20 Foods Perfect for Bringing on Your Next Backpacking Adventure

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, you need to make sure you pack enough food to avoid hunger pains when out on the trail. Basic camping rations are fine but don’t exactly satisfy the tastebuds. That’s why you need a wholesome roster of foods that can be packed away and eaten later, whether that’s a filling breakfast or a no-cook dinner. Luckily, we’ve gathered our best flavorful and easy-to-make meals that will keep you well-fed and energized. From beef jerky to amazing, plant-based wraps, there’s sure to be something in this gallery to suit every situation, starting with these fully loaded snack bars. Snack bars are great for bringing on an outdoor adventure, but the ones from the store can be expensive and loaded with questionable ingredients. These flavor-packed bars are simple to make and chock-full of healthy, satisfying ingredients.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it can be challenging to create this meal outdoors. These tortilla breakfast wraps pack up perfectly and can be heated up quickly over a fire (as long as you wrap them in foil first!).

The popular Korean snack kimbap is popular for picnics and lunches out-of-doors. Feel free to customize the ingredients inside to suit your personal taste or adventure plans.

This power snack mix is the ultimate combination of salty and sweet. Loaded with protein, you’ll find yourself unable to resist munching and crunching on this nutty blend.

DIY fruit leather is so much tastier than the store-bought kind. This colorful recipe has no added sugar and is just as fun to eat as it is pretty to look at.

Every backpacker should have a basic granola recipe in their back pocket for taking out on the trail. This recipe serves as the perfect jumping-off point for endless customization. Try adding your favorite dried fruit or some chopped toasted nuts to switch up the flavor.

By replacing the chicken or tuna with chickpeas, these hearty sandwiches offer the same protein boost with a bit more shelf stability. Line the bread with hearty greens to keep it from getting soggy.

With some clever layering, you can have a tasty salad that stays crisp hours after you assemble it. The vinaigrette starts on the bottom to keep the greens from wilting, and when you’re ready to eat, simply shake and enjoy.

Protein balls are great at providing a quick boost of energy. These coconut peanut butter balls taste great and are very easy to adapt to your personal taste. Not a coconut fan? Substitute it for some chopped nuts or cocoa powder.

A simple cheese plate can make for a fancy but unfussy lunch on the trail. This snack plate uses hard cheeses, olives, and tinned fish that don’t need to be kept cold.

Ditch the chewy jerky and go for something a little more interesting. These seed and oat crackers are simple to make ahead of time and make a great gluten-free snack, especially when paired with a few slices of hard cheese.

A simple hummus and vegetable wrap holds great without refrigeration yet still provides a good amount of protein and fiber to keep you fueled up for a day’s adventure. This recipe calls for zucchini, spinach and bell peppers, but you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Yes, you can enjoy waffles while backpacking, and no, we’re not suggesting you lug a waffle iron with you. Make these paleo pumpkin waffles ahead of time and pack them away for a tasty and fun breakfast.

Beef jerky is the ultimate food for backpacking. This genius recipe uses cola to add flavor, as well as soy sauce, smoked paprika and smoky chipotle chiles.

A nice slice of pumpkin bread can be just the sweet treat you need to get you down a difficult portion of the trail. This vegan chocolate chip version has no dairy and will pack very well without the need for any special handling.

Sure, peanut butter sandwiches can do the job of filling your belly when going backpacking, but why not spice it up a bit? These fiery Creole chicken wraps are filling and delicious.

With all the great taste of a candy bar but without the sugar bomb, these almond, cherry and pepita bars are tasty and satisfyingly crunchy. A little brown rice syrup acts as a binder, or you can swap for maple syrup if that’s easier to find.

Never mind the bland, standard trail mix. This mix calls for a fun blend of crunchy corn cereal, candy-coated peanut pieces and grape jelly to deliver a snack that’s totally trail-worthy.

With just 15 minutes of prep, you can have some delicious energy bars that have a ton of flavor from dates, raisins and dried apricots. There’s a healthy dose of fiber too, which will help keep you full no matter what the day has in store.