Dear Mr. Collins, Your intro is the best... not too long, beautiful scenery and worth every second ! The info and your delivery of it , is extremely well done. No wasted words or long drawn out explainations...none better anywhere. Hope you are not finished yet ! God Bless You and Yours !
I have been backpacking and canoe camping for 55 years. I have been planning those type of adventures for groups for 45 years. This is the best and most concise video on the subject of light weight food planning I have ever seen! Thanks very much!
Tip on condiments: Remember that box of drinking straws you bought for that one event, that nobody used, and now sits in your cabinet gathering dust? Grab a straw and cut a half-inch segment off of one end. With the remaining section, pinch one end closed with a pair of pliers and melt it with a lighter. Now it doesn't leak, and you've got a waterproof vessel. Fill the straw full of whatever you want(salt and pepper are good examples). Cut off the excess, leaving yourself about an inch of free, empty straw. Fold it lengthwise into a V, and then back over itself. Use the little section of straw you cut off at the beginning to fit over your folded section to use as a cap. Now you've got a sealed place for spices. In the case of liquid condiments, it's best to melt both ends closed with the lighter and pliers to prevent leakage, although it means that now you can't necessarily reseal the package after you've used it.
Sarah McCluskey I mostly use them for hot sauce and cooking spices, although you can put anything in them that you haven't been able to grab from a local fast food place or a cafeteria(packets of salt and pepper, sugar, mustard, relish, mustard, and the like). In my emergency kit, I also stuffed a couple vaseline-soaked cotton balls(the best firestarters) into one(more space efficient than a greasy ziploc bag) and a couple of matches into another. Is it a backcountry trip, or are you hitch-hiking and staying in hostels?
I'd bring instant oats, minute rice, nut & fruit trail mix, jerky, dry vegetables, honey, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, cheese powder, vitamins, and camp seasoning shaker. For breakfast you can enjoy oats with dry nuts, dry fruit, milk and honey, then clean out the pot with some coffee to get you moving. For other meals you can have rice with veggies, jerky and cheese. If you need more calories, have some peanut butter. Most could also be eaten raw.
Dave, great video. Food is so important for having a safe and successful hike. I can think back on one trip I was on, where we were trying to out hike a weather system that was rolling in pretty fast. I didn't really eat anything a just drink coffee. It was such a big mistake because an hour later my body and mind was not able to do what I needed. I had to play catch up and try to eat, hike and deal with 50 mph winds. I could feel my body lagging and my mind slowing down. It made me realize how important it is to start off every morning eating right. I like granola, peanut butter and Nutella mix. Nice video thanks, Deacon
Hey Deacon, I fully agree. Great comment. It's really important to keep your engine stoked while you hike, and if you don't your body will have a tough time. That's one of the reasons that I always hike with some snacks in my hip belt pocket. That way I can always get some quick fuel when I start to lag a bit. Thanks for the comment!
Encouraging to know I've been doing well! Many years later this is still a great video. Next week will be the first time I'll hike without any small towns around for resupplying for over a week, so this boosted my confidence that I'll do just fine haha. Chilli coated nuts is my favorite treat 🤘
Great tips, thanks! I just saw a great idea this morning: dehydrating little "coins" of hot sauce that you carry along to toss into bland meals (they happen...)
I am always looking for light weight, comfort food, easy to cook, menu items for the trail.some of my favorites are:raman noodle or rice, with some kind of meat packet, dried vegies ( peas, carrots, beans, corn, mushrooms), and 1/2 packet of gravy mix. Fast easy and you can change up the taste with just changing the gravy mix.Biscuts and gravy, using English muffins, gravy mix, jerky or bacon bits, add powdered eggs.Spaghetti 1/3 packet of spaghetti spices, raman noodles, mushrooms, parcley flacks, onions, summer sausage 6 oz can tomato sauce. 1/2 cup water.Pizza Pita bread, pepperoni, string cheese, sauce or paste, wrap in tinfoil put on coals to warm up.instant potatoes, stuffing, knorr side dishes adding summer sausage or jerky of meat packets, mac and cheese.pop and fresh sugar and cinnamon donuts, or pigs in a blanket with sausage links or make a bowl with the dough, fill with stew, pudding or jams.Bannock is easy too.Burritos are always good. Breakfast or dinner.With reflective, insulated, light weight, home made packets made from foil bubble wrap you can buy at lowes, some frozen meats or veggies will last longer on the trail, like frozen meat balls for spaghetti recipe . Also good for cozies to use less fuel when rehydrating foods, keeps food warmer especially in winter settings.
Thanks! I've also been really enjoying spicy Japanese ramen packets lately. They cost a little more than the cheap ramen packets, but they're worth the upgrade. Really easy to cook, a good amount of calories, very light, super tasty, and simple to clean up. They cost about a buck each, which is also a no-brainer.
Excellent video. The depth you went in to explaining certain food choices as well as showing examples of common super market items to better illustrate your point was great. People always show what they take but they never really take the time to explain why exactly. Good job.
Great video thank you. The only packaged food I'll eat are dietary meal shakes which come in a variety of flavours. They're nutritionally balanced and make a great breakfast on the go. For the hike I'll pack my own trail mix going for nuts with high fat content such as macadamia Brazil and walnuts. I'll flavour 2 litres of water with Berocca tablets to drink thru the day. My evening meals are those I've dehydrated myself which I'll cold soak during the day and add a little h o t water just before eating. I'm retired have time to prepare my own food at about 20% cost of store bought food.
I'm currently going through army AIT and recently graduated basic training. In the MRE's there was wheat snack bread. It was amazing how it tasted like and had the texture of real bread. It wasn't uncommon to have an MRE with a jam and peanut butter option. Some came with a dual pack of bread to make a legit pb&j. MRE peanut butter is fortified. There's also chocolate peanut butter (never got that) chunky and smooth peanut butter too.
Skip the already made freeze dried foods and go to the grocery store for the dehydrated foods after you figure out your menu from the Freezer Bag cooking recipes on the web. Have the food in Zip Lock bags , add the proper amount of near boiling water and stir then let it sit in a cozy for the prescribed time while you do whatever you want , then open the bag and enjoy your meal. Clean up is licking the spoon and putting the empty bag in your trash bag.
I'm just starting to get more into the light hiking style of camping. Very used to taking my jetski to the lake and posting up my main camp. So now im going through getting some light gear and learning the basics of lightweight food. Anyways great video, simple and to the point.
I also find instant cider and hot chocolate make great cold drinks too for those hot days. Apple cider typically has a great source of vitamin C and the right hot chocolate will have decent calcium.
Great job on your video series! Looks great, sounds great, and great tips and tricks that help people make more educated decisions to suit their own needs! Way to set the bar high!
Thanks for sharing Dave. Love bagels. My Cheap & light meal, 1 pack of Ramen , broken up to make it easier to eat with a spoon, and one cup of TVE - Textured Vegetable Protein, available at some health food stores. You could just soak it, but I like a hot meal at the end of the day. Alternative, Ramen and add a half of a cup of powdered eggs. Both of those give some balance of protein and carbs.
This was a great concise video on trail food. One thing I take with me is beef jerky. its good to snack on, and can spice up some ramen for dinner. it has a ton of salt to help replenish your electrolytes also. It tends to be pricey though, unless you dehydrate your own (or have a buddy that does). You gotta watch the fruit leathers, b/c some of them have a ton of added sugar. Cheers.
Hard meats (salami for example) tend to keep well for a few days without needing to be chilled. Just don't leave them in the sun on on top of your pack where they can get heated up. Also, hard cheeses work well for this too. I wouldn't take egg salad though. Stick to cured meats and hard cheeses imo.
