Outdoors Information

The Best Backpacking Food


Maybe your favorite backpacking food is a freeze-dried turkey dinner. There really is no "best" backpacking food. There are reasons to bring certain foods, though. Here are ten foods, and the reasons you might want to consider them.

1. Nuts. This is one of the most calorie-packed foods you can take. That means less weight to carry. With lots of protein and other nutritonal benefits, nuts are one of the best backpacking foods.

2. Olive oil. Add a little to your soups or dip bread in it. The best of the oils health-wise, you can eat it before sleeping, to stay warm, because fats generate heat when digested.

3. Trail mixes. Any mix with raisins and nuts is great for backpacking. Vitamins, minerals, protein, and the best reason - convenience.

4. Corn products. Tortilla chips or corn nuts are convenient, and they don't seem to cause the tiredness that potato chips and other simple carbohydrates can cause.

5. Ramen noodles. When you need a hot meal fast, there isn't much that's better.

6. Instant coffee. A necessity for caffeine addicts, and it's good to have a stimulant available for emergencies.

7. Wild edible berries. Learn to identify a few, and you'll have a nutricious excuse for a break along the trail.

8. Instant sports drinks. Pour a little in your water bottle and shake. Replacing electrolytes doesn't get more convenient.

9. Instant refried beans. When you want sustained energy, eat beans.

10. Your favorites. Having your favorite foods can help salvage a rainy backpacking trip spent in the tent.

Always consider the nature of the trip when you choose your backpacking food. Hot meals are much more important in cold climates, and convenience is king, if you want to make miles. A bottle of rum might even be appropriate, if it's a trip wih friends.

Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of ultralight backpacking. His advice and stories can be found at http://www.TheBackpackingSite.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Outdoors | Clam beaches reopen to digging
Seattle Times, United States - 12 hours ago
By Mark Yuasa It's time to grab a shovel or clam gun and head to three coastal beaches open for razor clam digging Saturday. "Even though digging was ...


Inside the outdoors
Detroit Free Press, United States - 12 hours ago
While specialized carp tackle isn't a necessity here, it increases the chances of catching big fish and lets you cover more water from shore. ...


OUTDOORS REPORT
Houston Chronicle, United States - 13 hours ago
Buddy Oakes of Hackberry Rod and Gun reported one boat caught and released a trout over 7 pounds. Birds are working throughout the lake, ...


For many of us, the only great outdoors are dangerous backstreets
guardian.co.uk, UK - 20 hours ago
Bee's image of the "world outdoors" is far too idyllic: the idea of "yummy mummies" running with dogs and prams through verdant parks makes the prospect of ...


Outdoors Report: Lake fishing remains productive
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 16 hours ago
By GREG JOHNSTON A stable weather pattern in the forecast should mean a memorable holiday weekend for lake anglers, whether they are pursuing trout, ...


Outdoors notes: Kids to have their own outdoors festival in St ...
Post-Bulletin, MN - 2 hours ago
To get more youths interested in hunting, fishing and other outdoors passions, adults have organized special youth-only turkey, deer and goose hunts, ...


The Nature Conservancy

Nature Conservancy of Texas urges parents to take their kids ...
The Nature Conservancy, VA - 4 hours ago
Photos of children in nature and a summer activity guide to help parents get children outdoors may be downloaded below. San Antonio, Texas — May 22, ...


OUTDOORS REPORT
Houston Chronicle, United States - May 21, 2008
By BINK GRIMES Guide James Plaag of Silver King Adventures said the past few days, fishing has been great, with limits of trout coming on topwaters and ...


OUTDOORS: Weekly fishing report, May 22
North County Times, CA - 2 hours ago
By Outdoor News Service | Thursday, May 22, 2008 10:25 AM PDT ∞ The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops and local ...
OUTDOORS COMMENTARY: Valley Center fisherman gets a sturgeon surprise North County Times
all 3 news articles


The great outdoors gets even greater
Reading Chronicle, UK - 3 hours ago
By Annabel Williams Putting their back into it: Volunteers from the Kensington Mortgage Company and Conserve Reading on Wednesdays hard at work, ...

Outdoors - Google News

home | site map
© 2006