The 6 Best Backpacking Meal Brands for Crave-Worthy Trailside Feasts
We tried every dehydrated dinner to find the ones you'll actually look forward to eating.
Stoves & Cookware
Our gear experts field test the latest stoves and cookware to help you select the best portable, lightweight canister and liquid-fuel stoves and the best camp utensils, pots, and pans for your next backpacking excursion.
Your Next Unlikely Ultralight Essential: A Teapot
Why would a lightweight backpacker willingly add a kettle to their load? Backpacker Editor-in-Chief Adam Roy makes his case for his new favorite swap.
Latest in Stoves & Cookware
Does Toaks’ New Canister Stove Hit the Ultralight Sweet Spot?
It’s cheap, lightweight, and performs adequately in wind. Can it edge out the competition?
The Best Pots and Pans for Backcountry Cooking
Whether you're after a caffeinated alpine start or a lazy brunch, we’ve found the best cookware for your wild culinary adventures.
The 5 Best Stoves for Speedy Boil Times and Backcountry Feasts
From all-in-one systems to pocket-sized powerhouses, these are the best burners for whipping up a meal in the wilderness
Sponsored Content
First Look: The Improved Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System
Jetboil’s best-selling Fast Boil System just got even better with a one-step ignition and smart enhancements
Want a Better, Lighter Camp Stove Setup? Follow These Basic Rules
Wind screens and a slow burn are your best friends.
The Best (and Worst) Pumpkin Spice Trail Food, Ranked
We scoured grocery store shelves for pumpkin-flavored hiking snacks. Here are our favorites.
This Ultralight Wood Stove Can Outperform Your Favorite Gas Burner
With clever design, the LOFI stove brings ultralight efficiency to the humble wood burner.
This $1 Grocery Store Staple Has Saved Me Hundreds on Backpacking Meals
Long beloved by thru-hikers, Knorr Pasta and Rice Sides are a great option for any backpacker on a budget. It doesn't hurt that they taste good, either.
Move Over, Snickers: These Bougie Trail Snacks Are Our New Faves
On a long hike, Snickers, GORP, and instant coffee can start to become as draining as the miles. Here are five—admittedly fancy—alternatives we love.
5 Meals and Tools to Up Your Backcountry Cooking Game
Thirteen testers sampled 48 meals, snacks, and cooking implements. These five stayed in our packs.
5 Holiday-Flavored Hiking Snacks That Actually Taste Good
PSL energy gels? Why not?
What We’re Testing Now: Our Favorite New Bars, Gels, and Meals for the Trail
…including a Rice Krispie Treat for adults.
Our Favorite Post-Hike Cheap Beers for Fall
It’s back to the basics with these tried-and-true brews
Best Instant Mashed Potatoes for Camping, Ranked
What word better describes the perfect camping meal than "instant?"
A Meal Cozy Is the Camp Kitchen Essential You Didn’t Know You Needed
It weighs nothing, saves you time and fuel, and lets you enjoy a piping hot meal instead of a lukewarm one.
These Squishy Silicone Bowls Are the Perfect Camp Cookware
Why is our editor so in love with the Guyot Designs Squishy Bowls? They're easy to pack, insulating, and—best of all—indestructible.
In Praise of the Humble Pop-Tart, the Ultimate Backpacking Breakfast
Our hiking columnist has spent more than a quarter of the past four years on trail. Every morning out there, without fail, he eats another perfect packet of Pop-Tarts.
Does the Perfect Spork Exist? One Backpacker’s Epic Quest to Find Out.
From a gadget that’s a fork on one end and a spoon on the other to a titanium utensil that will survive the apocalypse, there are dozens of different sporks on the market. But which is the best?
The Ultimate Smokeless Fire Pit Showdown
Which of these popular aprés accessories burns brighter?
This Reusable Ziploc Bag Is Changing How I Cook in Camp
Goodbye clunky plastic containers and disposable packaging: This is how I'm rehydrating my meals from now on.
Swedish Fish Are the Ultimate Backpacking Candy
These little Scandanavian gummies have earned a permanent place in our packs. Why? Let us count the ways.
How the Pros Make Your Favorite Backpacking Meals
Hours of testing, tasting, and innovating goes into these freeze-dried pouches
These Post-Hike Drinks Skip the Booze, But Not the Satisfaction
Alcohol-free doesn't have to mean tasteless. These drinks satisfy your beer craving without the buzz.
We Put 23 Electrolyte Drinks to a Taste Test. Here Are the Best Ones.
Sure, these drink mixes are going to keep you hydrated. But which ones actually taste good?
The Best Dehydrated Macaroni and Cheese
Think all cheese delivery services taste the same? Not a chance.
