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Backpacking meals are light, easy to pack, long-lasting, and simple to make with just boiling water. For any palate and diet, we've narrowed in on the best backpacking meals of 2024 for your backcountry adventures.
Written by Chris Carter and Nicole Qualtieri
Testing backpacking meals along the Cumberland Trail; (photo/Chris Carter)
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Hunger truly is the best spice — but sometimes that trusty ol’ packet of ramen noodles just won’t cut it at the end of a long day on trail. The best backpacking meals will serve up a “gourmet” dish of flavorful, nutrient-rich energy right in your dirty campground. And — they weigh barely anything.
However, if you’re a backcountry nut like we are,you’ve certainly experienced moments where freeze-dried meals didn’t live up to the surroundings. We still carry around packets of Taco Bell Fire Sauce and vials of salt and pepper on the trail to spruce up our meals.
But with foodies holding higher standards around what should go into their mouths, the trickle-down of what should go into their backpacks follows. Lately, we’ve found ourselves needing our extra spices less and less.
The old faithfuls likeMountain HouseandBackpacker’s Pantrystill reign in some areas. But companies likeGood To-Go,Heather’s Choice, andPeak Refuelare catching up, with extremely respectable calorie-to-weight ratios and phenomenal tastes. And that hardly begins to cover some of the more niche companies specializing in paleo, keto, and vegan offerings.
Our team has collectively scraped the last morsels out of thousands of backpacking meals on adventures around the world, and won’t settle for just any freeze-dried meal you find in the grocery store. Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter has significant experience waiting impatiently for backpacking meals to hydrate in the cold evening hours. An alumnus of each of the Triple Crown Trails in the U.S., he’s intimately aware of the importance of well-balanced meals on the trail, not only for a moral boost at the end of a grueling day, but as sustainable nutrition for the long haul.
Chris has sampled just about every brand out there in an effort to find that backcountry feast. He put over 15 different meals to the test in the past year alone, and scoured the interwebs, bugged his thru-hiking buddies, and pored through hiking forums to bring you this streamlined selection of 16 meals you see today.
Below we’ve compiled some fan favorites, and based our selection off our own experiences and user reviews. Here are the top backpacking meals to stock up on for the coming season — or, if you’re a prepper — the coming apocalypse. Whatever way things shake out, these meals are A-OK.
Check out our list of top picks, or hop down to our buyer’s guide, comparison chart, or FAQ for more info on snagging the perfect meal for your needs.
Dietary info key:
GF= gluten-free
DF= dairy-free
V= vegan
Veg= vegetarian
The Best Backpacking Meals of 2024
- Best Overall Backpacking Meal: Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto
- Best Budget Backpacking Meal: Readywise Still Lake Lasagna with Sausage
- Runner-Up Best Backpacking Meal: Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai
- Best Breakfast Backpacking Meal: Heather’s Choice Apple Pie Buckwheat Breakfast
- Best Backpacking Meal for Lunch: Pinnacle Foods Herb Roasted Chicken And White Cheddar Dumplings
- Best Paleo Backpacking Meal: Wild Zora Paleo Meals Chicken Caldera Curry
- Best Backpacking Desert: Backpacker’s Pantry Astronaut Neopolitan Ice Cream Sandwich
Best Overall Backpacking Meal
Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories920
- Dry weight5.71 oz.
- Water required2/3 cup
- Prep time10 min.
Pros
- Astronomical calorie-to-weight ratio
- Loaded with healthy protein (43g!)
- Phenomenal hearty taste
- Speedy prep time
- Minimal water requirements
Cons
- Some difficulty getting all the ingredients to rehydrate
- May ruin your love affairs with other brands
- On the pricey side
Chris Carter
They say you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Well, folks — we’re here to tell ya — you certainly can with this backcountry banquet. Boasting the best calorie-to-weight ratio of anything on this list, without skimping on taste or nutrition, Peak Refuel’s Chicken Pesto ($13) is hands down our favorite backpacking meal for taxing ultralight missions that require maximum energy.
