11 of the Best Hiking Snacks to Bring on Trail

If you’ve clicked on this post to find the best hiking snacks, chances are you are planning a hike! Congratulations! Hiking is incredibly beneficial to you in many ways. Whether you’re going on a day hike or a longer backpacking trip, packing snacks is always a good idea. How else are you going to sustain your energy on the trail?

Below, you will find a list of my 12 favorite hiking snacks that are both delicious and great at providing you with the nutrient you’ll need throughout the trek. From the classic trail mix to my favorite backpacking goodies, it’s all there. Pick what you want and leave what you don’t! Everyone has their own snack preferences. Don’t just buy something because I tell you to – make sure that it fits your needs and tastes good to you (or else it will just stay in the bottom of your bag, trust me).

Choosing the right snacks

Hiking snacks are important for many reasons. Not only do they provide you with energy, but they can also enhance your performance by ensuring that the glycogen stores in your muscles are replenished and raring to go. You will be energized enough to stay alert on trail – which is super important for your safety and for the safety of your hiking buddies as well.

The physical demands of hiking include nutrient depletion and dehydration. Many of these hiking snacks will replenish those nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and even water! Fruits, especially, will provide additional water during your hike. Carrying a wide variety of snacks can be helpful in making sure you are consuming every nutrient your body needs.

It’s always a good idea to pack snacks, especially in case of an emergency. If you ever find yourself stuck on a longer-than-expected hike, those snacks will come in handy! That’s what choosing a healthy variety of options is a smart idea.

Also – sharing the best hiking snacks with your friends and fellow hikers is just plain fun! It can be nice to share snacks, therefore having a more varied set of choices of what to eat. Also, we all bond more easily when participating in communal eating. Stopping for a shared snack break can be an opportunity to exchange stories and create memories together.

The 11 best hiking snacks

Trail Mix (DIY your own!)

Trail mix is a classic trail snack for a reason. Not only is it easily portable, but it is incredible nutrient-dense. The ingredients in trail mix (nuts, seeds, dried fruits) provide a great balance of healthy fats, fibers, and proteins that will keep you satiated for a long time while hiking. It can also hold together quite well in “rough conditions”. Unlike fresh fruit or crackers, trail mix won’t turn into mush at the bottom of your backpack.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of traditional trail mix. But who says you can’t customize your own? You can buy your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and extras like chocolate or granola to add to your mix. As long as it doesn’t spoil easily or melt, it has a welcome place in your personalized trail mix.

Energy Bars

Energy bars claim to be specifically designed to deliver a healthy balance of nutrients. They are often calorie-dense and contain fats, proteins, and carbohydrates all in one bar. While they will replenish your energy on a hike, they usually do contain a lot of sugar – so check the nutrition information on the back while comparing options.

Energy bars are extremely convenient for hikers and backpackers because they pack easily and are calorically dense. They have a long shelf life, and there are a ton of options to pick from. My only caveat is that you should be careful not to rely only on energy bars while hiking. It can be easy to just buy a pack of bars and have that be the only thing you eat all day (not the best). They’re not the healthiest thing you could be eating on trail, so eat them in moderation.

CLIF Bars

A true classic, in my eyes. CLIF bars are calorie-dense, for sure. Energy bars like to focus on their protein content (and CLIF bars have about 10g of protein per bar), but they also contain a ton of added sugar.

LUNA Bars

While LUNA bars contain a similar set of ingredients to the CLIF bars, the macronutrient balance is more appealing to me (9 grams of protein and half the amount of added sugar). They’re gluten free as well!

That’s it. bars

That’s it. bars are a little different, because they are almost 100% carbohydrates. Being completely made of fruit, there’s absolutely no added sugar – or anything at all except the fruit. It’s healthier to just eat an apple and a mango fresh, but this is convenient and delicious.

Fresh Fruits

We all know that fresh fruits are healthy, but in regards to hiking? Not only are they nutrient-rich, but they can aid in keeping you hydrated on the trail! There’s a ton of variety to choose from as well. Some of the best fruits to bring on a hike are apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes.

While fruits are healthy and hydrating, they’re much more fragile than trail mix or an energy bar. It can be easy to bruise or even destroy a fresh fruit snack while it’s at the bottom of your hiking bag. If you do pack fruit for your hike, make sure it’s stored correctly.

Jerky

Jerky is traditionally known as dried and salted meat. This treatment of the meat makes it extremely long-lasting, so it’s an especially good snack if you can’t get back to the store for a few days. Now, jerky is pretty much anything dried and treated to last a long amount of time. You can buy beef jerky, salmon jerky, and even vegan jerky.

Jerky is almost always high in protein and will keep hikers full for hours. However, it’s also high in sodium and sometimes contains other preservatives. If you’re not a fan of tough and chewy foods, I’d recommend trying something else. But if you love high-protein snacks – it’s great!

You might even want to consider making your own jerky. All you need is a dehydrator, oven, or smoker to turn the primary ingredient into that long-lasting, chewy snack.

