Lightweight Backpacking Food Pack

This is an easy to assemble packet of lightweight nonperishable food suitable for backpacking, camping, canoeing, hunting trips, etc.  This packet weighs about 13 ounces and contains over 1200 calories with plenty of protein, carbs, and fiber.  It will keep in all kinds of weather and it is fairly waterproof.  Best of all it tastes good and I'll eat everything in it.  I've lived on these packs for extended trips of up to 10 days.  I normally use this as a combo breakfast/lunch/snack pack and augment it with a hearty dinner meal.  When weight is an issue, I often use a freeze dried meal like those from Mountain House or Backpackers Pantry.  I've also gone the DIY route using instant noodle or rice packs, instant mashed potatoes, foil packed tuna or chicken, etc.  But of course, nothing compares to a fresh brook trout or an elk steak cooked over a camp fire.

Step 1: Assemble Your Ingredients

My packet includes the following

1 Pkt Instant Oatmeal
1 Pkt Instant Soup Mix
2 Soft 6" Flour Tortillas
1.15 oz  Pkt Peanut Butter
1 Pkt Honey
1 Pkt Jelly
1 oz Beef Jerky
2 oz Tropical Trail Mix
2 Granola Bars
1 Tea Bag
1 Pkt Instant Coffee
1 Pkt Non-Dairy Creamer
1 Pkt Sugar
1 Pkt Powdered Sport Drink (Propel, Crystal Light, etc)
1 Pkt Salt
1 Pkt Pepper
2 Pc Hard Candy
1 Wet Nap
1 Toothpick

You will also need the following zip closure bags:

1 ea Quart Size
1 ea Snack Size
3 ea 3"x5"

Comments

[chokapi]

I'm assuming this is for one day. I'd like to know the calorie count. Average activity, sitting still and sleeping burn about 2000 calories a day. I'll put it this way, when I backpack, it's usually a hike to a base camp site. Often, these are a few miles in. Then it's setting up the site, and then gathering water and firewood. What you have listed there would be a light dinner. Last year, on a four day winter trip to the ADKs, I left weighing 170, came back weighing 163. And we ate like kings, including several nice trout.

Now, I could see a few of these being a good part of your three-day survival ration, but backpacking burns through way too many calories in my opinion.

Another good addition might be cous-cous, a pasta that's about the size of river sand. Just add boiling water and let sit for a few minutes.

[diyoutdoorsman]

Yes, the pack is designed for one day, but it is more of a breakfast/ lunch/snack pack that is augmented with a full dinner meal. As listed, the pack contains a little over 1200 calories. I generally use 2 oatmeal packets and 2 soup packets which raise the total calorie count. You can also add calories by changing the food bars to higher content selections.

[vtbeachldy]

The zip closure bags should be "freezer" bags-- a little heavier plastic. These can also be used to collect water. A bagged item inside another bag is nearly waterproof.

[vtbeachldy]

Make sure when shopping for foods that they are "just add water" types. When repackaging to smaller portions, carefully fold the bag over a couple of times to force all air out of the bag before sealing. Trapped air can take up a lot of space.

[creasemaker]

I was just searching for any tips for food ideas to take on a 200 mi. bike trip I'm planing to take this summer with my son when I found this. Thanks for your ible. I'm planing on posting
several ibles on what I pack, make and do for the trip pluse how it goes.

[diyoutdoorsman]

I do a lot of camping with Scouts, backpacking, hunting, canoe trips, etc. Most of the time spoilage is my first concern, next is the weight. If you're biking you've probably got about the same limitations as backpacking as far as weight and space. One of the things I do is to reduce the packaging down to the minimum. Ziplock bags are great because they are light, you can see what's in them, they can be re-purposed, and reduce in size when empty. If you buy bulk items and make individual servings using zip bags, make sure you cut out the cooking directions and place them in the bag. You can make camp meals pretty cheaply from standard grocery store items like rice and pasta dinners, instant mashed potatoes, Stove Top stuffing, and the like. Anything you can make with boiling water works well. You can add foil packed chicken, tuna, salmon, etc to make a heartier meal. The foil packs are nice because they are lighter and you don't have to deal with the tin can when they are empty. One packet of Lipton creamy chicken noodles and a foil pack of chicken makes a good dinner for two people.

[contessa10]

This looks like an awesome way to carry a variety of tasty, lightweight foods in a very limited space. Thanks for sharing a great tip!