Thumbing through the freeze-dried selections at an REI during a resupply on his thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail, one of our authors had to do a double take when he glanced at the specs of this meal. 920 calories in a 5.7-ounce package?! What wizardry Peak Refuel employs we know not — but most other companies don’t have it.
Skeptical, he picked one up and had it that night for dinner. Not only did it fill him to the brim, but it was one of the better-tasting meals he’d had on trail to date. Peak Refuel has since become our go-to brand for featherlight backpacking trips that are calorically demanding. These aren’t just empty calories either. Packed with 43 grams of protein, with plenty of carbs and fats for long-term energy, this meal is a powerhouse for endurance activities.
And it doesn’t stop there. While many other meals with this high of a calorie count require well over 2 cups of water, they have somehow been able to rehydrate their entire meal with a scant 2/3 cup. This is a godsend for dry camps, or when you’re running low on fuel to boil large amounts of water.
It’s difficult to ding this delicious dinner. But if we had to point out some cons; the relatively high price tag, and the difficulty in getting all the ingredients to rehydrate in the recommended 10 minutes aren’t ideal. Small prices to pay for such a stalwart meal.
For an even heartier option, check out their Beef Pasta Marinara which is loaded with 1,040 calories and 49 grams of protein. We tend to favor the taste of the Chicken Pesto, but this is another hardworking option.
Best Budget Backpacking Meal
Readywise Still Lake Lasagna With Sausage
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories710
- Dry weight5.9 oz.
- Water required2 cups
- Prep time12-15 min.
Pros
- Great, filling ingredients
- Impressive calorie-to-weight ratio
- Affordable compared to similar calorie-rich meals
Cons
- Requires a good deal of water
- A bit difficult to get all ingredients to rehydrate
Chris Carter
Rising from roots in emergency preparedness, Readywise has burst onto the backpacking scene with a whole slew of delicious dishes for each meal of the day. We’ve tested just about every one of them, as they quickly became our meal-of-choice for thru-hikes of the CDT and AT in 2021. Their approachable price point, solid ingredients, and respectable calorie-to-weight ratio made them shoo-ins for a financially strapped aspiring thru-hiker.
Hands down our favorite concoction from the brand is the Still Lake Lasagna with Sausage ($7.50). One of the more hearty options in its lineup, the lasagna has an incredible taste that fills in all the corners of a starving backpacker’s belly after a brutal day. We’ve sampled several different “lasagnas” from other brands, and this one strikes pretty darn close to that traditional bake-at-home flavor we’ve all grown to love. Pro-tip: chuck a handful of croutons on top for more of a crunchy, “baked” texture.
While this is an efficient meal to bring along, it does take a good amount of water (2 cups) to make, which isn’t awesome at dry camps. We also found it harder to rehydrate all ingredients in the meal when compared to other options.
Aside from that, you really can’t go wrong with these high-energy backpacking picks. They deliver adequate, long-lasting energy, cook up fast, and are downright tasty to boot.
Runner-Up Best Backpacking Meal
Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories730
- Dry weight6.2 oz.
- Water required2 cups
- Prep time15-17 min.
Pros
- One of our favorite flavors for backpacking meals
- Feels like you are actually following a recipe and cooking
- Bursting with flavor
- On the affordable side
Cons
- Not the best calorie-to-weight ratio
- Requires a lot of water
Chris Carter
Hoooboy, do we love the taste of Pad Thai on trail! We don’t even care that it’s on the heavy side, it’s quickly become our all-time favorite flavor for any adventure. Want to feel like a bonafide backcountry chef as well? Do we have the meal for you. Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai ($10) not only tastes amazing, but also has you add several ingredients throughout the cooking process, making it feel like much more of a home-cooked meal than just pulling an oxygen absorber from the pouch and dumping water in.
Boil 2 cups of water (yeah … a bit much) and pour it in, squeeze a pouch of peanut butter into the noodles and let them sit, then sprinkle actual peanuts and flavorful sriracha lime powder over the final product. We’ve got Chef Boyardee over here! Trust us — after months of mixing nothing but hot water with your meals on a thru-hike, this feels like cooking for royalty.