I have been watching tons of videos on all sorts of backpacking related topics, including a bunch of food ones. You see I have not done any backpacking or hiking since I move to TX from NorCal 10 years ago, and want to take get back into backpacking; planning a trip to the eastern sierra in late Sep, so that is the reason why I have been watching and gathering intel. While watching this video I had an epiphany. Meal Replacement powder, or even better gainer. Not protein powder as you would want carbs.. Why nobody I have watched even suggested this is beyond me I found a powder called Pro Gainer by Optimum Nutrition. It mixes with water, is light weight and provides the following with one scoop. . 650 Calories 60g Protein 85g Carbs 24 Vitamins & Minerals You could mix this up and drink while you hike. Sounds perfect to me. Obviously to compliment other foods, but this is super caloric and nutritious. I have come to the conclusion that many backpackers are not the most health conscious when it comes to their food choices.. Many prefer sugary snacks.. Or it could be they don't have deep pockets and are looking for high calories/low cost options..
Dave is a cutie. I tried to find instant water but didn't know what I'd mix it with 🤣 I like dried vegetable soup mix 16oz container to hydrate along the way, carbs from oatmeal, protein from beans and peanut butter
Thanks for putting these videos together. The mash potato, and noodle packets are great tasting, but a drag to clean up after. What do you suggest for clean up? Have you ever just dumped the hot water from your pot into the package?
Can someone explain to me how hard meats and cheeses and bags of milk keep well when hiking? Do they not enter the danger zone of between 36°F and 135°F? What stops them from growing bacteria within those temperatures? Does the milk not spoil? The hard meats aren’t dehydrated and the cheeses wouldn’t be either, so does how they are produced and aged play a part in they stay well? Thank you!
Question for someone with a high metabolism what shuld the cal per oz be for them as for me every day at home I use up the same cal of 3 men reather then 1 for an example.
Good question. The food that you bring will likely be the same and will have the same calories per ounce, you're just going to want to bring more of it. Your food weight will obviously be heavier, but if you know that you typically eat more than the average person, you'll want to adjust your food plan accordingly.
I’m gluten free and also nut free. A ton of products have cross contamination. I have a tree nut allergy. This makes it so hard for me to find high caloric foods to sustain me. Unfortunately, most processed snacks are processed in facilities that process tree nuts. I was able to find a company that only processes cashews, so I buy them. Most sides foods have gluten. I was able to make my own trail mix but it’s low in moderate to high caloric foods. I ended up buying a dehydrator and making my own trail meals, for lunch and dinner, still a low caloric content. I’m now looking into any kind of supplement in pill form or drink form to get the calories, but preferably in pill form when weight is foremost. I feel defeated to only hiking slow and steady and on short trails.
This is very helpful! Thanks for the tips. I am taking a twig stove and an alcohol stove on the AT for a week. I understand that the isopropyl fuel canisters are not recyclable. Have you found this to be true? My understanding is that Denatured alcohol is a highly renewable fuel source as opposed to petroleum products which is not renewable. Trying to use sustainable practices but still want a warm meal at the end of the day.
Roland Mueller I am pretty sure they can create something approximating petrol. They basically boil algae under high pressure. The reason it is considered non renewable is because it isn't naturally replenishing at a rate that is sustainable. Which makes the only concern as far as I am aware the level of atmospheric carbon.
You can actually recycle the canisters if you poke holes in them with a crunch tool. I'm not too sure about denatured alcohol vs petroleum as far as which is more green though.
Anthony Lampkin Thanks Anthony! REI and Amazon both sell packages of different sized plastic containers like that. I find that are very helpful for reducing food weight and toiletry weight. Then you only have to bring the exact ammounts of things that you need. Like hot sauce, olive oil, and other condiments.
You can also go to the bath/shampoo section of your local Wal-Mart. They usually have mini bottles for you to put lotions, shampoos or conditioners in for travel. Loads cheaper than buying them from actual camping stores and its exactly the same thing.
Great video with many good ideas and tips. I usually bring a 125 ml container of olive oil with me. As you say, great calories and can add some great taste as well if the meal is bland.
When you're making, say a soup, obviously you have to boil the water for a certain period to purify it. But can you add the soup ingredients before it starts boiling, or do you have to wait until after it's already been boiling for 5 minutes? Seems simple enough, but I don't wanna take a risk, and end up getting sick after a meal.
cantbeatTheBeatles The latest info is that you only have to bring the water to a boil and it has then killed everthing needing killing. You do not have to keep it boiling for a certain period of time, it just needs to reach the temperature of boiling and you are good. Add the food at any time as long as you bring the liquid to a boil at some point. Boiling, for those who don't know, is most clearly described as having a rapidly rolling agitated top surface to the water. Of course you could bring a thermometer and go by temperature but that is unnecessary.
Regarding the dehydrated foods that require cooking, You will have to experiment first however you may be able to soak the food in cold water first and thus reduce the cooking time. I have tried this with Super Noodles (UK) and you can even eat them cold without any heating whatsoever. You can still heat them up though it should use less fuel as you are only really warming and not cooking. Makes your fuel last longer if it is at a premium. Foods from the UK worth a look based on research into Arctic/Antarctic and wilderness expeditions both current and historical include: Pemmican Super Noodles Flap Jacks Double Decker (Chocolate Bar) Macadamia Nuts ZERO (Calorie free dielectric water tablets) Expedition vitamin tablets. With exception of the last 2 things on the list, all have roughly 5 kcal per g or 500 calories in 100 grams. THIS IS NOT A BALANCED DIET which is where the vitamin tablets come in to try and rectify the short fall. The ZERO water tablets both flavor your water and replace some of the salts lost through activity I think. This should only ever be used for short periods where pack weight and duration must be optimised. Any queries, always speak to your doctor or a qualified nutritionist. Not someone over the intranet :-)
Neil Badger Yea like a doctors gonna be pleased people waste his time asking about camping tips..anyway what makes you think a doctor is an expert in the field to begin with!!!... most GP's will just have a rudimentary understanding of diet for hiking, like eat a balanced diet as best you can, drink plenty liquids that sort of thing...now if your asking me, the best place to look for tips on hiking food is on the internet, like where the fuck we both are or where....good byePS, those vitamin pills are not worth a shit, they've been proved to be a con job..
Vespasian The reason I mentioned GP is because some people may have medical conditions that may worsen over time if trying such a diet. Also the GP could put you in contact with a nutritionist who would be able to suggest better options. I did not suggest that GP's would themselves hold such information on viable foods. If you are on a natural balanced diet, their is no need to use vitamin tablets. However if your diet is not balanced and you are deficient in some areas, then Vitamin tablets may be your only option. Sir Ernest Shackleton was the first to use vitamin tablets on his first antarctic expedition due to the limitations of food in that region. You are very unlikely to get vitamin C from a penguin. I spoke to my own GP before attempting a 1200 mile solo and unsupported hike in respect of certain medical conditions and gained invaluable support from them. The trick is keep it brief and to the point. However I will admit I have a fantastic doctor. One thing I should mention is that there is no good reason to swear especially when the only intention of my post is to give possible options or suggestions.
+Vespasian one can go to their dr and get a referral to a nutritionist.......its worth the effort. and if you feel embarrased about "camping trips" then cloak it as weight loss or exercise routine
thouThankght i might add instant beans, didnt see that.. makes for great burritos with all the other stuff. Thanks im getting older now and am forced to pack light these days.
