Backpacking meals update – taste tests

Yeah, BP that’s a little high on a trip wouldn’t matter

I just noticed that I was getting very tired after a few miles/hours, especially when hot.  And leg cramps at night.  So I took meter on one trip and yeah, my BP was very low when I got really tired.

I think taking 300 mg sodium per hour would prevent that.  More when it’s hot, less when cold.

I think this would apply to everyone, although most people have enough reserves of sodium, and eat salty food so maybe it’s not critical.

If you eat a salty backpacking meal, that would be part of the solution.

Maybe they designed backpacking food with this in mind.

I think they designed backpacking food with lots of salt because that’s the cheapest way to make something freeze dried taste good.

I do monitor my blood pressure closely when I’m at home and I take blood pressure medicines. I hadn’t experience any symptoms of low blood pressure while hiking, but I have noticed that if I’m at home and not working, but exercising regularly, my blood pressure will stay low even if I take half a dose.

I think I’ve always suffered from electrolyte loss, but I notice it more that I’m older

For example, I remember getting leg cramps

Maybe the reason your blood pressure stays low is electrolytes

Now that I’ve noticed electrolyte loss, I can now attribute all maladies to this : )

My MD started me on lisiniprol and a dieuretic last summer.  Damn near destroyed me on my first backpacking trip with complete and utter dehydration.  I called him as soon as I got back, and we eliminated the dieuretic.  Big difference, and much better.

But yes, I do perspire a lot when hiking, and so I not only drink water but also add eletrolytes. They really help. For years I was a fairly enthusiastic road cyclist, and learned that water alone will not rehydrate you–at least not after about an hour of solid exercise. Then you need to start replacing what you are losing in terms of electrolytes.

BTW, my wife and I sometimes use a food dehydrator for backpacking meals, but we don’t have a freeze dry machine.  And there is a difference.  The dehydrator works on a lot of things, but we store anything we’re not going to use in the next week in the freezer to try to keep it fresh.  That works…more or less!

“My MD started me on lisiniprol and a dieuretic last summer.  Damn near destroyed me on my first backpacking trip with complete and utter dehydration.”

That’s exactly what happened to me

I got really tired after a couple hours and had horrible leg cramps that night.  When I stopped the diuretic I was fine.  I was also taking some electrolyte.

Maybe I could keep taking the diuretic and just take more electrolyte to balance the diuretic?  Maybe that’s identical to not taking the diuretic and taking less electrolyte?  In which case why take the diuretic at all?

On a recent trip I did take the diuretic and was okay.  It was cool so I didn’t sweat a lot.  I did eat some extra salty food.  My BP got down to 90, but it wasn’t so bad that I really slowed down like what happens in hot weather.  I didn’t get severe leg cramps.

I think if I took an extra 500 mg of sodium and potassium in cool weather, and 1500 mg in hot weather I’d be okay.  By measuring with BP meter I could quantify this.  Just basing it on being tired or getting leg cramps is subjective, so susceptible to cognitive errors.

There was a thread about electrolytes and the gear skeptic video

I should try to make my own dehydrated meal sometime.  Have a dehydrater.   There si nothing to lose supplementing with electrolytes.  Key, like water and thirst, is start before you start the hike.  Byt the time your depleted its much harder to replentish.  Most of the electrolytes in a powder or drink dont make it into your body (you dont need sugar for absorbtion).  Most get peed out before absorbing, so keeping on it helps.  Thats why they give people IVs in professional sports or medically, that is iret – no absorption needed.  Now they electrolytes and powders are big business there is a lot of distracting words/terms/claims.  Its not rocket science, and there isnt that much they can do to make thier brand magically better.  Its just the 4 main : Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium and Chloride.  Sugars an help absorbption, but very little.  They add other stuff that kinda/maybe/a little aids in absorption: phosphorous, potassium and chloride, butyrate and amino acids. They all have their magic combo and marketing pitch.  But in the ends, its those electrolytes.  The advantage is they haved it ready to go – which we love as consumers.  Kind of like dietary supplements and vitmamns.  Eat right and balanced and you get everything you need (pending a metobolic disorder).   Do some electrolytes and hydrate day before the hike (absorption takes a while and it doesn all get absorbed), and maintain some basic electrolytes along the way, and keep hydrated.  Heck, a lot of the power bars and snack have some of the same electrolytes.  Actualy, its pretty easy to make your own.  I know someone who makes little packets in advance.  One of the common recipes below.  And there are variation they sell you bazed on Energy vs Replentishment vs Recovery  ;^)  They often make a big point about Zero sugar because we are fixated on that.  If you are exerting yourself and exercising, a little sugar isnt going to be a bad thing.

Liquids version to put in bottle:

1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) of lemon juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) of lime juice
1 1/2 cups (360 ml) of unsweetened coconut water
2 cups (480 ml) of cold water

Powdered/granular version some people make in advance:

1/4 teaspoon baking soda (307mg sodium)
1/16 teaspoon Morton’s Lite Salt (87.5mg potassium and 72.5mg sodium)
1/16 teaspoon epsom salt (30mg magnesium)
optional flavor such as juice (tea, stevia, or water enhancer)
optional, 1/2 tsp sugar

Measure directly into 16 ounces of cold still or sparkling water or other beverage.

