CHEAP Camping & Backpacking Food 

One of my favorites is: Instant pudding, dehydrated milk, dehydrated strawberries, dehydrated blueberrys, in a small ziplock bag. Pour in a little water and sprinkle on some granola and you have a kick ass desert....

blonde dude was staring into my soul and judging all of my mistakes in life

One of the best condiments you can take along is some Ghee. Ghee is unsalted clarified butter. You can get it at Trader Joe’s. I believe it’s like 6 ozs. comes in a clear plastic screw top jar for about 4 bucks. Add to pasta sides, tortilla wraps lots of uses, and doesn’t need refrigeration. Thanks for sharing and we’ll catch ya on the next episode. ATB Mike

Add water pancake mix and ready cooked bacon. Light, small, and super tasty with a cup of coffee and Tang.

Naan (flat Indian bread thicker than tortillas) easy to pack, pair it with whatever but honestly even peanut butter and bananas are such a yum lunch! Also if you’re bored of trail mix try buying Indian snack mixes from international sections of grocery stores (Punjabi mix is gold). It’s trail mix done right tbh.

Jelly, honey, & ketchup packets from McDonalds. Butter & honey packets from KFC, hot sauce from Taco bell. The portable condiments are endless. If I see packets of something, its coming with me!!!

My go to breakfast is granola with powdered milk and dried blueberries. Add a little bit of cold water or hot depending on your mood. Tastes just like the mountain house version, but way cheaper.

Another great thing if you like Mexican on the cheap is some dehydrated beans and instant rice with some hot sauce and cheese of your choice (block of say Velveeta) great trail burrito to carry, also seen others use Fritos or corn chip of your preference in this!

one of you never stops looking into the camera and the other never looks into the camera. lol

Hawian mashed potatoes. Uses mashed potatoes 2oz bacon bits, olive oil (1 tbsp) and dried pineapple.

Hey guys, this was a great video. Thank you. I find the Pasta sides your were talking about are much better if you add 1/4 cup of powdered milk. You can either carry the powdered milk separately or if you repackage your meal into a ziplock bag, just add the powdered milk to the ziplock bag, and everything is together, just add water. Thanks again.

Couscous and add any soup or s sauce mix. I soak the couscous from the morning in minimal water so it's bulked up by the evening and just add soup or sauce mix and some veges I have dehydrated.

Dollar General is my new goto for shopping for trail food. They are everywhere and inexpensive. Tons of options and snack foods for the trail. Oatmeal with breakfast essentials and baby food fruit packets are excellent, nutritious, and good calories for breakfast. Tortilla with peanut butter and nutella with a nice cup of coffee. POPTARTS! SNICKERS! The little packets of bacon bits add extra taste to most anything especially Idahoan potato packets and mac n cheese. Peanut butter + oriental ramen= almost Pad Thai. That is a good tip you gave on saving those fast food condiments for the trail! Give it some BAM!

I’m kind of a plant-based eater, so I buy nice granola or oatmeal, add powdered coconut milk, and powdered peanut butter, and just add water to the ziplock (hot or cold). Tastes like a nice bowl of granola with milk, or a creamy oatmeal (I also add some cinnamon or other spice, or a drop of artificial maple flavor ahead of time). Nice video! Plus I used your UCQ code, so thanks for that as well.

kfc also has packs of butter and subway has packs of olive oil

Packet of chicken salad on flat bread. Makes a great lunch. The chicken salad comes in the foil packets like tuna.

Bear creek darn good chili a little instant rice Fritos and cheese. Don’t worry about tomato paste/sauce delicious without.

Okay, our favorite is dehydrated retried beans. Rehydrate on trail. Add Velveeta cheese from their new pouches on a flour tortilla with a Taco Bell hot sauce packet. Yum and yum.

I like Bear Creek Country Kitchens soups. A bag costs about $3.69, but I split it into two (large) servings.

Instant grits works for breakfast too. And add BACON BITS to the rice/pasta/grits/wraps/etc. (use only the real stuff as the fake stuff is bleh)

Dehydrate yourselves some canned beef with some mixed vegetables and rehydrate it with some instant mash potatoes, and bam! Pseudo Shepard's Pie. You can throw in one of those gravy packets for a bit of extra pizazz.

