It's so much easier to find quick and easy hiking snacks in 2023 than it was years ago - a benefit of veganism / plant-based living becoming so mainstream! But with so many options out there, which snacks have the best nutritional content, value for your money and are easy to find in stores? Here we list the top 5 best vegan snacks to take with you in the backcountry in 2023. I've broken up the info for our Canadian friends and for our American friends.
Abbott Ridge Trail, BC
The Classic - Clif Bars
Any vegans who have travelled overseas, to places where they're juuuust not sure they'll be able to eat the local cuisine, are quite familiar with Clif bars. I know I've packed entire boxes of bars before trips to Guatemala, Tanzania and Thailand, but also to the backcountry in Utah and California. Clif Bars are staples for a quick protein source and I honestly keep them in my bug-out bags / emerg kits, as well, because the zombie apocalypse is imminent.
Pros:
Quite a few flavours like: Cool Mint Chocolate, Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Almond Fudge, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Contains decent iron, vitamin E, phosphorous, magnesium and other nutrients and minerals
Won't melt as easily in your pack as some other bars
High in protein
Relatively inexpensive
Relatively low sugar content compared to other bars
Clif Bar & Company supports the P.K. Subban Foundation for kids
Easy to find in most big box stores
Cons:
The texture can get kind of boring after a few days in the backcountry
The texture can also get tough if you forget about this bar in your climbing bag for a few years... but then again, it's probably still edible
Clif Bar & Company doesn't appear to have any sustainability or low waste initiatives
Cost Estimate:
For American friends: ~$1.53 USD per bar (about $0.64 USD per oz)
For Canadian friends: ~$1.51 CAD per bar (about $2.22 CAD per 100 g)
Where to Buy:
For American friends: Just about anywhere, including clifbar.com
For Canadian friends: Just about anywhere, including on Amazon
The Yummy - Made Good Granola Bars
The first time I had Made Good was on a flight when I was upgraded to premium and got to pick food off the menu for free - that's how you know you've "made" it! The rest of the flight sucked, but the chocolate and oat granola somewhat made up for it. Since, I grab these guys if I need an overall yummy snack for the car or for a moderate hike.
Pros:
Contains vitamins like A, C, D, E and B6
Organic and gluten-free
Relatively lower in salt content
Really tasty
Comes from a company with a conscience - they're Certified B, TRUE Zero Waste certified and partnering with food banks / food programmes in the USA and Canada
Cons:
Somewhat lower in protein than other options
If they're left in your hot pack, the bars can lose their shape a bit and get melty
Cost Estimate:
For American friends: ~$0.75 USD per bar (about $0.88 USD per oz)
For Canadian friends: ~$0.80 CAD per pouch (about $3.33 CAD per 100 g)
Where to Buy:
For American friends: Just about anywhere, but also madegoodfoods.com
For Canadian friends: Just about anywhere, but also madegoodfoods.ca
The Glutton - LÄRABAR
When you need a backcountry bar that also feels like a treat, the LÄRABAR is the way to go. It's got your sugar and your fat... what more can you ask for? It's like having dessert on trail. It also smooshes relatively easily in your pack, so keep it at your hip belt for a that rapid-fire energy boost when you need it.
Flavors include: Apple, Blueberry, Cashew, Cocoa Coconut Chew, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cream and Chocolate Brownie.
Pros:
Gluten-free and kosher
Small number of ingredients (3-6 ingredients, that's it!)
Low in salt
Rich in flavor
Relatively high in fiber
You don't get as sick of these as you do with Clif Bars (in my opinion)
Cons:
Not as nutrient-heavy as other options
Relatively high sugar and fat content
Get soft and melty pretty easily if left in your pack
Owned by General Mills, which has some sustainability initiatives but is still a larger company
Cost Estimate:
For American friends: ~$1.78 USD per bar (about $0.67 USD per oz)
For Canadian friends: ~$1.19 CAD per bar (about $2.65 CAD per 100 g)
Where to Buy:
For American friends: Places like Walmart
For Canadian friends: Places like Walmart or straight from larabar.ca
The Fancy - Prana Trail Mix
I had to include a trail mix option! What's nice about Prana is that they're a family-owned company that makes high quality snacks, but also keeps sustainability in mind in how they operate. Their trail mixes have a blend of nuts, chocolate and fruit that feel like a nice, fancier treat when you're all grubby in the backcountry.
Flavors include: Natural Cherry-Chocolate & Salted Nut, Annapurna - Sweet & Salty Trail Mix (my favorite), Fuji - Premium Salty Mix, Kilimanjaro - Deluxe Chocolate Mix, Machu Picchu - Exotic Nuts & Fruit Mix and Go Nuts - Maple Sea Salt Nuts
Pros:
Contains minerals like magnesium, copper and manganese, as well as vitamin E
Relatively high in protein and in fiber
Relatively low sodium
Certified B Corporation
Prana supports local Canadian regenerative agriculture
Cons:
Kind of expensive for the American friends
Not all flavors available between Canada and USA
Relatively high in fat content (which can be a good thing too, depending what you're looking for on trail)
Cost Estimate:
For American friends: ~$1.53 USD per bar (about $0.64 USD per oz)
For Canadian friends: ~$1.51 CAD per bar (about $2.22 CAD per 100 g)
Where to Buy:
For American friends: Can't get direct from Prana, but can order from Gimpygal.com or Ebambu.ca
For Canadian friends: Places like Real Canadian Superstore or pranafoods.ca
The "Fake" - Noble Vegan Jerky
So it is fake jerky, but it's also a nice salty snack when you're on the move. You do need sodium when you're sweating in the backcountry, so I recommend bringing some of the Noble Vegan Jerky 's Teriyaki jerky, which is my go-to. The "jerky" is soy so you know you're getting a lot of protein in each bite, which you'll need as you're bagging peaks!
Flavours include: Chipotle, Teriyaki, Sticky Hickory, Smokehouse and Sweet BBQ.
Pros:
The best source of protein for you buck on this list
Noble Jerky actively incorporates the UN's SDGs in their practice
Savoury taste is a nice break from sweet trail foods
Doesn't need to be refrigerated like some other vegan jerky brands
Cons:
Unless you get the no sugar added, some of the flavours have quite a bit of sugar
Kind of expensive for the amount you actually get per bag
Large packaging means needless weight (in this author's opinion)
Cost Estimate:
For American friends: ~$4.91 USD per bag (about $21.98 USD per oz)
For Canadian friends: ~$5.99 CAD per bag (about $8.56 CAD per 100 g)
Where to Buy:
For American friends: noblejerky.com, or in many local stores.
For Canadian friends: noblejerky.ca, or in many local stores.
Honorable Mention
Sesame Snaps: I grew up with Sesame Snaps, so I had to include these. They're tasty, inexpensive and packed with calories; unfortunately the calories come mostly from the high fat content! They come in a few extra flavors now like Sesame Snaps with Chia, with Vanilla or with Quinoa.
You can find Sesame Snaps at big box stores or on Amazon
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