We’ll often bring some extra sauces and spices to spruce up our freeze-dried meals, but this one needs no additions. The sriracha lime bursts with flavor, and the crunchy peanuts seem to bring it all together. The texture is something you’d order at a restaurant.
Our quibbles with this meal lie in the sheer amount of single-use packaging it employs, and the fact that it requires a good deal of water. Aside from that, it packs a calorically-dense punch, and is by far one of the best flavors we’ve ever sampled in the wild.
Best Breakfast Backpacking Meal
Heather’s Choice Apple Pie Buckwheat Breakfast
Specs
- Dietary infoV, DF, GF
- Calories (per package)530
- Dry weight4 oz.
- Water required4 oz.
- Prep time5 min.
Pros
- Acceptable calorie-to-weight ratio
- Phenomenal taste
Cons
- Would like a bit more protein in breakfasts
Chris Carter
The most beloved of Heather’s flavors of buckwheat breakfasts, the Apple Pie ($9) is said to be a bit tart and not too sweet. We like that these meals are cognizant of many folks’ dietary needs and they’re not overwhelmed with sugar and sodium.
530 calories in a 4-ounce package passes the 100 calorie/ounce rule we try to go off of for backpacking, so it’s a win in our books. We wish there was a bit more protein for a breakfast meal, but the taste is great and we feel it gives us adequate energy for the day ahead.
We do love how little water this meal requires (4 oz.), as we don’t have to be too mindful of saving a bunch for the morning at dry camps. The anticipation of this tasty treat is bound to raise you from the dead in the wee hours of the morning on trail!
Best Backpacking Meal for Lunch
Pinnacle Foods Herb Roasted Chicken And White Cheddar Dumplings
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories710
- Dry weight4.3 oz.
- Water required1.25 cups
- Prep time10-12 min.
Pros
- Incredible calorie-to-weight ratio
- Great, filling taste
- Very flavorful
- Sustainable packaging
Cons
- Takes a bit longer to hydrate than others, and some ingredients struggle to fully hydrate
- Expensive
Chris Carter
Perhaps one of the best lunches we’ve had from a bag, Pinnacle Foods tops our personal list with its Herb Roasted Chicken and White Cheddar Dumplings ($15).
With one of the better calorie-to-weight ratios out there and packed with healthy energy, this is a top pick for the ultralight cult — if the price isn’t too much of a deterrent.
We’d eat this every day without a problem. It’s comfort in a bowl. A mix of marinated chicken, delicious dumplings, green beans, carrots, and parsley in a fabulous sauce, and you pretty much forget you’re eating a backpacking meal. You pay a bit more, but it’s worth it.
In the timeless words of Tom Haverford, “treat yourself.”
Best Paleo Backpacking Meal
Wild Zora Paleo Meals Chicken Caldera Curry
Specs
- Dietary infoGF, DF, Paleo
- Calories350
- Dry weight3 oz.
- Water required1.5 cups
- Prep time5-15 min.
Pros
- Solid paleo option
- Hearty and filling
Cons
- Pretty bad calorie-to-weight ratio
- Difficult to get every ingredient to fully hydrate
Chris Carter
The clear favorite among the paleo options, this meat-eaters’ curry ($13) is a pile of meat, veggies, spices, and pineapple. That’s it.
It’s described both as “fabulous” and “the best backpacking meal I’ve had.” However, this is another that folks suggest waiting a bit more time for the meal to get fully rehydrated.
It also doesn’t have the best calorie-to-weight ratio, so isn’t optimal for ultralight missions.
Best Backpacking Dessert
Backpacker’s Pantry Astronaut Neopolitan Ice Cream Sandwich
Specs
- Dietary infoVeg
- Calories130
- Dry weight1 oz.
- Water requiredNone
- Prep timeTime it takes to open package
Pros
- Quick, delicious desert for after dinner or the top of a climb
- Weighs absolutely nothing
- Genuine ice cream taste
Cons
- A jealous trail family
Chris Carter
As a child of Ohio, one of our authors was a frequent field-tripper to theNeil Armstrong Museum, where her family would all get astronaut ice cream sandwiches.
