Looking for the best snacks for hiking? These are my go to choices for short and long hikes, with tips on packaging, shelf life and flavor.
Let’s talk hiking snacks
When I’m getting ready for a hike, I always get a little thrill when it’s time to choose the snacks. I love good food, there are so many options, and on the trail you can always use a bit of extra energy. I usually pack far too much, but after all my hiking adventures I know exactly which snacks are the tastiest and most practical.
Whether I’m out for days on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Arizona Trail or the Camino de Santiago, or just heading out for a short day hike, there’s always a steady stash in my backpack. Sometimes they’re healthy choices, sometimes they’re pure treats. The right snacks make hiking more fun and a whole lot easier, as they give you energy, help you avoid dips, and are honestly something to look forward to. Here’s my full list of favorites and practical tips so you never set out without inspiration.
Best snacks for hiking
When you’re out on the trail, you want snacks that are practical, tasty and energizing. Some will last for days in your backpack, while others are perfect for a short day hike. I like to split them into two categories: snacks that nourish your body and keep your energy steady, and snacks that mainly boost your mood (aka comfort food).
Healthy and nutritious hiking snacks
These snacks give you energy without causing a quick sugar spike. They’re perfect if you want to keep going at a steady pace while still feeling satisfied.
Unsalted or salted nuts
I almost always have a bag of nuts with me – at home and on the trail. They’re one of those hiking snacks I never get tired of. On hot days I go for salted nuts to replenish my sodium levels, while on cooler hikes I prefer unsalted so I don’t get too thirsty. They stay fresh for weeks, even in a backpack, making them ideal for multi-day hikes when there’s no store nearby.
Dates
I don’t eat them often, but whenever I do bring them, I wonder why I don’t pack them more. Sweet, soft and full of natural sugars, dates are surprisingly filling and give a quick energy boost. They don’t last quite as long as nuts, but as long as you keep them out of direct sun, they’ll be fine for the duration of a hike.
Boiled egg
On my hike along the National Park Trail in Belgium, the B&B owner where I was staying gave me a boiled egg every morning. I had never thought of it as a hiking snack before, but it’s brilliant! Healthy, filling and packed with protein. Just make sure you eat it the same day you pack it.
Cheese
I’m a real cheese lover and can’t imagine hiking without it. In the US, I often carried individually wrapped cheese sticks that stayed fresh for a long time. In Europe, these are harder to find, but Babybel is a great alternative because it’s sealed tightly. On the Camino, I regularly bought a piece of cheese from the supermarket for lunch. Just make sure it doesn’t get too warm in your backpack, as it can melt and develop a strong smell.
Dried fruit
On the Arizona Trail, I discovered Solely brand Fruit Jerky: an entire mango or pineapple pressed into a flat bar. It almost felt like candy, but a healthier version. If you can’t find Solely, BEAR Fruit Rolls are a similar and tasty alternative. Both options are lightweight, easy to pack and have a long shelf life, making them perfect for hiking.
Apples (and other fruits)
For day hikes I almost always bring an apple. Fresh, crunchy and easy to grab from your pack, and you can even eat it while walking. In forests I sometimes leave the core, but in dry or fragile areas I always pack it out because waste decomposes much more slowly. Many hikers swear by bananas, which give quick energy and are easy to eat, although they are not for me. Sometimes I also bring a small container of sliced fruit like pineapple or melon. On a hot day that can be a very refreshing treat along the trail.
Tortilla wraps
Hiking a long distance and want to have lunch on the go? Wraps are perfect. They don’t break, take up very little space, and you can fill them on the spot. During my thru-hikes, I often added tuna or cheese. Occasionally even avocado, but only if I knew there’d be a trash can nearby. That made it extra tasty and felt like a little luxury in the middle of the day.
Salad
A salad can be a surprisingly good hiking snack, especially on day hikes. I often grab a ready-made salad from the grocery store before heading out. A favorite is one with quinoa and nuts, but sometimes I make my own pasta salad with tomato, cucumber, and pesto, packed in a sturdy container. Healthy, filling, and delicious.
Cucumber or carrots
Sometimes you just crave a good crunchy snack. Cucumbers and carrots are easy to carry, stay fresh for a long time, and are wonderfully refreshing. On a hot hiking day, a piece of cool cucumber can almost feel like a luxury.
Sandwich with cheese
On day hikes in the Netherlands, nine times out of ten I bring a simple cheese sandwich. Always tasty, always filling. Even abroad I often go for this classic. On the Camino, it was regularly my lunch: bread, cheese (or brie) and sometimes a slice of tomato. Enough to keep me going until I reached the hostel, ready to enjoy that evening’s pilgrim’s meal.
