhere and only require boiling water to cook.

5. Shelf Stable Protein Sources

Shelf Stable Protein Sources

Protein is one of the hardest macro-nutrients to pack because high-protein foods are usually heavy and require refrigeration. But, there are a handful of high protein ultralight backpacking foods you can pack on the trail.

6. Hot & Cold Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast Cereals

Oatmeal is the standard hiker breakfast, but it gets boring after a while. Cold cereal (with full-fat powdered milk and a 1/2 scoop of protein powder) is a great way to add some variety.

7. Crackers, Chips & Salty Snacks

Salty Snacks

Junk food is a long-distance backpacker’s secret weapon. Few foods can compete with good old fashioned American junk food when you compare calories, weight, flavor and price.

8. Candy, Pastries & Sweet Snacks

Sweet Snacks

Candy and other sweet snacks provide a great source of energy in the form of simple carbs. When you start to bonk, no other ultralight backpacking food gets you to the top of the mountain faster than a shot of sugar.

9. Energy Bars

Energy Bars

Energy bars are made from slower-burning complex carbs and more nutritious ingredients than candy bars. Whether they actually provide more or better energy is debatable, but I still like them.

10. Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals

Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals

Sometimes its’s all about convenience. When that’s the case, you can’t beat the commercial freeze-dried backpacking meals. Just add boiling water and eat right out of the pouch.

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