A reasonable goal is about
11⁄2 to 21⁄2 lbs.
of food (or 2,500 to 4,500 calories) per person per day. A person doing 10 miles of strenuous hiking with a 4,000-foot climb will obviously burn more calories—and need a lot more food—than someone covering a few miles of relatively flat trail who plans to chill at the campsite.
How much food do I need for a 4 day hike?
You should allow for approximately
700g – 1kg on average of food per day
, depending on how much you know your body will need. It’s also a good idea to bring a small surplus in case you’ve underestimated your appetite or wind up spending an extra night on the trial – an extra meal plus snacks should do the trick.
How much food do you need for 2 night backpacking?
You’re not going to starve to death on a 1 or 2-night backpacking trip.
1.5 lbs of food per day
will be sufficient. Don’t stress out about how many calories you’ve packed. Aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat but don’t sweat it.
How much does 5 day food weigh backpacking?
For lightweight and ultralightweight backpackers, the combined weight of food and water will regularly exceed that of all the gear they are carrying. For example, five days food equates to approximately
10 lbs
(4.5 kg). Half a gallon of water is roughly 4 lbs (1.8 kg).
How much should a backpack weigh for a 3 day hike?
Pack Weight for Backpacking and Hiking:
A loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.)
A loaded day hiking pack should not weigh more than about 10 percent of your body weight
.
Where do you cut weight when backpacking?
- Repackage food and personal care items. …
- Sleep System: Maximize a minimal amount of insulation. …
- Opt for a tent that pitches with trekking or ski poles. …
- Plan ahead and ration your water carrying. …
- Swap out heavy water bottles for a collapsible bottle. …
- Eat out of your pot.
How do you pack food for backpacking?
How much does a backpacking pack weigh?
Regular backpackers have packs that weigh about
30 lbs
. They’re generally newcomers to the hiking hobby, and they have a tendency to overpack. If you’re a newcomer going backpacking for the first time, it’s a good idea to never exceed 40 lbs and go with an experienced friend or a group of hikers.
How many calories should I eat backpacking?
Consume about
2000-2500 calories per day
if you are backpacking at an average rate (3000 calories) to lose 1 – 2 lbs per week. If you are trying to lose weight while hiking, be sure to consume enough complex carbohydrates.
How do you bring meat backpacking?
- Eat fresh meat first (pack ham or turkey wraps for your first lunch on the trail)
- Eat frozen meat for your first dinner (we’ll talk about frozen steak later)
- Save the preserved meat for later in the trip (they can be safely stored for longer)
Are MRE’s good for backpacking?
MREs are often seen as a good option for backpacking trips
because they are a self-contained meal that is quick and simple to eat. They have a lot of calories (which is good for active backpackers) and take minimal effort to prepare. In fact, you can eat them right out of the bag.
How much protein do I need backpacking?
As a general rule, you need
0.8-1 gram of protein for each kilo of body weight
. If you are doing high-intensity hiking, you might need up to 1.5g/kg. *See a list of the best backpacking meal brands here.
How heavy should a backpacking tent be?
A lighter tent will most likely be constructed of more delicate materials, whereas a heavier tent will be more durable. Generally speaking, a tent should weigh approximately
2.5 pounds per person
. Remember that when backpacking with multiple people, you can split the weight by dividing the tent, rain fly, and poles.
How much should a backpacking sleeping bag weigh?
Again, weight can vary from about
1 pound to 3 or more
, depending on the insulation needed to reach the temperature rating you want. But you can find a reasonably priced sleeping bag good to temperatures near freezing that weigh less than 2 pounds.
What does an empty backpack weigh?
Traditional Backpacks
Traditional packs are available within a range of 3.69 lbs to 5.67 lbs and a volume of 55L to 105L. When eight of such packs with varied weights are taken, the average weight of an empty traditional pack equals
4.58 lbs
with a volume of 68.8L.
How do I know if my backpack is too heavy?
- It’s difficult to put on or take off.
- You have pain from wearing it.
- You feel tingling or numbness in your limbs.
- Strap marks show on your shoulders.
- Your posture changes while wearing it.
How do I weigh my backpacking gear?
If you’re interested in reducing the weight of your backpacking gear, the most important thing you can do is to
buy a digital scale
. I like the model shown here, called an Ultraship Scale because it can weigh your items in ounces or grams.
How do you weigh a backpack for training?
Do you lose weight backpacking?
Fortunately, backpacking itself offers a ledger-busting solution to the accounting problem.
Duration and intensity make our sport uniquely efficient when it comes to weight loss
. On average, a 180-pound man carrying a 40-pound pack across steep terrain combusts more than 600 calories an hour while backpacking.
How do you carry a heavy hiking backpack?
How do you carry a tent while backpacking?
The best place to pack a tent in a backpack is
in the middle against your back
. For most hikers, this is the most comfortable place to carry heavy items and helps balance your weight. I personally pack the tent body and rainfly inside my backpack but lash the tent poles to the exterior of my backpack.
Are bagels good backpacking food?
Bagels are a stable backpacking food
, they pack well, just consider they don’t stay fresh as long as some other food options. Cheese and salami are two popular choices put on your bagels.
How big should my backpack be?
Hiking Backpack Volume Guide
Most daypacks range from
20 liters to 35 liters on the high-end
. While a smaller-sized backpack is usually sufficient for 1/2 day hikes, you’ll want a larger pack in the 35-liter range for all-day hikes so you can carry extra water, food, clothing, and the 10 essentials.