Neil Armstrong is cool and all, but those ice cream sandwiches were legendary. And thanks to Backpacker’s Pantry ($4) and NASA, we can now take them backpacking. They’re so good, you guys. And the sentimental soul within is excited each time we have one of these in our pack.
These are simply incredible for rounding out a hearty meal around the fire, or even rewarding yourself after you’ve conquered a tough section of trail. We can’t recommend these enough for their barely-there weight and incredible taste. Just make sure you bring enough to share — you could quickly make some enemies if you’re the only one snacking on one in your trail family.
Best of the Rest
Mountain House Spicy Southwest-Style Skillet
Specs
- Dietary infoGF, DF
- Calories490
- Dry weight3.9 oz.
- Water required1.5 cups
- Prep time9 min.
Pros
- Solid calorie-to-weight ratio
- Great taste
- Lots of energy to start the day
Cons
- More water required than other breakfasts
Chris Carter
We hate to say that Mountain House has the eggy breakfast side of camping cornered, but we’re personally obsessed with every egg-based breakfast in their arsenal. Thepacks of eggs and baconare super light and just the right size for breakfast.
But our favorite — and another fan favorite — is this breakfast hash ($10). Chiles, shredded beef, beans, taters, and eggs! It’s so good, and we always have enough left over for lunch. Win-win.
This offers plenty of calories to confidently charge into a long day on trail. Plus, it boasts a solid calorie-to-weight ratio.
Backpacker’s Pantry Organic Hot Blueberry Walnut Oat & Quinoa
Specs
- Dietary infoV, DF
- Calories360
- Dry weight3.1 oz.
- Water required1 cup.
- Prep time5 min.
Pros
- Natural, organic ingredients
- Surprisingly tasty
Cons
- Not the best calorie-weight-ratio
Chris Carter
Another hearty breakfast option that’s mindful of diet is this organic meal from Backpackers Pantry ($13). Ingredients are all organic and natural; there are no weird, difficult-to-pronounce chemicals listed.
One reviewer remarked that this meal is “hella tasty” — a phrase you rarely see in these freeze-dried parts. The meal hydrates somewhat fast, but takes a bit more water than other breakfasts, and the dry weight isn’t the lightest for only 360 calories.
Good To-Go Thai Curry
Specs
- Dietary infoGF, DF
- Calories770
- Dry weight6.6 oz.
- Water required2.5 cups
- Prep time20 min.
Pros
- Phenomenal taste
- Passable calorie-to-weight ratio
Cons
- Long prep time
- Requires a good deal of water
Chris Carter
Good To-Go has been an absolute staple of our backpacking loadout for thousands of miles — the brand just doesn’t miss. The lightweight, smaller packages disappear easier in your pack, and the taste is consistently satisfying.
The Thai Curry ($10) is simply a standout. It looks terrible after it’s absorbed water, but don’t be dismayed. This is one of the few meals I don’t add anything to once it’s hot and ready for action. It’s a hunting camp go-to after a long day on the mountain.
This meal in particular does take more water than we generally like, and you have to sit for 20 minutes while you wait in agonizing hunger. Not a deal-breaker, but worth noting.
Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories560
- Dry weight4.4 oz.
- Water required1.5 cups
- Prep time9 min.
Pros
- Hearty, filling meal
- Great taste in the morning
- Respectable calorie-to-weight ratio
Cons
- Not good for folks with dietary restrictions
Chris Carter
For the calorically indulgent and dietarily unrestricted, this hearty morning feast ($10) is one of the most popular backpacking meals of all time.
One reviewer said, “After opening the pouch, I could have sworn someone dumped my mom’s biscuits and gravy in place of the once crouton-looking mound. Absolutely delicious.”
This was one of our author’s staples on several of his thru-hikes, and he has to confess that he ate this meal at all times of the day — not just for breakfast. It makes a great “corner-filler” after a lighter dinner meal or even a celebratory snack after reaching the top of a climb. It has a solid calorie-to-weight ratio, making it a no-brainer for the weight-conscious ultralight crowd.
