What Are Some Good Backpacking Meals?

By Michael Ferguson

Backpacking meals are an important part of the backpacking experience. Not only do they provide essential nutrition and energy, but they can also be a source of great satisfaction and enjoyment after a long day on the trail.

As such, it is important to choose meals that are both easy to prepare and tasty. There are many great options for backpacking meals, so no matter your dietary needs or preferences, you should be able to find something that fits your needs.

Freeze-Dried Meals: Freeze-dried meals are an excellent choice for backpacking as they are lightweight, tasty, and easy to prepare. All you need to do is add boiling water directly into the pouch, let it sit for a few minutes, stir it up, and you’re good to go! Most freeze-dried meals come in a variety of flavors so you can mix up your menu throughout your trip.

Dehydrated Meals: Dehydrated meals are another great option for backpacking. These meals typically come in larger packages that require more preparation than freeze-dried meals.

You will need to add boiling water directly into the package and then wait 10–15 minutes for the food to rehydrate before eating. The advantage of dehydrated meals is that they often have more flavor than freeze-dried meals.

Instant Meals: Instant meals are an incredibly convenient option for backpacking as all you need is boiling water and a few minutes waiting time. Most instant meal packages come with separate ingredients (e.g., noodles, sauce) that can be quickly combined into a meal with minimal effort or mess. They also tend to have good flavor.

DIY Backpacker’s Meals: If you want to really get creative with your backpacking meal selection, then making your own DIY backpacker’s meal might be the way to go! This gives you complete control over what ingredients go into your meal and allows you to customize it based on dietary preferences or availability of ingredients where you’re camping. Popular DIY backpacking meal ideas include burrito bowls, cold pasta salads with vegetables and cheese, stir-fries with dehydrated vegetables or meat alternatives like tofu, etc.

Conclusion:

No matter what type of diet or food preferences you have when backpacking, there are plenty of great options available! Freeze-dried, dehydrated, instant and DIY backpacker’s meals all offer different advantages depending on what type of experience you’re looking for in terms of taste, convenience and nutrition. So take some time to consider what kind of backpacking meal best suits your needs before heading out on your next adventure!