Ultralight backpacking is the practice of aggressively seeking out the lightest, smallest, highest-quality gear available to meet your needs on a backpacking trip. Sleeping bags, packs and tents are typically the heaviest items you will carry. However, your food choices can make a significant impact on your total pack weight and energy level. You can carry the right amount of calorie-dense foods to keep you going on the trail without adding unnecessary pounds to your pack.
Types
Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are two of the best options to consider when going ultralight backpacking. They are made by extracting up to 98 percent of the food's water through evaporation. After processing, these lightweight foods can weigh as much as 90 percent less, take less space in your pack, stay preserved longer and require less preparation time than traditional foods. You can find a variety of freeze dried and dehydrated foods to suit any taste at many grocery and outdoor sporting goods stores and at online retailers.
Amount
According to the Mayo Clinic, hiking can burn between 430 and 650 calories per hour, depending on such things as your weight; metabolism; and the hike's distance, intensity and altitude. This can translate into burning 2,500 to 4,000 calories per day. To replace these calories, choose foods with about 130 calories per ounce. Using this guideline, you can carry 2 lbs. of food or less per day.
Breakfast
Ultralight breakfast options to consider are oatmeal or a cream of rice instant cereal. These provide carbohydrates and long-lasting energy. Add whole fat powdered milk to increase the calories without increasing the weight. If you don't want to cook breakfast in the morning, consider whole grain cereals. Combined with whole fat powdered milk and freeze dried fruit, cold cereals make an easy, lightweight and nutritious breakfast on the trail.
Snacks
Trail mix containing both nuts and dried fruit is a good start for your snack choices. You can make your own or buy a pre-made mix. Peanut butter, cheese and beef jerky provide protein and calorie-dense fat. Energy bars provide a balanced mix of nutrients and calories in a lightweight package.
Dinner
A hot, high-calorie meal before bed will help keep you warm through the night. Depending on the length of your hike, consider a combination of freeze-dried meals and homemade meals. While freeze dried-meals can be easy to prepare and are lightweight, they can also be expensive and bulky. Readily available ingredients such as instant potatoes, cous cous, instant rice, dried noodles, dehydrated refried beans, and instant soup mixes can be combined at home to make simple and nutritious meals. Dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables and meat, along with olive oil can be added to increase the flavor and calorie count. For dessert, instant pudding provides a calorie-dense treat.
Considerations
To ensure you have energy throughout the day, concentrate on frequent grazing and snacking, rather than eating one or two big meals. Stomach distress can be caused by eating too much during strenuous exercise. In addition to accounting for your nutritional needs, you also need to stay hydrated. Taking frequent water breaks throughout the day and adding plenty of water to your freeze dried or dehydrated meals in the evening will help ensure you maintain this balance.
Member Comments