Although staying hydrated is the number 1 rule on a hike, we’ve also found it beneficial to have snacks ready to go in our backpack for some much-needed motivation. There’s nothing more satisfying than ending a grueling hike by enjoying some tasty treats on a mountain peak. One of our favorite part of any hiking trip, is taking in the views with something good to munch on.
So, here is a roundup of some of our favorite hiking snacks:
Fruits
Fruits can prove to be a very useful companion on a hiking trip with their energy boosting capabilities. Our favorites are bananas as their high levels of potassium help in giving you that energy spike, along with being easier to eat as compared to their messier counterparts.
We also like to carry a selection of berries (blackberries, blueberries & raspberries) as they are natural antioxidants and help to combat fatigue, which can be enemy number 1 on a hike.
We also recommend oranges for an extra shot of vitamin C to help in energy levels (fair warning: they do have a tendency to cause a nasty case of sticky finger syndrome).
Dried Fruits
Piggybacking on the previous snack, dried fruits are also a nice, quick snack to carry on a hike. Our go-tos are dried figs, dried apricots and dried dates. Dried berries can also be fun to pack with you on your hike.
Energy Bars
This go-to snack can be a lifesaver in calming the grumbling roars hiker bellies tend to muster up. Easy to eat while trekking so you do not need to wait till the end of your hike to dig in. So obviously, it has made it to the top of our list. We prefer the nuttier energy/protein bars or the ones that have dried fruit in them.
Protein Shake
Protein shakes can double as snacks, however we do recommend that you do not keep them too long if you are planning a hike in the hotter seasons, as it could spoil.
Granola
This is another one of our healthier snacks that helps keep us going. However, this is a snack that can be quite difficult to eat on the move, so we suggest either saving it for a pit stop or once you reach the end of your trip.
Nuts
Next up on our list are nuts because they are packed with ‘good fats’ and this helps keep energy levels high on a hike as they also help in building stamina which is vital on a hike. Not to mention, they are very easy to nibble on during the hike. Our top picks are almonds, pistachios and walnuts.
Homemade Sandwiches
You can’t go wrong by carrying some yummy sandwiches to tide you over during a strenuous hike. We tend to stuff our sandwiches with a good bit of protein which usually include smoked ham, turkey, pastrami, basturma and roasted chicken breast.
If you prefer lighter sandwiches, we also recommend these combinations: cucumber and cheese, tuna and corn, potato, cucumber and mayo.
Veggie sticks
You can also slice up some healthy veggies for a crunchy snack on your hike and carry them with you in some tupperware. Our top picks are carrots, celery, cucumber and some colorful bell peppers.
Biscuits
Another one of our favorite hiking snacks are biscuits. Loaded with sugar and just the pick-me-up we tend to need to keep us going. You can’t go wrong by packing along some bourbon chocolate biscuits, glucose biscuits and chocolate cookies.
Chips
Not the healthiest option to take on a hike, but we ration ourselves by only carrying the small packets for a quick bite.
We hope we gave you some ideas on what to pack in your snack bag for your next hike.
