Backpacking Food and Methods of Preparation 

Rev, back in my twenties, I would usually start a hike with only enough food to last 2 days and not worry where the rest of it will come from. I never carried more than twenty dollars with me, and usually I would have that amount when I got back home. My secret was knowing what wild foods are safe to eat, and using small parts of my "stash" to supplement what I could gather from the land. It's a sad thing nowadays that most hikers don't know what to eat from the land.

Thanks, very informative. I will certainly try the cold soak method. I have done an hybrid version where I add just a bit of water an hour before eating so the dehydrated food gets soft and chewy but not quite hydrated enough. Then adding a bit of boiling water to warm it up when ready to eat, without having to wait to eat! My friends and I dehydrate our meals in the off-season. We’ve had other hikers drool of envy over our spaghetti, rice & shrimp curry, quinoa broccoli chicken …Cheaper, healthier and tastier than commercial meals and worth the investment in a dehydrator! We do the same with fruits that we add to our oatmeal. Bananas, strawberries are my favourites ( I use frozen strawberries that are already sliced so I don’t even have to slice them!) Gourmet meals😉

Well, 80 years old and getting ready to go after not hiking for the past 50 years. This video was great for me because I avoid cooking and already bought a stove!!! Now, the video has clearly given me the options I need. So, sometimes the stove won't be coming along.

Rev, eating good on the trail is a favorite of mine. Dinner is usually something simple cause I'm beat at the end of a day but breakfast is my favorite. Once a years I do a trip with my son whose 26. This summer while doing a loop in NY. I make flapjacks and carried maple syrup for them. I've never seen someone enjoy such a meal on the trail before. It was great. Thanks for the info. I got a lot out of it. Big breakfast, no cook lunch and a warm prepared dinner. Thanks.

I used to live in Alaska and cross country ski into forest service cabins with groups. We’d pull a pulk/sled with our gear on it. The best dinner I ever provided (we rotated cooking for the group) was the chicken breast packets, ranch beans, instant mashed potatoes. For desert I brought little individual graham cracker tart/pie crusts which I filled with instant chocolate pudding made in camp and topped with whipped cream from a pressurized can. Pulling a sled on a hip belt is a lot easier than carrying a backpack!

Most trail food that needs cooking is Rice mixes, Pastas, & Potatoes, which is high carb. I got type 2 diabetes and had to switch to low carb food. So now I eat Meat, Cheese, Nuts, Eggs, & Salads as my main meals, which don't require cooking. Eggs & Salads are not practical for trail so I leave them for town meals. On trail I have packaged meats (SPAM, Tuna), pepperoni, salami, & home made jerky. For cheese, Parmesan keeps well and I cut off pieces to eat during the day. I also got some "Shelf Stable Cheese" off Amazon. For nuts, I buy Planters Deluxe Nuts (no peanuts) and eat as snacks. I found some low carb tortillas at Walmart that I make into SPAM, Tuna, Salami, & Pepperoni wraps, just add some mayo & cheese. Carbs provide quick energy that meat & cheese don't provide. I make one carb exception. For breakfast, I have cereal in a freezer bag. I mix 1 cup of Grape Nuts Flakes in a freezer bag (100 calories), plus 1/3 cup NIDO (200 calories), plus 1/4 cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes (200 calories), plus 2 packets Stevia. Gives me a 500 calorie breakfast. Just add water to top of cereal in freezer bag, shake, and instant milk & cereal. I find, that if I hike immediately after a carb breakfast, I get and energy boost 1.5 hours after eating an can keep ahead of big sugar spikes.

Good video, but my food philosophy is different. As an older person who began a healthy eating program almost 2 years ago, I feel so much better when I eat healthier food. I plan to thru hike the AT in 2024. I'm currently in process of freeze drying meals that my daughter will ship to me. Yes, I know it will be a hassle to have the mail drops, but I hope that it will pay off in me feeling more energetic and healthier on trail. Of course, I will also be doing some purchased foods, but I hope to avoid the crappy Ramen, Knorr's side dishes, etc. as much as possible.

