Defining "Ultralight" Food for Backpacking and Bug Out Bags
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- Whether you are thru-hiking, backpacking, or building a bug out bag, this deep dive into the specifics of food density will assist you in maximizing the weight efficiency of the calories you carry. PLUS: MASSIVE downloadable chart of over 1200 hiker foods compared by weight!
PLEASE NOTE: food labels sometimes change. Some of the specific items referenced in the video have had their calories adjusted. The chart has been updated to version 2.0 (and again to version 2.5 with a new sheet for electrolyte supplements)! Over 400 freeze-dried meals are now included, new tools for menu planning and nutrition calculation have been added, and key existing items have been corrected for accuracy.
Watch the video about the update to 2.0:
• Hiker Food Chart 2.0 (...
For questions about the new nutritional analysis columns, check out the video series on Performance Nutrition for Backpackers:
• Hiker Food
Download the Hiker Food Chart 2.5:
PDF Version:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/u1vt57...
Excel Version:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bgwzfi...
Index (courtesy of James Piper):
0:00 - Introduction
2:23 - Defining "ultralight" food
7:52 - Gear shakedown (virtual gear shakedown for food bag)
10:18 - Nutrition
11:01 - The chart
12:35 - Food bars
19:21 - Emergency bars
20:47 - Savory bars
21:55 - Bread
22:21 - Bumps (products to add to dishes to enhance caloric density)
23:42 - Cans
24:27 - Candy
26:35 - Cereal
27:46 - Cheese
28:53 - Cookies
29:52 - Chips and crackers
30:56 - Drink mixes
32:47 - Fruit
34:35 - Gels
35:33 - Jerky
36:16 - Meat
38:16 - Nut butter
41:00 - Nuts and seeds
42:01 - Pastries
43:27 - Side dishes
46:08 - Soup packets
46:25 - Trail mix
48:42 - Package weight
50:46 - The missing class (freeze dried meals)
0:00 - Introduction
2:23 - Defining "ultralight" food
7:52 - Gear shakedown (virtual gear shakedown for food bag)
10:18 - Nutrition
11:01 - The chart
The rest of the video is examining the details of the chart:
12:35 - Food bars
19:21 - Emergency bars
20:47 - Savory bars
21:55 - Bread
22:21 - Bumps (products to add to dishes to enhance caloric density)
23:42 - Cans
24:27 - Candy
26:35 - Cereal
27:46 - Cheese
28:53 - Cookies
29:52 - Chips and crackers
30:56 - Drink mixes
32:47 - Fruit
34:35 - Gels
35:33 - Jerky
36:16 - Meat
38:16 - Nut butter
41:00 - Nuts and seeds
42:01 - Pastries
43:27 - Side dishes
46:08 - Soup packets
46:25 - Trail mix
48:42 - Package weight
50:46 - The missing class (freeze dried meals)
Thanks for this! I should have done it.
@@GearSkeptic My pleasure. Thanks for putting your informative videos together :)
bump
Thanks. Thought I pinned it, didn't seem to take. Tried pinning again.
@@GearSkeptic Great stuff. One consideration you missed ... how much of the total food you can get out of the package and into your system. This is especially an issue with nut butters in jars and squeeze packets with the rigid screw-caps.
The fact that you share your excel sheet and pdf with viewers is a real gift and I really really appreciate it. Thanks!
Most welcome!
If you measure units of info per TH-cam minute, this video is hyperlite. Simply outstanding.
Thanks much!
This is easily the most useful information I've ever seen presented in a backpacking video. Excellent presentation as well. Thanks so much!
Thanks very much! I was worried it was too long, too slow. I'm working on trying to talk a little faster and more smoothly.
@@GearSkeptic Your videos are very well thought out, and you take the time to discuss and explain. Don't worry about the video lengths; you cannot rush quality.
concur!
@@GearSkeptic It's OK, we can play you back at 1.5 speed!
Yes! Heck of a video! I can’t even begin to imagine how much time and effort went into making it. If he ever decides to publish it, in book form, let me know; I want to be first in line to buy it!
