Trader Joe’s has some great snacks for hiking, backpacking, and climbing. I’m sharing my top snacks from Trader Joe’s I always try to have on hand so I’m ready to hit the trail.
Whenever we go to the grocery store, I like to pick up a few extra snackies to have on hand so if a road trip / backpacking / hiking opportunity arises, I’m ready to go at a moment’s notice. Quality hiking fuel is key to keeping energy high so you can focus on exploring!
Since we tend to do a lot of our personal shopping at Trader Joe’s, we’ve found a lot of great products made with high-quality and adventure-friendly ingredients. In honor of hitting the trail, here is a list of some of my favorite snacks to have on hand – never know when you’ll be headed to the mountain!
Trail Mix
Trader Joe’s makes some of my favorite trail mix for a long, strenuous hike. The Bazaar Basket Snack Mix is a unique blend of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors to satisfy trail cravings in one quick snack. A blend of almonds, sweet apricots, salty chickpeas, sour cherries & pistachios – not to mention 5g of protein per serving – it’s a delicious snack to munch by the handful.
Chomp Sticks
Beef Sticks are a great source of flavorful protein that will leave you feeling energized coming off any snack break. They’ll fix your salty craving and add some extra protein to your trek, minus the added nitrates and synthetic ingredients found in many other meat sticks.
Dried Fruit
Now you’ve got to believe me when I say I NEVER leave Trader Joe’s without a bag of these dried mangoes. And after trying them, you won’t either. They’re super flavorful and come in a small package, perfect for packing in a day bag. They run around $2/pack, which is a fraction of the price of dried mangoes at other stores.
While mangoes are my personal favorite, Trader Joe’s does not tread lightly in the dried fruit department. They have everything from dried pineapple, coconut, apples, bananas, apricots, blueberries, cherries- you name it! They even carry freeze-dried fruit if you are trying to watch your pack weight.
Protein Bar
If you plan to be on the mountain for more than a few hours, or if you are doing some substantial elevation gain, a protein bar is great fuel. While Trader Joe’s has quite the selection of protein bars, the Clif Bar comes in at number 1 for me. All bars offer different protein/carb ratios, meaning some have better textures than others. My go-to is usually Chocolate Brownie – they have 7g of protein per bar and are packed with complex carbs like granola and puffed rice. Other fav flavors include Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt, and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut!
CHEDDAR ROCKET CRACKERS
For long hikes, I always want some sort of cheesy snack. Trader Joe’s Cheddar Rocket Crackers are like goldfish but with a hint of cayenne pepper. They’re great for keeping you energized while on the trail and will keep you reaching for another handful.
Bonus: Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers
On a long hike, I always pack a little treat for the summit. I like to say my summit snack is energy for the way down; but really, its often my motivation for getting to the top 😉 While my husband usually reaches for a snickers bar at elevation, I’m a die-hard sour gummy fan. These Super Sour Scandinavian Swimmers have been a game-changer (and are nothing like the normal Scandinavian Swimmers, I might add) on long days and never cease to satisfy my sour craving.
A Few Hiking Snack Tips for the Road
Be Sure to Pack Enough Water
While packing enough snacks to fuel your hike is important, packing enough water is essential. Rationing water or running out of water, especially on a hot day, can turn a great day in nature into a not-so-good one real fast. As a general rule, pack .5 liter of water for every hour hiking, per person.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
If you are going to spend time in the great outdoors, be sure to leave it better than you found it. For these beautiful places to stay beautiful, pack out anything you pack in. The pack in, pack out principle means that everything you take into the wild should leave with you. Even if the items are biodegradable (like apple cores or banana peels) they will take years to decompose completely. It is good practice to bring an extra ziplock or reusable bag to keep all of your trash in, which you can usually drop in a trash can on your way out of the park/hiking area.
If you see someone else has left trash along the trail, add it to your pack-out bag and leave the wild looking better than you found it.
Now that you know some of my favorite hiking snacks from Trader Joe’s, you are ready to tackle your own adventure! Grab these snacks on your next Trader Joe’s haul and let me know what hiking snack is your favorite!
Pingback: What To Pack for a Long Hike - The Granola Guide