Best Snacks For Hunting, Hiking Or Any Situation
Things to Consider for Hunting Snacks & Hiking Snacks
Hunting and hiking snacks are important for anyone really putting their boots to walking or hiking. This list will be focusing on healthy snacks that are great for backpack storage and quick eating. A few considerations to make before choosing your snacks however include.
- Sound of wrappers/packaging
- Cleanup need/procedure
- Heating requirements
- Scent of foods for hunting
- Caloric value per ounce
- Food allergies
- Glycemic index
- Macronutrient content
Balancing these above traits will be a great way to select a snack for your next trip, and the rewards will be a fueled up you.
Contents
Epic Bars
Product
EPIC Bison Bacon Cranberry Bars, Grass-Fed, 12 Count Box...
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- SAVORY SNACK BAR: a perfect on-the-go snack featuring 100%...
- CONVENIENT: EPIC Meat Bars are the perfect mid-day or afternoon...
- GRASS-FED: 100% grass-fed bison used
- HEALTHY SNACK: Certified Gluten-Free, Paleo friendly
- CONTAINS: 12 Count Box of 1.3oz bars
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- SAVORY SNACK BAR: a perfect on-the-go snack featuring 100%...
- CONVENIENT: EPIC Meat Bars are the perfect mid-day or afternoon...
- GRASS-FED: 100% grass-fed bison used
- HEALTHY SNACK: Certified Gluten-Free, Paleo friendly
- CONTAINS: 12 Count Box of 1.3oz bars
Epic bars are one of the Authors favorite snacks for hiking, traveling, camping or any kind of travel involving carrying food in a small backpack. The bars are super compact, easy to open quickly and very satiating. The flavors are genuinely interesting and hard to get tired of, even when having to eat them for days on end for hiking. If you’re looking to keep your protein macros up and calories down, the Chicken Sriracha is probably the best bet, although it is a bit dry. If the goal is sheer caloric intake for long hikes or just a long day, the breakfast bars or the pork options are a great choice. Be careful when traveling overseas with them though, as some countries can be unhappy with the meat coming into the country, although most have no issue. Epic bars are low carb, however, and if you’re doing a carbohydrate intensive activity such as running or physically exerting exercise, you might want to supplement this with a carb source to make sure you don’t get too tired. Epic also offers some other nutrition bar products that are good as well, but these bars are first choice when hiking or camping. These are a quiet snack depending on how they are opened but are definitely louder when storing the trash, so be careful when putting them back in your pack.
MRE
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MREs are used for a very good reason, they are compact ways to get a lot of calories into a soldier quickly and without much fuss. There are a LOT of options that are geared towards American palates, and they generally include some great snacks and treats as well. The main dishes are heated up by a small heater pack that needs some water to start heating the food. This can really be discarded if weight is at a premium, but usually makes the meals much nicer to eat. These heating packs, however, are not allowed on airplanes because they do get very hot with almost any moisture, so keep that in mind when traveling. MREs tend to be calorically dense, so if you’re trying to keep the pounds off, maybe stretch this meal out for a whole day. The meals are balanced to an American average diet so they aren’t unhealthy, but the treats included can be discarded for weight savings and getting rid of the temptations. They also include things like toilet paper, matches, and some other hygiene items, so make sure you account for those in your inventory. Another aspect of MREs that is easy to overlook is that most of their contents are quiet to eat; there are no cans and usually, no noisy wrappers to disturb the game while quickly snacking.
Russian Military Army Ration
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Many people who are looking for hiking/camping/hunting snacks have either heard of or eaten MREs, but not many folks know that there are many country’s MREs available online. The author’s personal favorite foreign MRE is the Russian ration but checking online for your country of choice is a great option for bringing some REAL variety to your next hunting trip or wilderness outing. Most of these MREs don’t include a flameless ration heater, and the contents may cause issues with air travel so check your travel method for problems before boarding a plane or traveling abroad. These foreign rations have similar ideas to the MREs of the US military but are made for different styles of food and different needs of the soldier. Check for food allergies and major issues with the food before buying, since some dishes are not exactly normal to the average US citizen (such as pork liver, yum). One pitfall for these treats is that sometimes they can be older rations imported to the US, so check on the expiration date when the package is opened. Regardless of your tastes, these are a really cool option to bring something new to your outing and will definitely be a talking point as well as a great meal.
Mountain House
Product
Mountain House Rice & Chicken 6-Pack
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- Enjoy 6 pouches of your favorite entree in one easy to store bulk...
- Quick prep! just add water to the pouch and you're good to go in...
- Three 1-cup servings per pouch
- Allergens: Soy, Wheat
- 30 Year Taste Guarantee
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- Enjoy 6 pouches of your favorite entree in one easy to store bulk...
- Quick prep! just add water to the pouch and you're good to go in...
