11 Hiking Snacks to Pack on Your Next Hike
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When it comes to hiking snacks, there are a lot of options! If you’ve ever wondered what snacks to take hiking, or you’re bored with your current hiking snacks, read on for some fresh ideas!
Not only do these hiking snacks hold up well in your backpack as you hike, but they also taste delicious and will keep you energized on the trail.
11 Easy Hiking Snacks
1. Peanut Butter Pretzels
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than a spoonful of peanut butter, someone thought to put a crunch salty pretzel around it!
Peanut butter pretzels make a great trail snack because they’re crunchy, salty, and fatty to keep you full for hours.
2. Trail Mix
No hiking snack list would be complete without trail mix, right?
You can simply buy trail mix from the grocery store, or make your own!
Trail Mix Recipes:
I love to hit the bulk section of the grocery store and pick out my favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to make my own unique trail mix.
3. Tuna Packets with Crackers
I’m a big fan of the tuna packets by Safe Catch. They come in so many flavors, you can eat them right out of the packet, and the quality is fantastic.
I even take them on my backpacking trips.
For hiking, I love to pack tuna and a bunch of cheddar crackers. When you stop to take a break, you can use the crackers to scoop out the tuna. No bowl or spoon is needed!
This hiking snack idea is high in protein and low in sugar.
Tip >> Bring a small bag for the garbage so you don’t get tuna juice all over your backpack!
4. Apple and Peanut Butter
Always a classic combo.
Although an apple is bulkier and heavier than some of the other hiking snacks on this list, it can be so refreshing to bite into a nice juicy apple on the trails.
Especially on hot hikes.
They go great with some peanut butter or almond butter. My favorite nut butter packets are RX Nut Butter, which has a little extra protein from egg whites.
5. Olive Packets
I first discovered these single-serving olive packets at Trader Joes and soon realized that they needed to come with me on some hikes!
Olives are salty and fatty, and definitely a unique snack! They’re a really nice balance to some of the sweeter hiking snacks on this list.
If you don’t have a Trader Joes nearby, you can try these olive packets instead.
6. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is great for when you need a quick boost in energy.
I like to go to the bulk section of the grocery store and pick out a variety of dried fruit for a hike.
Trader Joes also has an incredible selection!
My favorites are dried mangos, figs, bananas, and pineapple.
7. Medjool Dates and Almond Butter
This is natures candy right here!
Medjool dates are sweet and chewy with a caramel-like flavor.
Bring them along with a packet of almond butter or peanut butter and you’ve got a perfect hiking snack.
It’s sort of like peanut butter and jelly without the bread.
The best nut butter I’ve tried is definitely the RX Nut Butter packets.
8. Protein Bars
I love taking protein bars on hikes because they fill me up! I find them really helpful on longer hikes and backpacking trips.
Below are some of my current favorite hiking snacks with a lot of protein:
All of the protein bars above have a good amount of protein without being too dense.
9. Beef Jerky or Meat Sticks
Beef jerky is one of my favorite hiking snacks. It’s a bit expensive, so I try and save it only for hiking because I can easily eat the entire bag in one sitting!
Beef jerky and jerky sticks make great hiking snacks because they’re high in protein.
It’s a really nice change of pace from some of the more sugary hiking snacks, giving you some variety out on the trails.
These are some of my favorite meat sticks:
- Chomps Free-Range Meat Sticks (these are my go-to)
- Sweetwood Smokehouse Fatty Meat Stick
- Creminelli Orginal Salami Mini Snacks
- Dukes Shorty Sausages
10. Mixed Nuts or Candied Nuts
When you’re out hiking all day, you want to make sure you’re consuming enough calories so you have energy for the hike.
Nuts make a great hiking snack because they’re high in calories for their weight and size.
If you want to take things to the next level, pack some candied nuts – they’re so addicting!
You can usually buy them in the bulk section of the grocery store or Trader Joes. If you want to dial back the sugar, try mixing some candied nuts with raw nuts.
11. Homemade Energy Bites and Granola Bars
The last hiking snack idea on this list is homemade energy bites and granola bars. They’re so fun to make at home and there are endless ways you can change them change up!
Below are a few recipes from around the web for you to try:
- Everything Trail Bars by me!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls by Running to the Kitchen
- Salted Date Brownie Energy Bites by Ambitious Kitchen
- Mango Energy Bites by Minimalist Baker
- Chewy Coconut Cashew Granola Bars by Ambitious Kitchen
- Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars by Cookie and Kate
PRO TIP >> These Bumkins bags and ReZip bags are great reusable bag options for your homemade hiking snacks!
Electrolytes
In addition to food, you also might want to pack electrolytes to help keep you hydrated, especially on hot and sweaty hikes. These Nuun tablets are easy to pack and add to water.
Enjoy these hiking snacks on your next adventure!
Have you ever heard the saying – “everything tastes better outdoors”? I think it’s true!
I hope you enjoy your hiking snacks and pack some delicious food that will keep you energized for a day of exploring.
Always pack more food than you think you’re going to need. That’s one of the essentials for day hiking.
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