I'm simply...blown away! The hours and months of work that went into this presentation boggles my mind. This is my Go-To list for all my hikes. Thank you so very much!
Thanks much! I’m very glad to help.
If your videos were backpacking food, they would be bottles of olive oil.
LOL! Dense, but you can't take too much all at once :)
That was sweet..... because he'd be under appreciated by uneducated people
So smooth ;)
There's a video game called "The Long Dark" in which you play a downed pilot trying to survive in the northern Canadian wilderness, but really it's just Hiking Simulator. It's very detailed with random variables like weather, temperature, wildlife spawns, resources, and gear condition affecting your chance of survival. What's funny is you're optimizing caloric densities of food to figure out what goes best in your pack the exact same as I do when I play. Art imitates life. Thank you for cataloging this, it's a phenomenal tool!
Wait till you see the video on Volumetric Calorie Density 😁
I'm not an outdoors guy. I have no idea how I got here, but I am completely fascinated by this information. Great Job!
Thank you! I appreciate that.
This has to be one of the most underrated TH-cam videos I've ever watched...
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this research and break this down in such a convenient format.
Thanks very much! I really appreciate it.
51 minutes of hands and spreadsheets! Yet I am left wanting more. Excellent job!!!
Thanks! 👍🏼🤚🏼😜
This has completely changed how I think about food when out on multi day hikes! Thanks for putting in all the hard work, truly appreciate it.
My pleasure, and thank you!
Jesus Christ the amount of work you must've spent on this, and then made everything available for free alongside an easy to digest presentation. Completely changed the way I pack my food bag. And ontop of that you already provide the metric conversions. Thanks so much!
Thanks much! I am glad if any of it can help :)
Pardon my French.
This is absolutely the best goddamn thing that I have ever seen.
I mean seriously, the amount of effort and the amount of care and raw intelligence that goes into this is something that is severely lacking in today's social sphere and there is a lot of money that needs to be thrown at people like you so you can further produce this kind of content.
If you don't have a patreon you need to make one pronto.
I'm not going to get into it right now but you are potentially saving people's lives with this kind of information by getting rid of ignorance and by showing people what kind of good reasonable options that they have.
Because you want to know another great thing about ultra light food?
It's cheap. And they're found in a lot of stores in major metropolitan areas.
A lot of people are going to really appreciate the numbers on this chart.
Now all they have to do is surf through price tags themselves.
Never stop doing this.
That is very, very kind and generous of you! Much appreciated, and I take it to heart.
Dude, I have watched three of your videos today. Came here from a Reddit post and you, my man have got backpacking food science down. Keep up the great work and I am looking forward to new videos. Cheers.
My theory why these videos are not all over the recommandations:
When you make a video like this, where you put in EVERYTHING about a topic (extremely well thought out), you will for a loooong looong time have no reason to make another video
Like this the youtube algorithm thinks you are not active enough
I apreciate this video more than every other video i watched about backpacking! Thanks a lot
Especially that you share your file!
Just awesome
Thank you so much!
Is there a way i can help your channel grow? I really want that these informations spread more! For example recommending you in the comment section of other youtube videos?
Unfortunately my reach over social media is not big at all....
I appreciate the thought, but what would happen if there got to be too many comments to answer them all? 😇
As a This Old Tony fan who's getting into backpacking, this is exactly what I needed to see. Thanks for all the work-and money-you put into this!
@This Old Tony would be proud of your on-screen hands, GearSkeptic!
I'm also a big fan of the 'hand model' presentation style.
Ya gotta have the hands to pull it off.
If you watch this video with x1.5 speed it has a higher information density than just watching it on normal speed
It goes from peanut butter to olive oil!
@@GearSkeptic I feel so Ultralight now! btw, thanks a lot for your videos
9 minutes in and I'm baffeled by the density of information in this video. You have done the backpacking world a huge favor by uploading this video.
Thank you! It is kind of you to say.