No mention/comments about the highest fat to weight condiment...mayo packets make everything creamier too. You can stand up 2 oatmeal packets in a collapsible cup and eat from the bag after 3 mins. Remember to save a lightweight Amazon bubble insulated pouch for freezer/sealer bags to avoid holding a bag with boiling water.

I like Spanish rice in taco shells topped with fresh cut tomatoes and taco sauce.

Great coverage of off the shelf back packing chow! Mountain House & Backpacker Pantry I like for ultra light weight & little to no prep time outside a heat source. But you pay for the convenience. Convenience vs. Affordability. Good overview guys.

Starkist chicken creations buffalo in mac and cheese. Trust me its great expecially on cold winter trips

My favorite meal to make on the trail is the Knorr teriyaki noodles. I throw in some teriyaki beef jerky while it's cooking. It rehydrates the meat and it's so good.

pouched chicken chunks with the stuffing.... Heaven

We love trail pizzas. Pita, a pizza sauce packet, bag or sleeve of pepperonis, and string cheese. Huge hit for hungry scouts!

Thanks for the tip on the #10 can guys! Didn't know it existed and I just ordered one!

My go to food on the trail is homemade trailmix. I hit the bulk bins at my local store. Cheaper and tastes better for snacks on the trail. New subscriber. Love your channel!

Tyson chicken pouch add packet of white gravy and some rice hot water in freezer bag - good to go 👍

I love how you dropped the turkey sausage like it was a hot coal!

That round cheese block you picked up is my favorite cheese in all the world. Gotta go buy some now.

I've said this on other videos and I'll say it again, Asian supermarkets people. Go walk around and take your time and look at everything they have to offer. For people who eat meat, Asian supermarkets are a goldmine!

What , No pop tarts!

I'm late to the party, but I make instant oatmeal, powdered peanut butter (can use peanut butter individual servings) and freeze dried apples from Aldi.

Awesome video guys! This is exactly what I was searching for on youtube. Good shit!

I recommend Mexicali Rosa instant refried beans with green chilli and adding Karen's just vegetables. It makes for some amazing burritos on the trail.

Great information, great ideas, great video. You don't have to throw the mountain house stuff in the freezer as long as you repackage it properly because they are freeze-dried. Get yourself some vacuum sealing bags and you can get a handheld sealer, the ones I like the best are the sous vide bags, and you can buy a set on Amazon that includes a vacuum sealer and they are sturdy enough to add water and throw in a pot of boiling water to cook food. Portion out the Mountain House stuff out, put it in the bag vacuum seal them, and if you get some silica gel packets to absorb any extra moisture with them if you want. They're going to last for a couple years, if not more. You can buy freeze dried foods from other companies and just make your own. This way you can get freeze dried pieces of chicken if you want that'll rehydrate easily to put with your Knorr sides, etc. Auguson Farms is a good company that sells freeze dried foods, they're not only on Amazon but you can get them at Walmart too. They also have cheese powders, sour cream powder, butter powder, heavy cream powder, just add water.

Homemade trail mix, beef jerky, beer for every meal. Good to go for a week.

Your backpacking food hacks are game changing! I woulda never thought mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy on the trail. Also all the dehydrated food in the pasta section. Sooo much cheaper then those dehydrated meals at REI.

One does oneself a favor by investing in a GOOD dehydrator, a vac sealer, jerky gun, and a bag of sodium nitrate

Couscous is an option. Pepperoni spices up refried beans and cheese on a tortilla.

I cooked up my own venison chili with orzo. Dehydrated it. Vacuumed sealed bags in 150gm portions. Perfect! Lean beef or no meat would work as well. I've done split pea & ham soup as well & Dehydrated it . Worth the extra work for "home cooked " food with all good ingredients.

I bring those 6-packs of Dole or Del Monte fruit cups. Just open one and shoot it down. Like $3 bucks or less.

