Red Nutrition

Gels and chews are best for short, intense efforts because they deliver quick carbs you can consume without stopping. For longer climbs or a day of sustained exertion pick calorie-dense bars like a ProBar (about 390 calories) or single-serve 100g bars to keep pack weight low.

Freeze-dried meals are ideal for multi-day trips since many are just-add-water and come in tough foil pouches that resist crushing. Mountain House options, including Pro-Pak meals, offer high-protein servings and the Backcountry Adventure Kit even comes with 36 Pro-Pak meals to simplify meal planning.

A full protein shake can be a compact recovery option—some 3.5-scoop servings deliver around 601 calories and roughly 52g of protein to help rebuild muscle. Mix the powder with water or milk for a fast, packable post-hunt meal replacement that saves space compared with bulky food.

Hydration mixes with electrolytes are useful in hot, dry conditions or at high altitude when you’re losing sodium and minerals through sweat and heavy respiration. Carry single-serve hydration packets so you can top up quickly mid-hike and avoid the extra bulk of heavy sports drinks.

Think about energy density and packaging first: high-fat items like nut butters or MCT-containing snacks pack more calories per ounce, and concentrated treats such as Phat Fudge (about 177 calories per ounce) beat bulkier options. Also consider dehydrated meals in foil pouches and bars with high calories per ounce—for example, ProBar Meal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip at around 130 calories/oz—to keep your pack light.