Learning how to make your own backpacking food will open up a world of possibilities when it comes to planning food for a backpacking trip! By taking a DIY approach you can control the flavor profiles and ingredients in ways you can’t with freeze dried food–oh, and it’s usually cheaper, too!

This is the library of all our backpacking recipes, which include a mix of dehydrator recipes as well as meals created using store-bought ingredients. We hope you find your new favorite backpacking meal here!

FAQ’s

How much food do I need for a backpacking trip?

Aim for a calorie count of 25-30 calories per pound of body weight, per day. If you’re only hiking short days or over less strenuous terrain, you can scale that down to 21-25 calories per pound of body weight, per day. To keep your food lightweight, aim for an average of 120+ calories per ounce of food.

What do you need to cook while backpacking?

The basic equipment you’ll need is a backpacking stove, a cookpot, a utensil, and fuel. For a full rundown, you can check out this post detailing the best backpacking cooking gear with a few different options to customize your kit.

How should you store food while backpacking?

Your food should be stored in a way that will protect it from animals (not just big ones like bears, but critters like squirrels and marmots too!). Many areas have regulations that will tell you the specific way to store your food. In many places, you’ll be required to store your food in a hard-sided bear canister. Be sure to check the local regulations in advance of your trip by calling the ranger station or Google “[area] food storage requirements”