Porridge oats can be used for sweet and savoury meals and is very filling. You can also make sealed smoked sausage last 2 meals depending on what you do with it. Very easy to save money, weight and get the energy requirements met.

Great Information here. Your Smoked Gouda is great.. but you might try Smoked Gueyerre.( not sure on spelling) OMG SOOO GOOD.. Put that cheese in your mac n cheese too.

I choose instant grits over instant oatmeal. That’s another option y’all didn’t mention.

What no SPAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or sardines, shame on you. Good vid nice ideas.

Spam and ramen noodles that’s as one thru hiker says is the golden ticket.

Chicken packets to supplement tuna. Take care

Dont forget BarBQ baked beans... Veinna sausages. Spam. Ect..

Great tips guys. I think I will head off to my store and explore there for some ideas.

you can get olive oil packs for free at subway

Cheap camping food tips from a guy wearing ARC'TERYX, it doesn't compute lol

Also some times the cans are cheaper but keep in mind many of the normal bags have 2 servings. If you go by the ounces sometimes it’s cheaper sometimes it’s not. Like right now at REI breakfast skillet 2 serving pouch is $10 and weighs 3.7oz while the can is $55 and only weighs 15oz. Buying 4 portioned pouches would only be $40 totaling 14.8oz. Getting it on sale is definitely the ticket.

After a day on the trail and especially if it's cold or wet all of those will taste great. It's amazing how good food tastes in the outdoors. I make maple coated peanuts for a trail snack. They are outstanding. Thanks for another on point video. Saving money is good. Take care, Al

Great video. Not a backpacker but we are going to be doing some Bikecamping this year. Less weight and less money is the best! Much appreciated.

Rocking that “Shug”shirt 👍

It's quite interesting, that you are talking about cheap food, and saving cents, while standing in the kitchen in Patagonia and Arcteryx clothing, 2 of the most expensive brands :D :D Bytheway, the content is great, you are hillarious! :)

You can also get Salmon in the packets that are same price and also have different flavors. The Tuna packets have one that has rice and beans that is spicy if you like spicy foods. Spam has a single serve as well. Enjoyed your video and hop to see more. Thanks.

My favorite meal is Africian PB chicken soup. if you got a vegan in the party you can sub the chicken for chickpeas or bean of choice. its just 1/2 of a 10 oz can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 cup of chicken stock, or I use 2 salt free packets of chicken buillion too, 2-4TBspoons of PB, 1-5oz can of chicken, 1 TB of Knorr vegtable dip mix. If you wanted you can add a couple tablespoons of diced taters or sweet taters. this makes just 1 serving so its great for canteen cup cooking.

I do bring a small pan for cooking as well

I’d highly recommend diy oatmeal or cream of wheat packets. Get the quick oats or whatever in bulk and add your own dried fruit, protein powder, peanut butter powder or whatever and that way you can make different flavors. I find the regular boxed oatmeal to be too sweet and boring. I use reusable stasher silicone bags for mine but those are kinda pricy and heavier than a standard ziploc so by all means just use a sandwich baggie

Easy Mac plus Fritos plus tortilla...YUM!

Don't forget the knorr pasta side then add the tuna packet

I skip the rice and pasta sides and just use plain rice and thin asian noodles ( think pad thai) combined with either fish or chicken. I have a light my fire spice holder that can carry 3 different spices. I use that to spice it up or a sauce mix. I like the idea of little packets of condiments I will have to add some of those. I recently started using a dehydrator but have only done a few things so far.

I used to be able to get chicken chunks in a packet, but you can do the can and heat it up on your stove. (Hate carrying/hauling cans) I also like miso soup on a cold hike. It's awesome how many more options you can get by going to any specialty Asian Store.

Cheddar instant mashed potatoes + bacon bits and some kale or spinach is a great meal too. I find that kale can last at least a couple days camping

Yes...for lunch or snacks...soup, cup of soup. Lipton in the US or better order Heinz and Batchelors from the UK (via Amazon). Besides the classic Chicken Noodle, you can get different Tomato soups like basil, cream of tomato, minestrone or Batchelors' Thai chicken and sweet potato. Those little packets of soup are great, especially for winter hiking.

