Even if you’ve only just started out you’ve learnt the value of having the right type of snacks with you to keep up your mood and energy level on a hike. Afterall, it’s pretty hard to start up an incline when your body is crashing like a toddler around naptime. It’s also hard to look at that mile marker and know just how much further you have to go when your body has no energy. Proper hiking snacks are critical for refueling your body and providing you the nutrients you need on the trails. 

Let’s take a look at a selection of tasty and easy hiking snacks to add to your pack!

What Are Hiking Snacks

You burn hundreds of calories on any trek and need more than water to replenish them. Ideal hiking snacks are lightweight, calorie- and nutrient- dense and easy to take with you. It’s also a good idea to pack snacks that won’t create too much trash. Remember “Leave No Trace,” you’ll be carrying any garbage with you until it can be properly disposed (this includes biodegradables like fruit peels!)

Chocolate?

No, a Kit-Kat will not do here. Instead opt for good dark chocolate, which is a calorie-dense food. As hikers can burn upwards of 600 calories per hour, you need many restored during a day-long hike. Fat provides nine calories every gram and as dark chocolate is high in fat it is an excellent choice for hikers. 

Also, unlike other sugary candies and snacks, dark chocolate has enough simple carbohydrates to give hikers a boost of energy without the sugar crash. Dark chocolate also adds a boost of caffeine and endorphins to give both body and mind a bit of extra stimulation.

Are Sweets Good for Hiking?

Generally, you don’t want to load up on sweets for hiking, simple carbohydrates don’t give you long lasting energy. You want to avoid the spikes and crashes that accompany these foods. 

The best snacks will fuel you long-term and replenish calories you’ve lost on the trail, refueling your body with complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. 

What To Eat Before Your Hike

Everyone is going to have a different routine leading up to a hike, however there are a few common foods that hikers will eat before heading out. These include foods with complex carbohydrates, fats, and lean proteins like peanut butter, bananas, yogurt, oatmeal, nuts, and raisins. Sometimes this takes a bit of trial and error to figure out how your body responds to certain foods and the best way to prep before a hike.

Try fueling up with a breakfast of eggs or whole-grain oatmeal. Avoid foods with high sugar content like sugary cereal or white bread. Sandwiches made with whole-wheat bread, or meals with brown rice, low-fat yogurt, and fruits and veggies are great. Carbs are key, but you want to eat the ones that digest easily so maybe avoid the mac and cheese.

What Foods Should You Avoid While Hiking

Snacks high in sugar or salt can cause you to drink more water or give you a short energy boost that will cause you to crash quickly. Other than that, try and avoid bulky or heavy snacks as well as those that perish quickly. You don’t want to worry about extra weight or keeping food cold. Snacks like hummus, cheese, and veggies are healthy but can spoil easily. These may be better to have waiting when you get back to camp.  

Recommendations

If you’re on a longer hike, say seven to eight hours, you’ll want to have a snack about once every hour. You might even double your average carbohydrate intake.