I’ve been watching hiking TH-cam videos for years and never found your channel. This video was the most well-researched and informative food analysis that I’ve ever seen. I even laughed out loud several times. It’s the most underrated thru hiker video out there!
Thanks very much! It is much appreciated.
I seriously think this series should be mandatory watching for anyone hiking longer than a weekend, great info, well organized. I'm going through for my 2nd time now, taking notes this time
Thanks much! Very kind of you to say.
Dude! how does this video not have 10 million views? You are a freaking rock star. Thanks you so very much
Thank you! Very kind kind of you to say 😊
*The Greatest, most thorough hiking (bug out bag) food review I've ever seen!*
*I can only imagine the hours & dollars spent creating this valuable content. Thanks!*
Thanks very much!
@@GearSkeptic *I subscribed because of this video. I'll be digging through your past work for more gems!* 💎
This video research on the comparison of food calories versus weight carried is a “must see” for all outdoors enthusiasts. Job well done!
Thank you!
Absolutely FANTASTIC! Love the actual data and the spreadsheet. You've saved me hours cracking math and research. Now I can sort/filter/shop and save myself from carrying extra pounds. Truly appreciate all the work you put into this (and your other videos) - best thing I've found on the internet in several years!
One of my favourite bars: Nature Valley Protein bars in salted caramel and almonds flavour. I'd categorise them as savoury, they have almost 142 kcal/oz or 5 kcal/gram (200kcal per 40 gram bar) and they contain 10(.3) grams of protein. They're also pretty affordable to boot.
As someone who has a spreadsheet, with every gasoline fill up I have put in a car since 2005, the spreadsheet is one of the most exciting things I’ve seen in the last few years. Thank you very much, fantastic work, and a very interesting video
Always good to meet a fellow spreadsheeter!
Excellent presentation delivered with class and humor. Love the look-down perspective and choreographed hand gestures! I very MUCH appreciated the quality that made this valuable information both relevant and fascinating. You've got a gift there, James! I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to viewing more of your content. I've also liberally shared the link to this video so others can benefit as I have. Thanks too for making the spreadsheet available. It will serve me well as I plan my trail meals/snacks.
Thanks so much! Very kind of you. Glad it could help!
I love hiking, food, and spreadsheets. This entire video is my aesthetic. Informative and entertaining, thank you for this!
Thanks! I appreciate that.
Thank you for your diligent research! I’m shocked that this video isn’t more popular. I’m prepping for a hike of the JMT, and this definitely made me rethink my food strategy. Very well made video!
Thanks very much! I hope it helps.
What a fascinating presentation! Thank you for all your hard work and even sharing your files! I can’t wait to watch more.
Most welcome!
I am absolutely amazed that you put this information up here for free while obviously, a ton of work went into it. It makes me happy.
This was possibly the most helpful video I have ever watched. Seriously.
I had started building my own spreadsheet and looking into lightening my food since I have a trip with a 10 day carry this summer. The amount of work that went into building the spreadsheet and the video must have been enormous. So thank you!
Very glad to hear that! Much appreciated.
Invaluable. Thank you so much for this breakdown.
Wow just wow. I never put that much thought in the food I brought with me when hiking as I've never really done a hike more than 3-4 days. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of all the different options, I can imagine a lot of effort and time went into making it !
I have been looking into this for years and this is by far the most complete review I’ve ever seen. 👍🏻
You sir, have broken my heart by educating me about the food I love on trail!
Thanks for the video, truly great and very helpful.
You can always bring any treat you like, just call it your luxury item!
@@GearSkeptic No, I will find a way to freeze dry my Snickers and will wash the result down with olive oil. ;-)
well that was my quickest subscribe in a while. thanks
Great video and very timely. You've made me want to re-examine my food plan for a 2021 AT thru-hike...I'm anxious to go thru your spreadsheet and come up with a new and improved meal list for a 10 day carry. Thank you!
