The Best Hiking Snacks For Your Next Hike

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Let’s skip the jargon-filled scientific terms that experts throw around to discuss nutrition and meals. A good snack is one that gives you sufficient calories to conquer that hike without risking a fainting spell.

You should know that even beginner-friendly hiking can burn up to 400 calories per hour at times. As such, you really want to opt for something that’ll replenish your energy while you’re hitting those trails.

Here are some attributes that you may wish to keep in mind to ensure that you’ve got a good snack.

Altitude

Believe it or not, high-altitude snacks differ from regular ones. Imagine you’re hiking a big volcano in Indonesia. You’re body will most likely burn up your meals within just a couple of hours, so you’ll need to pack some mini brunches to keep your energy levels up.

Think light yet nutritiously dense products like jerky and other dried meats, dark chocolate, bananas, as well as trail mixes. For longer climbs (7+ hours), I would also throw in some energy gels and hydration tablets for good measure!

Calories

Unlike other sports like squash, hiking isn’t immediately followed by sudden bursts of energy which is why novice hikers tend to underestimate how much energy they’re actually using.

To begin with, I would highly recommend that you keep an eye on your fitness stats during your hike, ideally with an outdoor watch. If you’re burning 500 calories or more per hour, it’s crucial to ensure that your hiking snacks are calorically dense.

Favor high-fat and dense foods like nuts, dried fruits, and bars.

Portable

If you’re a novice hiker embarking on a super strenuous hike, it can be quite tempting to stuff all your favorite food in your hiking backpack. I know I did!

The thing about a hodge-podge assortment of snacks though is that you’ll really start feeling the weight of your backpack halfway through the hike.

Unlike longer backpacking trips, you don’t necessarily need to stick to super lightweight items, but it’s a good idea to ensure that your backpack weighs between 15 and 25 pounds.

I like to weigh everything, including food- especially if I’m planning longer hikes. The general rule of thumb for a good snack is to aim for 100 calories per ounce of food.

Light Packing

Light packing means less weight! More importantly, the less packing that you take out on the tracks, the less trash you’ll have to carry back with you after your hike.

Avid hikers may wish to buy their snacks in bulk and portion them out for their hike.

We only have one Earth, and as the privileged few who get to travel around it freely, we have a responsibility to keep it clean. Your hike can be zero-waste, and one of the most impactful eco-travel strategies is embracing reusable containers.

Disposable packaging isn’t just notorious for the environment, but you may accidentally leave something like cling fling wraps or plastic bottle caps behind which may be dangerous for the local wildlife.

Personally, I’m a massive fan of reusable silicone baggies like Stasher. Not only are they quite easy to clean but they come in a wide range of colors and sizes – the perfect replacement for single-use packaging!

For more delicate and smaller hiking snacks like sandwiches or pieces of fresh fruit, I would recommend that you opt for reusable hardshell containers. Seek out containers equipped with locking mechanisms to prevent any spills in your backpack.

Venturing out on the tracks on a hot, humid day? Then be sure to grab a reusable ice pack or a soft-sided cooler. The ice pack will certainly add a bit of weight, but if you’ve got some extra space to spare, believe me when I say you’ll enjoy chugging down an ice-cold drink mid-trail!

As you hike more frequently, you’ll learn more about your snack preferences and packing techniques. My advice to you, however, is to pack light and bring along snacks you genuinely enjoy – ones that you’ll eagerly devour on the trail.

Forget just nutritional value—bring along snacks you actually enjoy!

It’ll be a thrilling adventure and you need something to keep you fueled. What better companion than your favorite snack to keep you going strong?

Let’s check out 11 scrumptious snacks to take on your hike. These are the kind of food that’ll provide you with ample energy to explore all those glorious sights!

Stroopwafel

Okay, here’s one that (literally) takes the cake as far as energy-laden snacks are concerned. I first tried this pastry during my backpacking trip to the Netherlands years ago and it was positively mind-blowing!

Now, I don’t really recommend that you stuff your day pack with cookies, but this one is an exception to the rule, which is why it’s the snack of choice for experienced hikers and athletes. The thin baked dough joined together by honey or caramel filling act has a similar effect as an energy gel which provides an instant blood sugar boost. The decadent taste is an added bonus!

Fair warning though: stopping at one may be an issue because those babies are seriously addictive.

Fruit Leather

Ah, the holy grail of hiking snacks!

Not only are they extremely light and portable but the main advantage of fruit leather is that you’ll get to enjoy the taste of fresh fruit without having to clean up any pits or peels. They also have a shelf life of up to 9 months and hold well in just about every type of weather.

If you’ve got some time to spare, I would recommend that you make your own fruit leather using a good-quality dehydrator.

Summit Snickers

Or any kind of candy bar for that matter! Candy bars are especially great for more strenuous expeditions like mountain trekking or any kind of alpine adventure where you really need the sugar rush.

You may wish to bring a couple of ice packs when hiking in warmer climates. A little trick of mine is to freeze the candy bars ahead of time so they don’t melt.

