Best Hiking Snacks

Long hikes take a toll on your body and mind, but having the best hiking snacks can help you refuel and reset for the remainder of the journey. The problem is, people reach for the wrong kinds of snacks - which can completely backfire and leave you worse off.

We get it, because we’ve been there. So, we decided to create this guide covering the best snacks for hiking. From classics like trail mix and jerky to homemade energy balls, innovative electrolyte gummies, nut butter, and more - there are so many great options to choose from.

But the best healthy hiking snacks for energy, flavor, and sustainability are just a few clicks away at Carnivore Snax. Our meat chips are one-of-a-kind. Packed with protein and healthy fats without any junk. That’s because they’re made from just meat and salt, nothing else.

With hundreds of thousands of five-star reviews, it’s clear these are among the best snacks to take hiking - and you don’t just have to take our word for it. Learn more about our carnivore chips and set yourself up for success on any trail today. 

“The flavor is incomparable to any other form of dried-meat snacks. I love introducing it to friends. I love opening a new bag. I love the texture, flavors, and sustenance. Bring it on road trips, backpacking/hiking trips. There is nothing like being tired from covering miles and miles and biting into the Carnivore Snax Pork Loin.” - Matt

“I am a protein junkie… could live off of meat and jerky no problem, so I’ve tried MANY MANY brands of jerky and there is NO COMPARISON! Carnivore Snax tops them all!!! I’m addicted!” - Dusty

“I love these snacks and believe me when I tell you it is not jerky. Once you open up that bag for the first time and you have a bite of the ribeye or the New York strip, you’re gonna be amazed and you’re going to wish you have ordered more.” - Luis

Why You Need the Best Healthy Hiking Snacks

We know what you’re thinking…why can’t I just grab the first protein bar or pack of trail mix I find at the local convenience store? Any seasoned hiker knows that a good hiking snacks can make or break your time on the trail. 

The right foods keep your energy steady, your focus sharp, and your mood high when the miles start to stack up. The opposite is true, though. Poor choices such as sugary bars or heavy, greasy foods lead to crashes, dehydration, or sluggish legs halfway through the day.

The best hiking snacks are light to carry, hold up to the elements, and fuel your body with a steady mix of carbs, fat, and protein. We’ll help you narrow it down to the best snacks for hiking below!

Tips on Choosing the Best Hiking Snacks

Part of what makes choosing the best healthy hiking snacks tricky is that not every adventure calls for the same nutrition.  What you bring should match the trail ahead, the weather, and a few other variables. Here’s what you need to consider in choosing the best hiking snacks.

How Long is the Hike?

Short hikes (under two hours) call for fast, light fuel. That might mean fruit, trail mix, or a protein bar. Longer treks, though, mean you need calorie-dense foods that won’t weigh you down - but do provide real sustenance. 

How Difficult is the Trail?

Steep elevation climbs or rough terrain burn through energy faster than flat, easy trails. That goes without saying. The tougher the hike, the more balanced your snacks should be. You need to carefully combine quick carbs with slow-digesting fats and proteins for sustained endurance.

What’s the Weather Like?

Hot days demand hydration and electrolytes to replace salt lost through sweat. Cold-weather hikes favor higher-fat snacks for long-lasting warmth and energy. 

But you also need to think more carefully about shelf-stability when temperatures begin climbing. Either way, aim for foods that won’t melt, spoil, or freeze solid.

Other Boxes to Check

There are so many little nuances people don’t think about until they’re out on the trail and realize they made a poor choice. A few parting words of advice before we get into our list of the best snacks for hiking - snacks should:

• Be easy to open with one hand.
• Resist crumbling up inside your pack.
• Not attract wildlife with strong smells.
• Have resealable packaging/minimal waste.
• Be made from simple ingredients.

All that being said, we’ve come up with a list of the best healthy hiking snacks below!

What Are the Best Snacks for Hiking?

You have plenty of options if you’re not sure what to pack for an upcoming hike. But there’s really no need to overcomplicate things. We could cut this list of the best hiking snacks short and just introduce you to Carnivore Snax - the most nutritious, tasty snack for hikers!

