How Much Food Should I Bring on a 4 Day Backpacking Trip?

By Alice Nichols

When planning a backpacking trip, it is crucial to consider how much food you will need to carry. Many people underestimate the amount of food they should bring, leading to a lack of energy and nutrition during their trip. Therefore, it is important to plan accordingly and bring enough food for the duration of your trip.

A good rule of thumb when packing food for a four-day backpacking trip is to bring one pound of food per person per day. This should include meals, snacks and treats that are high in calories and essential nutrients. To get the most out of this weight, it is best to focus on lightweight items such as granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit and nuts, jerky, canned meats and fish, oatmeal packets with added dried fruit or nuts for breakfast, freeze-dried meals for lunch and dinner as well as peanut butter or other nut butters for snacks.

In addition to bringing plenty of healthy food options on your backpacking trip, it is important to ensure that you are also carrying enough water. If you are able to access freshwater sources along your route then you can save weight by bringing a water filter or tablets instead of extra bottles or containers full of water. If not then plan on bringing between 2-4 liters per person per day.

Conclusion:

When preparing for a four-day backpacking trip, it is essential to pack enough food and water in order to stay nourished and energized throughout the journey. As a general rule of thumb, plan on bringing one pound of food per person per day as well as two to four liters of water per person per day.