{
  "slug": "backpacking-food-weight",
  "title": "Backpacking Food Weight & Calorie Calculator",
  "heading": "Backpacking Food Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/backpacking-food-weight",
  "summary": "Daily calories, food weight, and resupply planning for a thru-hike.",
  "description": "Long-distance hiking burns far more than a desk day. Estimate daily calorie need from body weight and mileage, then convert it into pounds of food at your calorie density.",
  "formula": "Calories ≈ BMR + 100 × miles + 0.05 × gain; weight = calories ÷ calorie density.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=backpacking-food-weight",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "lbs",
      "label": "Body weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 165,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 70,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "miles",
      "label": "Miles per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 15,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gain",
      "label": "Daily elevation gain",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2500,
      "unit": "ft",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "days",
      "label": "Days between resupply",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "density",
      "label": "Food calorie density",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 125,
      "unit": "cal/oz",
      "min": 80,
      "max": 180
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "daily",
      "label": "Calories needed per day",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "lbsPerDay",
      "label": "Food weight per day (lb)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "carryLbs",
      "label": "Food to carry (lb)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "ozPerDay",
      "label": "Ounces per day",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "totalCal",
      "label": "Total calories to pack",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Body weight: 165 lb",
      "Miles per day: 15",
      "Daily elevation gain: 2500 ft",
      "Days between resupply: 5",
      "Food calorie density: 125 cal/oz"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Calories needed per day: 3,275",
      "Food weight per day (lb): 1.64",
      "Food to carry (lb): 8.2",
      "Ounces per day: 26.2",
      "Total calories to pack: 16,375"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter body weight (lb).",
      "Enter miles per day.",
      "Enter daily elevation gain (ft).",
      "Enter days between resupply.",
      "Enter food calorie density (cal/oz).",
      "Read your calories needed per day on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "lbs": 100,
        "miles": 9,
        "gain": 1500,
        "days": 3,
        "density": 80
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "lbs": 165,
        "miles": 15,
        "gain": 2500,
        "days": 5,
        "density": 125
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "lbs": 265,
        "miles": 24,
        "gain": 4000,
        "days": 8,
        "density": 180
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What is a good calorie density?",
      "a": "125 cal/oz is a solid target. Nuts, oils, and cheese push above it; fresh food and most dehydrated meals drag it down."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I plan a calorie deficit?",
      "a": "Most thru-hikers run one for the first weeks because carrying full calories is heavy. Plan 80–90% of need on long carries and eat big in town."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Backpacking Food Weight & Calorie Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/backpacking-food-weight)"
}