It’s without a doubt delicious and moral-boosting if you’ve been trotting around in the backcountry for any number of days, but isn’t great for those with dietary restrictions. If you need a quick pick-me-up that will fuel you on particularly grueling days, this is one of our favorite breakfasts for the job.
AlpineAire Spicy Sausage Pasta
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories600
- Dry weight5 oz.
- Water required1.5 cups
- Prep time12-15 min.
Pros
- Super flavorful
- Hearty and filling
Cons
- Takes longer than others to hydrate
Chris Carter
The first time we ate this incredible meal ($10) was fireside, and we hadn’t even hiked yet. We made our camping partner try it because we were so blown away by how good it was. Our new favorite backpacking dinner is creamy, sausagey, delicious, cheesy goodness.
It’s not the best for folks with dietary restrictions and takes a while to hydrate. Still, it has a passable calorie-to-weight ratio and doesn’t require a ton of water.
Diet be darned, this is worth the full indulgent leap into dairy, gluten, and meaty excellence.
Backpacker’s Pantry Louisiana Red Beans & Rice
Specs
- Dietary infoV, GF
- Calories330
- Dry weight3.3 oz.
- Water required1.25 cups
- Prep time15 min.
Pros
- Good vegan option
- Great taste
- Affordable
Cons
- Long prep time
- Bad calorie-to-weight ratio
Chris Carter
The Backpacker’s Pantry Louisiana Red Beans and Rice ($8) is another fan favorite — so much so that it’s Amazon’s Choice (when in stock)! Vegans love it, and so does everyone else. Tips include adding a little less water and letting it sit for an extra 5-10 minutes to allow the beans to fully rehydrate.
We’re loving the price tag as well, especially for long-distance backpackers. It has a pretty bad calorie-to-weight ratio, and a long prep time, but aside from that is a great-tasting, hearty option for vegans or lovers of the classic red beans and rice combo.
Patagonia Provisions Organic Black Bean Soup
Specs
- Dietary infoDF, GF, V
- Calories570
- Dry weight5.8 oz.
- Water required2 cups
- Prep time10 min.
Pros
- Incredible, hearty taste
- Great for those with dietary restrictions
- Organic, healthy ingredients
Cons
- Have to cook in a pot
- Worst calorie-to-weight ratio on this list
- Takes lots of water
Chris Carter
If you thought Patagonia only made high-end puffies and pants, prepare to be surprised. Patagonia Provisions ($7.50) aims to create a sustainable food chain while providing affordable options for the trail-savvy.
This black bean soup is the top-reviewed among the brand’s backpacking food options, and tasters describe it as both “hearty” and “tasty.” There’s a lot to like about this scrumptious stew, but our author is hesitant to take it on serious backpacking objectives. The calorie-to-weight ratio is the worst on this list, dipping under the bare minimum 100 calories/ounce metric he runs by. It also requires a good deal of water, and you have to dirty up a pot to make it.
That said, this is a phenomenal option for a warm, nutritious boost around basecamp, or on mild camping trips. It’s great for those with dietary restrictions, and fills whatever space you’re in with a nostalgic, robust scent.
Trailtopia Sweet Potato Chili Mac With Hemp Seed Protein
Specs
- Dietary infoN/A
- Calories860
- Dry weight7.8 oz.
- Water required2.5 cups
- Prep time15 min.
Pros
- Rehydrates well
- Plenty of calories
- Packed with long-lasting energy
- Relatively quick prep time for how many calories it boasts
Cons
- Heavy package (put passable calorie-to-weight ratio)
- Requires a lot of water
Chris Carter
Trailtopia got extra creative with its entreé backpacking meals. TheSweet Potato Chili Mac($12) rehydrates amazingly well, serves two, and is chock full of elbow mac noodles, beans, onions, and chunks of sweet potato. Our favorite part of this meal? It’s the homemade spicy chili sauce and five-year shelf life for us.
This packs a serious caloric punch, and is great for the hungry thru-hiker on the verge of despair. While it’s designed for two, this is easily gobbled up by a famished dirtbag at the end of a long day on trail. The whole enchilada is heavy, but it still has a passable calorie-to-weight ratio, and provides the hiker with loads of long-lasting energy for the long haul.