The Best Backpacking Kitchen Gear of 2022
Feast-making cookware that won’t slow you down
This Is the Best Backpacking Food Money Can Buy
Stowaway Gourmet has changed the calculus for what a dehydrated meal can taste like.
Pouch Wars: The Best Dehydrated Backpacking Curry
Nine international spicy stews go head to head.
Pouch Wars: The Best Dehydrated Burrito Bowls
Which take on beans and rice deserves to end up on your tortilla?
Pouch Wars: The Best Dehydrated Backpacking Pasta
Nine meals were sampled. Only one was crowned king.
Build Out Your Camping Kitchen With This All-In-One Cookware Kit
The Stanley Full Kitchen Basecamp Cookset has everything you need to whip up an in-camp feast.
Pouch Wars: The Best Dehydrated Shepherd’s Pie
Only one rib-sticking potato mash took top marks.
The 5 Best Camping Stoves for Cooking Up Tasty Meals on the Trail
Fire up a backcountry meal to remember with these camp-friendly cookers.
Weekly Obsession: This Portable Pizza Oven Will Make You the Most Popular Person in Camp
The Ooni Koda bakes restaurant-quality pies in roughly 60 seconds.
Pouch Wars: The Best Dehydrated Backpacking Chili
Only one smoky bean bowl earned top marks.
What We’re Testing Now: A Well-Rounded Camp Stove For Hangry Hikers
The new Primus Lite XL has a host of updated features.
Weekly Obsession: This Stove Accessory Changed The Way I Cook Over a Campfire
This simple, packable accessory expanded my culinary horizons.
Build the Ultimate Camp Kitchen With These 5 Essential Pieces of Gear
Unless you’re looking to set a speed record, enjoying a proper meal al fresco can be one of the greatest joys of backpacking. Up your backcountry chef game with these five pieces of camp kitchen gear.
Deal of the Week: Gerber Devour Multi-Fork Three-Pack
Cover your camping utensil needs with this handy set.
Deal of the Week: Sea to Summit X Pot
This flat-packing pot is a dream for the organization-obsessed.
Fuel Up With an Energy Drink Mix That Actually Tastes Good
Get the electrolytes you need without overpowering your tastebuds.
This Camp Coffee Gear Will Make You a Backcountry Barista
Check out Corey Buhay's author page.
Primus Firestick
The lightest stove of 2021.
Sea to Summit Cool Grip X-Mug
The best multi-use mug of 2021.
Jetboil Stash
The best all-in-one kitchen of 2021.
Happy Yak Merry Berry Couscous
The best breakfast of 2021.
Brave Overnight Breakfast
The best no-cook breakfast of 2021.
Good To-Go Cuban Rice Bowl
The best vegetarian dinner of 2021.
Campfare Chicken Tikka Masala
The best fully hydrated dinner of 2021.
Next Mile Meals Beef Tacos
The best dinner for thru-hiking of 2021.
ZENB Sweet Potato Veggie Bites
The best savory snack of 2021.
Setton Farms Chipotle BBQ Pistachio Kernels
The best nut-based snack of 2021.
Honey Stinger Plus+ Performance Chews Stingerita Lime
The best caffeinated snack of 2021.
Nutrient Survival Vitamin Coffee Classic
The best drink of 2021.
Editors’ Choice 2021: Good To-Go Chicken Pho
Fuel up better with this savory soup.
Kate’s Real Food Bars
Energy boost
Deal of the Week: OMEALS Vegetarian Chili
Ditch your stove, not your hot food, with these self-heating meals.
Our 5 Favorite Camp Stoves
Fire up something delicious with these efficient burners.
Deal of the Week: MSR WindBurner
This stove won't let a little weather ruin your dinner.
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS
Efficient kitchen set
UCO Ware Mini Spork
Best utensil
Primus Essential Trail Stove
Stove with the best value
MSR Ceramic 2-Pot Set
Best pot set
UCO Ware 6 Piece Mess Kit
Best mess kit
ESPRO Ultralight Travel Press P0
Most versatile kitchen item
Stowaway Gourmet Turkish Delight
Best breakfast
FlapJacked Soft Baked Cookie Bar
Best snack
Trail Truffles
Best snack
Peak Refuel Sweet Pork and Rice
Best dinner
Ultima Replenisher Hydration Drink Mixes
Best hydration
Food for the Sole Slaws
Best dinner
Patagonia Provisions Savory Seeds
Best snack
Avalanche Swiss Granola
Best breakfast
Giorgio’s Savory Wild Portabella Jerky
This snack that's more than a snack wowed our staff so much, we gave it an Editors' Choice Award.
Gear of the Week: MSR Pika Teapot
This handy piece of cookware makes pouring hot water a breeze.
Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set
Comprehensive Cookware
LonoLife Thai Curry Beef Bone Broth
Restorative elixir