Protein Pouches

“Protein pouches” are basically any protein sources that you can put into pouch form and eat out of that container. My absolute favorite hiking snack is a StarKist Tuna Creations packet. You can buy 90-calorie pouches of tuna that are flavored in a variety of ways. These snacks are almost 100% protein, and they’re delicious. I like to bring these packets along with some fruit and peanut butter to get a healthy balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. You can also get salmon or white chicken in the same style of snack.

In addition to being high in protein, this snack is convenient, easy to pack, and will last for a very long time in your pantry. It’s something you can buy in bulk, then bring a few on each hiking adventure. The moisture content of each pouch can also provide you a bit of hydration (there are low sodium options, too).

StarKist Tuna Creations

This brand is the most convenient for me. My favorite flavor is Sweet and Spicy. 10/10 hiking snack if you’re trying to meet a protein goal.

Nut Butter Packets

Nut butters (no matter the type) are all packed with a ton of nutrients you’ll need to replenish on a hike. They’re filled with healthy fats, protein, and fiber. This makes them super satiating, which will lower the chance of you getting hangry or tired on the trek. Just make sure that you choose a nut butter without added sugars or other additives.

Instead of bringing a jar of whatever nut butter you like to eat on a hike, choose the more convenient option. Individual packets are super portable, and durable; they can fit anywhere on your person or in your backpack while hiking. Avoiding those bulky containers can be a huge advantage, particularly if you’re packing for a multi-day hike.

JUSTIN’S Peanut Butter Spread

JUSTIN’S also makes almond butter spreads as well as peanut. This is my favorite brand to use because I already know the only two ingredients are peanuts and palm oil (no sugar added).

Granola/Granola Bars

Similar to trail mix, granola is a great hiking snack. It’s portable, lightweight, and nutrient-dense. Some people prefer granola to trail mix because it’s crunchier and a little bit more on the sweet side. You can count on granola (or granola bars) to provide the carbohydrates you need for a hike. Just be careful – a lot of granola bars on the market contain a ton of added sugar. Make sure to buy something without added sugar, or you can make your own!

Homemade granola is one of my favorite options, because you get to pick and choose every ingredient that goes into it. From sugar alternatives to fun additions (like dried fruit or chocolate), you’re in control. Plus, granola is hard to mess up. All you need is rolled oats, oil, honey (or maple syrup), and seasonings/add-ons. The honey or maple syrup is what will keep the granola sticking together in clumps. My favorite things to use to flavor granola are salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. You can also add nuts, seeds, dried fruits, chocolate chips, and anything else that sounds delicious.

Crackers and/or Rice Cakes

Compared to the rest of the snacks on this list, crackers and rice cakes are the most lightweight option. They are a very lightweight and easy-to-digest snack. If you’re a hiker with a sensitive stomach, I recommend packing some simply salted crackers or rice cakes. Since this kind of snack is so fragile, try to find some varieties that are less likely to break easily. You can portion them out in a plastic baggie and store them in a spot where they won’t get crushed.

You can also pack cheese, nut butters (as mentioned above), or slices of protein for a yummy combination. When taking a break on the trail, a cracker-salami-cheese combo may seem like the best thing you’ve ever eaten in your life. Hiking makes you hungry!

Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is one of the best hiking snacks (in moderation). It takes up less space than fresh fruit, and it won’t get smushed. It will also last longer in storage than fresh fruit, which is perfect for anyone packing for a multi-day adventure.

Dried fruit contains much of the same nutrients that you can get from fruit. However, everything is much more condensed when the fruit is dried or dehydrated. For example – you’ll get 100 calories from an apple, and it will fill you up pretty well. However, you will also get the same calories from 8 dried apple slices, which won’t be as filling. Because of this, it can be easy to overeat dried fruit.

bare dried fruit

The bare dried fruit snacks are baked, which makes them super crispy and crunchy. Semi-expensive, but yummy! (You can also try baking fruit at home.)

Cheese

Cheese is a good snack for hikers who want to add some more calcium, protein, and vitamin B12 into their diet. It’s a great balance of the three main macronutrients and is super energy-dense. We love a snack that will keep you satiated! Most cheeses are also easy to transport and can go for several hours without needing to be refrigerated. You won’t have to worry about it spoiling for a long while.

While cheese can be convenient and yummy (especially paired with some crackers and protein slices), be careful about what kind you bring. Softer or creamier cheeses definitely won’t be ideal, since they can melt and spoil more quickly. Also – if you’re lactose intolerant, just don’t mess with it. You’re on a hike, so let’s minimize risk as much as we can. There are lactose-free alternatives for those really craving cheese on the trail.

Dark Chocolate

Eating dark chocolate can be a really healthy choice when you’re on the trail. Any bar with a high cocoa content (above 70%) contains antioxidants, iron, magnesium, and other minerals that are good for your body and mind. While dark chocolate won’t keep you full as long as some other snacks, even a small piece can actually improve your mood. As long as you can prevent it from melting, you should pack a bar of dark chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth while hiking.