Pro tip from our staff: This meal pairs great with grilled tortillas or chips. There’s also a beef version for meat lovers.
Pinnacle Foods Thai Peanut Curry With Roasted Vegetables and Rice Noodles
Specs
- Dietary infoGF, V
- Calories800
- Dry weight3.8 oz.
- Water required1.25 cups
- Prep time10-15 min.
Pros
- Super flavorful
- Rehydrated well
- Cooked relatively fast
- Fantastic calorie-to-weight ratio
Cons
- A bit difficult to stir and eat everything out of Omnidegradable package option
- Pricey
Chris Carter
We’ve given Pinnacle Foods some love in this roundup already, but we felt it important to mention another one of our favorite recipes. The Thai Peanut Curry with Roasted Vegetables and Rice Noodles ($16) slaps you in the face with flavor — in the best possible way.
We took this meal on a recent demanding backpacking trip along the Cumberland Trail, and it was a welcome treat at the end of a brutally hot day. This packs an absurd amount of ingredients into a small batch. Roasted bell peppers, onions, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potatoes, edamame, and garlic, join forces with rice noodles and a rich coconut-curry peanut sauce to deliver quite the complicated concoction. It’s topped off with cilantro, lime, and scallions to give it even more of a flair. Is your mouth watering yet?
The loud exotic flavor was a pleasant shock to our tastebuds after consuming the other relatively dull freeze-dried meals we schlepped along. If this brand wasn’t quite so expensive, these would probably be staples in our backpacking loadout. $16 a pouch gets pricey, and if you tack on shipping and tax from their website, it’s comparable to a steak dinner out on the town.
There were almost no cons that surfaced, but we did find it a bit difficult to fully stir our meal after pouring the water into the omnidegradable package. The tall profile also makes it difficult to scrape every morsel of food out of the corners. You have the option of choosing a wide, low “retort pouch” option at checkout, but the omnidegradable packs are fully compostable — which we think is rad.
Qualms aside, this is (aside from Pad Thai) perhaps one of the best flavors we’ve run across in our sampling of backpacking meals. It’s enough to make you want to pack up and move to Thailand simply for the cuisine.
Backpacking Meals Comparison Chart
How We Tested Backpacking Meals
The GearJunkie team is composed of a multitude of backcountry chefs who have been whipping up meals in the wilderness for about as long as they can remember. They know the importance of a hearty, tasty meal for a boost in morale at the end of the day, and sustained energy on the open trail.
For this guide we racked our brains, trying to remember our favorite meals we’ve sampled over our years of adventuring. We also scoured the interweb, bugged the pros, and tried a plethora of new concoctions to narrow in on the best backpacking meals currently on the market.
Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter has burned more backpacking meals in the woods than he’d like to admit, but in his years of culinary calamities, he’s stumbled upon some pretty spectacular flavors and brands. Chris is an alumnus of each of the Triple Crown Trails in the U.S., the PCT, CDT, and AT, and has cooked his fair share of gnarly hiking meals. Beyond the fabled ramen bombs that sustained him many a night on trail, Chris has sampled most backpacking meal brands, and won’t just bring any ol’ freeze-dried option on his adventures.
Every meal on this list was vetted by our stone-cold pros and had to prove itself on real-world tests in the mountains. Meals had to offer acceptable calorie-to-weight ratios, and provide sustainable energy for the long haul. Rest assured — we would depend on any one of these meals for nourishment on our treks.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Backpacking Meals
When laying out gear for your next backpacking adventure, the prospect of planning your food intake can feel complex and daunting. This is where backpacking-specific food offers some relief and lots of time-saving convenience.
Instead of packing carefully measured volumes of specific ingredients to make a bunch of meals from scratch, backpacking meals come in neat little packages that are easy to lay out and visualize as you plan your trip’s meal schedule.
Be sure to consider how much space you have in your backpacking backpack, or ultralight backpack when shopping for these meals in bulk.
Dietary preferences are very individualized, and everything from taste to ingredients to ideal serving size varies from person to person. When selecting backpacking meals for your upcoming adventure, try to lean heavily on what you already know about your personal food preferences.
