String cheese. Hard salami. Cashews. Dark chocolate. My combo of these foods at a total of 1.5lbs/day gets me around 3000 calories, and the longest I've gone on that mix is 8 days, with foraged blueberries added in.

Short day hikes? I rarely eat anything. But I gotta have me some Little Debbie's giant oatmeal creme pies back at the truck (as long as Ava didn't sneaky snarf them up when I wasn't looking. Again.)

 

In my younger days I used to have a couple of sandwiches and apples stuffed into the front of my shirt. By the time that I would eat one of the sandwiches it would almost be smashed flat by the apples.

I have progressed over the years to using a day pack where they don't get so smashed. But now I mostly just take a pack of my homemade jerky and a Caprisun drink pack along with a few apples and candy bars

A number of years ago my brother in law told me that he had lunch covered for our day hike. Noon showed up so I went and found him for lunch. He pulled out a couple of warm Pepsi's and a bag of Fig Newton for each of us.

One of my best ones was when I was around 21 years old. I parked my van in Spanish Fork Canyon and took off with my usual sandwiches and apples and headed north. I circled around and hit the top of Tie Fork and headed back to West Canyon where I shot a nice buck. I needed help to get that buck out so I headed back to my van that was parked near where Wheelers is at in the Canyon. I got to my van and all I had let to eat was some KFC dried biscuit and water. Those biscuits tasted like a good steak.

 

I’m addicted to those dark chocolate banana peanut butter cliff bars right now. I also like those honey stinger waffles and they are nice and light for the pack as well. A cup of mixed nuts in a ziplock gives me allot of bang for my buck calorie wise.

For 30 years I always had a can or 2 of smoked oysters or kippers in my pack but I seem to have grown out of that the last few years. I don’t like dealing with the empty cans on the mountain anymore so those are a back at camp or the truck snack.

 

I also like those honey stinger waffles and they are nice and light for the pack as well.

Not sure how I didn’t think of this. Those energy waffles are a staple in my pack as well. Very easy to take along and pack a good punch! Good call.

But I gotta have me some Little Debbie's giant oatmeal creme pies back at the truck (as long as Ava didn't sneaky snarf them up when I wasn't looking. Again.)

You introduced me to the peanut butter version of those. They are good too!

 

Your food stuffs sound great, about what I like in the pack. But I really like to have an energy drink in the pack...I know, I know, but what more legitimate use for such an item than being a mile or 2 up on the mountain and just needing a little pick me up to get back to the truck.

 

I tend to be a "nibbler" when backpacking or hunting and will always have a can/bag of cashews, usually some fun sized candy bars, and apple or two, and maybe a can of DP along with water. I never eat a great deal at any one time for optimal performance if I'm exerting myself. The big meal comes at the end of the day.

 

Ya I get my nerves going too much to eat very much while hunting. Usually I figure out I haven’t eaten anything after hours hiking around when my body starts to tell me and I eat something out of obligation for my well being haha. I always throw down a big meal at the end of the day cuz the nerves are gone and now I’m starving my ass off.

 

It has changed a little throughout the years, but as far as pack food goes I seem to always have granola bars, apples, and miniature snickers bars. I was on a time crunch when I went down hunting a couple weeks ago and they have recently put in a new Little Ceasars near my house that was still open when I was hitting the road late at night so that was convenient. I knew my regarded brother probably wouldn't have any food so I picked up a couple of pizzas from there. The piping hot slices I ate on the way down were really good. The cold dry leftovers my brother and I ate the next day on the mountain weren't nearly as exciting, but they were better than nothing. Oftentimes I enjoy fried chicken and potato salad from a grocery store deli for camp food. That usually comes from (sorry, 2full) Lin's grocery store in Cedar City when I'm hunting down there. If I feel like actually cooking lamb burgers always hit.

 

In my pack:
Uncrustables (grape)
Honey Stinger Waffles
Sunflower seeds (Dill Pickle)
Spearmint Gum
Sonic Drink Mix (ocean water or limeade)
Circus Animal Cookies

Waiting for me in the cooler at camp or at the truck:
Monster Energy Drink
White Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
Little Debbies (original or peanut butter - sometimes both)


I am absolutely terrible about drinking water. Having the flavoring packets really helps with ensuring that drinking water isn't as torturous as it could be. Seeds and gum make long glassing sessions more bearable. Uncrustables, honey stinger waffles, and circus animal cookies just make life better.

 

Uncrustables (grape)

At last! A flaw, nay a chip (since apparently the otherwise completely acceptable word is getting flagged as naughty), in your shining armor! Strawberry uncrustables > grape uncrustables

 

I usually have some homemade jerky, Little Debbie snacks, some trail mix and some granola bars. I'll have to admit that Little Debbie usually seems to get eaten first.

 

Staples of my pack everyday. Folgers Coffee Singles for coffee during morning glassing. Freeze Dried fruit crisps. 2 Snickers. Snack size Slim Jims. A handful of Childs Play candy mix. And I also love uncrustables, but have recently started carrying Bobo's PB&J's, which are basically uncrustables but with a peanut butter oat crust.

My favorite lunch though, is a deli sliced roast beef and swiss sandwich with mustard and mayo, an apple, and a diet coke. I'm sure a lot of why I love them, is the nostalgia of lunches with my dad and grandpa on the mountain, but IMO nothing beats that smashed sandwich before a mid day siesta.

Supplements, I just carry electrolyte pills and hylands leg cramp pills.

 

Boy I'm soft these days. I haven't loved uncrustables (but haven't given them much try admittedly).

I bring sandwich fixins and make them in the blind. Bring some cookies. Diet Coke.

I'm terrible about snacks. I'll bring some summer sausage or snack sticks. Which reminds me, I need to make some snack sticks. I also need to create time to thaw stuff to make snack sticks.

