How Do You Pack Food for 3 Day Backpacking?

By Robert Palmer

When you’re planning a 3-day backpacking trip, the food you bring can be the difference between an enjoyable trip and one that’s filled with hunger and exhaustion. Packing the right food is essential for having a successful experience.

Here are a few tips on how to pack food for a 3-day backpacking trip.

Choose Lightweight, High-Energy Foods

The main goal when packing food for a backpacking trip is to find foods that are lightweight but also provide your body with enough energy to make it through the day. Choose foods like dehydrated or freeze-dried meals, energy bars, nuts, dried fruits, and trail mixes that provide a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Avoid bringing anything heavy and bulky like canned goods or fresh produce.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is key when it comes to packing food for a backpacking trip. Using an app or website to plan out your meals can help you figure out how much food you need and what type of ingredients will work best. This will make it easier to shop for all the items in one go without having to make multiple trips.

Divide Up Your Food Into Portions

Once you have all your ingredients, it’s important to divide up all your food into individual portions so that you won’t have too much or too little each day. This will help ensure that everyone in your group has enough fuel throughout the entire journey.

Pack Your Food Securely

Securely packing your food is essential for keeping it safe from animals and other elements. Put your food in airtight containers or bags and store them in sealed plastic bags or bear canisters if needed.

Bring Snacks For Energy In Between Meals


Along with pre-planned meals, it’s also important to bring snacks like energy bars, jerky or trail mix that can give you an extra boost of energy while out on the trail.

Don’t Forget To Bring Water


Staying hydrated is essential while on any outdoor adventure and especially important when going on longer trips in hotter climates. Make sure you have enough water with you on your journey as well as water purification tablets if needed.

Packing food for a 3-day backpacking trip doesn’t have to be complicated; just make sure to choose lightweight high-energy foods, plan ahead by portioning out meals beforehand, pack everything securely, bring snacks for energy boosts throughout the day, and don’t forget about water! Following these tips will ensure that your next backpacking trip is both fun and full of delicious meals!