Breakfast is what gets you out of bed, and dinner is what you look forward to after you take off your hiking boots. Snacks are the MVPs that help you get through the day!
Backpacking snacks are a huge component of your backpacking food strategy. Not only will they make up nearly half of your daily calories, they’ll also be a great morale booster on the trail.
Consistent fueling is key to avoiding “hitting the wall” (you know the feeling: you’re so tired you can’t even move, and every step forward is a battle of will). To maintain your energy levels and avoid bonking, aim to consume 30-60 grams of carbs per hour. (source).
It’s also important to pack a variety of snacks for backpacking! The last thing you want to do on the trail is look in your food bag and realize you can’t eat the same old bars you packed a dozen of.
In this post, we share dozens of our favorite backpacking snacks! Some are healthy, some are not, but they are all delicious and will have you looking forward to the next handful.
One. Heather's Choice Packeroon
Heather's Choice Packaroons, made by backpackers in Alaska, are a delicious and compact snack to keep in your bag. These coconut cookies come in flavors like Chocolate Espresso, Cherry Almond, and Mint Chocolate and are gluten-free and vegan-friendly. At 160 calories per ounce, they have a great calorie-to-weight ratio, too!
2. Energy Bar
What would a backpacking snack list be without energy bars? There are dozens of brands and flavors on the market, so pack a variety. Don't make my mistake. Only Pack one of your “favorite” flavors for long hikes. Trust me, it won’t last long!
3. Energy Cookies
Bars are either delicious or not, but who doesn't love a cookie?! “Energy” cookies are a fun snack to mix things up with. Check out Alpenfuel Trail cookies in flavors like German Chocolate and “Monster” or Lenny & Larry's protein-packed cookies and mini cookie pouches.
4. Nut butter
They are perfect with dried fruit or crackers, or they are delicious eaten straight out of the pouch! Nut butters are loaded with fat and protein, and come in a variety of flavors. You can usually find them at supermarkets and Target.
5. Jerky and Meat Bar
Jerky and meat bars are another protein-rich snack that are perfect for backpacking. You can make your own jerky using a dehydrator, and there are tons of options at the grocery store. Meat bars are less chewy than jerky and often have other tasty ingredients. We like EPIC bars and Wild Zora (especially the lamb flavor!).
6. Honey Stinger Waffles
Inspired by the Dutch stroopwafel, Honey Stinger's waffles are layered with honey and made with organic ingredients. They're perfect for a morning snack with a cup of instant coffee.
7. Energy Jelly
My first experience with “Trail Magic” was finding a bag of Honey Stinger Energy Chews in my bear canister that I clearly forgot to pack. I found it right when I was starting to feel low on energy, and it was the perfect energy booster at that moment!
8. Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
These snack-sized peanut butter-filled pretzels are one of our favorite trail snacks. Salty, crunchy, and peanut buttery…this snack has it all!
9. Olive
Enjoy with nuts or cheese! For short overnight trips, pack olives in a ziploc bag in a jar. For longer trips or resupply boxes, pack individually sealed packets like Oloves, Valesco, or Trader Joe's “Just a Handful” packs.
10. Cheese
Cheese is another classic snack. Choose hard or aged cheeses that can be stored for a long time without refrigeration. Use at your own discretion. However, according to the USDA, “In general, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheese (American), block cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese do not need to be refrigerated for safety.”
Or, for complete safety, pack some dried cheese snacks like Whisps or Trader Joe's Baked Cheese Bites!
11. Trail Mix
You can get really creative with your own trail mix! Here are some trail mix ideas to get you started. Trail mix can be heavy, so choose high-calorie nuts like macadamias, pecans, and walnuts whenever possible.
12. Candy
Put it in the “not healthy” but “very effective” category. Not only is your favorite candy a great morale booster, but it’s also great for a quick energy boost to help you get through the steep climb to the top. We love bringing these organic Black Forest gummy bears, and sour jelly candies are always a hit. Avoid the ones coated in milk chocolate, as they can melt in warm temperatures.
