If cheap and light weight is what the OP is mainly focused on, then yes, can't agree more. LolRamen noodles
If cheap and light weight is what the OP is mainly focused on, then yes, can't agree more. LolRamen noodles
Hey I'm out there still and I keep it simple. I'm not a thru hiker but I have read and listened to a lot from that crowd (AT, PCT, JMT, etc.) and they tend to be more on the simple side as well, and they get down to brass tacks. They are focused on making sure they have the right fuel to allow their body to cover a lot of mileage and elevation every day and recover and do it all over again the next day. They all have their flavor preferences ..... it's not like they just eat flavorless gruel for energy, but they are focused on efficiency and not on frills. There is a podcast called Trail Correspondents where they actually interview tru hikers on the big trails while they are en route and talk to them about things like food. It's great to hear what those folks have to say because you know they are serious.Back in the d-a-y before fancy backpacking meals, I did a lot of long distance hiking on the AT. A lot with scouts, a lot solo and with friends. Lentils, rice and beans we're the mainstays. Carried two wide mouth bottles- one for drinking water, one for soaking your meal during the day so you didn't have to burn too much fuel cooking it (if you wanted to). We carried very dry jerky, including Korean dried cuttlefish jerky for proteins. Very efficient nourishment for backpacking.
Now it's mostly Mountain House or some concoction my wife dreams up with the dehydrator. YMMV
This reminds me that the instant potatoes are a staple for the thru hikers. A lot of them experiment with different types of flavor-adding packets to mix with them. I seem to recall someone using like some sort of enchilada type packet or something? I also remember a weird one like mixing the tuna in there with something else. Your backcountry appetite might be very different from your kickin back at home appetite. But the good news is that generally stuff tastes a lot better when you have been exerting yourself and sweating all day.Instant mashed potatoes, couscous, canned chicken (foil packets), spam singles, tuna, summer sausage, hard cheese, etc.
Just wanted to update this ... I decided to try the backpacker meals again to see if they had changed since I moved away from them years ago. I bought a Peak and Mountain House biscuits and gravy meal as well as a Good-to-Go chicken gumbo meal (I think it's vegetarian). I also got a Peak Southwest Pork meal but haven't eaten that one yet.
Frankly, I didn't like any of them all that much. I'd rather make my own oatmeal, pasta, red beans and rice, mac n cheese, etc. I actually thought the MountainHouse was better than the Peak. Maybe the other meals are better. I'll try some more.
I personally am going to continue on the track of finding food I can cook on my backpacking stove, and more efficient ways to cook and pack them.