The Best Food and Drinks for Hiking

Whether you are an avid hiker or just starting out, you need to be well prepared for the trail adventures ahead of you. Make sure you pack well and take the best foods and drinks for hiking trips.

What makes a food good for hiking? Look for hiking foods and beverages that are lightweight, shelf-stable, and calorie dense, and that will keep you energized and invigorated. Check out some of our favorites that will help you to get the most out of your hiking odysseys: 

How to Stay Hydrated While Hiking

Besides getting lost, there are few things more important while hiking than staying hydrated. Check out some great ways to stay hydrated, while earning Fetch bonus points for free gift cards.

Water 

One of the best drinks for hiking is good ole, plain water. It is recommended to drink 4 ounces of H2O every, 10 to 15 minutes, to stay hydrated on normal, mild weathered days. If it happens to be hot, humid, or at an extreme elevation, double your water intake to 8 ounces.

Fetch Pro-Tip: Get bonus points on bottled water brands like Aquafina, Propel, LIFEWATR, and more

Gatorade 

If you are looking for the best electrolyte drink for hiking, Gatorade has been an electrolyte-replenishing staple. Gatorade was created in 1965 by a team of scientists, with the goal of helping athletes stay hydrated and boost their performance. Today, Gatorade comes in over 23 different flavors, and can be found in over 80 countries. A bonus: Gatorade is also one of the best drinks for high-altitude hiking.  

Made with 100% clean ingredients, Larabar has been a hiker’s companion since it launched in 2003. Lara Merriken, an avid hiker herself, started the company with the intention to make natural foods fun and delicious, after being inspired during a hike in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Starting off with 4 flavors (Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Cashew Cookie, and Cocoa Coconut Chew), LÄRABAR now has over 30 varieties and flavors. 

Health Warrior Bars 

Variety is the spice of life, so we have one more bar to add to the list. Gluten-free and non-GMO Health Warrior bars come feature chia seeds or pumpkin seeds, and use healthy ingredients to keep you on the go. With only 100 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of sugar, per bar, Healthy Warrior is a great choice for people that count calories or want to eat less sugar.

Breakfast Foods for Hiking

Start your hike of right with a healthy and balanced breakfast. We earmarked a few breakfast classics that will provide the nutrition and energy that you need to navigate the trails.

Quaker Instant Oatmeal 

Perfect for a quick and healthy breakfast before a hike, Quaker Instant Oatmeal is inexpensive, easily packaged in single serving packets, and can be dressed up or down with dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and nut butter. Made with 100% whole grains, the flavor variety pack comes in Apples & Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon & Spice. Be sure to start your hike off right with a healthy and balanced breakfast featuring Quaker Instant Oatmeal.

Fetch Pro-Tips: Check out Oatmeal Crisp cereal for a combo of these breakfast favorites, and get bonus points

For more healthy pre-hiking breakfast options, join the General Mills Good Rewards program to get thousands of extra points on your breakfast purchases

Fruits and Veggies for Hiking

Fresh fruits and veggies are a great way to pre-game for a day of hiking, but what if you want some for the trail too? Check out some of our portable fruit and veggie options that are perfect for hiking.

Freeze Dried Fruits 

Light and easy to pack, freeze-dried fruits are one of the best foods for day hiking, as they will give you a healthy allotment of fiber, nutrients, and natural sugar. Try freeze-dried apples, bananas, blueberries, oranges, and even fruits like lychee and rambutan for a healthy energy boost.

Off the Eaten Path Veggie Crisps 

Another healthy, non-GMO and gluten-free option – Off the Eaten Path Veggie crisps are made with real green peas and black beans, making them 100% plant-based, and packed with flavor and nutrients. No artificial colors, preservatives or flavors have been added, and Kosher certified.

Fetch Pro-Tip: With Fetch, you can get 10 extra points for every dollar spent on Off the Eaten Path Veggie Crisps

The Best Hiking Snacks

Portability and nutrition are essential for good hiking snacks. Check out some of our favorites and learn how to save money on hiking snacks by earning extra points.

Nut Harvest Snacks 

Trail mix is one of the best foods for hiking because it’s easy to carry and provides a healthy energy boost. Reach for a handful of Nut Harvest Snack, for a deluxe mixed nuts, honey roasted nuts, lightly roasted almonds, chocolate mixed nuts, or chili-lime flavored almonds, before your next hiking adventure. No matter which flavors you choose, you can’t go wrong with this classic hiking food.

Smartfood Organic Air Popped Popcorn  

Made with 100% whole grain, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and all the rich flavors of what popcorn should be, this is a great light snack for the hiking trail.

Sunchips 

Sunchips’ whole grain chips are a healthier snack chip alternative and a solid choice for casual hikers and picnickers. Sunchips come in yummy flavors like harvest cheddar, garden salsa, chili lime, and French onion, and have fewer calories and fat than standard chips. 

Rold Gold Original Pretzels 

Snack pretzels are easy to transport, shelf-stable, and a classic, beloved snack. Rold Gold baked pretzels deliver the perfect amount of carbs, crunch, and saltiness if you need a quick surge of carbs while hiking.

Stacey’s Baked Pita Chips 

Light, airy Stacey’s Pits Chips can be easily packed in a backpack for a hike. They are perfect if you enjoy natural flavors like garlic & herbs, parmesan with rosemary, Romano with garlic & pepper, and white cheddar with jalapeños. 

Download the App Before Your Next Hike

The more money that you save on hiking food and drinks, the more that you can afford the time to hike and have fun. If you haven’t yet, download the Fetch Rewards app to earn points from your hiking purchases, which you can redeem for free gift cards. You can even get free gift cards for retailers like Adidas, Columbia, L.L. Bean, Athleta, and more, which you can use to buy new hiking clothes and equipment.

Let Fetch Rewards help you get everything that you need for your next hiking adventure! Click the buttons below or scan the QR code with your smartphone’s camera to get started.