I've been using your 3 methods for years, and like you said if your hungry you'll eat anything. Bon appetite

Thanks for more great tips.. Having backpacked for about 50 years in the Canadian Rockies mostly, a hot meal or drink is essential in my books as it is often cold here. As I continue to backpack into my 60's I need to refine my entire kit and this includes my food. I rarely eat 'Freeze Dried" meals, but dry a lot of my own food. I use an insulated cooking bag along with my camp stove. With the butane stoves it is easy to bring the food to a boil, drop the pot into the insulated bag and leave it for about 15 minutes to do it's own cooking, then perhaps a short burst of heat just before eating it. I now typically carry one 200 gram fuel can for every five days of hiking for my wife and myself. One thing in your videos, you show yourself eating or cooking in your tent. In the Canadian Rockies, bears especially grizzly bears are a real threat and you never ever eat, cook or store food anywhere near you tent. I often have to remind hikers that I meet on the trail, especially those from Europe and the US not to do this. Keep up the great videos.

Thanks Rev! I’m a senior planning a thru hike in ‘24 and love your 3 suggestions on food prep and non prep. I’m thinking about combining the choices throughout the trail and being flexible (it’s like you gave me 3 tools for the toolbox) thanks brother!

Heidi & Jeff -Leavenworth hikers We are just under your age and we love watching you. We have really old gear (mine is still a external frame, which I still love!) and you have helped us to finally break down and get lighter gear. We hope to keep on trucking on the trails for as long as we can in our lifetime! We live 1/2 mile from the trails in Leavenworth WA. The trails in Leavenworth are endless. I don't think we could go on all of them before we pass away!. We appreciate your videos!

Good information--I am 70 and I am thinking about hiking the AT, starting in April 2022. I never hiked before.

Ive never hiked before but have been watching your videos for preparation and they have been incredibly helpful in decided where to start, when to start, what to start with etc. I cant wait for my first hike and im hooked on your videos!

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing

I eat a WFPB diet. It is tuff finding foods. There are some good dehydrated meals, but they are expense. Coming up with my own dehydrated meal. Just that is a lot of work. The food bars look like a great option.

Thank you for the video and the different methods, always enjoy learning new things from you! Keep on Hiking !!!!

Love your videos. I am gathering equipment and ideas to start doing some backpacking since I retired. Keep them coming.

Your trail wisdom is always appreciated. I'm researching the cold soaking method for a 10 day hike this summer. It seems so much more efficient and easy. See you down the trail!

Great suggestions for trail food! I like the way that you have characterized the three methods of preparation, and it is somehow freeing to get away from pre-packaged meals for cooking or heating that a lot of sites promote for backpacking. Especially cheese and peanut butter! :)

Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge with those of us that are learning how to do backpacking

Terrific video, thank you! I learned a LOT. 👍

I think working in field service for over 35 years and eating cold food has scared me. I really don’t like cold food and I love my hot coffee. I have never been on the trial for more than three weeks so who knows maybe could get over the cold food. I think the dehydrated meals have come a long way. I have my gear pretty dialed in and I also have my food dialed in. I agree no one starves to death on the trail. I try to bring just enough food because I like a light pack. I love the precooked bacon and so does my dog. I drink coffee with ghee, bacon and cheese and nuts for breakfast almost everyday. I eat and drink while I hike. You gave some good tips and who knows maybe someday I will warm up to cold soaking. Lol

Thanks for another great video. You are always an inspiration!

Thanks for the 3 options. Always helpful to get some new ideas.

You have some sensible, down to earth advice. I enjoy your videos. Keep going!

Thank you for your wisdom Sr. 🙏🏼 For me it's the best hiking channel that is! God bless you and your family 💪🏼🧡

Great content! We'll start sending your channel to our clients who recently bought land from us near the camping areas. This will surely give them awesome ideas. Thanks for sharing! 😊

Thank you sir!!

Me too,am enjoying and watching your great Videos,Thank you Mr.Hiking Rev😀

Very informative with good food alternatives for the trail.

Hi Rev! Has become die hard fan of you! Your videos content and quality is amazing. Thank you for sharing your wonderful and useful experiences.🙏

Really helpful! Thank you very much❤❤

Enjoy your videos. So I finally subscribed to your channel. The first and only channel I have ever subscribed too. You have a gift to share and do a great job of it. Keep up the great work!