- Three 1-cup servings per pouch
- Allergens: Soy, Wheat
- 30 Year Taste Guarantee
Mountain house is a staple of backpackers and campers alike. Super lightweight with a great taste and no cleanup issues, these meals are a great way to feed yourself quickly on the move. The only thing needed to eat these meals is boiling water (usually about 2 cups) and a spoon which makes them very simple to get going especially after a long day of moving in the mountains. With many meal options available, they can make even a very picky eater happy, and even offer some dessert dishes for people wanting to really go big. The ideal setup for eating Mountain house on the go is a JetBoil and a long (more than 5 inch) spoon for reaching down into the bag. The JetBoil is used to heat the water obviously and then the water is poured into the bag and massaged occasionally for around 9-10 minutes to rehydrate. Chicken and rice is a great option for hiking as the macros are geared towards activity. Make sure that you save some room for the breakfast skillet, however, as it is a great way to start a cold camping morning. Some claim that the meals are expensive per serving, but with the weight savings in spades, it’s tough to argue with Mountain House meals for backpack carry.
Peanut Butter & Co.
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Peanut Butter & Co. Smooth Operator Peanut Butter Squeeze...
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- Contains 20 - 1.15 oz squeeze packs of Smooth Operator Peanut...
- Made with simple honest, Non-GMO verified ingredients and USA...
- 7g of protein per serving, 0g trans fat, no cholesterol, no...
- Convenient anywhere snack - delicious on sandwiches, with fruit,...
- Try all of our amazing Peanut Butter varieties - Smooth Operator,...
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- Contains 20 - 1.15 oz squeeze packs of Smooth Operator Peanut...
- Made with simple honest, Non-GMO verified ingredients and USA...
- 7g of protein per serving, 0g trans fat, no cholesterol, no...
- Convenient anywhere snack - delicious on sandwiches, with fruit,...
- Try all of our amazing Peanut Butter varieties - Smooth Operator,...
Not everyone is looking for a full meal on the go, some folks just need a quick snack to keep going on a run or a hike and don’t have time to stop and cook a meal. Peanut butter pouches are a great way to carry high caloric value food in a small space and can be ripped open with one hand and eaten quickly with no utensils. Obviously keep this out of your bag if you’re hiking or hunting with someone that has a peanut allergy, as taking those chances during an outing are not worth the benefits of peanut butter. For those on a ketogenic diet, this is another great option to keep in your go-bag for hikes, as many of the “energy bar” options are not keto-friendly and ruining your progress is a pain. Choosing unsweetened peanut butter is a healthy choice and can be eaten without any hesitation. These are a very quiet snack to eat in the field and can be great to open when sitting on a ridge waiting for that prize animal.
GoGo Applesauce
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GoGo squeeZ Fruit on the Go Organic, Apple Cinnamon, 3.2 oz...
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- GoGo squeeZ Fruit on the Go Organic snacks for kids are made from...
- Stock your pantry or fridge with this pack of 48, 3.2 ounce...
- These organic fruit snack pouches are USDA Organic, Non-GMO...
- Pack these organic plant based snacks in a lunch box, backpack,...
- GoGo squeeZ Fruit on the Go Organic fruit snacks provide the...
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- GoGo squeeZ Fruit on the Go Organic snacks for kids are made from...
- Stock your pantry or fridge with this pack of 48, 3.2 ounce...
- These organic fruit snack pouches are USDA Organic, Non-GMO...
- Pack these organic plant based snacks in a lunch box, backpack,...
- GoGo squeeZ Fruit on the Go Organic fruit snacks provide the...
This next addition to the list is geared towards children, but the ease of eating this snack helps its placement. If needed, the top can be twisted off with one hand and the snack can be easily consumed with no hands if needed. Not a great source of protein or fat obviously, but the unsweetened apple sauce packets are a great addition to a pack to make sure that you can get a small sweet fix while not ruining your diet. Compact and easy to dispose of, these are a great option for hiking and backpacking but also for car trips as they won’t distract the driver. One aspect that is sometimes forgotten is fiber while camping and hiking, this is very important, and many snacks and bars don’t contain any or at least very much fiber, which this snack is a good source of. Other flavors are of course available, but the healthiest option is the unsweetened apple. Another quiet snack to eat in the field, these can be used when hunting or stalking without a disturbance to the nature around you.
KIND Bars
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KIND Bars, Caramel Almond & Sea Salt, Healthy Snacks, Gluten...
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- Contains 12 (1.4 oz) KIND Caramel Almond & Sea Salt bars
- NUTRITIONALLY DENSE- KIND bars lead with heart-healthy almonds as...
- PACKED WITH GOODNESS- These bars are gluten-free with 6 grams of...
- WELL BALANCED- These KIND bars have a low glycemic index, to...
- INDULGE- Made with the highest quality non-genetically modified...
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- Contains 12 (1.4 oz) KIND Caramel Almond & Sea Salt bars
- NUTRITIONALLY DENSE- KIND bars lead with heart-healthy almonds as...
- PACKED WITH GOODNESS- These bars are gluten-free with 6 grams of...
- WELL BALANCED- These KIND bars have a low glycemic index, to...
- INDULGE- Made with the highest quality non-genetically modified...