I'm pretty lame.

When I took my kids hunting when they were little. We brought cliff bars (yuck), fig bars, jerky, and candy. It was as much entertainment as sustenance at that point.

And Grime Boss Hand Wipes. Come in packs of 5. one has a smooth side. One has a textured side for when I'm in the field and don't have a bidet.

 

• Peanut Butter M&Ms. My substitute for trail mix.
• Tortillas with lemon pepper tuna. Just try it. Using a good tortilla goes a long way.
• Kippered snacks with crackers
• Homemade "energy bites" (dumb name but great calorie:weight ratio)
• Jerky or pepper sticks

I tend to bring too much sugar into the field and have to make a conscious effort to pack savory/salty stuff. Jerky never tastes so good as when I've been snacking on M&Ms for 3 days. Obviously snack selection also depends a lot on whether I'm backpacking in or truck camping.

 

Uncrustables (peanut butter & honey if ya can find them)
Jerky or snack sticks
Belvita blueberry crackers
Fruit & Grain bars
Honey Stingers
Trail mix

Lately I have also been packing those Bumble Bee tuna salad & cracker boxes.

I pack water for drinking and making coffee (if I’m also packing my stove). Fluids are heavy.

 

My pack usually has a Jello fruit cup, pudding, Bit o ‘ Honeys, Jerky and Swedish fish.

I spend more time in my duck boat than I do hiking mountains anymore. I always have a cooler full of drinks, sandwiches or pizza. I have even grilled steaks a few times out in the marsh.

 

I've heard that mtn ops has some new products that they offer in suppository form. They don't really work any better than their other stuff, but the flat brimmers seem to think they are a lot of fun.

 

I don't get you folks that dislike water. I love the stuff and hunting in Utah always sucked because it meant most places if I was going to be away from the truck/camp all day I needed to carry at least a gallon with me. Up here, I'll bring 16-32oz with me and beyond that a LifeStraw works great.

I used to also lug a couple cans of Red Bull around (RIP Pink Grapefruit 2017 Summer Edition). But Mamacake found Viter Energy caffeine mints for me in 2020, and those things are amazing. I go with the 40mg peppermint. Buy a pack of tins once and then just buy the ½ lbs bulk bags and refill the tins. Now for under 1oz I can carry 800mg of caffeine that tastes dangerously delicious.

 

I used to carry a gallon too. Now I just bring a half liter of Mt Dew and a catch bottle for urine. Couple packets of flavoring, mix it with dew, and it's good to go.

 

I discovered Uncrustables this year. Had never used them before this year's mountain biking season. They are amazing! I like both the raspberry and the strawberry. Haven't tried the grape jam one yet. But they hit the spot just right when you are exerting and need some help. My kids reminded me that when they were little (all adult age now) that they had one almost everyday for their school lunch. I had NO idea.

But add some jerky, cheese and some almonds and maybe throw in some peanut M&Ms as well and I feel pretty great most of the day. Like having some drink mix (like LMNT as I also tend to cramp easy) and good ol' water. At camp I have DrP Zero or similar waiting with some kind of nice premade meal from home that takes some heating up.

 

I used to love the franz lemon pies and look forward to hunting season just for that reason but I swear they changed after COVID or my taste buds did because they are definitely not the same. I eat/drink a lot when I’m hunting, first snack is a muffin n string cheese. Lunch is usually a pepperoni and salami sandwich on everything bagel with a fruit cup n dessert. Second snack is a homemade pb&j or a couple uncrustables will trail mix. I no longer can eat any bars or jerky they always just sit in my pack year after year. I also swear by the wilderness athlete hydrate and recover packets. I drink one at lunch and dinner every day I’m hunting.

 

I used to love the franz lemon pies and look forward to hunting season just for that reason but I swear they changed after COVID or my taste buds did because they are definitely not the same.

The ensh!ttification of everything. That is a new word they have come up with to describe how companies cut corners to save costs and then serve the consumer with an ensh!tiffied product. I swear Reeses peanut butter cups have been ensh!ttified. They don't taste the same anymore. The ensh!ttification dial has been cranked to 11 ever since covid. As far as water goes I just wish mountain dew didn't have 170 calories per 12 ounce can or I would never need to drink anything else.

 

The real pro tip on uncrustables is to eat them when the bread is fully thawed but the filling is still frozen.

Good Lardy, I can smash about a dozen of those in quick succession

 

I'll admit I had to look up what Uncrustables were. LOL

I use Pop Tarts. A homemade trail mix of nuts, raisins and M&M's. A few protein bars and a protein drink if I'm out all day.
I'll admit it's been awhile since I have worried about Running on empty.

 

Beer, Whisky, Camels, Swishers, Copenhagen, and don't forget the TP.

Above items are for "trading" when you run into someone that needs what you have, and vice versa.

 

Trail mix with m&ms and an apple in my jacket pocket (I snack throughout the day)

In my My pack -
Peanut butter and jam sandwhich
Ham and cheese sandwhich
Fun size snickers and Milky Way
Granola bars
Instant puddings

 

Has anyone but me put Peanut Butter M&Ms with Carmel M&Ms? I like those two also mixed with pretzel M&Ms. That is a nice mixture.

 

Peanut M&M's heck yeah!, Peanut butter M&M's. meh. 🤷‍♂️

 

Jerky, cheese, salami, crackers, apples for me.

 

Let's see:

• Bagel with salami and some jalapeno cream cheese (bagels don't smash as easy as bread)
• Oreos and/or Nutter Butter cookies
• Some kind of gummy candy
• Nuts
• Liquid IV/PRIME drink mix
• Little Debbie Star Crunch (thank me later)
• Depending how long I'll be out a freeze dried meal (usually biscuits & gravy or chicken Alfredo)