Good info. Thanks👍🏽

Good information. I have never considered anything but hot meals and I do enjoy hot meals at the end of the day but .... I will give these other alternatives a try this season. I am definitely intrigued.

Appreciate your sharing with us.

great video. thanks

Thanks for the wisdom

Great review of the three methods. I have used all three on section hikes and each has it's place. Since I hate cold coffee, I started carrying chocolate coated espresso beans for a little caffeine throughout the day. As always, we enjoy your videos.

Thanks for video. Very helpful and great information

Rev another good video on a topic some don't know much about when they enter the world of backpacking. As I've gotten older and a need to drop weight I've adapted to no cooking when needed especially after moving to northern AZ where at times you find yourself carrying 10 or 12 lbs of water. Rather drink it than cook and clean with it. Glad to see you're doing well. Take care and travel safe.

Very informative, as always.

Thank you so much, Rev! I love hiking, it's like a hobby for me, but I don't really do long trails. I like learning about foods and nutrition values as well. My friends and I are going on trail soon, last time when we can do it for sure before enlistment. It happened so that I'm responsible/in charge of the food and although I like both things, I actually don't have a lot of knowledge on how to combine them. Your video helped me a lot! Now I have a better understanding of how every meal shoud look, which products should be used and how to play with them (and with methods of cooking). Thanks again!

Rev thanks for the information, I’m relatively new to the longer distance backpacking experience but I’ll tell you what I do know based on my military experience, when you’re hungry you will in fact eat anything, cold, hot, wet, dry, dirty, clean you’ll eat it if hungry enough. Fav’s beans and weenies cold or hot, peanut butter absolutely the best at giving ya protein without the mad dash to the outhouse, spaghettio’s hot or cold, beef stick with cheese suppose I could go on and on but you clearly point out a phrase that’s true to word, a hiker or soldier walks on their stomach, you just have to figure out what works.

A lot of people don’t realize just how long you can go without eating anything at all. If you are without serious health issues most can go 3 weeks without anything at all to eat , even a month in most instances Of course you don’t want to dehydrate!!! That will really rock your world but you can go a few days here and there without woofing down Solids. I have the feeling a lot of you may actually feel better. Stay safe everyone…🙏🏻

Excellent resource for anyone adjusting their journey. I'm hungry now, too! 👍

Good overview of three hiking food prep methods, thanks! 🙂

I love the peanut butter and the jelly single serve packets, I order them by the case, throw a handful of each into a paper bag, along with, like you pointed out, sharp cheddar cheese, or some crackers, and this makes a great power up snack. Being a diabetic, I have to watch my sugars. While I no longer do the hiking, I still do some camping, (within 3 miles of my place). While I do have a neat little pull along cart, I still repack food stuffs to make it lighter. Like pork and beans into a sealable plastic bag, I pre make a seasoning mix or three, (lol) for different things like fish or chicken, meats. usually pre cooked and put in vacuum seal bags, (if the weather is rainy or just too dern cold), just pop open the bags and munch away. I also carry those MRE heating bags for foods. Vienna sausages, potted meat, (although they have a lot of sodium), Spam, cornbeef hash, powdered egg, powdered milk, I hate the taste of plain water, unless it is ice cold, but, places like Family Dollar and such carry Sugar Free, zero everything, drink mix single serve. those are great when you set up camp. These are helpful videos you are posting, I am going back when time allows to watch the past ones. Thanks for taking the time to let us "oldies, but still goodies" still have it!

Very helpful!

Much wisdom there Rev! But I gotta have a hot drink and meal in cold and damp environments!

I am so glad that I found your channel. Thank you

Always enjoying your episodes - packed with experience and well meant advice. Happily taking them all. Its especially great to see you hiking again after your heart issues. Hopefully in the meantime most of it (maybe even everything?) has been sorted out and you're back on track on the stamina train. Take and (borrowed from the astrophotograpers): clear skies - should help for hiking too :--)

Thanks for the helpful content Rev. I'm a bit late getting to this post but really found it useful. Appreciate your experience sharing. Best wishes!

Thanks Rev.

