Top 10 Ultralight Backpacking Foods

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.

• Nuts & Chocolate Trail Mix (152 cal/oz)
• Tropical Fruit Trail Mix (143 cal/oz)
• Turtle Chex Mix (130 cal/oz)
• Peanuts (166 cal/oz)
• Almonds (160 cal/oz)
• Cashews (162 cal/oz)

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.

• Raisins (85 cal/oz)
• Dried Cranberries (100 cal/oz)
• Dried Apricots (68 cal/oz)
• Banana Chips (147 cal/oz)
• Dried Apples (69 cal/oz)
• Prunes (71 cal/oz)
• Dates (79 cal/oz)

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.

• Peanut Butter (166 cal/oz)
• Honey Peanut Butter (168 cal/oz)
• Almond Butter (179 cal/oz)
• Maple Almond Butter (168 cal/oz)
• Cashew Butter (172 cal/oz)
• Chocolate Hazelnut Butter (153 cal/oz)

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.

• Macaroni and Cheese (100 cal/oz)
• Knorr Pasta Sides (109 cal/oz)
• Knorr Rice Sides (108 cal/oz)
• Instant Mashed Potatoes (110 cal/oz)
• Couscous (107 cal/oz)

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.

• Beef Jerky (116 cal/oz)
• Slim Jim Meat Sticks (140 cal/oz)
• Salami/Summer Sausage (95 cal/oz)
• Foil Pouch Tuna, Chicken, Spam (35-82 cal/oz)
• String Cheese Sticks (80 cal/oz)
• Whey Protein Powder (111 cal/oz)
• Quest Protein Bars (88 cal/oz)

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.

• Instant Oatmeal (107 cal/oz)
• Granola Cereal (120 cal/oz)
• Honey Nut Cheerios (111 cal/oz)
• Cap’n Crunch (114 cal/oz)
• Frosted Mini Wheats (100 cal/oz)
• Lucky Charms (116 cal/oz)
• Grape Nuts (103 cal/oz)

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.

• Sandwich Crackers (141 cal/oz)
• Goldfish Crackers (131 cal/oz)
• Cheez-it Crackers (142 cal/oz)
• Fritos Corn Chips (160 cal/oz)
• Cheetos (162 cal/oz)
• Caramel Popcorn (122 cal/oz)
• Pretzels (108 cal/oz)

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.

• Snickers Bar (134 cal/oz)
• Peanut M&Ms (147 cal/oz)
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks (100 cal/oz)
• Grandmas Cookies (134 cal/oz)
• Fig Newtons (100 cal/oz)
• Pop Tarts (112 cal/oz)
• Honey Buns (125 cal/oz)

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.

• Clif Bar (103 cal/oz)
• PowerBar (103 cal/oz)
• Kind Bar (133 cal/oz)
• Larabar (118 cal/oz)
• Granola Bar (127 cal/oz)

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.

• Mountain House Chili Mac (121 cal/oz)
• Mountain House Beef Stroganoff (130 cal/oz)
• Mountain House Breakfast Skillet (140 cal/oz)
• Peak Chicken Alfredo Pasta (170 cal/oz)
• Peak Peach Cobbler (140 cal/oz)
• Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai (112 cal/oz)
• Backpackers Pantry Chocolate Cheesecake (136 cal/oz)