Carnivore Snax Meat Chips

Most hikers pack jerky, nuts, or bars, but few realize how much filler, sugar, and preservatives those snacks bring along. Carnivore Snax strips all that away and only gives you what you need. 

Each chip is made from just two ingredients: regeneratively raised meat and salt. Nothing more. You get a clean, shelf-stable snack that delivers real protein and fat for lasting fuel. They’re crisp at first, but then very decadent as they melt in your mouth and give way to tantalizing flavors.

What makes Carnivore Snax really exceptional is how every cut offers a distinct experience:

• Ribeye Chips: Rich marbling gives them a buttery flavor and satisfying crunch that feels like a treat after hours of steady climbing.
• Brisket Chips: Smoky, bold, and layered with natural fat, these chips provide slow, steady energy for long-haul hikes.
• Steak Chips: The most balanced cut - savory, lean, and easy to munch mid-stride without slowing down.
• Pork Chips: Hearty and crispy, perfect for those who want variety beyond beef without sacrificing flavor.
• Lamb Chips: Earthy and slightly sweet, a high-protein option with a flavor that feels almost gourmet in the wilderness.

Each bag is resealable, lightweight, and durable enough to survive a weeklong trek. No refrigeration, mess, or wasted space. They’re quite literally everything you could ask for in a snack for hiking. 

Whether you’re climbing switchbacks or stopping for lunch with a view, Carnivore Snax delivers clean energy that keeps you strong from trailhead to summit. Get the best hiking snacks today!

Nuts, Seeds, and Trail Mix

Trail mix is the unofficial snack currency of hiking for a reason. It’s simple, compact, and adaptable. A good blend covers your bases: healthy fats from nuts, protein from seeds, and quick sugar from dried fruit. 

The best hiking snacks could include a mix of almonds, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries for something salty-sweet. Or, you could go savory with cashews, pistachios, and toasted coconut flakes. 

There are no right or wrong answers. Just skip the candy-coated bits - they melt fast and add empty calories. A handful every hour or so keeps your energy even without feeling weighed down. 

Electrolyte Chews / Gummies

These are the best snacks for hiking in hot weather. Electrolyte chews replace sodium and potassium lost through sweat and give you a mild sugar boost without resorting to soda or candy. Think of them as bite-sized hydration.

Choose options with natural ingredients and moderate caffeine if you like an energy lift. They’re not meant to replace water, but a couple of chews can make hydration easier and keep your muscles firing properly when the sun’s beating down and your water tastes flat.

Dried Fruit and Fruit Leathers

Dried fruit hits the spot when you’re craving something sweet and refreshing. Mango, pineapple, and apricots are loaded with natural sugars that digest fast and give you a mental lift on a long stretch of trail.

Fruit leathers are an even cleaner option. They’re light, flat, and mess-free. We consider them some of the best hiking snacks when fresh fruit isn’t practical or you need a fast carb bump without stopping for lunch.

Just pair them with something protein-rich like Carnivore Snax or nuts to avoid a quick energy drop later. You also need to make sure you keep them sealed tight in the heat. They can get sticky fast.

Cheese Sticks or Hard Cheeses

A bit of cheese on the trail feels like luxury in the wild. String cheese works fine for short day hikes, but harder cheeses like aged cheddar, gouda, or manchego handle longer trips better.

Slice them at home into small, bite-sized chunks and store them in wax paper or a hard container. They pair perfectly with crackers, jerky, or even fruit for a mini trail “charcuterie.”

Cheese provides protein, fat, and salt - the three things your body actually needs after a few miles of climbing. One word of caution: keep it out of direct sun to avoid a sweaty mess. These are only the best snacks for hiking on short trails for that reason.

Crackers and Whole-Grain Snacks

Crackers don’t sound exciting until you’re halfway through a hike and want something crunchy and salty. Whole-grain or seeded options with fiber and minerals help you feel full longer than standard saltines. They may not be quite as flavorful or exciting, but they are more functional.

They’re great for pairing. Spread nut butter, stack cheese, or crumble them into trail mix for texture. The key is picking crackers that won’t disintegrate in your pack - easier said than done, of course. Dense varieties like rye crisps or baked pita chips hold up better than thin, flaky ones.

