Backpacking Food Guide 2022
Backpacking Food Guide 2022
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There are a few things to consider while planning food for a long distance trip. Firstly the age and fitness of the team along with the type of terrain, ascent, pack weights and how many miles you plan to travel per day will all effect how many calories you need to plan for.
As a very rough guide we personally use the Daily Energy Requirements for adults as around 2000 – 4000 kcals. Personally speaking we would then add 10% for every 500m ascent and another 10% for things like a heavy rucksack (or travelling in winter conditions)
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As a rule we usually like to consume around 50% of our daily calories during the day, 20% for breakfast and 30% in the evening meal, however some prefer to get the calories in first thing, everyone is different, so this is something to consider before planning meals.
To read more about the difference of Freeze dried, dehydrated, wet meal pouches and self heating meals click HERE
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Things to consider while food planning for an outdoor adventure:
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Volume
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The shape and size of the meal pouches. Some are slim line like Firepot Food, others are small and compact like TentMeals. How you pack your rucksack is another personal preference. (We like to keep an additional spare slim line meal in with the water bladder)
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Water
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Are you planning on filtering your water or bringing it all with you? Remember to take note of how much water you need to rehydrate each meal, plus extra for mishaps, spillages and even steam when boiling the water.
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Fuel
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Some meals take longer to heat like the boil in the bag meals. Your stove, altitude and weather will dictate how much fuel you use, so make sure you have enough.
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Convenience
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We are not all blessed with the skills and patience of Fell Foodie to create amazing meals from scratch on top of a mountain. If you have the right conditions and are happy to carry all the ingredients and kit you need then there really is something special about cooking from scratch in the outdoors. If cooking is something you enjoy at home then having amazing views to cook in really is the best feeling and we urge everyone to give it a go.
But we’ve all had the experience where we are tired from walking all those miles, it’s taken longer than planned to find a decent pitch, the wind and/or rain has picked up or the Midge are out in force. And you are Hungry. Boiling water, adding it to your pouch and waiting for it to rehydrate while you sort your sleep system is sometimes exactly the convenience you need.
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Cost
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Like with everything in life, you get what you pay for. You are paying for the convenience of choosing the meal you want without the stress or time to create it and being able to stash it away for months, even years without the need to refrigerate it and then use it whenever you want. Some brands are coming from outside the UK so transportation and taxes are added to the end price. We are all experiencing the energy increase which inevitably affects production costs. Other things have also come into play over the recent years such as Brexit, Covid, HGV Driver shortages (we'll keep the politics of these issues aside!) even getting hold of the pouches has been an issue for some brands. (Please note these are the reasons given by our suppliers as to why they have had to increase their prices recently. The Fell Store have actually reduced our profit margins to help absorb some of these increases to help you, the customer, not take the full hit)
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Taste
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This is obviously personal preference; we are all very different when it comes to dietary requirements and foods that we enjoy eating. So the best way is to give them a try! Why not share a meal as a light lunch on a local hike before you decide on which meals to take with you on a camp or longer adventure? We also have a wide range of options for dietary needs, i.e. gluten free, lactose free, dairy free, vegan and vegetarian. This may be something to consider for some people who maybe have a delicate digestive system with unwanted affects from things like milk powder or gluten – something you definitely want to try and avoid while out in the middle of nowhere!
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At the end of the day, these meals aren’t for everyone or for every adventure, but there are times when they really come into their own and you will thank yourself for giving them a try. Maybe it’s a treat so you can have the extra time to just relax and soak up the views after a long day, much like ordering in while at home.
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We do urge you all to consider having a spare meal stashed in your pouch. You never know what could happen and it could be a life saver. Always be prepared.
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Here is a Pros and Cons list for the brands that we stock. We hope this helps you decide which meals to try out for your next adventure!
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Firepot Food - Dehydrated
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PROS – Compostable pouch options, Slim Line pouches, Easy to rehydrate, No additional additives or palm oil, Real food from local farmers used, Wide range of vegan meals.
CONS – It’s never been an issue for us, but some customers have commented on the 15 minute hydration time on some of the meals.
Real Turmat – Freeze Dried
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PROS – Has the texture and substance of a proper home cooked meal that Granny used to make. Tear off section of the pouch which makes it easier to eat out of the pouch. Different to your standard meal with dishes such as Bacalao and Reindeer Stew.
CONS – Price.
Expedition foods – Freeze Dried
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PROS – Low price, high calorie options, slim lime packaging.
CONS – Some meals contain additives and palm oil.
TentMeals – Dehydrated & Freeze Dried
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PROS – Vegan, Small and compact packaging.
CONS – Needs to be decanted into a separate pot, you cannot just add the water directly to the package.
Summit To Eat – Freeze dried
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PROS – Low price, Easy to rehydrate.
CONS – Some meals contain additives and palm oil.
Trek ‘N Eat – Freeze Dried
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PROS – Low price, Easy to rehydrate, Tear off section which makes it easier to eat straight out of the pouch.
CONS – Some meals contain additives.
Wayfayrer – Wet Meal Pouch
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PROS – Low price, Can be eaten cold straight out of the pouch.
CONS – When heating they take longer to reheat than simply boiling water so you will use more fuel.
Forestia – Self Heating Wet Meal Pouch
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PROS – No need for a stove or clean water as the pouch heats the meal with just around 60ml of water (this doesn’t not come into contact with the food so can be take straight from a tarn or stream etc)
CONS – Heavier than Freeze Dried or Dehydrated options, The self heating bags can take quite a while to heat the food properly.
Which meals do you prefer and why? Let us now in the comment section below.
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Head over to @FellFoodie's Instagram page and check out some of his amazing creations and maybe get booked onto his events for a real outdoor foodie adventure.