While there are plenty of creative and inspired backpacking meals available today, choose the options that align with your lifestyle and sound appealing. Maybe you prefer low-sodium foods, are lactose intolerant, or maybe you just really dislike black beans. Whatever your preferences are, honor them as you begin to purchase meals.
After a long and active day out, you don’t want to find yourself stuck with a meal that isn’t exciting and satisfying for you. Go with what you know.
Caloric Density & Weight
Now here’s where the debate gets heated! Backpackers — particularly in the ultralight cult — love nothing more than to scrutinize the stats of every element in their loadout to narrow in on the best functionality-to-weight ratio. Different backpackers have different nutritional needs, but in general, you want to strike a healthy balance between calories and dry weight so you don’t end up bringing too much heavy food, or not enough food for the exercise you’re about to do.
Consider how much your meals weigh versus how many calories they offer. While we aren’t going to suggest an exact number of calories you should be consuming during backpacking trips, we do recommend ensuring the meals you purchase offer enough calories to sustain you throughout the strenuous demands of backpacking trips.
We like to follow the “100 calories per ounce” role when backpacking. Optimally, any food that you take, whether it be freeze-dried dinners or protein bars for snack time, should follow this metric. Many of the meals we’ve highlighted above are eaten during dinner-time, which is when you should be consuming the most calories. For that reason, it’s best that they have a much higher ratio than just 100 to one.
Generally, you’ll consume more calories per day while backpacking than you do on an average day at home. Before your trip begins, it may be a good idea to try a few backpacking meals and experience the actual size of the servings and how full they make you feel.
Remember that when you locate the calorie number on the back of your food pouch, that number refers to the calories in a single serving. Many backpacking meals contain multiple servings, so don’t assume one individual pouch is meant to be one meal for one person. In our stats list above, we have listed the total number of calories in each entire package.
Food is always going to make up a major portion of the total weight you’re lugging around in your pack. Ideally, you’re maximizing the amount and quality of the food that you bring while minimizing the weight you’ll have to carry.
As you consider which meals to buy, think about the ratio between weight and calories. There’s a lot of variation in this ratio between different meal options and meal manufacturers. Over a multiday trip, weight adds up fast. Plenty of calories and a manageable total pack weight are your goals.
Cooking Method: Pot or Pouch?
There are a few distinct categories of backpacking meals that are defined by the cooking method. Most backpacking meals are dehydrated or freeze-dried and must be invigorated with hot water before consumption.
While many options can simply be hydrated in their own packaging, others have to be poured into a pot and actively stirred. An obvious difference between these two methods is that the pot-reliant options require you to dirty a dish at mealtime. For those who wish to avoid this, or for the ultralight and cookware-averse crowd, cook-in-pouch meals are the better choice.
A third category of backpacking meal requires no hot water hydration at all. These meals are cooked and ready to eat as is, and all you have to do is simply open the pouch and dig in. However, because these options are not dehydrated before packaging, they tend to be heavy.
Check out our comprehensive guide on backpacking stoves for help in choosing the best backcountry heating method to whip your meals into shape.
Water Availability
For meals that require water in their “cooking” process, plan ahead to ensure you’ll have access to enough water to hydrate your pouches at mealtime. Will you be carrying some or all of your water on this trip? Is there access to water along the way? If you’ll have access to a natural water source, do you have a reliable method of treating your water before using it for meals? If done properly, boiling water can be an effective method of disinfecting water before using it for meals.
If you’ll be carrying your water, which will make it a very cherished commodity, it may be wise to consider meals that don’t require hydration before cooking. That way, you can focus your water allotment on your drinking needs.
Dietary Restrictions
These days, there are ever-improving backpacking meals available for those with dietary restrictions. Heather’s ChoiceandPatagonia Provisions, among others, make meals that accommodate eaters with all kinds of diets, from dairy-free to paleo to vegan and more.
Nutritional Value and Energy in Backpacking Meals
Just because a meal has a ton of calories, doesn’t mean those calories will necessarily give you the sustainable energy you need to keep pushing day after day on trail. Food made of empty calories doesn’t offer much in the way of clean, nutritionally dense energy.