Nut Butter Packets

Nut butter packets are some of the best hiking snacks for instant fuel. They’re compact, shelf-stable, and satisfying - what more could you ask for? One squeeze gives you protein, healthy fat, and calories that stick with you for hours.

Almond, peanut, and cashew butters all work, but the best versions use just nuts and salt, no added oils or sugar. You can squeeze them straight or pair with apple slices or whole-grain crackers for a quick trail meal that combines multiple of the best snacks for hiking.

Keep a couple of packets in an inside pocket on cold days so they stay soft enough to squeeze. They’re small, but they deliver big when hunger hits.

Fresh Fruit (Apples, Oranges, Grapes)

We talked about dry fruit earlier, but fresh fruits are also among the best healthy hiking snacks. Apples and oranges, in particular, are trail favorites because they’re sturdy, refreshing, and come with built-in packaging. Grapes are great for day hikes if kept cool as well. They hydrate while satisfying a sweet craving.

Fruit gives you natural electrolytes and fiber that keep your digestion on track after eating heavier foods like jerky or cheese. The trick is avoiding fruit that bruises easily, which means bananas and berries are usually not a great choice. 

Dark Chocolate or Cacao Nibs

No, you should not load up on candy or sweets on the trail. However, dark chocolate or cacao nibs are certainly some of the best hiking snacks in the right context! 

Think of these like rewards mid-hike. Dark chocolate gives you a mild caffeine kick, while the fats provide slow energy release. Choose a higher cocoa percentage (70% or more) so it holds up better in warm weather and has more of the good stuff, less of the junk.

Cacao nibs are an even better option because they don’t melt as easily. You can add them to trail mix for crunch and flavor. Either way, a little goes a long way. Remember, too much sugar can backfire!

Protein Bars or Energy Bars

Protein or energy bars are the most efficient fix when time’s tight and hunger hits. The trick is finding ones that aren’t just candy bars in disguise, which is no easy feat.

Look for simple ingredients such as nuts, seeds, oats, and natural sweeteners like honey. A good bar should have at least 10 grams of protein and a balance of carbs and fats to keep you fueled. The more, the better.

They’re great for lunch on the go, and you can eat them with one hand while moving. The only real drawback: some bars get too hard in the cold or sticky in the heat, so pack them strategically. Or better yet, go with Carnivore Snax as a smarter alternative to protein bars.

Energy Balls / Bites

Energy balls give you the freedom to tailor your fuel. Most recipes combine oats, nut butter, honey, and add-ins like chia seeds or dried fruit. That’s the beauty here - you can tweak them for taste or nutrition!

They’re compact, portion-controlled, and easy to eat without stopping. The texture stays chewy rather than hard, perfect for quick mid-hike bites. You can roll them at home and coat them with coconut or protein powder to prevent sticking. Store in parchment or a reusable container.

Jerky or Biltong

Meat-based snacks shine when you need real substance on the trail. Jerky and biltong deliver lean protein that repairs muscle and staves off fatigue. 

The key difference? Jerky is cooked and often tougher, while biltong is air-dried and softer to chew. Both pack flavor and longevity, but look for versions without added sugar or nitrates. That’s the big caveat here that can make these the best hiking snacks or a hindrance. 

The right jerky/biltong can be a great companion to nuts or cheese for a balanced snack break. But the truth is, nothing will be the same once you try our beef jerky alternative. You’ll never go back to looking at basic jerky or biltong the same!

Final Words on the Best Hiking Snacks

Good snacks keep you hiking longer, stronger, and happier. From quick bites that lift your energy mid-climb to high-protein staples that help you recover between peaks, the right mix makes the difference between dragging your feet and finishing strong.

While you have no shortage of options, the best snacks for hiking are right here waiting for you at Carnivore Snax. You get plenty of protein and fats with no junk. They taste amazing, too!

They’re not just the best hiking snacks - they’re the best hunting snacks, the best fishing snacks, the best snacks for kayaking, and even just great for enjoying at home when you want a quick bite.

Stock your pack and feel the difference real fuel makes. Keep your next hike clean, light, and powerful with Carnivore Snax!