Thanks Rev some very good info here

Your video was very good for me. The cold soaking method I will try this weekend. I am on a 2 day hike . Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Stay safe!

I can't wait to go hiking!!

Hey Thanks I use them all

Great video I learned a lot. You left out the fourth method which is bringing my own private chef. I’ll be doing that this summer on our hike in the Sierras baby! Enjoyed this one!

Thanks from South Africa i enjoy warching your videos. God bless you.

Great video . I didn’t used a stove at all on my 500 mile PCT hike , I enjoyed it. Wraps, no cook meals worked for me

Good information!

Thank you for the tips and insight. I guess I have to try cold coffee a few more times to get used to it.

Great video. What Im doing in my training is doing a bit longer trail hikes and "cooking" on trail. Heck at times Ill make dinner just using my cook kit just so I understand how it all works. And I have found many foods like rice that is cooked and all it needs is be reheated which would be great for the no cook method. Im in construction so I have had my share of left overs from night before not heated up. So room temp rice and tuna is something that is not new to me.

Good video/advice. I'm pretty minimal of what I carry. BTW, off subject....I tried and love the Wrangler Outdoor series pants and shorts. Very light, fast drying, pockets, and only $22. I wear pants in the mountains when the nettles crowd the train here in Tennessee.

Thank you very much for the good tips. I have seen a lot of films about food, but never as good as yours ❤

First time hearing of cold soaking repulsed me but after watching several of Jupiter's videos I'm looking forward to experimenting with it. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions on it.

I wish I had enough space here to share with you a story of a trip when my stove wouldn't work. It's always good to be prepared. Thanks for the video. Good to see you again. God bless. Walk on!

Thanks for breaking the hot meal myth. I do week fasts in the spring time for detoxification and I've found that my food cravings are highly psychological in our well fed society.

Thank you Rev for your advice. One does not need expensive food from the outdoorshop!!🤫 greatings Max from the Netherlands

I've picked up a vargo 750 bot I use for coffee, cold soaking ect. And a nearzero 1100 pot (with handles and a bail) pocket rocket total weight 1 pound. Yup it is a pound but for me it is the smiles not miles. But I'm always willing to learn more

Thank you.

loved your posts , and learned a lot . I'm an older hiker and I'm going on a 5 day trip .

WELL DONE REV A GREAT REASESRCH OF FOOD

Great video Rev!!!! Answered all my questions about food on the trail!!!! Thank you very much!

Thanks Rev. I will say cold soaking sticks and rocks take longer than an hour. At 68 I'm still hiking.

I had heard of cold soak and it doesn't appeal. I'm in the 'hot meal at night' camp. I had never considered the no cook. Which is strange when you think of it. I could eat spam or corned beef in a wrap all day every day. Thanks for the compare and contrast vlog Rev, really appreciate it.

Cold soaking is not new and has been used by us "old" Ranger and Special Forces troopers for a long time. Dehydrated rations were only issued to those sorts of units because of cost. Basically, you always started the "next" meal while you were eating the current one. That way, it was ready when you stopped. But, There was nothing better than being in a place that you could heat up a meal, especially beverages. Thanks for the videos, getting back into this after many years closing out my careers, 22 Years in Rangers and SF, then railroad, Security in Iraq, Oil and Gas Landman, being unemployable due to my military disabilities. I have never laid down and now getting back on the trail. Thank You Rev!

Rev, nice comparison of the main food preparation options that are available. Great examples of when a hiker May choose to do one our the other. I feel in addition to the weight savings of going stoveless, another advantage is the time savings. I’m using the coldsoak option so I can get out of camp earlier in the morning and start my hike while it’s still cool. A power bar and cold coffee as I’m hiking followed by cold oatmeal during my first break. Thank you for continuing to provide this very useful videos that make our experiences better on the trail!

im learning so much. thank you !!!!

Rev, Thank You for the terrific breakdown of the 3 methods. It was very helpful, and you got me thinking about how/when to use the various types of food prep. Kind regards, S

thanks for this amazing tips!!!

Nice video. Something to consider is protein powder that can be mixed with water. Vitamin supplements are also good to take. Knorr food type packets are also good to consider especially when combined with chicken or tuna pouches. Tortillas are also good to make “sandwich” type meals with summer sausages, cheeses, peanut butter, other nut butters, etc.