Keep your eyes peeled for backpacking meals that strike a balance between healthy fats, substantial carbohydrates, and protein. All of these are essential ingredients for your body to keep lugging your backpack across brutal terrain.
We love meals that incorporate organic ingredients with lots of energy, like Patagonia’s Black Bean Soup. Meals like these make us feel cleaner and healthier as we push ourselves to the limit.
Cost
Finally, refer to your trip’s budget before jumping in and buying all the meals that seem intriguing. Backpacking meals range in price quite a lot, and many backpackers are surprised to discover that some options cost nearly as much as brunch at a sit-down restaurant. Backpacking meals tend to cost between $5 and $15 per pouch.
We don’t think it’s a good idea to buy all of your meals at once for a long multi-month backpacking trip. Chances are, the flavor you desire in the present isn’t what you will crave five weeks into a four-month thru-hike. Sample a few beforehand, and buy different flavors or ship them ahead while you are on trail.
FAQ
What food should I bring for a 2-day backpacking trip?
Thanks to the common combination of long days and heavy packs while backpacking, you’re going to burn a ton of calories. Most backpackers will need to eat more food while out on a trip than they do on a normal day at home. Actual intake depends on the individual, but most people will need to eat between 2,500 and 5,000 calories per day.
Because backpacking meals come in breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, you could feasibly subsist on only backpacking meals and get plenty of calories each day. However, depending on your budget, you may want to supplement your backpacking meal pouches with other snacks and foods for easy and affordable grazing.
What are the best backpacking meals?
Companies likeMountain HouseandBackpacker’s Pantrymake lots of tried-and-true backpacking meal pouches. While these two sources represent the bigger names on the market, we also recommend products from other companies likeGood To-GoandPeak Refuel.
The best backpacking meal is the one that tastes great and fits your dietary and monetary needs. You want your meals to add satisfaction to your life after a full day on the trail.
If we have any say in the matter, the absolute best backpacking meal we’ve tried is Peak Refuel’s Chicken Pesto — but this obviously boils down to personal preference.
How can I eat healthy while backpacking?
Many backpacking meal companies now make products that accommodate a wide spectrum of dietary restrictions and preferences.
If you’re seeking healthy meals with fewer additives and preservatives, companies likeHeather’s ChoiceandWild Zora Paleo Mealsmake quality offerings. Check the ingredients of potential meals before you purchase. Whether you’re vegan, paleo, or are simply health-conscious — now’s a good time to be alive as a consumer of backpacking meals.
What are the best keto backpacking meals?
There are a few options out there to meet the needs of ketogenic folks, but they are rare.Next Mile Mealsspecializes in keto backpacking meals. These are crafted with adventurers in mind, and have the requisite calories and energy to support high-output activities.
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Chris Carter
30 articles
Based in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chris Carter is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie, while squeezing in side gigs as an adventure filmmaker and content creator in the outdoor industry. Drawing from his childhood in Africa, experience as a rock climbing and backpacking guide, ultra-marathon running, and years of extensive thru-hiking, he’s passionate about journalism that gets people into the wild. He has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails in America: the Pacific Crest Trail (2018), the Continental Divide Trail (2021), and the Appalachian Trail (2021), and has explored, rock-climbed, and backpacked all over the world. He hopes to spread his love of adventure and travel through his writing, art, and videography.
Nicole Qualtieri
402 articles
Nicole Qualtieri has been writing about hunting, fishing, and the outdoors for8 years.
From 2014-2017, Nicole worked for ZPZ Productions. There, she partnered with multiple hunting outlets and personalities on social media and e-commerce, including MeatEater, Randy Newberg, and Remi Warren. She also managed online communications for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers for nearly two years, and she spent six years prior in Corporate sales. Additionally, she served a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Bridgewater, MA, coordinating volunteers for a therapeutic recreational facility.
Based in Montana, Nicole is an avid hunter and angler. She’s a lifelong horsewoman and animal lover, and she’s recently ventured into the world of bird dogs with her young Boykin Spaniel, Bob.
