let's talk about backpacking food.

anyone try hawk vittles or cache lake food?

i can handle Mountain House meals only so much. i need calories and i NEED it lightweight. MRE's i think are too heavy.

i backpack into bowhunting country, so i have all my hunting gear with me adding weight. every little bit saved helps.

 

I used the Hawks Vittles on a 5 day trip a couple years back, Very high Quality, tasty and very generous portion sizes.

However they did use more fuel to properly re-hydrate the meals, so take that into account. Also while light weight, they take up more pack space than comparable Mountain House or Backpackers Pantry meals.

No experience with Cache Lakes, and MREs are way too heavy.

 

I don't hike a lot. But when I do I go to the local health food store and get this in comparative amounts:

(mind you all organic or pesticide/preservative free)

dried cranberries
raisins
peanuts
almonds
any other nut on sale
pumpkin seeds
chocolate chips (dark chocolate)

Keep all that in a separate/water proof container.

On a different container I keep a whole coconut meat. I buy a "brown coconut" (two really, as sometimes one may be bad). With a drill I open two wholes. If the water is sweet, drink said water. If not sweet, save it for cooking later on. Break coconut with BFH. Once open, pry coconut meat.

Keep that "meat" refrigerated until "trail day".

What I do when I get hungry, is to take a handful of the trail mix and while chewing, take a bite of the coconut meat. VERY filling and satisfying. Does not require refrigeration and it is very healthy. Coconut meat can survive for about 48 hrs once exposed and not refigerated.

If you put the "meat" on the same container as the trail mix, it will just make evrything soggy.

Advantge? No refrigeration and LIGHTWEIGHT food that is filling and satisfying.

 

tortillas are an awesome carb for backpacking ,and are already compressed. that and peanut butter packs will always give you a good energy boost. that's my staple food while backpacking.

the only thing i don't like about dehydrated meals are that you have to use your water supply. if you have a purifier, than its fine, but if your'e limited to only the water you carry its a different story. i've done both, so its all up to what gear you need for each trip.

 

Beef Jerky. That's all I need.

 

I can't walk into the woods for a backpacking trip without Beef Jerky and some good scotch or bourbon.

 

Free flow. Thanks for the hawks review.

 

subbed for this. im interested in this also.

 

Guys, I think the OP is interested in backpacking foods, not hiking snack foods. Multiple meals over multiple days.

I've been sticking with Mountain House pro Packs (or whatever the super-shilveled-up ones are called) because we are usually in bear country, so space in the bear can is a primary concern, and these pack pretty darn efficiently.

I dunno, man, the beef chili mac and the teriyaki chicken are pretty damn good, but I wouldn't mind hearing of some tasty alternatives for hot meals that meet the bear can limits of space and weight.

We'll also bring pre-sliced salami. Super compact, super tasty, and it can last if you open it later in the trip. Harder, drier cheeses can last pretty well, too, if not presliced. Bring a hunk and slice off when ready to eat. I think the trick is to find light tasty stuff that isn't dry. You just want something moist after eating so much kibble and trail bars...

 

Yep, to get back on topic for lightweight meals for multi day trips.

Breakfast used to be instant oatmeal, maybe some Beef Jerky and coffee. I've grown so tired of instant oatmeal. I want something more substantial. Been eating the Mountain House Freeze Dried Breakfast Skillet on trips lately...just do not look at the cholesterol amount...it's a Heart attack in a bag. Coffee is made in the French Press setup on the Jetboil stove

Lunch is always non-cook, usually CLIF Bars, Beef Jerky, Trail Mix and in cooler weather I like to bring a couple of those waxed mini-round Baby Belle Cheeses (I have almost bear sprayed my companions for the last Baby Belle on a multi day trip).

Dinner is again a freeze dried Backpackers Pantry or Mountain House. I tend to like the asian style freeze dried meals from Backpackers Pantry like their Saigon Noodles, Pad See You, Pad Thai and Beef and Broccoli.

Dessert might be a chocolate bar, but usually some nice scotch, or bourbon and at least on one night a good cigar.

I know the sodium and cholesterol levels on the freeze dried meals can be a nightmare, but I'm burning calories like a monster in the back country and I want something easy at the end of a tough day. We like to use Jetboil stoves for the fast boil time and fuel economy, I don't want to actually simmer anything or cook. Just boil water, add to the pouch and unpack my sleep gear while everything rehydrates, then sit in my camp chair and slurp noodles and drink lemonade.

Later relax by the fire with a small scotch and a stogie.

baby Belle added to Chili Mac

 

Oooooops. Isn't that what bow+ arrow+ deer = survival?



Just kidding, my bad. But honestly my idea sort of works for multiple days, so long as the temps don't go over 75 degrees. Coconut meat may appear small but it is filling as HECK! Y'all give it a shot for a day hike and see how much you bring back!

 

Baby bells are brilliant!

 

YES, they are! Forgot about those.