Every VEGAN backpacking food option I can find

I’ve been vegetarian for a year now and I’ve been toeing that vegan line for the better part of 6 months. I went backpacking this past weekend for the first time as a vegetarian and brought almost completely vegan food with me.

A plethora of people have asked me, “How will you possibly be able to thru-hike as a vegan?” (yes I’m eyeing the PCT). Obviously, most of those people weren’t vegan. It’s possible, plenty of thru-hikers have already proven that.

This list was formulated specifically with the thru-hiker in mind. If you have a dehydrator at home or time and space to prepare, you have a lot more options than this!

Here is every option I could think of that does not include prepared meals (like Backpacker’s Pantry, Good to Go, Outdoor Herbivore, Patagonia Provisions, Backpacker’s Bistro, or Alpineaire). I created this list for planning, for that time you get stuck while resupplying at a gas station, for your Trader Joe’s run, or just for ideas.

If this list is too overwhelming, stay tuned next week to check out the broken-down list of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts!

Proteins (aside from bars, nuts, and seeds)

• Fresh Spinach

• Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)

• Tofu, Field Roast, or Tofurkey

• Vegan Protein Powder (I prefer Vivo Life or Shakeology but Vega is good and easier to find)

• Precooked beans or Dehydrated Beans (Santa Fe Bean Co, Taste Adventure, Fantastic Food)

  • These often come in a plastic or foil package like tuna and can be with liquid or dehydrated.

  • You can find refried, black, lentil, or pintos

• Dried Tofu

Starches

• Minute Rice

• CousCous

• Noodles

• ramen (Oriental or Chili Flavor or just don’t use the seasoning packet)

• Korean noodles

• Pasta

• Mac + Cheese (Earth Balance or Annie’s Vegan)

• Tortillas (corn or flour)

• Naan or Pita

• Bread

• Bagels (Thomas brand)

• Oatmeal

• Plain Instant Mashed Potatoes

Snacks

• Bars

  • Lärabars

  • Probars

  • Clifbars

  • Complete Cookies

  • Picky bars

  • Belvita

  • Nature Valley

  • PowerBar Plant Protein

  • GoMacro Macrobar

  • Kind

  • Odwalla

  • That’s It

  • Peak Sherpa Energy Bites

• Nuts + Seeds + Dried Fruits

  • Fun Fact: making your own trail mix is cheaper by the ounce!

  • Nut Butter

  • Granola (Nature’s Path , Cascadian Farm Organic, Bulk Bins)

• Sweets

  • Candy

  • Sweetened Dried Fruit

  • Licorice or Strawberry Licorice (Twizzlers)

  • Fruit Leather or Fruit by the Foot

  • Swedish Fish

  • Sour Patch Kids

  • Cracker Jacks

  • Chocolate (Theo, Justin’s, Unreal)

  • Skittles

  • Cookies

  • Oreos

  • Nutter Butters

  • Thin Mints

  • TJ’s Maple Leaf

  • Speculos Cookies

  • Natures Path

  • Enjoy Life Brand

  • Emmy’s

  • Annie’s

  • Fig Newtons

  • Pop-Tarts

• Salty Things

  • Dried Chickpeas

  • Crackers or Chips

  • Chex Mix

  • Takis

  • Ritz

  • Stacy’s Pita Chips

  • Triscuits

  • Doritos

  • oyster crackers

  • pretzels

  • potato chips

  • Fritos

  • Sun Chips

  • Popcorn

  • Hippeas

  • Harvest Snaps

  • Wheat Thins

  • Corn Nuts

  • Olives or Pickles (You can find these in single serve packs now without the brine! They make great electrolytes)

  • Crunchy Dehydrated Veggies (these are also great to use in dinners!!)

  • Jerky (Louisville Jerky, Primal Spirit, Watermelon Road, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, Cocoburg, Unisoy)

Other

• Better Than Milk or Dehydrated Coconut Milk (this can be hard to find and BEWARE, a lot of dried coconut milks have cow’s milk in them as well so read the label!!)

• Dehydrated Soups (Harmony House, Taste Adventure or Thai Kitchen)

• Olive or Coconut Oil (usually can find in individual serving packs or bring a small bottle)

• Vegetable Bouillon Cubes (knorr)

• Gatorade or Crystal Light Mix

Brands

• Earth Balance

• Fantastic Foods

• Justin’s

• Unreal

• Peanut Butter & Co

• Wild Friends Nut Butter 

Protip:

If you ever get stuck resupplying at a gas station, let this Instagram be your guide.

 https://www.instagram.com/p/BwxeFNsgMgZ/

---

Well, that’s all folks! I hope that this list helps you pack for your next adventure! Stay tuned, I’ll be posting broken down lists of my favorite vegan breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on the trail as well as some recipes in the next few weeks!

Did I miss anything? Leave me your suggestions in the comments!

---

If you liked this, check out my other vegan backpacking food posts here!

---

Thanks to these sources for a few out of the box ideas that I didn’t think of!: 1, 2, 3, 4