I am interested in the, cold soak and no cook, methods of eating on trail. Thanks for sharing. Kentucky

New to backpacking. Just got my semi-ultralight kit dialed in. Man I want to go backpacking with you one day! Need your wisdom at this point in my life!

Your videos are smart, entertaining, educational, and fun! Thank you! :>)

Another great video, thank you! A quick question - if you don’t use commercial dehydrated meals like Mountain House, what kinds of dehydrated foods do you carry that are appropriate for the cold-soak method? (Besides oatmeal - I have that one covered! 😊)

Yay!! My favorite YT backpacker!

Hi Rev, I use cold soaking in warm enviroments. But when I hike in Lapland with possible snow in August I use an alcohol stove. I cook my meals at home and put them about 16 hours in a dehydrater. After that I grind the lumps and put them into a ziplock bag. A good dinner weighs under 100 grams.

I love your videos!

I love the idea of cold soaking, but one thing that looks like a pain is the cleanup. Same thing with cooking. I always hate to waste precious water on cleanup! Especially if I have a dry camp. I think no cook looks like it would definitely be easiest. I'm definitely going to give it a try.

Cold soaking might be great for sunny days like that...grey cold wet days (which we have many), yes hot food really helps. I do take a lot of the no-cook foods, gluten free bread, cheese, ham/sausage etc, Popcorn is a good one as it's superlight, and nuts. Big problem about the crisps/protein/breakfast bars diet is the amount of fat and sugar in them...not totally healthy if you're doing a long hike. Fine for short hikes, or if you're burning it off, but if that's your long- term nutrition you'll eventually hit problems. Nuts are good though. Next time I'm taking Nido milk powder too, and dehydrated DIY meals to try and cut down weight of having pasta/risotto packs and of course I can make my own gluten-free versions, which is a real problem with a lot of the commercial freeze-dried trail meals. Also my camp cooking was delicious! All you need is pasta, some oil, and a bit of cheese really, or a sauce. Or a packet dried risotto - those are suprisingly good if you add some cheese and oil. I guess on a long trail hike that might not be possible, but I think with DIY ready meals you can do that beforehand and save on fuel.

Great thanks. When i hiked cdt for some reason i did not want to use my spoon in peanut butter(deep jar?). So i just took a half inch thick branch, peeled bark n carved an end to be flat n used it. Fun! Ate a lot of peanut butter with that branch. Ha ha.

On the JMT last summer, my companions decided we should rise every morning at 5, and get on trail by 6, no coffee no breakfast. With my low blood sugar and already serious calorie deficit due to altitude sickness, it made it super duper tough! I won't do it again; I want that hot cup of joe in the morning, and some energy food! My stove goes along. But I take your point; we aren't going to die from eating something that isn't our fav for a while. Doing without teaches us a lot about what we really need, and what is more of a want.

Hi Rev - I agree with you about Mountain House (blech) but there's a lot of other companies that make dehydrated meals that are really good. There's some smaller cottage brands that are definitely something I look forward to on the trail. Yes they are pricey but sometimes it's worth it to have a healthy, warm meal on trail. But not every night, no way. If you want to give any of these a chance and splurge once in a while, check out Good To Go, Pinnacle Foods, Bushka's Kitchen, Fernweh Foods... Peak Refuel is pretty good too. And at the very least you should try the Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai - it's one of the best. Again - these are just special treats for once in a while. Unless you're lottery rich.

I like the coffee idea. For short trips my jet boil is great. I think I might try the no cook. I once met a guy with a small water bottle full of olive oil. He thought it was great for easy.calories

Great summary of the three options for food on trail! I just have one question. Don’t you miss something warm to eat or drink when you’re hiking in the cold, or rain or snow? I would.

Many hikers eat well the first day or two when out on the trail. After that is less extravagant. I used to take eggs to cook for breakfast the first day in the morning. But that was only the first day.

Great video. Do you dehydrate your own food? If so, what typical would it consist of? Thanks Rev

Great video, as always. What's your preferred method of cleaning out your cold soak container and keeping it "sanitary"?