Food Ultralight backpacking

a common variety of trail mix made out of peanuts, raisins, , candy coated chocolate, around 4.8 kcal/gram

once big 3 , water resolved, food becomes biggest contributor pack weight , area substantial gains on traditional backpacking can made.

the basal metabolic rate requirement of food calories (one food calorie 1000 heat calories, labelled kcal) approximately 1000 per day per 100 pounds of body weight. exertion in form of hiking consumes additional calories; example standard army field ration 4500 kcal per day strenuous work. depending upon type of food average hiker carries, hiker requires approximately 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) of food per day. ultralight techniques can substantially reduce weight, jardine suggests 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) per day thru-hiking, jordan suggests 1.25 pounds (0.57 kg) per day (at 125 calories per ounce, 4.4 calories per gram) 3-season 3-day backpack.

many foods can dried or dehydrated reduce water weight. dehydrated meals can purchased or dehydrated @ home. on trail, rehydration can typically performed cooking in hot water. ultralight hikers reduce weight not carrying stove , rehydrating food in container water (although method requires more time rehydrate traditional cooking method). example, ramen noodles, dehydrated refried beans (in powdered form), or dehydrated hummus can put in ziploc bag or lightweight microwave disposable plastic container water rehydrate. oats (groats or rolled, granola or muesli) , barley become soft enough soaking eat uncooked raw food. tsampa simple, bland , lightweight dish made flour used centuries wandering tibetan monks.

weight in form of food can reduced choosing foods have highest ratio of calories per weight. proteins , carbohydrates have approximately 4 kcal per gram whereas fat has 9 kcal per gram, carrying foods high in fat content can reduce weight, such as:

peanut butter (5.89 kcal/gram)
nuts (pecans 6.87 kcal/gram, toasted coconut 5.92 kcal/gram)
pemican (5.7 kcal/gram)
dried whole egg (5.92 kcal/gram)

clarified butter (anhydrous), stores unrefrigerated, pure fat (8.76 kcal/gram), 4,000 kcal per pound; however, potent bear attractant.

energy bars on average contain more protein , carbohydrates fat, similar fig newton (3.68 kcal/gram), lowers calorie weight ratio relative other choices.