Sometimes when hiking, you might just want a candy bar. KIND bars are a fairly healthy option to choose as the company is very upfront about the ingredients, and those that they use are organic only. Small enough to stash even in a very small pocket on a jacket, these are definitely tasty and a good way to help a sweet craving on the go. KIND bars have more than 10 different flavors, and with some focused-on protein intake, anyone can find something they like from this company. Some of KIND’s products do have nuts, and that should again be considered when adventuring with a partner that may have a nut allergy, as it’s easier to find nut-free snacks than to deal with an epi-pen situation. One thing to note is that these wrappers are very noisy, so maybe not a great choice for opening when stalking game.
PROBAR
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PROBAR - Bolt Organic Energy Chews, Berry Blast, Non-GMO,...
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- SUPERFRUIT BLEND: Acai, Pomegranate, and Blueberry provide...
- ORGANIC: We use USDA Organic ingredients, so you can feel good...
- VITAMINS B AND C: Vitamins B6, B12, C, and electrolytes to power...
- QUICK ENERGY: 23g CARBS per 30g serving for quick energy. 20mg of...
- SOY-FREE: Safe, sustainably-sourced ingredients provide the...
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- SUPERFRUIT BLEND: Acai, Pomegranate, and Blueberry provide...
- ORGANIC: We use USDA Organic ingredients, so you can feel good...
- VITAMINS B AND C: Vitamins B6, B12, C, and electrolytes to power...
- QUICK ENERGY: 23g CARBS per 30g serving for quick energy. 20mg of...
- SOY-FREE: Safe, sustainably-sourced ingredients provide the...
Energy chews are a great way to fuel your body quickly, get a sweets fix, and make sure you can keep up the pace all day. Carbohydrates are the fuel that our body uses to make muscles work, and many endurance athletes have been using these recently to keep the body moving in top gear for as long as possible. PROBAR uses an organic, gluten-free energy chew to provide you with the carbs you need quickly. The packaging is easy to open, and the snack can be eaten quickly with one hand if needed. Some might compare them directly to gummy candies, which they are not far from, but with an easier to measure energy chew, you can optimize your intake of sugars and carbs to your actual output for someone like an ultramarathoner, or just a hunter that needs an energy boost. As a quick science aside, in this study, merely swishing a high carbohydrate substance in the mouth while doing athletic work, the cyclists reported a 5% reduced rate of perceived exhaustion. In simple terms, even if you chew these up and spit them out, your body reacts to the carbs by helping you feel like you’re doing less work. This is a medium noisy snack, and can be eaten quietly, but is definitely not silent.
Ketone Bar
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Ketone Bar (12 X 60g) | Keto Bars with All Natural...
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- TRULY KETOGENIC: Verified 100% ketogenic by blood ketone meter...
- 3.1g NET CARBS PER BAR & ZERO SUGAR: Very low net carbs, zero...
- ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Only natural and health promoting high...
- REMOVES SUGAR & CARB CRAVINGS: Contains Ketosource Pure C8 MCT...
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- TRULY KETOGENIC: Verified 100% ketogenic by blood ketone meter...
- 3.1g NET CARBS PER BAR & ZERO SUGAR: Very low net carbs, zero...
- ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS: Only natural and health promoting high...
- REMOVES SUGAR & CARB CRAVINGS: Contains Ketosource Pure C8 MCT...
Keto diets are a great way to keep your body fueled during long term trips, but it’s a hard diet to stick with current food offerings. Many runners, hikers, and outdoor folks have been using keto diets to provide them with long term energy using fats instead of carbohydrates, however, if you consume too many carbs, the athlete will come out of ketosis, and feel awful. Natural Ingredients has produced a keto-friendly energy bar that will keep you in ketosis but also gives you a quick and easy snack to peel open in the middle of a hike or hunt. Using all-natural ingredients, you, can be sure that this is not only good for your body but also keeps you on track for ketones. These wrappers are relatively noisy, but not nearly as noisy as the KIND bars mentioned earlier.
Thunderbird Energetica
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THUNDERBIRD ENERGETICA Bar Hemp Walnut Bar 15 Ct, 1.7 OZ
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- Thunderbird Energetica Bars Box Of 15 : Thunderbird Energetica...
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- Thunderbird Energetica Bars Box Of 15 : Thunderbird Energetica...
Caffeine is one of the most potent performance-enhancing drugs available to everyone. The Australian Institute of Sport has classified caffeine as one of the most effective substances that are legal to use and improve your athletic performance. Anyone that has gone on an early morning hike or started off a morning of hunting has felt that hankering for a cup of joe. This energy bar will take care of your caffeine needs while removing the need for you to brew up a cup of joe in the dark near the tent while you could be sleeping. Featuring organic ingredients as well as 50mg of caffeine (as much as 1.5 cups of coffee), this bar is healthy for your body as well as a great way to start off an outing. Take some care to not overdo it though, knocking an arrow or keeping your sights on target may be tough with shaky hands! These wrappers are fairly quiet and can be done correctly for your first few minutes in camp.
Parting Shots…
What snack you choose really comes down to what type of situation you may find yourself in. If you’re going on an established hiking trail a few KIND Bars will do the trick. If you’re going to go on a four-day trek then I would recommend an MRE because it packs a lot of calories in a compact package allow you to bring multiple meals.
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