Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
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
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter body weight (lb).
- 2Enter miles per day.
- 3Enter daily elevation gain (ft).
- 4Enter days between resupply.
- 5Enter food calorie density (cal/oz).
- 6Read your calories needed per day on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
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.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Body weight: 165 lb
- Miles per day: 15
- Daily elevation gain: 2500 ft
- Days between resupply: 5
- Food calorie density: 125 cal/oz
Results
- 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
What each field means
Inputs
- Body weight (lb)
- The body weight used in the calculation, measured in lb. Starts at 165 lb so you have a working example on load.
- Miles per day
- The miles per day used in the calculation. Starts at 15 so you have a working example on load.
- Daily elevation gain (ft)
- The daily elevation gain used in the calculation, measured in ft. Starts at 2500 ft so you have a working example on load.
- Days between resupply
- The days between resupply used in the calculation. Starts at 5 so you have a working example on load.
- Food calorie density (cal/oz)
- The food calorie density used in the calculation, measured in cal/oz. Starts at 125 cal/oz so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 80–180 cal/oz.
Results
- Calories needed per day
- Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Food weight per day (lb)
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Food to carry (lb)
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Ounces per day
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total calories to pack
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
What is a good calorie density?
125 cal/oz is a solid target. Nuts, oils, and cheese push above it; fresh food and most dehydrated meals drag it down.
Should I plan a calorie deficit?
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.
Accuracy and 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.
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Backpacking Food Weight & Calorie Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/backpacking-food-weight
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/backpacking-food-weight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Backpacking Food Weight & Calorie Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Backpacking Food Weight & Calorie Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/backpacking-food-weight) (2026).