Loved the vid, although I'm still not getting the tortilla thing that so many seem to like. And peanut butter and bagels are fairly weighty products to lug around. It depends on your distance, though. Not every diet is geared toward thousands of miles of ultralight backpacking. One (kind of) correction I would probably make is that hiking food is just about the opposite of eating healthy in the civilian world. It seems to be becoming increasingly apparent that carbs and sugars are wrecking people's health to a much greater degree than dietary fat. That being said, you need those sugars when doing an activity such as hiking. Healthier, low-carb diets are fine for a marathon but won't give you the bursts you'll need for a hike. And when you're burning 3K+ calories a day when hiking, not a lot of blood sugar will survive to lead to fat production. Five weeks ago I started a sort of time-restricted, modified keto diet. While I've lost 24 pounds during that time, I'm actually looking forward to my modest 109-mile hike of the Mickelson Trail this summer (my first of any kind of length) as a perfect chance to let that peanut M&M monkey hop back on my back! :)
Not sure if you're aware of the product, buy any thoughts on Soylent? They sell bottled now, doesn't spoil or need to be refrigerated. You get about 1 Cal/mL in a 400 ml bottle. Seems like a good ratio. They're 2.67/bottle. Down side is weight & volume of bottles (store in a bladder?) and not a hot meal.
I know you didn't ask me, but thought I'd offer my experience with that. TL;DR: Soylent works great for most of your calories on the trail, but you should have the option of a hot meal and/or drink for when you need it. I did an overnight trip on Soylent powder only. Literally only consumed Soylent. I gathered water, mixed it in my shaker, and drank away. I wanted to see what it was like hiking with Soylent only (the powder weighs less than 500g per 2000 calories). It was efficient and lightweight for the balance of nutrients you get. I definitely would NOT do Soylent-only again. The trip I went on ended up being much colder than expected and it was a bit demoralizing not having a hot meal. That was the only down-side though. Other than that, I felt I had energy, and felt full after my Soylent meals. I definitely WOULD do (and have done) mostly-Soylent trips, but with a minimal number of hot meals for when you need comfort, I did instant noodles for dinner. Also I bring tea now for a hot drink in the morning. In the future, I will use the bars instead of the powder, since they are still less than 500g per 2000 calories and then I don't need to pack a shaker cup, there's no prep at all, plus they taste much better - I would even say they taste good. I wouldn't use the pre-made drink just because it's too heavy to pack it and the garbage is too high-volume, which would annoy me when packing it out. With the bars, it's just a wrapper. Hope this is helpful if anyone else was wondering the same. Happy backpacking everyone.
yeah, soylent is great. It might not be the most cost effective food in the world, but its almost unbeatable by way of weight. Once day of meals is one pound, and each is waterproof. Additionally for the sake of reducing weight, a person can leave all cooking equipment behind if they take only soylent.
Great video, but I'm finding my food choices today are more Spartan and John Muir like. Two loaves of French bread, salami, cheese, oatmeal, tea, brown sugar, dried fruit, soup mix, and some Scotch. Four days and very little waste.
+lapointe lapointe Lol, that's what I thought the first time I saw stuffing on the trail. Enjoy! Also, a little stuffing, potatoes, and some gravy. Excellent meal.
Very good video. Very good subject. Very good instructional. I love your channel so much I subscribe. Nutrition is ass in court and ask calories when it comes to backpacking but not much people realize that. Thank you so much for sharing this video. God bless you.
Do mealworms make good trail food? Are there other small creatures and microbes that can be used to enhance the bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, and carbs or harness local elements and flora to propagate or otherwise chemically alter food on the go and reduce weight?
Interesting question. I am not an expert in that subject and I always carry the food I will need into the backcountry. I would be very careful about eating any bugs, plants, or mushrooms in the wild. In general, you really want to know what you are doing if you are foraging in the wilderness. Things can go wrong very quickly if you don’t know exactly what you are doing and you could be put in a very dangerous situation.
I've used it and it's not to bad. Used it in some Lipton's Noodles and Sauce. But make sure it rehydrates good! It absorbs the taste the flavor of what its cooled with! Mark...
If you are primarily just rehydrating meals you can also boil your water in your pot and then rehydrate in a quart freezer bag. Just eat out of the bag and pack it out with your trash. Clean up is a breeze and your pot never gets dirty.
Good videos. i think you should make a bug out bag video as well with all your knowledge on packing light and experience. thanks for helping me with my bug out bag.
Canyon Overlook Peanut M&Ms are great trail snack! I just took a pack out with me this past weekend and they were so tasty. They don't melt or crack easily and they're a convenient desert. How can you go wrong with chocolate and peanuts, right?
Eh, depends on the person. I would use them more as a calorie burst than a meal replacement. You'll need a lot of calories when you're hiking long miles.
Another con, lots of extra weight, and empty containers to pack back. They work well as emergency supply in your car for the Zombie apocalypse, though. :-)
High fat = high calories Protein = 4 cals per g Fat = 9 cals per g Carbohydrate = 4 cals per g And water in your food should generally be avoided. While a fresh orange sounds like a great treat on the trail, it has 87 calories for 184 grams. But that does not mean don't bring fruit, just bring dried fruit. Dried mango has 568 calories for the same 184 grams. An orange is about 85% water weight. The exception would be if you can not refill your water on the trip, but that should also generally be avoided.
Great info. I suggest using data from the food label. It gives you serving size in grams and calories per serving, grams-carbs per serving and grams-protein per serving. The math is easy. You are looking for calories per gram - and all the info is on the package (or grams-protein or grams-carbs per serving). Virtually no trail food has more than 6 calories per gram cpg). Trail mix runs about 4-5 cpg, Macadamia nuts will get you to 7 cpg and olive oil will get you about 9 cpg. You will burn 4000-6000 calories per day (20 miles). If you bring high calorie density food, you will need 3.3 pounds of food per day to recover all your expended calories. But, if you are backpacking, you'll probably bring 2 pounds of food per day and you will never recover all your expended calories. Losing weight is inevitable. At least with calorie dense food, you will lose less weight.
You should add that alot of the freeze dried meals have way too much sodium, some up to 1500 mg, I like Patagonia, just add some beef jerky and it's a meal
Hey Dave! Great Video! I do have a quick question. Im going to be heading up Mt. Rainier this summer. I'm pretty secure on my breakfast options for mornings before the climbing starts each day, however, I cant seem to decide on high calorie meals for the evening with enough carbohydrates and proteins while still being ultralight. The thing is, because of climbing and altitude i'm looking for super high calorie meals that will work. Any ideas? (Last year I used Military rations that totaled 15lbs in food with almost no nutritional value)
filmguy91 My trick is to add olive oil to my dinners. It adds great flavor, weighs very little, and packs a great calorie punch. So, for a trip like that I'll bring some fancy, spicy ramen packets and add olive oil to the mix for extra calories. The good ramen weighs very little, tastes delicious, and contains 500 calories per pack. Then you add olive oil for more calories. It's not a completely round meal but you can add some snacks to get some more nutrition with dinner. Hope that helps!
Haven't seen much mention of MREs... Too heavy or too many preservatives? I've heard you turn a little zombie like if you consume more than 2 a day, but they're super easy to prepare, pack in and out, and they last forever.
Chromiumism Wow, you're taking me back to my boy scout days! And not necessarily in a good way. :) Yeah, I'm not really a big MRE guy, just because I like to have more control over what I'm choosing to eat, but they are super easy. If that's your style than I say go for it, it's just not something I really consider.
its a good idea to balance your carbohydrate intake with an equal amount of protein........along with fats. peanuts are good, but almonds or walnuts contain a better balance of protein and carbohydrates. whey based powdered protein can be added to instant oatmeal to balance out the carbohydrates. dehydrated hamburger ( lean cut ) is a good source of litewieight protein. rice meals and instant potatoes are good quick carbo load but consider dehydrated fruit, vegetables for a healthier option. dehydrater can be a great purchase, make your own healthier options. sports drinks, energy bars are a good source of quick carbs for keeping your energy up but try to pick slow burning carbs for endurance. when your young, you can get away with eating a lot of crap, as you get older, you will pay a price. good vid..........just my two cents
Homemade pemican containing walnuts and dried berries = about 1200cal per serving. My pleasure in eating on a trip has nothing to do with what I bring with me, coffee excluded. (4oz pemican, 2oz berries, 2oz walnuts). ~ survivalist thanks for the vid.
