Food Cost/Budget

imported
#1

What can I expect to spend on food for a thru-hike?

I don’t mean gear, plane tickets or lodging, although I know that in many places food comes with the meal. I just want to know what you spent on your thru hike on food.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot about this topic on this Forum. The only food topics concern maildrops or the consumption of food, but not food prices.

And, if you have any advice to keep costs low, then share them as well, please!

I saw on another web site that, according to this thru-hiker, "a $500 to $600 food budget is possible, but far less than what thru-hikers normally spend.

Since you’ll be eating at least 2 pounds of food per day, consider the following:

If you like Lipton, Quaker Oats and other name-brand soups+food, expect to pay upwards of $4.00 per pound in a supermarket. For a 180 day hike, that translantes into $1,440.

If you like generic pasta/oatmeal, expect to pay about $1.00 per pound in a supermarket. For a 180 day hike, that’s about $360.

But that’s not all. You also have to take into account splurging on Ben + Jerry’s, Pizza, Steak+Potato and various other food items you just can’t get on the trail (i.e. perishable). That extra hamburger and shake goes a long way towards giving some extra energy and willingness while on a thru-hike. These types of meals have done wonders to improve the spirits of many a dispirited hiker."

So he says (although not verbatim). Does anyone have something to add to this? It does seem logical (at least the addition, but maybe not the figures).

He goes on to state that the above prices are common more in large stores than in small stores, such as the zillions along the trail. The mark-up in trail town stores could be nearly 50 percent.

For instance, right here in Greenville (north of Monson) we have a large supermarket (or two). If I want to buy a bottle of syrup (Log Cabin), for example (to put on the oats!), I could expect to pay $2.75. But if I go to the local mom+pop store, I will pay $4.15. Ouch!

Kineo Kid

#2

If you can buy ahead, you can save money by buying in bulk and buying items on sale. i.e. Liptons at $0.69 instead of $1.50 on the trail, or Ramen 10 (or 20) for $1.00. The downside to that is shipping costs (if you are mailing from the west coast expect to pay $20.00/box) and the fact that you may get very bored with your choices. I know more than one hiker who threw out (or put into the hiker boxes) half of their weekly food drop - like all the nuts or the oatmeal or the ‘favorite candy bar’ that no longer is a favorite or the dried fruit that gives you gas or the freeze dried dinner that sounded good but tasted awful, especially the fourth or fifth time etc. If you know what you like to eat over the long haul, you will waste less, but even with experience, your tastes change. Which is why we buy as we go - and look at the high prices as ‘supporting the local economy’ and giving the locals a reason to like thruhikers who are spending money in the mom and pop stores instead of at the post office.

Spirit Walker

#3

If it helps you, I used 17 mail drops for food, and went to grocery stores the rest of the time. I tried to track my expenses. I spent about $430 on groceries, $70 on snacks, $440 on meals. This does not include anything in my mail drops.

The biggest way to cut costs is not to go into towns often, and when you do, go in and get out. Don’t linger and buy meals. Consider that I only took about 2 days off, and I still managed to spend $440 on meals when I just stayed overnight and got out promptly the next morning.

Peaks

#4

The first few weeks of the hike everyone seems to pack and carry too much food and is either trying to give it away at the shelters or in town or putting it in hiker boxes. So pack a minimal amount of food and dont send any maildrops. You can eat really cheap if you dont care what you are eating. Everyone gave food away they didnt like or got tired of because they had been eating it for 1000 miles and they had enough money to just buy different stuff. The only advantage of maildrops for me was getting the kinds of food i wanted and misc other supplies. I dont think it saved a ton of money (i guess it depends where you are sending it from), plus it is a pain sometimes when you are trying to make the post office before it closes for the weekend.

Heatmizer

#5

Thank you Spirtwalker for posting an important message to people. We all have to watch how we spend our money, but it’s equally important to remember that local mom & pop business depend on us. This is in my opinion a true since of community. The opportunity to converse with folks that know the area and maybe a story or two. This experience far exceeds anything that Wal-Mart has to offer.

Sage 3

#6

I am in the midst of a southbound flip flop. I bought a dehydrator and made all my own meals, prepackaged all my own snacks…the works. What money I saved doing it myself is eaten up (pun intended) by shipping costs. If I had to do it over again, I would NOT have done the bulk thing ahead of time. Maildrops are a pain! Getting to the P.O. from the trail in time, before Saturday at noon… But I’ve spent a lot of time and money on my food already, so I’m stuck with a system I don’t like. Grrrr.

Peaks was right on about not buying meals in town: that IS pricey after a while. I prefer to hit the supermarket and feast on fresh fruits and veggies. Instead of dining out, buy the fixings for a special meal and cook at the hostel or campground while you’re in town.

Kismet