![\"Eating](\"https:\/\/www.opreismetco.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Appel-eten-tijdens-een-pauze-op-de-National-Park-Trail-683x1024.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhether I\u2019m out for days on the Pacific Crest Trail<\/a>, the Arizona Trail<\/a> or the Camino de Santiago<\/a>, or just heading out for a short day hike, there\u2019s always a steady stash in my backpack. Sometimes they\u2019re healthy choices, sometimes they\u2019re 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\u2019s my full list of favorites and practical tips so you never set out without inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These snacks give you energy without causing a quick sugar spike. They\u2019re perfect if you want to keep going at a steady pace while still feeling satisfied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I almost always have a bag of nuts with me \u2013 at home and on the trail. They\u2019re 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\u2019t get too thirsty. They stay fresh for weeks, even in a backpack, making them ideal for multi-day hikes when there\u2019s no store nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t eat them often, but whenever I do bring them, I wonder why I don\u2019t pack them more. Sweet, soft and full of natural sugars, dates are surprisingly filling and give a quick energy boost. They don\u2019t last quite as long as nuts, but as long as you keep them out of direct sun, they\u2019ll be fine for the duration of a hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s brilliant! Healthy, filling and packed with protein. Just make sure you eat it the same day you pack it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m a real cheese lover and can\u2019t 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\u2019s sealed tightly. On the Camino, I regularly bought a piece of cheese from the supermarket for lunch. Just make sure it doesn\u2019t get too warm in your backpack, as it can melt and develop a strong smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Arizona Trail, I discovered Solely brand Fruit Jerky<\/a>: an entire mango or pineapple pressed into a flat bar. It almost felt like candy, but a healthier version. If you can\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiking a long distance and want to have lunch on the go? Wraps are perfect. They don\u2019t 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\u2019d be a trash can nearby. That made it extra tasty and felt like a little luxury in the middle of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s pilgrim\u2019s meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On hot days and long treks, plain water can start to taste dull. Electrolyte or vitamin powder sachets<\/a> not only add variety but also help replenish essential minerals. On some days, they felt like a real lifesaver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sometimes alternate Snickers with a Twix or KitKat, but nothing really beats that delicious chewy texture of a Snickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a while, Clif Bars<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes I choose a Trek protein bar<\/a> as an alternative, but I try not to eat too many of those either. And yes, I\u2019m deliberately placing them under comfort food, because despite their \u201chealthy\u201d reputation, protein bars are rarely truly healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019t like them. On the Arizona Trail, this was my \u201cgrab food\u201d between meals: taking small bites straight from a resealable bag, perfect for keeping my energy levels steady throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Arizona Trail, I was once given a stroopwafel<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 \u201chome feeling\u201d and that delicious, unmistakable flavor you can\u2019t find in most places. Many hikers outside the Netherlands have never tried it, so it often sparks interesting conversations on the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you picked out your snacks for hiking? Good! I have a few final tips for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want more trail-tested advice and ideas for your next adventure? On this site, I share both epic hiking routes and practical tips<\/a> to make your time on the trail even better. Start here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get fresh inspiration in your inbox<\/strong>! Sign up for my newsletter<\/a> to receive hiking tips, personal trail stories, and travel inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for more adventurous ideas? These hiking books are perfect for daydreaming and planning your next trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 100 Hikes of a Lifetime<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the Americas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBest snacks for hiking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Healthy and nutritious hiking snacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unsalted or salted nuts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Dates<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Boiled egg<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCheese<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Dried fruit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nApples (and other fruits)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Tortilla wraps<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Salad<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCucumber or carrots<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Sandwich with cheese<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTortilla<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nVitamin and mineral sachets<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Comfortfood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Snickers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nClif Bars and other protein bars<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTrail mix<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Stroopwafel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSalty licorice<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Chips or saltines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIce cream<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Smart hiking snack tips from the trail<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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More hiking tips & inspiration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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