Clif Bloks

Here’s another great snack for a quick fix of electrolytes and sugar!

Clif Shot Bloks look and taste just like soft jubes that are quite easy to eat on the go. I found that these are great for preventing those notorious exhaustion episodes that feel like you’ve hit a brick wall- something that experienced hikers know very well.

That usually happens when your glycogen levels go down which can lead to you feeling weak, shaky, or even faint. I found that the Margarita-flavored one is especially great for those weak spells since it’s packed with carbs, electrolytes, and extra salt. Other flavors like Tropical Punch feature 25mg of caffeine for some extra energy.

Nuun

I know, I know. This is more of a hydration tab than an actual snack but hear me out…

Anyone who’s even hiked with the sun beating down their backs knows how quickly you can become dehydrated with the sweat positively pouring out of your pores!

This is why I can totally vouch for Nuun tablets, especially if hiking in hotter months.

Unlike other hiking snacks, Nuun tablets provide heaps of minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes without any carbs or sugars. They’re also devoid of color dyes and provide a nice fuzzy effect when added to your water.

Charcuterie Board

Who says that hiking can’t be fancy? If you ask me, there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to some yummy charcuterie once you’ve reached the viewpoint, waterfall, or summit!

All you need to do is grab your favorite grapes, cheeses, and prosciutto (or any other cured meats that tickle your fancy) and just assemble everything once you’ve reached your destination.

You may wish to opt for dense and hard cheeses like aged cheddar and smoked gouda. Throw in a few handfuls of dark chocolate chips and nuts and you’ve got yourself the perfect recovery snack!

Just a tip though: leave the actual board at home and grab a reusable container instead.

Jerky

Jerky has to be one of the most popular snacks for hiking- and there’s a good reason for that!

Dried meats like turkey or beef jerky are positively packed with proteins that’ll help you refuel and push on. They’re also quite high in sodium, perfect for replenishing the salt and minerals that you’ll lose through sweating.

Just a quick heads-up though: as delicious as they are, jerky will definitely make you thirstier than usual. Don’t go overboard with it.  

Trail Mix

Here’s one that needs no introduction! The name of it is literally TRAIL MIX.

The hiker’s snack by excellence, trail mix combines just about everything you need when indulging in any form of strenuous activity: lightweight, nutritious, and easy to store.

Most trail mixes contain a standard blend of nuts, assorted dried fruits, and granola. Some mixes can also contain chocolate and yogurt drops, but I wouldn’t recommend these if the weather’s hot since they can melt and just turn into a gloopy mess!

Trail mix is a standard staple at most grocery stores, but to cut back on costs, you can always mix and match your favorite ingredients to make your own customized hiking snacks!

Crackers

Crackers unfortunately get a bad rap when it comes to hiking since most of them are quite delicate and can easily disintegrate in your backpack.

Personally, I’m partial to sturdier crackers that hold up well when packed properly. Trader Joe’s Mango/Ginger and Fig/Olive crisps are my absolute favorite.

You can also grab some dehydrated hummus and you’ve got yourself the ideal carbs-to-protein ratio!

Rest assured that you can always get traditional ones like Ritz crackers if you store them in a hard-shell container. AND bind them together with some peanut butter or honey to make them sturdier. You’re welcome!

Nut Butter

Whether you choose cashew butter, almond butter, or plain ol’ peanut butter, these are always an excellent addition to your hiking gear! These are not only calorie-dense, but they’re also super versatile.

If planning a family hike, you can always bring along the full jar to dip your veggies or crackers in. In fact, you can even get creative and bring along some celery sticks and raisins to make Ants on a Log.

 For ease of use, however, you can also consider small squeeze pouches like RX Nut Butter.

Protein Bars  

Protein bars are pretty self-explanatory! Be sure not to confuse them with energy bars though.

While these are designed to provide an instant boost of energy, protein bars have a lower cab-higher protein formula. In some cases, they can even be used as meal replacements.

The main advantage of protein bars, other than their fabulous portability, of course, is that they often have enough protein to help your muscles recover.  

Traditionally, these hiking snacks source their whey protein from dairy. Variations may include honey and eggs. Rest assured that it’s entirely possible to find plant-based ones made from nuts, seeds, beans, brown rice, and even peas.

Now that you’re informed about the best hiking snacks to sustain you on your hike, remember that the goal is to pack everything. And I do mean everything. That includes organic and perishable produce like fruit cores, peels, nuts, or even cookie crumbs.

Why, you ask? Well, that’s because any sort of food will attract wildlife. Local animals may start to associate food with humans – something that can be highly dangerous to both species. Additionally, even tiny bits of food left behind can damage the local ecology.

It’s also recommended that you pack a portable trash container or simply convert one of your larger snack containers into a trash box.

In fact, I would also encourage you to try and leave the trail cleaner than you found it. If there’s trash on your hiking track, consider picking it up even if it’s not yours.

Responsible travel requires minimal effort, but imagine the collective impact of these small actions if every hiker did them. Keep that in mind as you conquer the world!

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