Absolutely wild how informative this is and the fact you made the spread sheet available. this is the most kickass thing on youtube. Bless your work man.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
By my maths (could be wrong) - within the meat category, Billtong comes in nicely as ultralight. Barbell foods here in Australia has 70-gram packs that have 389.5793 calories or 1630kJ which gives a rating of 5.565 / ultralight. I think the main difference with biltong (a south African preservation method) is that, at least with this brand, they definitely leave the fat on and it's much chewier / not as hard as jerky. Thanks for all your hard work on this!
biltong is delicious!
I lost my shit when you crushed the potato chips 🤣 this video is so hilarious.
I really appreciate this video and time you put here to help others and sharing your chart. It is an uncommon act of kindness and selflessness.
Thanks! That is kind of you to say, and I’m very glad if it can help!
Thank you so much for putting this together and and sharing it with the world. I've only recently started hiking weekend trips and this list makes me feel like I can put meals together and not kill my back at the same time. thanks for all your hard work.
You are very welcome! I’m so glad to help!
This is fascinating.
Thanks! I thought I was the only one.
This is pretty friggin' sweet. I'm a Data Analyst and eat this kind of stuff up (Pun Intended). I'm prepping for the AT next year and would love to use the massive chart you provided to help in that venture - do you happen to have a version as an Excel Workbook or .CSV file? That would make it much easier to hop around to areas of concern. Cheers!
Yes! Just uploaded a link. See the pinned comment at the top (and the technical notes, since you're a fellow data junkie).
@@GearSkeptic Hi I can't find your comment, was it deleted?
Oops! My apologies. It was in a pinned comment on another video. Same chart but expanded with additional columns that are explained in subsequent videos (see the ones on Performance Nutrition for Backpackers). Here is the link:
www.mediafire.com/file/lqsrekfp3it3qwu/Hiker_Food_Chart.xlsx/file
Late to the party, but from a data viz guy, I have to say I nerded out too. Awesome video.
Just finished a 15 mile day and watching this video has me so energized. Never seen your videos. Just subscribed. I carry a heavy but so comfortable Mystery Ranch pack so I try to maximize the weight of my contents as backcountry hunting and caloric intake is so important.
This is golden, i'm so glad i found your channel. GearSkeptic watchtrhrough marathon starting now!
I kinda think if you made a pemmican - that skewed the base ratio in favor of tallow over jerky (maybe 60/40 or higher) and either eliminated, or reduced, the amount of dried fruits, but go generous with fatty nuts or seeds - you might end up with something that beats out everything on that list as far as calories per gram.
You're basically eating lard then. Why not drink olive oil?
People used pemmican for hundreds of years because it was the ultimate trekking food. There haven't been many improvements made to it. I believe the British used pemmican as rations in the Boer War and added cacao because it is a high stearic acid fat, energy dense and contains a stimulant called theobromine.
This is truly incredible info. I will 100% support you on Patreon if you're interested in starting one.
Thanks! I really appreciate the thought, but I'm good.
You are an amazing human for not only doing all this research, but also to share your work with downloadable charts!!! Thank you so much! This is so so helpful!
Thank you so much! I figured nobody would care about this stuff but me. I put it out there anyway and, it turns out, I’m not the only one! 🤓
This was the most information dense (bytes/sec) video I've seen on this subject. I love the data driven approach with the data organized in a spreadsheet. Thanks for providing a downloadable version. That was super awesome. I also loved your presentation with just the right amount of wry humor to make this much information enjoyable. No doubt many people's biases and assumptions were corrected by the data that was counter intuitive based on "common knowledge".
Thank you! That is kind of you!
3:58 Just take a swig of olive oil and eat a square of toilet paper. You'll get all the fiber you need haha.
hands down one of the most informative and best videos on this important subject, thank you.
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I didn’t expect to sit through this whole video but…I laughed, I cried, I even learned something. Great job and thanks for all the hard work.
Thanks! I really do appreciate that!
This was so fascinating and informative. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. Excellent work.
Thanks much! I appreciate that.
Wow I finally finished this video! Thanks for all your time and effort into making it, along with the chart! Fantastic!
Just discovered this video and very surprised it doesn’t have more views. By far the best hiking, backpacking, bike packing, outdoor food video I’ve ever seen, great job!!! Thank you for putting all of this information together and for sharing. I can’t wait to see more of your videos.
