📸 Quick Look (Images)
🇺🇸 USA Buyer Note: Comparing hiking gear helps beginners avoid wasting money. Below is a simple, fast comparison so you can pick what fits your needs.
💰 Current Amazon Price
Price: $9.99
(as of Dec 19, 2025 03:01:28 UTC –
Details
)
⚖️ Quick Comparison
| Best For | Beginner hikers, day hikes, weekend trips (USA) |
| Value | Great value vs. similar Amazon options |
| Comfort | Designed for long walks and trail use |
| Durability | Suitable for common U.S. hiking conditions |
| Ideal Use | Parks, local trails, national parks, travel hikes |
🆚 How It Compares
- Vs. cheaper options: often better comfort + longer lifespan.
- Vs. premium options: similar core features, usually lower cost.
- For beginners: easier setup and fewer “extra” features you don’t need.
📝 Product Details
Going on a thru-hike? The daunting task of preparing meals for a long-distance trek just got easier. Here is a comprehensive guide to planning fast, wholesome, high energy meals with minimal additives and preservatives. Detailed information on nutrition, equipment, resupply, and food safety is included. The magic is that the prep work is done at home so delicious meals can be brought to life on the trail with nothing more than a warm water soak. More than a dozen healthy recipes made from freeze-dried or dehydrated ingredients can be used in rotation to maintain variety. Looking for more recipes and less planning information? See the companion book, The Hungry Spork TRAIL RECIPES: Quick Gourmet Meals for the Backcountry, which contains more than 50 recipes. A flexible system can be adapted to individual needs for planning, preparing and packing meals for a range of trips, whether it’s a month on the John Muir Trail or six months on the Pacific Crest Trail. Find tips for assembling meals from freeze-dried and dehydrated ingredients, boosting calories and protein in commercial meal pouches and inspiration for making home-dehydrated meals. Each recipe has been trail tested by long-distance hikers whose comments and suggestions are listed separately. Several variations are presented for each recipe. Those with dietary preferences and restrictions, including vegetarians and gluten-free adherents, will find that they can easily modify ingredients to fit their needs. For example, rice noodles can be substituted for wheat ramen and legumes, while grains or textured vegetable protein can be used in place of meats. Fan favorites include BBQ Chicken and Mashed Potatoes, Indian Lentils and Quinoa, and Indonesian Noodles. The author’s focus is on assembling healthy, tasty meals with an international flair from freeze-dried or dehydrated ingredients. The author has hiked long trails in the Sierra Nevada (California), Coast Mountains (Alaska and British Columbia), Cordillera Blanca (Peru) and Alps (Europe). Her interest in trail food grew from her first multi-week backpacking trip, described in her book, Highs and Lows on the John Muir Trail, and a paddling trip covering 500 miles of the Yukon River. Even in those early days, she had a sense that there was a better way to feast on healthy, nutritious foods with the vibrant flavors she was used to at home. The Spork books are the result of that journey.
Publisher : Pacific Adventures Press
Publication date : April 28, 2017
Language : English
Print length : 210 pages
ISBN-10 : 0997061812
ISBN-13 : 978-0997061819
Item Weight : 10.1 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.48 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #534,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #191 in Camping & RV Cooking #6,063 in Culinary Arts & Techniques (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (127) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
⭐ Summary (Why We Recommend It)
Customers say
Customers find this book an excellent resource for preparing for long backpacking trips, with valuable anecdotal information and clear guidance on meal planning. They appreciate the recipes, with one customer noting they are resupply-friendly, and find it simple to read. The book covers nutrition effectively, with one review detailing carb, fat, and protein considerations, while another mentions practical equipment options for food preparation. Customers value the book’s encouragement, with one noting it provides moral support throughout the journey.
- ✔ Beginner-friendly (no learning curve)
- ✔ Strong value for money (Amazon USA)
- ✔ Comfortable for day hikes & weekend trips
- ✔ Good choice for most U.S. trail conditions
👉 Check Today’s Price on Amazon
❓ Quick FAQ
Is this good for beginners?
Yes. It’s a practical pick for first-time hikers who want dependable gear without overspending.
Who should buy this?
- • New hikers building a starter kit
- • Budget-focused shoppers in the USA
- • Anyone wanting reliable gear for trails and parks
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