Backpacking Food is Boring!

Backpacking food gets boring fast. Ramen, bars, instant meals… day after day. On longer hikes, that boredom can lead to under-eating, low energy, and poor recovery. In this video, I share what I learned after hundreds of miles on trail and how I upgraded my backpacking food without adding weight or complexity. I’ll walk through why trail food gets repetitive, the hidden cost of boring meals, and simple ways to make backpacking food more enjoyable and effective. This isn’t about gourmet cooking — it’s about variety, texture, recovery, and actually looking forward to eating on trail. If you’re planning a long hike or just tired of the same old backpacking meals, this approach can make a real difference. One resource that helped me rethink trail food is Backcountry Foodie. It’s built by a long-distance hiker and nutritionist and focuses on simple, trail-friendly meals that actually taste good and support recovery. 👉 Check out Backcountry Foodie here: https://backcountryfoodie.com/aff/73/ 20% off Discount Code: COLBYONTHETRAIL ---------------------------------------------------------- P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It helps support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! ---------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Support the Channel: Venmo: @colbyonthetrail ---------------------------------------------------------- Discount Codes: Tell Your Trail 12% off: ColbyontheTrail12 https://tellyourtrail.com/?ref=ColbyontheTrail12 Hilltop Packs 10% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://hilltoppacks.com/colbyonthetrail Backcountry Foodie 20% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://backcountryfoodie.com/aff/73/ ---------------------------------------------------------- My Favorite Gear: Sleeping Pad: https://amzn.to/4kLxv71 Titanium 750ml Pot: https://amzn.to/4kWEk5t Ultralight Stove: https://amzn.to/4kUKbbr Water Filter: https://amzn.to/4o45itc Ultralight Trowel: https://amzn.to/4iaU7Mr Summit Suds Powdered Soap: https://amzn.to/3FyXOgx Unpaste Toothpaste Tablets: https://amzn.to/3DUGIJh Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie: https://amzn.to/4iay6gG Nike Men's Challenger Dri-fit 5" Lined Running Shorts: https://amzn.to/4kq1S2B Garmin inReach Mini 2: https://amzn.to/4kAYVML inCharge XL 6-in-1 Multi Charging Cable: https://amzn.to/41QdkMh Camera Gear: Camera Gear: DJI Pocket Osmo 3: https://amzn.to/3QVjNRi DJI Osmo Action 6 : https://amzn.to/4axDqtE Insta360 X5: https://amzn.to/4qm7qOw Sony A6700: https://amzn.to/4qkKwa5 Sony G Master 15mm f1.4 Lens: https://amzn.to/4b7pyX9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 – Backpacking Food Is Boring 0:39 – Does This Sound Familiar? 1:14 – Why Backpackers Eat the Same Food 2:29 – The Hidden Cost of Boring Trail Food 3:47 – What I’ve Tried (And What Didn’t Work) 5:30 – A Better Way to Eat on Trail 6:21 – Backcountry Foodie (Meal Planning Resource) 7:32 – Simple Tips to Make Trail Food Better 10:21 – Final Thoughts ---------------------------------------------------------- #hiking #thruhiking #backpacking