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What are your favorite "durable" food items that would be good in a backpack?
I'm trying to compile a good list of foods that would travel well. I'm trying to avoid anything heavily processed with commercial preservatives (no Goldfish or fruit snacks, etc.)
These foods should keep for at least a day in standard outdoor temperatures. Also, they should not get physically fucked up by being in a backpack all day.
So far, I've got these:
Rucksack Sandwich (Baguette, salami, butter, pickles)
Scones
Granola (inline with avoiding preservatives, this can be easily made at home)
GORP mix
P.S.
Shoutout to Squeeze in Marfa, TX for the rucksack sandwiches.
Nuts! honestly, grab yourself a small pot of nuts and throw it in your backpack, you'll never go wrong with them.
Unless you're allergic. Then probably don't do that.
The nice thing about nuts is that people aren't generally allergic to all kinds. Peanuts, for instance, are technically legumes. Seeds also work, i.e. pumpkin, sunflower, etc.
Can't believe I forgot this one. I guess the GORP mix kind of covered it, but yeah nuts stay good forever and usually won't get crushed.
my daypack always has a bag of dried apricots and another of dried figs, together with a bag of raw almonds, all from TJ's
Dried mangos! Nice “emergency” snack that’ll last for a few months at least… if you can get them, that is.
yum, thanks! I think TJ's has those so I'll include some
Nuts don't stay good forever, the oils in them spoil/go rancid and they start to taste foul and rot.
Yeah, but not for like a year right?
if you eat them that doesn't happen .. I eat mine and refresh my supplies quite often
Totally! Don't fret it.
I love having just a small pack of peanuts or trail mix or what have you in my bag. Get snacky on the train? office? night out? NUTS!
Figs are also banging, like Anadem said as well!
If you aren't too worried about the minor added weight. And you keep them near the top of the pack, small apples are pretty durable if you are going to eat them in a day or two.
Yep. Apples and Oranges are such a basic hiking staple. They're going on the list.
This is my usual backpacking food list. I know most of these are heavily processed but I'm sure whole foods and trader Joe's probably have like healthy versions of some of them if you have those near you.
Tuna packets
Beef Jerky
SPAM
Peanut butter
Ramen
Summer sausage
Oatmeal
Tortillas
Fig Newtons
Clif Bars
Instant mashed potatoes
Instant stuffing
Raisins/craisins
Other dried fruits
Whats the deal with Tuna Packets? I've seen a few folks on here recommend them. I don't understand how fish can stay good without preservatives in the heat. I guess they're like canned tuna, but flexible? But that would mean they have to cook it in the packets.
But thanks for the rest of the suggestions. I was definitely trying to avoid things like fig newtons and cliff bars. Those have to have some kind of preservatives in them. But can't believe that I didn't think of tortillas.
You don't need to cook it, it's already cooked. The best meal I've ever had in the backcountry was a tuna pesto pasta. You boil the noodles in a compact pot, rehydrate the pesto using some of the boiled pasta water, lightly toast pine nuts using the lid of the pot, and add sun dried tomatoes/cracked pepper tuna packets. It is incredible!
The tuna packets are pretty bullet proof in the back country.
Amazing. A whole back country recipe. I'm definitley using this one.
If you were curious, the tuna packets (and other flexible tort pouches) are processed the same way as steel/tin cans, it's just that the material is slightly different. Still metal container, still a lot of heat processing, just more advanced tech.
You’ve left off the ultimate backpacker food, Little Debbie brownies. They’re one of the cheapest, most durable and calorically dense food items in existence, are unaffected by heat or cold, can be repeatedly smashed into the corners of your pack, and even taste good (if you’re hungry enough).
Also, while this is entirely not what OP asked for, I can’t not mention the guy who hiked a long stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail eating only 27 McDoubles from McDonalds.
I know I'm not a fussy coffee drinker, but Café Bustelo makes an instant espresso-style coffee that's my go-to for travel, backpacking, and emergency supplies.
