How Many Calories Do I Need While Backpacking?

By Alice Nichols

Backpacking is an incredible way to explore nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As a form of exercise, it can also be quite intense, and so it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right amount of calories while backpacking.

How much food you need while backpacking depends on several factors, including your age, body weight, height, level of physical activity and overall health. Generally speaking, you should aim for between 2200-3000 calories per day when backpacking. This can be accomplished by eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, carbs and healthy fats.

It’s also important to remember that your caloric needs will vary based on how active you are during the day. If you are hiking long distances or carrying a heavy backpack, your caloric needs will be higher than if you are just leisurely walking through the woods.

In addition, if you are camping in cold weather or at high altitudes your caloric needs will also increase.

When it comes to snacks for backpacking trips, it’s important to choose snacks that are high in calories but low in weight. These include things like nuts and seeds (which have healthy fats), energy bars (which have carbs) and jerky (which has some protein). For meals while backpacking, try to carry foods that are lightweight but still provide the necessary calories such as oatmeal or couscous with lots of nuts and seeds mixed in for added calories and nutrition.

Conclusion:

In order to make sure you’re getting enough energy while backpacking, it’s important to pay attention to your caloric needs based on factors such as age, body weight, activity level and overall health. Aim for between 2200-3000 calories per day from a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, carbs and healthy fats. Additionally, choose snacks that are high in calories but low in weight such as nuts and seeds or energy bars for easy snacking on the go.