16 Best High Energy Hiking & Backpacking Snacks That Are Healthy To Munch On!
/The usual trail meals that are available on the go can be quite boring after you’ve exhausted all the trail nuts, protein bars, power gels and the one and only snicker bars!
With hiking and backpacking, most snacks need to be centered around weight and efficiency and need to be high in nutritional value with the right salt and natural sugar combo.
It is also not the time to be low-cal on your hike — the calories are what fuels your body and provides the necessary energy to ensure your reserves are in check.
I have tried to go with several DIY options and store-bought hiking and backpacking snacks which are great to shake up and add some flavour every now and then!
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Best Hiking and Backpacking Snacks To Munch On
1. Vegan Energy Bar with Cashews, Figs and Carrot
Vegan paleo bars are great as they’re packed with all the right nutritional content and Thunderbirds does a good job in being fruit-forward and nutrition-rich.
This snack bar is gluten-free, paleo and vegan and is made from real ingredients like dates, nuts, chia seeds, and chocolate-covered fruit, and more. They're not stick-to-your-teeth chewy or sickly sweet, because there is zero added sugar!.
2. RX Chocolate Peanut Butter + Apples/Pears/Crackers
Sometimes the nut butter of your choice can’t be just nuts, but a whole lot more protein. RX choices are pretty ingenious!
This is a nut butter that’s more than just nuts: it combines tasty, high-value ingredients like egg whites, dates, and nuts in a smooth, satisfying texture.
The single-serve pack is easy to grab and go on hikes where bottles and jars don’t cut it!
To make it more wholesome, pack a fruit of your choice like apples/pears or if you like it more savoury, bring your favourite whole grain crackers along!
3. MunkPack Keto Nut and Seed Bars
I have looked for snacks that are low sugar, gluten free and plant based, and it has been tough to find the right balance.
Munk Pack are perfectly balanced - they have snacks that have 1g sugar or less and only 2-3g net carbs.
You get your favourite flavours from peanut butter to dark chocolate or even coconut almond and caramel sea salt!
Nutrition is a big part of the company’s ethos and they’re handpicked to ensure the highest quality, all the time. Try these flavours or sample some of their granola bars and protein cookies which are great to change it up if you’re out on a long hiking trail!
4. Crunchy Chickpeas/Hummus
The Good Bean crunchy chickpeas with sea salt are delicious and perfect hiking snacks where you can easily stuff them in your backpack!
One serving has as much protein as almonds, as much fiber as two cups of broccoli and as much folate as three cups of spinach!
There’s a whole lot of flavours to choose from such as zesty, lemony, garlicky hummus seasoning.
5. Banana Oat Muffins
These muffins are to-die-for and are perfect to prep for your backpacking or hiking trip! I usually make a bunch of them in advance and it can last me a week.
Here’s the recipe:
3 cups rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed banana (2-3 bananas)
2 eggs
1.5 cups of unsweetened milk (or any milk you prefer)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Mini choc chip (garnish - optional)
Bake for 20-25 minute at 180 degrees!
6. The DIY Trail Mix
Trail mixes need not be store bought especially when you can craft your very own version! Here’s my favourite DIY mixes which are super easy to make.
Choc infused with Nuts: Dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and peanut butter and m&ms for that extra sweetness!
Granola Mix: Granolas, dessicated coconut, dates and pumpkin seeds!
Buddha’s delight: Raw cashews, organic raisins, banana chips and goji berries!
7. Honey Stinger Waffles
If you are feeling low energy and want something that makes you think of a nice summery treat, these waffles do the trick.
Honey Stinger waffles are a thin layer of classic honey sandwiched between two thin waffles.
8. Smoothie Squeeze Packs
Smoothies like these are the next best thing after biting into a ripe piece of fruit!
I have always loved something with flavours like coconut and mango especially when you’re on the trail and don’t want just water or the usual oral salts!
Their drinks are made with organic fruits, veggies, 5g of plant protein, healthy fats and antioxidant-rich superfoods for balanced nutrition while hiking.
Great options are mango coconut and banana cocoa peanut butter!
9. Tuna Lemon Pepper
This could be real survival food when you’re out hiking and backpacking for hours and days long in the wild!
The flavour options are incredible by StarKist — citrus meets pepper in the tango of taste in their Tuna Creations Lemon Pepper tuna pouches.
Their premium wild caught tuna is prepared with refreshing lemon, cracked black pepper and is a great to be paired with crackers as well!
10. Energy Balls
I love the idea of these energy balls and they’re easy, healthy and leave you contented for a long time!
All you need is a nut butter of your choice, add honey, use roll oats, chia seeds and vanilla essence.
Combine your ingredients in a bowl, ball them up, and then lay them out to solidify in the fridge for 1-2 hours before packing them into a bag for the trail.
11. Dried Mango
This is the right kind of hiking or backpacking snack that’s tangy, thick and juicy.
The flavour has a slight balance between sweet and sour and it doesn’t feel like too much.
I always have this handy whenever hiking in the trails — it is almost a staple snack!
12. Medjool Dates & Nut Butter of Your Choice
I found dates a particularly good option as a hiking and backpacking snack!
They are packed in calories, easily provide you a quick energy boost for all the right reasons.
Not to forget they are rich in natural sugar with all the right carbs mainly fructose and glucose which can be easily digested when hiking.
I like to layer them with the right nut or seed butter — adds a delicious treat when you’re out there hiking for miles!
13. Your own granola bars
The title says it all — the best hiking and backpacking snack can be your own granola bar. Here are my go-to recipes:
Coco Bar (coconut oil, coconut flakes, dates, cashews)
Oatful Bars (honey, coconut oil, coconut flakes, oatmeal, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, dried blueberries)
Put them in the fridge for it to hold their shape — you can keep them up to 3 weeks but the sooner you finish the better so it doesn’t dry out.
14. Salmon Salad & Crackers
Other than the usual tuna and crackers, Bumblebee makes these awesome little snack kits that are great if you’re on trail and just away from civilization.
These are great alternatives to other high protein snacks. Add some hard cheese or any condiments of your choice, and you’ve got a good meal for your hike!
15. Hiker Tacos
Ever heard of a taco bag? This is some legit meal hack when you’re hiking and want something inventive which is more than just a snack.
Get half a bag of healthy nacho chips, minute rice, starkist tuna jalapeño flavour with any hot sauce of your choice.
16. Healthy Choc Chip Cookies
These Highkey keto mini cookies are the perfect sweet treat when you’re on the trail and need something that’s healthy!
Low in net carbs and sugar, these cookies are made with natural ingredients like almond flour, coconut oil, and collagen.
They are honestly ideal for curbing your sweet tooth without all the carbs and sugar found in traditional cookies.
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