Food for hiking - get easy ideas, snacks and packing tips

Hiking food is about more than just filling you up. When you're eating out, weight, durability, hygiene, and ease of packing quickly become as important as taste. With a few thoughtful choices, you can make your breaks more convenient, reduce food waste, and keep track of both crumbs and leftovers along the way.

A good starting point is to think in simple building blocks that you can combine: something filling, something salty and something sweet. Rye bread sandwiches, tortilla wraps and crispbread take up little space and can be varied with, for example, hard cheese, nuts, tuna in a bag or hummus in a small container. For short stops, fruit, nut mixes and energy-dense snacks that don't spill out of your bag work.

When planning, also think about “eating flow”: Choose food that can be eaten without a large kitchen and that doesn’t require much washing up. This makes the break quick, calm and more adventure-ready.

Snacks are often what keep you going between meals. Go for things that can be packed tightly and eaten in small portions: nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, dark chocolate, or home-roasted chickpeas. If you make your own snacks, you can cut down on unnecessary packaging by bundling them into a few reusable bags rather than many small packages.

A simple tip is to pack snacks in “day packs” so you don’t have to rummage through your entire backpack at every stop.

Freshness and hygiene are important when you're eating with your hands and may not have access to running water. Use tight-fitting containers for items that can leak, and keep foods separate so they don't get mashed or mixed together. Also, consider choosing foods that naturally stay nice without refrigeration for some time, like hard cheeses, nuts, crispbreads, and vegetables with low water content.

When handling food, clean hands and equipment are a big help. A compact towel can be used to wipe fingers, a knife or a bottle after a meal, and hung up afterwards to dry without getting wrung out. Look for a solution with antibacterial treatment that can inhibit bacterial growth and neutralize odors, so you can use it longer between washes and thus save water. OUTDOOR TOWELS fit well into just this type of break setup.

Food works best when you also remember to drink. Many people find that they eat more evenly when the drink is easily accessible, so you don't "hide" it in your bag. Choose a sturdy bottle that is nice to have with you and that makes it easy to take small sips often. If you want to gather your equipment in one place, you can find more relevant things for the trip in SHOP - ALL PRODUCTS , where there are both drinking bottles and practical accessories for a more convenient hiking break.