Thanks very much! I appreciate that.
This video is amazing! Thank you for all the effort you've gone to, to get this information together. Remarkable! 👍
Hands down the most informative video I have come across, the presentation was refreshing and creative! Combined with the fact that you share the info with the community for free is next level awesome. Thanks so much for doing the leg work, now its time to put this information to use.
Thanks very much! I really appreciate it.
WoW! This was incredibly informative! Thank you so much for taking the time to compile ALL THIS INFORMATION!! 🏆 You’re a hiker helper hero! (Sounds like an energy bar or maybe a sub sandwich).
This is by far been my most easily to understand and explain an explanation for calories versus weight.
Never seen so much love in the comments of a TH-cam video. So well deserved!!
Thanks very much! I do appreciate every bit! 😄
I’m kinda impressed that this type of spreadsheet style video still made me laugh. You’re good. Thank you for all you’re work on this one, can’t imagine how long this took to edit. Thumbs up sir & thanks for sharing your findings.
Thanks! I appreciate that. Yah, editing is a whole phase of its own. It can take me as many as 5 days (at 2-3 hours per day).
How does this video not have more views. Absolutely phenomenal. Thank you for your dedication.
Thanks!
I feel fortunate to have finally come across these videos. This one really helps make sense of almost all aspects of food I have scattered in my mind when selecting food while bike touring. The only aspect I hadn't noticed yet was that of cost. Looking forward to going into the more of the materials and follow up video(s) you've been so kind to offer the communities.
Thanks! I hope it can help.
I heard about your video on a FB backpacking group. So I came here and watched it and found it amazingly great. So much information so well organized.
@21:39 "The pizzas are all gone because I ate them." That cracked me up! This is a great video. I've been looking for something like this for weeks. Great job.
Thanks! Glad if it can help.
Just my luck, Coconut and I don't get along well. My throat would hate me if I ate it. I have to say however that I've watched tons of videos on hiking food and this is by far the most comprehensive and best presented video on the topic. Seriously, thank you for your efforts.
Thanks very much, and you are most welcome! Consider seeds and seed butters. Tasty, and high in density.
Between the incredibly detailed and useful information...and the unexpected moments for laughter, I am very thankful. Thank you so much for sharing so much time and research!
Thanks very much! I do hope some of it can be useful.
I love this video! Thanks for breaking it all down and love the fun/wittyness of it all.
Trail life enhancing information, thank you for your service! Absolutely wonderful series! Cheers!
Thanks very much!
Thankyou so much for all the work you put into this, you've created a gold standard for food energy analysis for the trail, well done!
Thanks very much!
I've never sat through an hour long youtube video.... until today, thanks for all the very useful info! I cant wait to dive into backpacking this summer!
This is genius. Thank you so much for such a valuable resource. Between this account and Matt Shafter's channel, hikers have the thinking hikers resources to tackle any long distance trail.
I'll be attempting a PCT thru-hike in late May and the solid gold on this channel will get my ruck as light as possible and keep these old bones moving north.
Awesome! Best of luck.
This is one of the best videos I have ever seen for backpacking foods! Well done! Also thank you for sharing that excel sheet! Most TH-camrs won't do that!
Thanks very much! I’m glad to help!
legit the best video i've seen on hiking foods. thank you for doing the research for us!
That excel/PDF file is a labour of love for all us hiking folk. Such information as to seriously improve the contents of my rucksack and gut!
Thank you!
Most welcome! I hope it helps.
Thank you for taking the time to do all of this!! Your videos are invaluable! And entertaining!!
Just found out about this channel as I’m getting more into backpacking.
I’m not even all the way done with the video and you’ve earned my like and subscription. This channel is the severely underrated. The amount of research you put into all of your work is astounding. Makes me upset I’m just now finding you.
Keep up the good work man!
Thanks! That’s really generous of you to say!
This is such an amazing resource. Thank you for taking the time to go through all that painstaking research. You're a legend!