I can't understand why typically 40% of calories of a daily backpack menu is consumed in camp at the end of the day. Shouldn't the heaviest meal calorie wise be during breakfast and supplemented with snacks during the hike. I've tried a backpacker menu from the internet based on 3500 calories daily for a 5 day trip. The breakdown is 730 calories for breakfast, 690 for lunch and 1200 for dinner. I feel those 1200 calories would be more useful on the trail and not in camp. My problem is running out of energy before lunch even hydrating well and snacking. Help!
Appalachian Swede I totally agree! My food bag is usually stocked with a variety of great snack food. I snack all the time throughout the day to keep my energy up. When I get to camp I love to have a warm meal, but it usually represents a small amount of my daily calories. The majority of my daily calories come from my snacks.
Appalachian Swede I'm also thinking of not putting such a heavy emphasis on dinner, because the day's physical work is pretty much done by that point. Better get those calories at breakfast or lunch when the body is working and burning. Winter is another game since you actually need the calories at night to keep you warm.
Jari Perho I had a backpacker tell me it's because you store the calories overnight and are not bloated in the morning at the start of a hike. This sounds a bit "old school" like the carbo loading craze back in the 1980s. I prefer to eat a big breakfast then break camp and let the food settle. I also use natural energy supplements designed for endurance athletes as well as energy bars. The supplements make a big difference in my performance on the trail.
Appalachian Swede Unless you are at an extremely low body fat percentage (>5% for men and >10% for women) your body can easily use body fat for the calories you need for the day and can also restore those calories at night. For me, a big man (6'5" and 235lb), I honestly can not eat enough calories per day to keep up with calories used. I burn 5-7K per day and eat about 3-4K, which means losing close to 1lb of fat per day. So, while you need those easy to burn calories in the day to supplement your body burning fat, eating a 1200+ calorie meal for breakfast or lunch will leave you feeling very full and you may even get sick eating that much then trying to hike right after. There could be a very reasonable expectation if you are hiking in high heat, so you take long breaks for mid day, 1 to 4ish, at which point this could be the best time to eat. In the end, while there is generally good reasons for why backpackers do what they do, everyone is different and if something works better for you, great do it. But don't assume what the vast majority of people do is not right for those people.
Loathomar I hear you. However, I do not feel too full eating heavy at breakfast probably because supper at camp is the lightest meal and I eat breakfast foods with a high calories per ounce ratio. Not judging others, just looking for answers.
+Nicken0o0 The problem with energy drinks is that they are mostly water. Which is no problem for a one day trip, cause you need that water anyways, but after the first day you are carrying a lot of weight for very few calories. There are energy drink powders that can allow you have that energy drink without the water weight, I would suggest that if you want energy drinks on a long trail.
Loathomar Ah yes! That's what I mean. I was thinking of taking two box (even if they are two, these two combined only the size of my palm and in each box there's 4 packet) of powdered energy drinks. So does that means I can actually bring them?
NEWBIE ALERT You mentioned leave no trace backpacking, does this mean you should pack put things like apple cores that are biodegradability? Sorry if that is a stupid question!
I never pack out cores and whatnot. I usually cover them with a light layer of dirt, off the beaten path and let nature do its thing. I'd rather see it decompose then get taken to a plastic lined landfill never to decompose.
Sophie P Haha, not to worry Sophie. I pack out all my trash, including biodegradable waste like apple cores. Stuff like that can actually take months and sometimes years to decompose. It can also alter the foraging habits of animals in the area. So if you pack it in, pack it out.
Sophie P I'm with Dave on this one. Not because apple cores (or whatever food scraps) will destroy the environment of nature if left out there, but because of animals. An animal who finds that food will also find your scent on or around it. Giving animals any reason to associate our smell with food is BAD!
Dear Mr. Collins, Your intro is the best... not too long, beautiful scenery and worth every second ! The info and your delivery of it , is extremely well done. No wasted words or long drawn out explainations...none better anywhere. Hope you are not finished yet ! God Bless You and Yours !
I have been backpacking and canoe camping for 55 years. I have been planning those type of adventures for groups for 45 years. This is the best and most concise video on the subject of light weight food planning I have ever seen! Thanks very much!
One of my favorite breakfasts is instant oatmeal w/ a hot chocolate mix and peanut butter
Tip on condiments:
Remember that box of drinking straws you bought for that one event, that nobody used, and now sits in your cabinet gathering dust?
Grab a straw and cut a half-inch segment off of one end. With the remaining section, pinch one end closed with a pair of pliers and melt it with a lighter. Now it doesn't leak, and you've got a waterproof vessel. Fill the straw full of whatever you want(salt and pepper are good examples). Cut off the excess, leaving yourself about an inch of free, empty straw. Fold it lengthwise into a V, and then back over itself. Use the little section of straw you cut off at the beginning to fit over your folded section to use as a cap. Now you've got a sealed place for spices. In the case of liquid condiments, it's best to melt both ends closed with the lighter and pliers to prevent leakage, although it means that now you can't necessarily reseal the package after you've used it.
+Brad Simpson Really great tip! Thanks.
+Brad Simpson Thanks!!! That is a great trip and will definitely be used for my trip to South Africa in April!
Sarah McCluskey I mostly use them for hot sauce and cooking spices, although you can put anything in them that you haven't been able to grab from a local fast food place or a cafeteria(packets of salt and pepper, sugar, mustard, relish, mustard, and the like). In my emergency kit, I also stuffed a couple vaseline-soaked cotton balls(the best firestarters) into one(more space efficient than a greasy ziploc bag) and a couple of matches into another.
Is it a backcountry trip, or are you hitch-hiking and staying in hostels?
+Brad Simpson I use the straws for putting bag balm, and neosporin for my first aid kit. Works great!
The sea creatures are going to be thankful! ;)
I'd bring instant oats, minute rice, nut & fruit trail mix, jerky, dry vegetables, honey, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, cheese powder, vitamins, and camp seasoning shaker.
For breakfast you can enjoy oats with dry nuts, dry fruit, milk and honey, then clean out the pot with some coffee to get you moving. For other meals you can have rice with veggies, jerky and cheese. If you need more calories, have some peanut butter. Most could also be eaten raw.
Thanks for the ideas man, just what I was looking for
Dave, great video. Food is so important for having a safe and successful hike. I can think back on one trip I was on, where we were trying to out hike a weather system that was rolling in pretty fast. I didn't really eat anything a just drink coffee. It was such a big mistake because an hour later my body and mind was not able to do what I needed. I had to play catch up and try to eat, hike and deal with 50 mph winds. I could feel my body lagging and my mind slowing down. It made me realize how important it is to start off every morning eating right. I like granola, peanut butter and Nutella mix. Nice video thanks, Deacon
Hey Deacon, I fully agree. Great comment. It's really important to keep your engine stoked while you hike, and if you don't your body will have a tough time. That's one of the reasons that I always hike with some snacks in my hip belt pocket. That way I can always get some quick fuel when I start to lag a bit. Thanks for the comment!
I have been travelling for some part of my life and I have to say packing ultralight makes all journey much nicer!
I'm totally with you Mateusz! Sometimes less is more.
Encouraging to know I've been doing well! Many years later this is still a great video. Next week will be the first time I'll hike without any small towns around for resupplying for over a week, so this boosted my confidence that I'll do just fine haha. Chilli coated nuts is my favorite treat 🤘
Great tips, thanks!