372.5 mg sodium
87.5 mg potassium
30 mg magnesium

Kind of like the backpacking meals, I opt to buy for the convenience.
(from a runner website:)

I’ve been a Packit Gourmet user for years but I did just order six Good to Go meals at their Black Friday discount – I’ll try each one at home and decide if I can eat it on the trail.  If I have to throw it away at home I’m out six bucks, on the trail, you don’t have a choice but to force it down.

I try to not bring anything in the backcountry unless I know I can eat it, especially since I tend to lose my apatite at altitude so I really want foods I like.

I tried a couple Good To Go.  They were in the mediocre category.  Im totally with you on testing first.  On trail is not the time to realize its not your favorite or not good.  Was kind of the genesis of this project for me – build a menu of 10-12 meals I know I will always like.

Eating foods with lots of potassium helps to balance higher sodium intake.

I have been fond of Adventure Well meals. I never brought dehydrated meals with me before as there were not many low carb high fat/keto options. I really enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken and Carne Asada here. Sodium is not abnormally high.

I had some leftover meals from my October Grand Canyon trip that I had already repacked into ziplocks for the trail, but didn’t end up eating. Since they were already opened, I didn’t want to leave them for next summer or for a possible winter cabin trip. So I had one last night – Packit Gourmet’s Tortilla Soup. Normally backpacking meals aren’t appetizing at home but this one – wow! It was a really nice home cooked dinner! Delicious. I have so far liked every single Packit gourmet meal I’ve tried. This might have been one of the best ever. I love their cold chicken salads.

They are expensive, so I’ll keep the unopened ones for the trail not for home. I do get 2 meals out of a bag; I’m one of those people who cannot eat an entire backpacking meal, even when I’m doing heavy hiking with many miles and significant elevation gain. So when I’m packing for the trail, I split them into ziplocks into 2 meals. I just can’t fill my stomach that full; it doesn’t fit! So by that standard, the meals are only $6-8 each. If I’m hungry beyond that, I’ll have some couscous, or a tortilla or something as an add on. But I get to eat something really tasty on trail.

Dottie chicken and dumplings and their All American Burger (which has a new name, I think) are also good.  Not Pinnacle Foods good, but tasty.  I can easily eat an entire pack on trail ;^)

Some of my favorites from this past summer are from Peak Refuel:
– Chicken Coconut Curry (recommend adding some garam masala or hot sauce)
– Butternut Dal Bhat (recommend adding some garam masala or hot sauce)
– Backcountry Bison Bowl – This one is perfect as is, it is outrageously good!

Edit: I did not create that URL to REI – not sure what’s going on there…

Havent had Peak Fuel in a while.  Will revisit some of those.

GGG has two new garage companies trying thier luck at backpacking meals.  Look good, rate well so far.  Will try a couple:

Bowl & Kettle
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/bowl-kettle

Poe and Co:  (not enough calories for me, maybe lunch):
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/poe-co-folk-foods

Yumbino (beans and rice $5 meals):
https://yumbini.com/shop/

Tater-Boost: (interesting idea):
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/tater-boost

Coffee Complete Power Meals (?):
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/recpak

Old El Paso cornbread mix. 113 calories/ounce. Mixed in for added flavor.

I have to put in a plug for Mary Jane’s Farm meals–organic/vegetarian and many choices.  Also much cheaper than MH, as well as being much more packable.https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/backpacking-meals   Been using them for years!

Think I have had MAry JAnes BEfore, but dont recall which one.  They arent restarting backpacking meals until Sept 2025 so none listed to refresh my memory.  Added to list to try.

Thants a good idea.  Who doesnt like cornbrea.  You just put a tablespoon or so in a backpaching meal?

Yeah. Maybe a couple tablespoons. A little more if I don’t like the meal.

a_gunslinger—guess I should have read the webpage rather than just pasted in the link.  I have finished backpacking for the year, but going to have to figure out what to do for freeze dried next season until they re-start.  At least I have a few extra stashed away for now…

NAh, I was surpised too.  They mention being a small family company and sometimes it takes time to make them and rrestock.  Another reason I try to support some of these smaller companies (IF the food is yummy).

Bear in mind that ALL food will have less “flavor” at higher elevations. Most of what we perceive as flavor is actually smell–and with thinner air, there are fewer molecules to carry aromas to our noses.  This is one of the reasons airplane food usually tastes mediocre

Wine, too.

I must be old, but I simply cant see spending $17 for a FD meal that isn’t as good as what I can cook and dehydrate at home.  I totally get the convenience aspect, but do not see the value proposition.

JCH – Understood.  I think the main difference is ability and willingness to do so at home. Personality dichotomy ;^)   I went to Panera last week for food and it was $16.