buggulch.com
Outdoor adventure website

Backpacking food packlist

Just like packing gear, packing food is easier to do with a list. I generally pack the same breakfast and dinner for every backpacking trip I go on. Lunch is less standardized because of the variety of food choices available.

For breakfast, I make a packet of plain oatmeal and mix in a packet of almond butter and some dried fruit. I will open and consolidate the oatmeal packets in a single ziplock bag before the trip if I need to save space. Justin’s almond butter packets are nice for small trips, but I bring a plastic jar of almond butter when going on a long trip. Instant coffee is a staple.

My lunch consists of protein snacks, track mix, salty snacks, dried fruit, bars, and candy. I include a bit of each in each lunch. These items are also eaten as trail snacks and food to munch on around camp. I transfer the snacks from their original containers into ziplock bags, especially if the containers are bulky.

Dinner is one freeze dried meal and maybe some trout and/or powdered mash potatoes. I have a few freeze dried meals that I always bring, but will sometimes throw in a new flavor to try. I bring oil and seasoning to cook fish. I have yet to find a container that does not leak olive oil, so I bring spray oil or packets of olive oil. Dried mash potatoes are a nice way to fill myself up and are paired nicely with some rehydrated mushrooms. Cocktails are best made with crystal light, liquor, and a handful of snow.

I typically pack the food in dry sacks. Using many dry sacks makes it easier to pack the food in the small nooks of a backpack. Freeze dried meals don’t need to be consolidated in a dry sack. If a bear canister is required, I use less dry sacks and shove all the food into the canister. I always recommend people buy the BV500, the largest and most widely available bear canister. Never do I wish I had a smaller bear canister.

Below is a general list of the food I bring on backpacking trips. The items and their quantity vary based on the specific trip. This list will help me, and hopefully others, pack for future backpacking trips. It will be updated as needed.