I just saw a great idea this morning: dehydrating little "coins" of hot sauce that you carry along to toss into bland meals (they happen...)
I am always looking for light weight, comfort food, easy to cook, menu items for the trail.some of my favorites are:raman noodle or rice, with some kind of meat packet, dried vegies ( peas, carrots, beans, corn, mushrooms), and 1/2 packet of gravy mix. Fast easy and you can change up the taste with just changing the gravy mix.Biscuts and gravy, using English muffins, gravy mix, jerky or bacon bits, add powdered eggs.Spaghetti 1/3 packet of spaghetti spices, raman noodles, mushrooms, parcley flacks, onions, summer sausage 6 oz can tomato sauce. 1/2 cup water.Pizza Pita bread, pepperoni, string cheese, sauce or paste, wrap in tinfoil put on coals to warm up.instant potatoes, stuffing, knorr side dishes adding summer sausage or jerky of meat packets, mac and cheese.pop and fresh sugar and cinnamon donuts, or pigs in a blanket with sausage links or make a bowl with the dough, fill with stew, pudding or jams.Bannock is easy too.Burritos are always good. Breakfast or dinner.With reflective, insulated, light weight, home made packets made from foil bubble wrap you can buy at lowes, some frozen meats or veggies will last longer on the trail, like frozen meat balls for spaghetti recipe . Also good for cozies to use less fuel when rehydrating foods, keeps food warmer especially in winter settings.
this helped me prepare for the west coast trail thank you so much
Using a pasta side is a great idea and substituting with Tuna for protein sounds so much more delish than a freeze dried option. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks! I've also been really enjoying spicy Japanese ramen packets lately. They cost a little more than the cheap ramen packets, but they're worth the upgrade. Really easy to cook, a good amount of calories, very light, super tasty, and simple to clean up. They cost about a buck each, which is also a no-brainer.
Excellent video. The depth you went in to explaining certain food choices as well as showing examples of common super market items to better illustrate your point was great. People always show what they take but they never really take the time to explain why exactly. Good job.
thepkeezy Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the info.
I’ve been getting prepared to hike the Pacific crest Trail for one year now and you have helped me so much thank you
Great video thank you. The only packaged food I'll eat are dietary meal shakes which come in a variety of flavours. They're nutritionally balanced and make a great breakfast on the go. For the hike I'll pack my own trail mix going for nuts with high fat content such as macadamia Brazil and walnuts. I'll flavour 2 litres of water with Berocca tablets to drink thru the day. My evening meals are those I've dehydrated myself which I'll cold soak during the day and add a little h o t water just before eating. I'm retired have time to prepare my own food at about 20% cost of store bought food.
I'm currently going through army AIT and recently graduated basic training. In the MRE's there was wheat snack bread. It was amazing how it tasted like and had the texture of real bread. It wasn't uncommon to have an MRE with a jam and peanut butter option. Some came with a dual pack of bread to make a legit pb&j. MRE peanut butter is fortified. There's also chocolate peanut butter (never got that) chunky and smooth peanut butter too.
+Eric Piland Thanks for sharing!
Skip the already made freeze dried foods and go to the grocery store for the dehydrated foods after you figure out your menu from the Freezer Bag cooking recipes on the web.
Have the food in Zip Lock bags , add the proper amount of near boiling water and stir then let it sit in a cozy for the prescribed time while you do whatever you want , then open the bag and enjoy your meal. Clean up is licking the spoon and putting the empty bag in your trash bag.
Chuck Littleton Another good tip Chuck. Thanks!
Chuck Littleton Freezer-approved Ziploc bags are the way to go for this technique as the wimpier bags won't stand up to boiling water.
I'm just starting to get more into the light hiking style of camping. Very used to taking my jetski to the lake and posting up my main camp. So now im going through getting some light gear and learning the basics of lightweight food.
Anyways great video, simple and to the point.
I also find instant cider and hot chocolate make great cold drinks too for those hot days. Apple cider typically has a great source of vitamin C and the right hot chocolate will have decent calcium.
+Eric Piland Thanks for the comment! Agreed on cider and hot coco.
Great job on your video series! Looks great, sounds great, and great tips and tricks that help people make more educated decisions to suit their own needs! Way to set the bar high!
+Erik Beyer Thanks so much Erik! I really appreciate your wonderful comment. Glad to hear you like the videos.
Some nice tips. I want to do some touring on my bike and I think the same principles apply I think.
troyboy986 Thanks! Definitely true.
Thanks for sharing Dave. Love bagels. My Cheap & light meal, 1 pack of Ramen , broken up to make it easier to eat with a spoon, and one cup of TVE - Textured Vegetable Protein, available at some health food stores. You could just soak it, but I like a hot meal at the end of the day. Alternative, Ramen and add a half of a cup of powdered eggs. Both of those give some balance of protein and carbs.
This was a great concise video on trail food. One thing I take with me is beef jerky. its good to snack on, and can spice up some ramen for dinner. it has a ton of salt to help replenish your electrolytes also. It tends to be pricey though, unless you dehydrate your own (or have a buddy that does). You gotta watch the fruit leathers, b/c some of them have a ton of added sugar. Cheers.
Would it be a good idea to pack cold sandwiches (meat, egg salad, etc) but keep it close to a bottle of frozen water?
Hard meats (salami for example) tend to keep well for a few days without needing to be chilled. Just don't leave them in the sun on on top of your pack where they can get heated up. Also, hard cheeses work well for this too. I wouldn't take egg salad though. Stick to cured meats and hard cheeses imo.
I have been watching tons of videos on all sorts of backpacking related topics, including a bunch of food ones. You see I have not done any backpacking or hiking since I move to TX from NorCal 10 years ago, and want to take get back into backpacking; planning a trip to the eastern sierra in late Sep, so that is the reason why I have been watching and gathering intel.
While watching this video I had an epiphany.
Meal Replacement powder, or even better gainer. Not protein powder as you would want carbs.. Why nobody I have watched even suggested this is beyond me I found a powder called Pro Gainer by Optimum Nutrition. It mixes with water, is light weight and provides the following with one scoop.
.
650 Calories
60g Protein
85g Carbs
24 Vitamins & Minerals
You could mix this up and drink while you hike. Sounds perfect to me. Obviously to compliment other foods, but this is super caloric and nutritious. I have come to the conclusion that many backpackers are not the most health conscious when it comes to their food choices.. Many prefer sugary snacks.. Or it could be they don't have deep pockets and are looking for high calories/low cost options..
They are expensive
Really great tips, thanks! I'll be handing this video out to newbies I bring with me on some trips next year!
I love this channel. Very professional.
WhoaNellyJake Thanks!
Luv the vids!! A lot of info packed in here.
Keep up the great work!!
Thanks so much!
Very nice choice of music, I love Emancipator!
Dave is a cutie. I tried to find instant water but didn't know what I'd mix it with 🤣 I like dried vegetable soup mix 16oz container to hydrate along the way, carbs from oatmeal, protein from beans and peanut butter
Thanks for putting these videos together. The mash potato, and noodle packets are great tasting, but a drag to clean up after. What do you suggest for clean up? Have you ever just dumped the hot water from your pot into the package?
Eh, I usually just deal with the messy clean up, but you could bring an extra bag for cooking (the kind they use for the dehydrated meals).
Great video. It answered many questions I had. Thanks for making it.
Bsfcc 04 You're very welcome Michael
Dave, do you think you could do a video on what you carry in your pack and tips in the field in general?
Some good ideas here. Thanks for posting. I will try some of these.
Great video! Great information. Clever! Love it! Thank you!
Thanks Keith!