13. Crackers and Hummus
Powdered hummus is another great snack to enjoy with crackers, pretzels, or dried vegetable chips. You can often find powdered hummus in the bulk aisle, or you can make it yourself in a dehydrator! If you’re looking for convenience, check out these individual packets that come in a variety of flavors. Add water or a packet of olive oil and enjoy!
14. Salami & Summer Sausage
Salami is another savory snack we always look forward to. We usually try to find smaller salami because it fits better in our pantry. These bite-sized salamis are delicious, these German sausages can be stored in the fridge for a few days, and these pre-seasoned salami bites come in mild and spicy versions.
If you love summer sausage but don't want to make a giant log, I recently discovered Veremont Smoke & Cure's new 5-ounce sausages that are a great size for sharing.
15. Yogurt Raisins
Yogurt Coated Raisins are one of my favorite grocery store bulk bean snacks! They make the perfect little bite. One thing to note is that they can melt in the heat, so I would avoid them on hot summer days.
16. Sesame Snaps
These sweet little sesame snap crackers are cheap and full of calories! They're the perfect size to keep in your hip belt pocket.
17. Dried fruit
Dried fruit is another classic backpacking snack. You can find it in the bulk bin or snack aisle of your grocery store. Crunchy banana chips are a great choice because they have more calories per ounce than soft dried fruit, but there are also plenty of freeze-dried fruit options. Not only is it a fun snack, but it’s also great to add to your oatmeal in the morning for a little extra flavor.
18. Flavored nuts
A handful of nuts is always a simple snack option. However, you don’t want to eat cashews all the time. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your hands on a flavored nut mix! Think trail mix without all the fillers. Trader Joe’s has a ton of options (think Thai Lime & Chili Cashews… mmm, mmm), as well as Sahale Snacks, Pear’s Snacks, and BobbySue’s Mixed Nuts.
19. Chocolate Waffle Cone
Imagine a chocolate-filled bottom of a drumstick ice cream cone… yes, this chocolate waffle cone is exactly that. I bought this on my last backpacking trip and it was my go-to snack! Also available in dark chocolate!
20. Cookie Bites
I first bought these at REI when I was starving while shopping and I'm so glad I did! They're basically freeze dried cookie dough pieces and they're delicious. They also have a fudge brownie variety.
21. Wafer and Cream Cookies
This isn't a typical item you'll see on a backpacking snack list, but I actually really liked this on my JMT hike. I think I took a big bag, but you can also find it individually wrapped.
22. Mini Cookie Variety Pack
They may not sound as performance-packed as “Energy Cookies,” but they definitely taste like classic mini-sized cookies from our childhood, like Oreos or Nutter Butter Cookies!
23. Annie's Snack Pack
Another fun idea is Annie's Snack Packs. These are great for kids, with cheddar cheese or graham rabbits. and Adult friendly.
24. Rice Krispies Treat Bars
Here we are really leaning into our childhood nostalgia. Next up are Rice Krispies Treat Bars! Who doesn't love these crunchy, sweet treats? These treats come in easy-to-pack, individually wrapped packages.
25. Fig Stick
Fig Newtons and Nature's Bakery Fig Bars are a semi-healthy yet convenient snack packed with fruit and whole grains. Just make sure to place them on top of your bear can to keep them from getting completely crushed.
26. Trader Joe's Mochi Rice Nuggets
If you can get to Trader Joe's, run, don't walk, and buy a pack of these for your next backpacking trip! They're pretty sturdy so they won't fall apart in your bag, have a good calorie-to-weight ratio, and are the perfect salty, crunchy bite.
27. Favorite Daily Snack Mix
If you prefer a sweet snack over a savory trail mix, you may want to check out these snack mixes: Cookie Dough Trail Mix, Peanut Butter Chocolate Trail Mix, and S'mores Trail Mix are all delicious treats to add to your snack menu.