Thank you

Powdered milk and cereal is the best in the morning... Just add water

A backpacker once told me to try Folgers coffee bags. They look like tea bags they taste much better than instant coffee. They are the bomb.

Great video guys. You wanted an update about my 30' under quilt layered with the costco quilt. It went pretty well but its actually a pain in the buttocks getting the costco quilt tied up to stay in place. Not sure exactly what the low was, but mid 20's I think, but I was pretty warm most of the night. My upper back was a little cool when I woke up in the morning. But I slept all night. Loving the hammock.

Oatmeal is nasty! I like Malt O Meal or Cream of Wheat and you can a 3 pack for a buck at Dollar Tree. Cinnabon or chocolate flavored are my faves.

Stuffing with gravy and tuna, yum...?

The local grocery store is a gold mine of good , dehydrated , smoked ( sausages ) and individually packaged food. The best part is you can mix and match your food. The only thing that holds a person back on deciding what to take is their imagination.

How do you guys portion the #10 can? Does one serving seem to be enough?

Yall nailed it. I like some of the already ready to go, But to save money this is the better way to go.

Single serve pack of SPAM!

Jelly from Macdonald!

I made these the other day, and will be definitely taking some with me on my next hike. www.hammockforums.net/forum/showthread.php/144029-Trail-Pizza-pockets Also, The boxes of scalloped potatoes are really good, with diced ham, or smokey links.. The ham or smokey links go good in Mac and cheese too..

I wish Starkist made the flavored packets in a larger size like you can get with the plain tuna. I need more food than is in one of the flavored packets so I will buy 2 packets pre meal. Packaging takes up too much room and adds unnecessary weight.

Hey guys great video. It never occurred to me to use Ziploc bags to repackage foodstuffs. That will be a game changer for me next season. So here are some of my tips: instead of oatmeal try grits. Raison Bran is another good choice. You can eat it dry and it is fortified with vitamins and some nutrients. You can also prep it like oatmeal if want a warm morning breakfast. As far as proteins go, I avoid the tuna. It's not as healthy as you might think. Go with the chicken pouches instead. Next comes my fave… jerky. There's a reason why it's been trail food for centuries. Thank you.

Couscous is the cats behind. Followed closely by instant taters and tuna.

Granola + nido milk powder+ sugar. Great breakfast cereal tge same thing as the mt house stuff but better and way cheaper

How long will summer sausage last after you open it? Would my wife and I have to eat the whole stick the first day?

So.... basically you guys can survive on tortillas, cheese, and hot sauce packets from TacoBell® Impressive.

I do cheep I even take a can food . I do pasta sides .

RU-vidr Garand Thumb puts together trail mix with peanut butter and cocoa mix for a delicious, calorie dense food. I haven't tried it.

#10 can best advice ever !!!!!! thanks peach

Thrive Life or Honeywell are great freeze dried foods with high quality flavour. They also come in #10 cans. They meat, chicken & beef that would be great in place of tuna. Tuna is very high on mercury!

I've buy Mountain House #10 cans and repackaged them in heat sealed mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. I typically package them in about 1.5 servings per meal. One is not enough calories for me.

My 15day hiking foods cost a whooping 50€ ($54) wich is about 3,3€ ($3.56) per day!

“Dollar General” back up the truck cheap!

TVP and dehydrated refried beans 50/50 (I get both at winco). Add some hot sauce and dry stock seasoning. At breakfast, jar it up with water. At lunch open the jar, spread on a tortilla, instant burrito. (note: I use TVP because it rehydrates easy)

Canned Sardines, low in mercury and healthier option than Tuna.

Have you guys ever tried dehydrating ground turkey (in place of beef)? If how was it? I'm thinking that it would be better after re-hydrating and not to mention less grease to try and drain/soak up. Enjoying the videos thanks for posting.

I saw some Limburger Cheese there - is this Wisconsin? Also your name - are you of german ancestry? Good video, greetings from Germany! :)

You two are much like the comedy team Smothers Brothers of years ago. Very cool.