Can someone explain to me how hard meats and cheeses and bags of milk keep well when hiking? Do they not enter the danger zone of between 36°F and 135°F? What stops them from growing bacteria within those temperatures? Does the milk not spoil? The hard meats aren’t dehydrated and the cheeses wouldn’t be either, so does how they are produced and aged play a part in they stay well? Thank you!
I don't know about the other things but as far as the milk goes, they are talking about powdered milk.
Dude , i loved you as Sylar in Heroes!
Haha! I’ll take it. That’s a handsome dude.
Question for someone with a high metabolism what shuld the cal per oz be for them as for me every day at home I use up the same cal of 3 men reather then 1 for an example.
Good question. The food that you bring will likely be the same and will have the same calories per ounce, you're just going to want to bring more of it. Your food weight will obviously be heavier, but if you know that you typically eat more than the average person, you'll want to adjust your food plan accordingly.
If you are not worried about bears, I have found that peanut butter will help keep me full much better than most other high carb foods.
I’m gluten free and also nut free. A ton of products have cross contamination. I have a tree nut allergy. This makes it so hard for me to find high caloric foods to sustain me. Unfortunately, most processed snacks are processed in facilities that process tree nuts. I was able to find a company that only processes cashews, so I buy them. Most sides foods have gluten. I was able to make my own trail mix but it’s low in moderate to high caloric foods. I ended up buying a dehydrator and making my own trail meals, for lunch and dinner, still a low caloric content.
I’m now looking into any kind of supplement in pill form or drink form to get the calories, but preferably in pill form when weight is foremost.
I feel defeated to only hiking slow and steady and on short trails.
Appreciate your vids! Greatly reconsidering my food choice for the next trips ahead! Ty
This is very helpful! Thanks for the tips. I am taking a twig stove and an alcohol stove on the AT for a week. I understand that the isopropyl fuel canisters are not recyclable. Have you found this to be true? My understanding is that Denatured alcohol is a highly renewable fuel source as opposed to petroleum products which is not renewable. Trying to use sustainable practices but still want a warm meal at the end of the day.
Roland Mueller I am pretty sure they can create something approximating petrol. They basically boil algae under high pressure. The reason it is considered non renewable is because it isn't naturally replenishing at a rate that is sustainable. Which makes the only concern as far as I am aware the level of atmospheric carbon.
You can actually recycle the canisters if you poke holes in them with a crunch tool. I'm not too sure about denatured alcohol vs petroleum as far as which is more green though.
Great tips. Where do you get the small dropper of olive oil?
Anthony Lampkin Thanks Anthony! REI and Amazon both sell packages of different sized plastic containers like that. I find that are very helpful for reducing food weight and toiletry weight. Then you only have to bring the exact ammounts of things that you need. Like hot sauce, olive oil, and other condiments.
You can also go to the bath/shampoo section of your local Wal-Mart. They usually have mini bottles for you to put lotions, shampoos or conditioners in for travel. Loads cheaper than buying them from actual camping stores and its exactly the same thing.
Great video with many good ideas and tips. I usually bring a 125 ml container of olive oil with me. As you say, great calories and can add some great taste as well if the meal is bland.
+OutdoorsFoodie Thanks! Yeah, good olive oil on the trail is a real pro tip. Comes in very handy.
Nuts or sunflower seeds with linseed powder. Really efficient nutrition source with lowest weight.
Good tip. Thanks.
Thanks.(*removes cheese pizza from pocket)
When you're making, say a soup, obviously you have to boil the water for a certain period to purify it. But can you add the soup ingredients before it starts boiling, or do you have to wait until after it's already been boiling for 5 minutes? Seems simple enough, but I don't wanna take a risk, and end up getting sick after a meal.
cantbeatTheBeatles The latest info is that you only have to bring the water to a boil and it has then killed everthing needing killing. You do not have to keep it boiling for a certain period of time, it just needs to reach the temperature of boiling and you are good. Add the food at any time as long as you bring the liquid to a boil at some point. Boiling, for those who don't know, is most clearly described as having a rapidly rolling agitated top surface to the water. Of course you could bring a thermometer and go by temperature but that is unnecessary.
+xanadu1jw Good tips! Thanks for sharing.
Your videos are incredibly helpful. Keep up the good work!
Regarding the dehydrated foods that require cooking, You will have to experiment first however you may be able to soak the food in cold water first and thus reduce the cooking time.
I have tried this with Super Noodles (UK) and you can even eat them cold without any heating whatsoever. You can still heat them up though it should use less fuel as you are only really warming and not cooking. Makes your fuel last longer if it is at a premium.
Foods from the UK worth a look based on research into Arctic/Antarctic and wilderness expeditions both current and historical include:
Pemmican
Super Noodles
Flap Jacks
Double Decker (Chocolate Bar)
Macadamia Nuts
ZERO (Calorie free dielectric water tablets)
Expedition vitamin tablets.
With exception of the last 2 things on the list, all have roughly 5 kcal per g or 500 calories in 100 grams. THIS IS NOT A BALANCED DIET which is where the vitamin tablets come in to try and rectify the short fall. The ZERO water tablets both flavor your water and replace some of the salts lost through activity I think.
This should only ever be used for short periods where pack weight and duration must be optimised. Any queries, always speak to your doctor or a qualified nutritionist. Not someone over the intranet :-)
Neil Badger Thanks for the tips!
Neil Badger Yea like a doctors gonna be pleased people waste his time asking about camping tips..anyway what makes you think a doctor is an expert in the field to begin with!!!... most GP's will just have a rudimentary understanding of diet for hiking, like eat a balanced diet as best you can, drink plenty liquids that sort of thing...now if your asking me, the best place to look for tips on hiking food is on the internet, like where the fuck we both are or where....good byePS, those vitamin pills are not worth a shit, they've been proved to be a con job..
Vespasian The reason I mentioned GP is because some people may have medical conditions that may worsen over time if trying such a diet. Also the GP could put you in contact with a nutritionist who would be able to suggest better options. I did not suggest that GP's would themselves hold such information on viable foods.
If you are on a natural balanced diet, their is no need to use vitamin tablets. However if your diet is not balanced and you are deficient in some areas, then Vitamin tablets may be your only option. Sir Ernest Shackleton was the first to use vitamin tablets on his first antarctic expedition due to the limitations of food in that region. You are very unlikely to get vitamin C from a penguin.
I spoke to my own GP before attempting a 1200 mile solo and unsupported hike in respect of certain medical conditions and gained invaluable support from them. The trick is keep it brief and to the point. However I will admit I have a fantastic doctor.
One thing I should mention is that there is no good reason to swear especially when the only intention of my post is to give possible options or suggestions.
+Vespasian one can go to their dr and get a referral to a nutritionist.......its worth the effort. and if you feel embarrased about "camping trips" then cloak it as weight loss or exercise routine
thouThankght i might add instant beans, didnt see that.. makes for great burritos with all the other stuff. Thanks im getting older now and am forced to pack light these days.
Good tip!
Absolutely excellent video, thank you very much.
Thanks Lois!
Loved the vid, although I'm still not getting the tortilla thing that so many seem to like. And peanut butter and bagels are fairly weighty products to lug around. It depends on your distance, though. Not every diet is geared toward thousands of miles of ultralight backpacking.
One (kind of) correction I would probably make is that hiking food is just about the opposite of eating healthy in the civilian world. It seems to be becoming increasingly apparent that carbs and sugars are wrecking people's health to a much greater degree than dietary fat.
That being said, you need those sugars when doing an activity such as hiking. Healthier, low-carb diets are fine for a marathon but won't give you the bursts you'll need for a hike. And when you're burning 3K+ calories a day when hiking, not a lot of blood sugar will survive to lead to fat production.
