Heading up into the mountains for a day hike, I know my blood glucose is the number one thing that will vary wildly on the trail, and most likely, it will drop at some point, so I always pack for it.
I always carry emergency glucose in my backpack, but it’s nice to have the lite stuff handy in my pockets for easy, quick access, so I can take care of the dropping glucose without having to stop the whole hiking party so I can rummage through my pack and dig out a snack.
A Few Things To Keep In Mind...
- Will it melt? Keep in mind it’s probably going to get hot in your pockets or even in your pack, so don’t select anything that can melt. Yep, that means No Chocolate! Sorry M&M’s will also melt. I know, I know, they’re my favourite too, but best to leave these at home in the fridge. This also means granola bars with chocolate chips can make delicious, chocolatey mess too.
- Be bear aware! …. [this really only applies to northern latitudes but best to be wildlife safe where possible anywhere in the outdoors] Bears can smell all the food items in our packs and our pockets. Not just bears, but also marmots, squirrels, coyotes, mice, bobcats, foxes, even birds. If it lives in the backcountry… it already knows what goodies you’re bringing. A bear can recognize the sound of a bag of Cheetos opening. If you’ve ever been on a hike and wondered if a bear can smell that PB&J sandwich you just opened… the answer is always YES. (and YUM!)
- Think small. These things should be pocket size. Anything larger than pocket size might have to hitch a ride in your pack, and we’re trying to minimize the pack size every chance we get. If larger items have to live in the car while you’re out on the hike, it could attract wildlife to the trailhead where the car is parked. Best to plan ahead, before leaving home.
- Am I leaving a trace? Some items might produce litter; the wrapper, inner wrapper(s), outer container, etc. Of course all this litter has to be packed out, and often times I’ll bring a small, pocket size zip-loc bag to keep these small litter items in check.
Some of these items are just what’s available in my location and may not be available in every country, but, there’s usually similar items found all over the world.
1.
Snack Size PayDay Bar
Peanut and caramel deliciousness that won’t melt in your pocket. Each one of these 20g mini bars has about 10g of carbs and 90 calories. Good slow-burning fuel for the trail, but may not have enough carbs to treat a trail-hypo.
Pros
- •good energy for hiking
- •won't melt
- •satiating and savoury
- •2 fit easy in the pocket
Cons
- •wrapper becomes waste
- •more than 3 can get bulky
- •some in the party may have allergy
- •that whole bear thing
2.
Starburst
Ever been out hiking on a hot day and have to stop every 5 minutes to re-hydrate your mouth? These will put a stop to that. Plus they supply a little bit of burnable glucose (about 4gms each) not much carb to recover from a low, but enough to sustain walking up a moderate trail.
Pros
- •won't melt
- •keeps mouth hydrated
- •handful fits in the pocket
- •variety of flavours
Cons
- •wrappers becomes waste
- •outer wrapper becomes more waste
- •not great if pockets are wet
The wrappers will become an issue after a few of these are enjoyed on the trek, so be sure to pack out the excess litter these produce.
See my comment at the end about bringing a ziploc bag for trail trash.
3.
Lifesavers
The ultimate in pocket size treats. Fit’s in just about any pocket, or if you don’t have pockets in your pants, you’ll be sure to find s space for these beauties in the outer pockets of your pack. Each individual piece has 2.8g of carbs (unless you get the sugar free variety, but why?)
Be sure to remove from your pockets when camping (ants)
And if hiking on a rainy day, stow them in a small ziploc bag to avoid a sticky mess.
Pros
- •pocket size
- •won't melt
- •keeps mouth hydrated
- •no inner wrappers
- •large variety of flavours
Cons
- •outer wrapper becomes waste
- •may become a sticky mess if wet
No inner wrappers,
just pop one an go.
Or, go with a whole handful at once.
4.
Sport Beans
Made by Jelly Belly, yes the same maker as Jelly Beans. And while any flavour of Jelly Beans will do the job here, these “extreme” sport beans are made with sports performance in mind, which means they are fortified with electrolytes, cabs and vitamins. So they say.
Wether it’s just product marketing or there’s actual added benefits in these candies, for me, they are another trail treat that does the trick. Plus they come in a resealable pouch which is great for wet conditions.
Bonus: This particular variety has added caffeine for early morning hikes!
Pros
- •won't melt
- •keeps mouth hydrated
- •pocket size pouch
- •variety of flavours
- •resealable package
Cons
- •outer wrapper becomes waste
Good to grab by the handful
5.
Sesame Crunch Candy
At my local markets, I often find random items like these sesame candies by Joyva. Individually wrapped little pocket-size treats about the size of a pinky finger, a whole bunch of these (8-10) can fit in a pocket, and they’re great for a treat on the trail. Anything with a good fat content will provide good hiking energy, and sesame seeds are no exception. Couple that with the honey/sugar content and this hi-octane combo is a winner for me!
Carry in a ziploc bag if conditions are wet.
Seal tightly when camping (ants)
Pros
- •good pocket size
- •won't melt
- •high fat energy
Cons
- •wrappers become waste
- •package not water resistant
6.
Energy Gels
There’s a strong divide of people that either love these things or hate them. Mostly because of the texture. For me, however, these are my go-to low glucose rescue. Not so much as a treat, but more of necessity in emergency low BG situations. One or two of these gels are always in my pockets. (and another 4 or 5 in my pack) Quantities will vary based on brand or flavour, but each pack has roughly 20g of quick acting carbs. Perfect for situations where the blood sugar is running a wee bit low, and there’s a steep section coming up on the trail.
Pros
- •won't melt
- •20g quick acting glucose
- •pocket size
- •variety of flavours
- •safe in wet or dry conditions
Cons
- •wrappers becomes waste
- •pack can burst if squished
- •not all flavours are good
And, in case anyone was wondering, this is my favourite flavour, and favourite brand of energy gel.
Nocciola (tastes like nutella)
Hazlenut chocolatey goodness, by Hammer Nutrition.
All natural ingredients that won’t mess with your stomach like others do, I’ve arrived at this one being my favourite flavour and texture after trying lots and lots of them.
One Last Thing
Pack it in . . . Pack it out
I try to be a good steward for the outdoors by bringing an empty ziploc bag along in my pocket or pack while hiking. it’s the easiest way to pack out waste I may produce in the backcountry.
Learn more about “Leave No Trace” here at LNT.org
These are just a few of the trail treats that have proven to work well for me over the years.
Let me know in the comment section below what other trail goodies I need to add to this list and let me know what your favourite trail treats are. Which ones would you recommend and which ones have been an epic disaster.