If your objective is to avoid expensive, processed, wastefully packaged backpacking meals, you can get bulk dehydrated vegetables, seasonings, TVP granules or foil-pack lunch meats (tuna, chicken), and easy to rehydrate grains (parboiled rice, red lentils, quick oats, quinoa) or pasta (fine couscous, ramen, rice noodles, soba, angel hair pasta), and pre-prep backpacking meals. This list has some useful ideas.
Great list. Thanks!
Some of my faves if Im not too worried about weight:
On longer trips and where weight matters, Ive dehydrated my own meals + premixed biscuit/bannock dry ingredients to hydrate and cook on-site. Dehydrators arent expensive, but in a pinch, Ive had success with a box-fan laid sideways blowing upward with parchment paper attched on top (so long as the room isnt humid).
I'm a fan of nuts and dried fruit especially dates, peanut butter packets (those Justin's PB Nutella ones are dangerous), and stroopwaffles.
I've also done some hard cheese and a Columbus salami. It was good after 2 days in my pack.
On my next outing I'm going to try "butthole sandwiches" bagels, peanut butter and bacon.
The hard cheeses and cured meats I think are designed for this exact scenario, so yeah always good suggestions. Never thought about stroopwaffles. I'm 50% Dutch, so that should have been on my radar.
I always think of natural ways to preserve foods, and I'm always leaning towards drying, salting, or pickling. But I always forget that Honey and high sugar in general can also work.
Protein balls are quite a good one. You can skip adding the protein powder if you like, then it’s basically just Oates, honey, peanut butter, chocolate chips. There’s plenty of variations if you search for recipes. But I throw them in my backpack at work and they keep fine (I’d probably keep them in in a fridge as long as possible, but once they’re out they’ll keep a day or so without being chilled)
I've tried these before, but they pretty much turned into a smooshed mess without refrigeration. And Oats, honey, peanut butter and chocolate chips are basically just wet granola.
Is this an overnight or a day trip? Also are you going to be cooking or is this more of snacks to be eaten all day?
For day trips there are tons of good options:
For longer trips the world is your oyster:
There’s lots of good suggestions here but my answer changes based on what kind of traveling you are doing.
If I’m doing backcountry miles and real elevation/difficult terrain, I need lots of carbs for the day, lots of protein and whole grains at night. So fig newtons, granola, i also eat gummy bears, oreos, sliced apples and peanut butter (keep a couple days in a tupperware), candied ginger, dried banana and mango, for the day. Steaks and parboiled brown rice first night, dehydrated veggies and meats for subsequent nights, oatmeal with maple syrup and cinnamon for breakfast. Cook with KCl (nosalt brand salt substitute-for added potassium).
If I’m rolling around the countryside by baranesa, train, Some foot, then I’m eating most of the suggestions here plus local snacks I pick up along the way.
Freeze dried food tends to have nearly zero preservatives, just add hot water.
Nuts and I've never made it or had it before, but pectin is a backpacking favorite
Do you mean pemmican? Made of blended jerky, fat and berries?
They might also be referring to fruit leather or jellied fruit bars? They typically have very high pectin content. I've never actually heard anyone refer to them as pectin before though.
I had to look this up, interesting..
A world of possibilities open up if you have the means to cook things. I have a small camping stove like this. You can keep things like fresh meats and vegetables in a backpack for a day with an ice pack or two to keep it cool and then cook it on the stove. It's great for canned foods as well, which can be stored without ice packs, but I guess that'll usually be heavily processed.
https://theprepared.com/survival-skills/guides/hardtack/ is "How to make, store, and eat hardtack." I haven't tried making hardtack yet but intend to. I suspect my ancestors who survived civil war battles ate hardtack and were happy to get it.
I enjoy dehydrating my meat and fruit, some veggies as well. I dont personally hike, but dehydrating takes a ton of weight out and leaves you with lots of the good stuff.
I just use my air fryer and if I want some spices I'll google whatever I'm in the mood for
Crackers are a great idea. I always forget to look at what folks have historically used for this same purpose. The ships biscuits for long sailing voyages should have tipped me off. Crackers are on the list. Thanks.
A local brand of crackers capitalized on the need for a handy, fits-in-your-pocket snack. Their tagline was "Hungry? XYZ" crackers. I love their onion and chives variant.
edit: now I'm hungry for some.