Five weeks ago I started a sort of time-restricted, modified keto diet. While I've lost 24 pounds during that time, I'm actually looking forward to my modest 109-mile hike of the Mickelson Trail this summer (my first of any kind of length) as a perfect chance to let that peanut M&M monkey hop back on my back! :)
Not sure if you're aware of the product, buy any thoughts on Soylent? They sell bottled now, doesn't spoil or need to be refrigerated. You get about 1 Cal/mL in a 400 ml bottle. Seems like a good ratio. They're 2.67/bottle. Down side is weight & volume of bottles (store in a bladder?) and not a hot meal.
I know you didn't ask me, but thought I'd offer my experience with that.
TL;DR: Soylent works great for most of your calories on the trail, but you should have the option of a hot meal and/or drink for when you need it.
I did an overnight trip on Soylent powder only. Literally only consumed Soylent. I gathered water, mixed it in my shaker, and drank away. I wanted to see what it was like hiking with Soylent only (the powder weighs less than 500g per 2000 calories). It was efficient and lightweight for the balance of nutrients you get.
I definitely would NOT do Soylent-only again. The trip I went on ended up being much colder than expected and it was a bit demoralizing not having a hot meal. That was the only down-side though. Other than that, I felt I had energy, and felt full after my Soylent meals.
I definitely WOULD do (and have done) mostly-Soylent trips, but with a minimal number of hot meals for when you need comfort, I did instant noodles for dinner. Also I bring tea now for a hot drink in the morning. In the future, I will use the bars instead of the powder, since they are still less than 500g per 2000 calories and then I don't need to pack a shaker cup, there's no prep at all, plus they taste much better - I would even say they taste good. I wouldn't use the pre-made drink just because it's too heavy to pack it and the garbage is too high-volume, which would annoy me when packing it out. With the bars, it's just a wrapper.
Hope this is helpful if anyone else was wondering the same.
Happy backpacking everyone.
yeah, soylent is great. It might not be the most cost effective food in the world, but its almost unbeatable by way of weight. Once day of meals is one pound, and each is waterproof. Additionally for the sake of reducing weight, a person can leave all cooking equipment behind if they take only soylent.
I've never used it myself, so I can't really add anything to the conversation. Sorry!
Great video, but I'm finding my food choices today are more Spartan and John Muir like. Two loaves of French bread, salami, cheese, oatmeal, tea, brown sugar, dried fruit, soup mix, and some Scotch. Four days and very little waste.
Add a cast iron skillet and a wool blanket and you'll be even more John Muir-like, plus 3 or 4 hardbound classics!
That's Spartan?
This is a really good basic food video. Well done.
Thanks Morgan! Much appreciated.
I am going over the Rockies West to East this fall and will take some ideas from here along with my own recipes. Look to more of your posts.
Thanks!
stuffing!!!! That's a genius idea!!!!! Thank you!
+lapointe lapointe Lol, that's what I thought the first time I saw stuffing on the trail. Enjoy! Also, a little stuffing, potatoes, and some gravy. Excellent meal.
Very good ideas, Thank you very much
what do you think about spam... the smaller one person flavored ones are really good
Lol, I'm not much of a spam guy myself (too much weight), but I say go for what works!
I love these videos! They help a lot!
Very good video. Very good subject. Very good instructional. I love your channel so much I subscribe. Nutrition is ass in court and ask calories when it comes to backpacking but not much people realize that. Thank you so much for sharing this video. God bless you.
I cannot stress enough about couscous, you can cold soak it and it tastes like spaghetti.
Couscous is actually a type of pasta! Its probably why it tastes like spaghetti
Dave, thank you for the videos, very informative!
Ethan Miller Thanks Ethan! Let me know if there's anything else you want info on.
Do mealworms make good trail food? Are there other small creatures and microbes that can be used to enhance the bioavailability of vitamins, minerals, and carbs or harness local elements and flora to propagate or otherwise chemically alter food on the go and reduce weight?
Interesting question. I am not an expert in that subject and I always carry the food I will need into the backcountry. I would be very careful about eating any bugs, plants, or mushrooms in the wild. In general, you really want to know what you are doing if you are foraging in the wilderness. Things can go wrong very quickly if you don’t know exactly what you are doing and you could be put in a very dangerous situation.
Hello Dave, thank you for sharing this very informative video.
Good advice on the fresh fruit.
+MM McKinney Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.
Hey Dave, what do you think of TVP (Textured Vegitable Protein) as a filler? It's light..
Revnd Slim I don't have any experience with it, but I know it's quite popular among lightweight backpackers. Definitely something to look into.
I've used it and it's not to bad. Used it in some Lipton's Noodles and Sauce. But make sure it rehydrates good! It absorbs the taste the flavor of what its cooled with! Mark...
Revnd Slim Great tip! Thanks!
Really great, informative video. Thank you.
Thanks so much!
An awesome vid full of great tips!
Got yourself another sub.
Thanks for sharing!
+Swear Gryllz Thanks so much for the nice comment! Much appreciated.
Good video. Thanks. On a side note, you're a bit light on vegetables.
Is it safe to leave cookware in your tent as long as it is properly cleaned after you eat?
If it's properly cleaned, you should be good to go. That said, most hikers store their cookwear with their food.
If you are primarily just rehydrating meals you can also boil your water in your pot and then rehydrate in a quart freezer bag. Just eat out of the bag and pack it out with your trash. Clean up is a breeze and your pot never gets dirty.
Thanks. Great video again.
Thanks Martin! Loving the positive vibes.
Great video. Thank you! Good tips
Good videos. i think you should make a bug out bag video as well with all your knowledge on packing light and experience. thanks for helping me with my bug out bag.
+Benjamin Young Good tip! Will do.
Aha! Philippine Mango spotted at 2:46. Here in the Philippines we always bring rice! Nice vid though.
What about the MRE's ?
Eh, not my cup of tea. A little heavy and I'm not a big fan of the taste. But some still love them.
Do you think peanut M&M's are one of the best snacks? It won't melt too much in hot weather and has nuts.
Canyon Overlook Peanut M&Ms are great trail snack! I just took a pack out with me this past weekend and they were so tasty. They don't melt or crack easily and they're a convenient desert. How can you go wrong with chocolate and peanuts, right?
Thanks Dave! I screenshotted the list at the end and will be definitly be using it! Cheers.
The perfect video.
how much can one rely on meal replacement drinks, such as ensure....etc...
Eh, depends on the person. I would use them more as a calorie burst than a meal replacement. You'll need a lot of calories when you're hiking long miles.
thanx......
Another con, lots of extra weight, and empty containers to pack back. They work well as emergency supply in your car for the Zombie apocalypse, though. :-)
High fat = high calories
Protein = 4 cals per g
Fat = 9 cals per g
Carbohydrate = 4 cals per g
And water in your food should generally be avoided. While a fresh orange sounds like a great treat on the trail, it has 87 calories for 184 grams. But that does not mean don't bring fruit, just bring dried fruit. Dried mango has 568 calories for the same 184 grams. An orange is about 85% water weight. The exception would be if you can not refill your water on the trip, but that should also generally be avoided.
Loathomar Good points!
Picnic tables on a backpacking trip?
Pemmican. The only thing you need. Fruits,nuts,meat,honey and sometimes veggies all in one. As a side note nuts have protein, fiber and good fats
Great info. I suggest using data from the food label. It gives you serving size in grams and calories per serving, grams-carbs per serving and grams-protein per serving. The math is easy. You are looking for calories per gram - and all the info is on the package (or grams-protein or grams-carbs per serving). Virtually no trail food has more than 6 calories per gram cpg). Trail mix runs about 4-5 cpg, Macadamia nuts will get you to 7 cpg and olive oil will get you about 9 cpg. You will burn 4000-6000 calories per day (20 miles). If you bring high calorie density food, you will need 3.3 pounds of food per day to recover all your expended calories. But, if you are backpacking, you'll probably bring 2 pounds of food per day and you will never recover all your expended calories. Losing weight is inevitable. At least with calorie dense food, you will lose less weight.
