The food you take on a multi-day backpack hunt is an important aspect of your ability to hunt effectively. The food you bring provides the energy you need to hike, hour after hour, and day after day. As you begin to extend a hunt duration, your food also becomes the heaviest and bulkiest item(s) in your pack.
While it is possible to calculate the objective details of your food choices — analyzing the science of macronutrients and calculating calorie-to-ounce ratios — there is also a highly subjective element to the food that is "best" for YOU to pack on a backpack hunt. The scientifically perfect plan will not work well if you cannot stomach eating those calories, so packing according to your preferences and palette is important.
In this video, Steve Speck, owner and founder of Exo Mtn Gear, shares an example of how he plans and packs the foods he takes on backpack hunts.
For another example, see Mark's food for backpack hunts.
LEARN & PLAN
If you want to learn more about nutrition in general, as well as specific and personal nutrition strategies for hunting, our friend Kyle Kamp at Valley-to-Peak Nutrition is a great resource.
Kyle joined us to discuss why backcountry nutrition matters, and also shares a free Backcountry Nutrition Calculator that will help you plan for your next trip...
Backcountry Nutrition Calculator
RECIPES & RESOURCES
Here are links to items that Steve mentioned in the video above...
- Recipe for DIY Backcountry Bars / Muffins
- Nature Valley Nut Butter Biscuits
- LMNT Electrolytes
- Tailwind
- Liquid IV
- Clif Shot Bloks
- Bobo's PB&J
- Dairy Free Hot Chocolate
- Alchemy Outdoors Meals
- Boring Backpacking Food
- 5 Low-Cost, High-Energy Foods for Backpacking and Hunting