How Many Calories Should I Pack for Backpacking?

By Alice Nichols

Backpacking is an excellent way to explore the outdoors and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, it’s important to be sure you are packing enough calories for sustained energy throughout your trip. The amount of calories you need to pack will depend on your individual activity level and body composition, as well as the length of your backpacking trip.

Caloric Requirements

The average person needs around 2000-2500 calories per day, but this can vary significantly depending on weight, gender, and activity level. If you plan on engaging in strenuous activities such as hiking or rock climbing during your backpacking trip, you may need up to 3500-4000 calories per day. If you are a larger person or engaging in strenuous activities each day of your backpacking trip, it is important to make sure you are packing enough calories.

Food Options

Calorie Dense Foods: Calorie dense foods include nuts such as almonds or walnuts, nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter, dried fruits like raisins or dates, trail mix, granola, jerky and protein bars. These foods provide high amounts of calories without taking up too much space in your backpack.

Easy to Prepare Foods: Easy to prepare foods such as instant oatmeal packets or ramen noodles with added vegetables can be a great way to get extra calories without having to dedicate too much time towards meal preparation.

Cooked Meals: Cooking meals over a campfire can be a great way to bond with other people on the trip and create delicious meals that provide ample amounts of energy. If you plan on cooking meals over a fire during your backpacking trip be sure to pack heavier items that are more difficult to transport such as potatoes or canned beans along with spices and herbs for flavoring.

Hydration

It is incredibly important that you stay hydrated while out in the wilderness so don’t forget to bring plenty of water! Staying hydrated will help ensure that your body is able to make use of all those extra calories!

Conclusion:

The amount of calories needed for a backpacking trip will vary depending on individual factors like gender, weight and activity level. Packing calorie dense snacks like nuts or jerky is an excellent way to get plenty of sustenance without having to carry too much weight in your bag.

Easy-to-prepare meals like oatmeal packets or ramen noodles can also provide extra energy when cooked over a campfire at night. Make sure not forget about hydration – staying well hydrated will help ensure that those extra calories have somewhere to go!