+Six P Thanks for the insight! Good tips in there.
that was actually pretty clever, thanks
Lol, thanks! Trying my best.
You should add that alot of the freeze dried meals have way too much sodium, some up to 1500 mg, I like Patagonia, just add some beef jerky and it's a meal
Hey Dave! Great Video! I do have a quick question.
Im going to be heading up Mt. Rainier this summer. I'm pretty secure on my breakfast options for mornings before the climbing starts each day, however, I cant seem to decide on high calorie meals for the evening with enough carbohydrates and proteins while still being ultralight. The thing is, because of climbing and altitude i'm looking for super high calorie meals that will work. Any ideas?
(Last year I used Military rations that totaled 15lbs in food with almost no nutritional value)
filmguy91 My trick is to add olive oil to my dinners. It adds great flavor, weighs very little, and packs a great calorie punch. So, for a trip like that I'll bring some fancy, spicy ramen packets and add olive oil to the mix for extra calories. The good ramen weighs very little, tastes delicious, and contains 500 calories per pack. Then you add olive oil for more calories. It's not a completely round meal but you can add some snacks to get some more nutrition with dinner. Hope that helps!
Haven't seen much mention of MREs... Too heavy or too many preservatives? I've heard you turn a little zombie like if you consume more than 2 a day, but they're super easy to prepare, pack in and out, and they last forever.
Chromiumism Wow, you're taking me back to my boy scout days! And not necessarily in a good way. :) Yeah, I'm not really a big MRE guy, just because I like to have more control over what I'm choosing to eat, but they are super easy. If that's your style than I say go for it, it's just not something I really consider.
excellent video
+Jaw the Loyal Thanks!
Great video, very practical advice..
+Nico S Thanks! Much appreciated.
great video!
Thank you!
Good Stuff Dave.
Thanks Jay!
its a good idea to balance your carbohydrate intake with an equal amount of protein........along with fats.
peanuts are good, but almonds or walnuts contain a better balance of protein and carbohydrates.
whey based powdered protein can be added to instant oatmeal to balance out the carbohydrates.
dehydrated hamburger ( lean cut ) is a good source of litewieight protein.
rice meals and instant potatoes are good quick carbo load but consider dehydrated fruit, vegetables for a healthier option.
dehydrater can be a great purchase, make your own healthier options.
sports drinks, energy bars are a good source of quick carbs for keeping your energy up but try to pick slow burning carbs for endurance.
when your young, you can get away with eating a lot of crap, as you get older, you will pay a price.
good vid..........just my two cents
+yaduck9 Very good points on trail food! Thanks for the helpful comment!
Great video!!!
Thanks!
really wish someone would put some videos out for diabetics. its very hard to find foods to take that aren't carbs carbs and carbs.
Homemade pemican containing walnuts and dried berries = about 1200cal per serving. My pleasure in eating on a trip has nothing to do with what I bring with me, coffee excluded. (4oz pemican, 2oz berries, 2oz walnuts). ~ survivalist thanks for the vid.
Would you recommend MRE's
Eh, not really my jam. A little heavy and bland for my taste. I prefer to buy and prepare my own food.
I can't understand why typically 40% of calories of a daily backpack menu is consumed in camp at the end of the day. Shouldn't the heaviest meal calorie wise be during breakfast and supplemented with snacks during the hike. I've tried a backpacker menu from the internet based on 3500 calories daily for a 5 day trip. The breakdown is 730 calories for breakfast, 690 for lunch and 1200 for dinner. I feel those 1200 calories would be more useful on the trail and not in camp. My problem is running out of energy before lunch even hydrating well and snacking. Help!
Appalachian Swede I totally agree! My food bag is usually stocked with a variety of great snack food. I snack all the time throughout the day to keep my energy up. When I get to camp I love to have a warm meal, but it usually represents a small amount of my daily calories. The majority of my daily calories come from my snacks.
Appalachian Swede I'm also thinking of not putting such a heavy emphasis on dinner, because the day's physical work is pretty much done by that point. Better get those calories at breakfast or lunch when the body is working and burning. Winter is another game since you actually need the calories at night to keep you warm.
Jari Perho I had a backpacker tell me it's because you store the calories overnight and are not bloated in the morning at the start of a hike. This sounds a bit "old school" like the carbo loading craze back in the 1980s. I prefer to eat a big breakfast then break camp and let the food settle. I also use natural energy supplements designed for endurance athletes as well as energy bars. The supplements make a big difference in my performance on the trail.
Appalachian Swede Unless you are at an extremely low body fat percentage (>5% for men and >10% for women) your body can easily use body fat for the calories you need for the day and can also restore those calories at night. For me, a big man (6'5" and 235lb), I honestly can not eat enough calories per day to keep up with calories used. I burn 5-7K per day and eat about 3-4K, which means losing close to 1lb of fat per day. So, while you need those easy to burn calories in the day to supplement your body burning fat, eating a 1200+ calorie meal for breakfast or lunch will leave you feeling very full and you may even get sick eating that much then trying to hike right after. There could be a very reasonable expectation if you are hiking in high heat, so you take long breaks for mid day, 1 to 4ish, at which point this could be the best time to eat.
In the end, while there is generally good reasons for why backpackers do what they do, everyone is different and if something works better for you, great do it. But don't assume what the vast majority of people do is not right for those people.
Loathomar I hear you. However, I do not feel too full eating heavy at breakfast probably because supper at camp is the lightest meal and I eat breakfast foods with a high calories per ounce ratio. Not judging others, just looking for answers.
I have been thinking why everyone always looks at calories, what would be the harm to loose a little extra weight on your 3, 6, 9 day hike!!!
Your videos are awesome and the intro is bad ass!
Thanks Kevin! I appreciate the support. There's a whole bunch more content coming soon.
should i bring energy drink..?
+Nicken0o0 no
+Nicken0o0 Eh, totally up to you. I used to pack with some, but I rarely do anymore. Personal call.
Dave Collins +CodiTheJedi okay thanks.. I just thinking how lethargic can it be..
+Nicken0o0 The problem with energy drinks is that they are mostly water. Which is no problem for a one day trip, cause you need that water anyways, but after the first day you are carrying a lot of weight for very few calories. There are energy drink powders that can allow you have that energy drink without the water weight, I would suggest that if you want energy drinks on a long trail.
Loathomar Ah yes! That's what I mean. I was thinking of taking two box (even if they are two, these two combined only the size of my palm and in each box there's 4 packet) of powdered energy drinks. So does that means I can actually bring them?
NEWBIE ALERT You mentioned leave no trace backpacking, does this mean you should pack put things like apple cores that are biodegradability? Sorry if that is a stupid question!
I never pack out cores and whatnot. I usually cover them with a light layer of dirt, off the beaten path and let nature do its thing. I'd rather see it decompose then get taken to a plastic lined landfill never to decompose.
Sophie P Haha, not to worry Sophie. I pack out all my trash, including biodegradable waste like apple cores. Stuff like that can actually take months and sometimes years to decompose. It can also alter the foraging habits of animals in the area. So if you pack it in, pack it out.
Sophie P I'm with Dave on this one. Not because apple cores (or whatever food scraps) will destroy the environment of nature if left out there, but because of animals. An animal who finds that food will also find your scent on or around it. Giving animals any reason to associate our smell with food is BAD!
+Sophie P only one place for an apple core... in tummy :)
I really appreciate the great editing and information. Your videos are very well done, thanks for the great tips and please keep them coming! Sub'd
Will do! Thanks.