Thanks much!
Wow. I was watching bug out videos and came across this. I am blown away by the amount of research that went into this and the value of content. Thank you!!! I'll be shopping from this list 🙌.
I hope it helps! The chart has been updated quite a bit since the video 🙂
You rock brotha. Loved the dry humor and above all the surgical way in which you’ve researched and broken down all this info into a tasty vid. About to hike Rae Lakes Loop in a few weeks. This was eye opening and mind bending.
Thanks! I appreciate that. Have fun and be safe on your trip?
Thank you so much for this GREAT analysis! You have saved me, and so many hikers, an enormous amount of time.
You’re very welcome! I am glad if it can help.
Thank you so much for this video. As I am preparing to take my whole family (2 adults and 3 kids) on a 500 mile section of the PCT (Oregon section) in July this has been eye opening. As a person who considers himself to be UL and has a ton of miles/trips/years on trail this has been a God send. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.
You’re welcome!
What was the main components of your meals mainly? I'm getting a gear kit ready for the car in case of any back country situation we may need to hike out of. I have alot of info saved but would love some insider suggestions from personal experience. I have 4 children and a wife.
So useful! Made some changes on my last 150 mile trip. Adding a small pouch of Ghee to every Mountain House meal made them so much more tasty and satisfying. Thanks! I never would have thought of it.
Oh, ghee sounds even better than olive oil!
Thanks for putting all the time into this and posting up your research. Much appreciated!!
You are most welcome!
I’m amazed by the amount of time and effort that went into this research and video and I’m am so thankful!! My husband and I are getting ready to long-distance backpack with our 10 and 12 year olds. Our teen can carry his own but we’ll have to carry some of the gear/food for the younger kiddos. This will help tremendously!! Thank you so so much!!
I’m so glad to help!
This video should be stickied to the top of TH-cam. Very well made, you put in a ton of thought and work for the benefit of all of us. Well spoken and well made, like a more family friendly AvE. Excellent job sir, I hope you and your channel find the success you’ve already earned.
Thanks very much! I sincerely appreciate that.
This video is so good that I’m both humbled and hungry. Great job.
Great to move from opinion about food to facts about food. This video will forever change how I think about food on the trail going forward. Many thanks.
Thank you! I appreciate that, and am glad if it can help!
Bravo! Two thru-hikes in and always trying to increase efficiency. This helps. Thanks for the information! Out with tortillas and oatmeal, in with olive oil and coconut things
This is hands down the most useful video I’ve seen. Thank you!
Thanks much!
Really appreciate all the work you've done on this! Thank you so much for sharing.
You are most welcome!
The whole series is excellent and valuable.
Thanks for all the hard work.
You are most welcome, and thanks!
Gear Skeptic! We studied your videos in preparation for a (hopefully) 3-week burro packing thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail. I'm packing up right now. We are obviously not carrying our own stuff so we don't need as many calories as someone carrying a backpack. I just weighed our food for 6 days inside the largest Ursack available and it came out under 16 pounds total for 2 people including the Ursack. Unbelievable. I used the chart to decide what to order online for the trip. We'll see how we feel on the trail and if it was enough calories per day or too many or just right. Thank you SO much!!
That sounds awesome! Have fun and be safe!
Dude you freaking rock! Thank you so much for doing this! So helpful for the backpacking community.
First timer viewing your channel. This was excellent. Very educational and entertaining. Taking a subject that could be long, drawn out and boring, and to do the exact opposite is true talent. Great job!!! I'm subscribing.
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
..after all your hard work, I like the way you organize the information to make it all far more easy for us.
I never write comments on videos, until now. This is the most in depth video I have ever seen about ultralight food. I was absolutely mesmerized by it. I will follow your guidance as well. When I go looking for info about something, I look for this much detail. Rarely, it is delivered. You came through. Thank you! I have liked and subscribed.
Thank you so much! That is kind of you to say and I appreciate it!
Easily one of the most helpful videos on youtube. THANK YOU!
You’re most welcome! I hope it can be useful.