Camp Meal & Food Weight Planner

How many calories on the trail?

Hiking with a pack burns a lot more than a normal day. Most backpackers need roughly 2,500–3,500 calories a day, and big mileage in the mountains or cold weather can push that past 4,000. Few people can eat that much on the trail, so the goal is to carry dense food you'll actually want to eat.

Calorie density is the key

Aim for 100–125 calories per ounce across your food bag. Nuts, nut butter, olive oil, chocolate, cheese and dried meats are dense; fresh fruit and canned food are not. At 110 cal/oz, a 3,000-calorie day weighs about 1.7 lb.

Biking instead of hiking? See bikepacking food. Store food properly in bear country — in many parks a bear canister or locker is required.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories do you burn backpacking?

Roughly 400 to 600 calories per hour of hiking with a pack, depending on body weight, pack weight and terrain. Over a full day that often adds up to 3,000 to 4,500 calories.

How many pounds of food per day for backpacking?

Plan about 1.5 to 2 pounds per person per day. Dense foods at 120+ calories per ounce let you carry 3,000 calories in under 1.6 pounds.

What foods have the most calories per ounce?

Olive oil (about 240), macadamia nuts and pecans (about 200), most nuts and nut butters (160 to 190), and chocolate (about 150).