Hiking

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How To Choose Your Energy Food & Drinks

Hikers and back packers use up lots of energy, it’s hard work hiking on or off trail with a back pack, so it stands to reason that they need to take plenty of energy food and drinks along with them for a regular boost. These days there’s a great choice of quick and easy energy food and drinks to help keep your energy levels and your performance at its peak.

Energy Foods & Drinks – How Are They Different From a Normal Snack

A range of specially developed energy food or drink for hikers, cyclists, climbers, runners and anybody else who  likes to challenge the great outdoors can offer benefits which your more traditional snacks just cannot match.

• Energy foods & drinks are easy to carry about in your pocket or backpack, we all know that bananas are great sources of energy but they also get rather squished in the average pack and quickly become, shall we say, not very appealing.
• Energy foods & drinks can keep for ages. You don’t have to worry about refrigeration or special conditions for keeping them fresh . . . they’re all packed up and ready for whenever you need them.
• Energy foods & drinks are easy to digest, so you can munch away happily whilst your hiking without giving yourself a bout of indigestion.
• Energy foods & drinks are so convenient, just unwrap the pack and enjoy whenever and wherever you need that boost.

Types of Energy Foods Available

Energy Bars Helping To Keep Hikers Hiking

Hikers Energy Bars are probably the most popular type of snack boost amongst hikers and backpackers. They’re so handy to pop in your backpack and chew on whenever you feel the need. They’re usually high in carbohydrate content but low in fat and protein, that’s the bought ones anyway, or alternatively there are some great recipes for you to make your own . . .

Mmmm, sounds good, full of lots of my favorite things!

Energy bars are not intended to replace a meal, they’re just a quick, easy and tasty way to give your energy levels a boost whilst you’re hiking!  Here’s a tip for you . . . hiking energy bars are often chewy and dense, so you need to drink lots of water whilst you’re eating your energy bar to make it more easily digestible.

Energy Gels

Energy gels are another popular method for hikers, cyclists, runners and paddlers to get a quick fix . . . highly concentrated syrups with lots of carbs, perfect to deliver a really quick fix of easily digestible energy. You can sip them on the go without any problem at all, and some of the flavors are totally irresistible, chocolate, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, mocha,  honey . . . They are available in small pouches, easy to carry (only a couple of ounces at most) and there are even some which are suitable for diabetics.

Squeeze out all of that goo, sounds disgusting but can offer a real boost when you’re hiking or backpacking.

Energy Chews and Bites

Energy gels have a terrific variety of flavors to suit most tastes, but still, not every hiker finds the thick texture of the gel that appealing, so if the consistency of an energy gel turns you off, maybe you could be turned on by a pack of chews and bites. Hiking candy . . . . Some have the same “chewability” as jelly beans, some are more “gummy bear” but they’re all delicious and provide the same type of energy boost as the energy gels. Perfect for sharing so don’t keep them all to yourself, but don’t pinch all of the red ones, they’re my favorite!

Sports Drinks for an Energy Boost While Hiking

Sports drinks can give you energy too, although hikers and backpackers on an overnight trip might find them a little heavy and bulky to take along with them, you can get a boost from lightweight energy bars and chews and bites with a drink of water (even if you take some sports drinks along with you on your hike you’ll still need to carry lots of water in your backpack or hydration pack).

One way to combat the weight of a sports energy drink is to use them in powder or tablet form, this way you can slip a little into your hydration system and drip feed yourself with energy throughout your hike. 

So often it’s the simplest ideas which are the greatest don’t you think . . . great tip dude, cheers!