Tortilla
On the Camino, I ate tortilla almost every day. Creamy from the mix of eggs and potato, sometimes with a surprising extra ingredient like tuna or spinach. It’s tasty, filling, easy to find in Spain, and often the only vegetarian option in small villages. On rainy days, a warm tortilla was pure comfort food after a wet stage.
Vitamin and mineral sachets
On hot days and long treks, plain water can start to taste dull. Electrolyte or vitamin powder sachets not only add variety but also help replenish essential minerals. On some days, they felt like a real lifesaver.
Comfortfood
Not everything I pack is healthy, but sometimes you just need a sweet treat. Something to lift your mood, reward you after a tough climb, or simply make the hike a little more enjoyable.
Snickers
My ultimate energy bomb. On the Pacific Crest Trail and the Arizona Trail, I ate a Snickers almost every day. They gave me a big boost when my energy levels dipped. In Arizona, I sometimes ate one as early as 8:30 in the morning, simply because it was still cool enough. Later in the day, they would melt into a sticky, unruly mess.
I sometimes alternate Snickers with a Twix or KitKat, but nothing really beats that delicious chewy texture of a Snickers.
Clif Bars and other protein bars
For a while, Clif Bars were my go-to hiking snack. They were filling, had a long shelf life, and were easy to eat one-handed while walking. But after weeks of eating the same bar every day, I started to dread them. Variety is essential, even your favorite snack can become tiresome if you have it too often.
Sometimes I choose a Trek protein bar as an alternative, but I try not to eat too many of those either. And yes, I’m deliberately placing them under comfort food, because despite their “healthy” reputation, protein bars are rarely truly healthy.
Trail mix
A homemade mix of nuts and chocolate is often tastier than the ready-made versions. My favorite: salted nuts and different kinds of M&Ms. No raisins, I always leave them out because I don’t like them. On the Arizona Trail, this was my “grab food” between meals: taking small bites straight from a resealable bag, perfect for keeping my energy levels steady throughout the day.
Stroopwafel
On the Arizona Trail, I was once given a stroopwafel as a gift, and it turned out to be an amazing trail snack. Maybe it was because I had been away from home for so long, but the smell and taste of that caramel-filled waffle cookie made me so happy in that moment. As it is a popular Dutch delicacy, it felt like a little piece of home in the middle of the desert.
Salty licorice
Another typically Dutch treat, definitely not nutritious but oh so tasty. Whenever I hike abroad, I almost always bring some salty licorice with me. It is that “home feeling” and that delicious, unmistakable flavor you can’t find in most places. Many hikers outside the Netherlands have never tried it, so it often sparks interesting conversations on the trail.
Chips or saltines
I have a slight chip addiction and sometimes just crave salt. On a long-distance hike, there is often a bag of chips in my pack. They take up some space, but they disappear quickly enough. I usually go for plain for that pure saltiness, but sometimes it is Doritos, extra tasty on a wrap with cheese. Bugles are also a winner, especially as a sunny-break snack.
Ice cream
No, ice cream is not something you can carry in your backpack, but it can be the perfect treat halfway through or at the end of a hike. On the Camino, I sometimes stopped for an ice cream around noon, when the sun was high and the heat intense. On such a hot day, it tasted even better and gave just enough energy to keep going for another hour.
Smart hiking snack tips from the trail
Have you picked out your snacks for hiking? Good! I have a few final tips for you.
- Get a dedicated food bag: Keep your food separate from the rest of your gear. A lightweight dry bag will keep snacks dry and protect them from critters.
- Always carry a small garbage bag, like a Ziploc: Even banana peels take a long time to decompose in nature.
- Bring a pocket knife and spork: Handy for cutting fruit, cheese, or other snacks, and for scooping food on the go.
- Eat chocolate early: On hot days it melts quickly, so enjoy it in the morning.
- Divide your supplies: On long treks without stores, it helps to pack your snacks per day.
- Take hygiene seriously: A small bottle of hand sanitizer and some tissues are essential.
- Don’t skimp on calories: Even if you are hiking to lose weight, keep fueling your body. Eating too little can make you dizzy and low on energy.
These are my favorite snacks for hiking. They have carried me through long days in the mountains, endless desert trails, and rainy Camino mornings. Maybe you recognize some of them or have suggestions of your own. Share them in the comments, I am always looking for new ideas for my next hike.
More hiking tips & inspiration
Want more trail-tested advice and ideas for your next adventure? On this site, I share both epic hiking routes and practical tips to make your time on the trail even better. Start here:
- Hiking alone as a woman: how to stay safe and feel confident on the trail
- 24 fun and interesting facts about hiking
- The best treks in the world: 18 incredible long-distance hiking trails
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