Services
[Content updated January 2023]
Whether you are hiking the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide, John Muir Trail, Arizona Trail, or a lesser traveled trail, we can supply you with backpacking food.
Planning & Ordering Your Food
There are several methods hikers use for planning food resupply. Either way, it will require that you plan ahead of your hike.
1. Order food while you hike
You can place orders from our website while hiking and have them shipped to your resupply stop. You can create and store all of your shipping addresses ahead of time on our website. You will need to create a login to do this. You can select the shipping destination from your saved address list when ready to place the order. Once you figure out your pace while hiking, it will get easier to gauge your resupply needs/stops to plan your orders. This method offers the most flexibility, and you will not be stuck with extra food if you don't finish your hike. Keep in mind that you will need cell coverage to order. Cell service is reliable on the AT but not the PCT/CDT.
2. Order food ahead of your hike
You can place a large order ahead of your hike and organize your resupply at home. Most hikers group items in pre-addressed boxes for each planned stop and have someone at home ship them as needed. This requires the most amount of planning and expense upfront. It allows you to add essential items, such as snacks and toiletries.
Another option is to place individual orders ahead of your hike and have us hold your order and ship according to your schedule. Ordering ahead will require placing separate orders for each shipping destination along with your expected ETA (add this in the comments field when you place the order). We'll use your ETA to schedule your order to make sure it arrives at your destination when you need it. This works out well if 1) you need a reliable person to ship orders to you or 2) you do not live in the United States. Your food will be fresher since it is not sitting in storage. This also saves you more money on shipping since commercial rates offer you lower shipping.
FREE GROUND SHIPPING is available for orders totaling $199 or more if delivered within the contiguous U.S. Orders will automatically show the free shipping offer during checkout. Please call or email if you need assistance with planning your food menu or purchasing a large order on behalf of an outdoor organization, such as the Boy Scouts.
General Resupply Information
Resupply points change as businesses move, close, or no longer hold hiker boxes. Before mailing your resupply, always check with companies along the trail to ensure they are open and accept package holds. Outdoor Herbivore does not maintain a list of resupply locations; however, we have compiled some excellent sources for this information and planning your hike. We also track where most of our resupplies are mailed.
Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Resupply
List of resupply locations near the PCT
List of the most common locations where Outdoor Herbivore mails resupply locations on the PCT.
Halfmile’s PCT map website contains up-to-date maps, resupply options & notes along the PCT.
Craig’s PCT Planner allows you to input daily mileage goals and choose resupply locations based on that. The most common resupply locations are loaded by default, and other options can be toggled on and off. Craig’s PCT Planner uses the Wilderness Press guidebook data for the trail.
Planyourhike maintains mailing addresses and contact information for 101 PCT resupply locations.
Postholer has maps of the various long distance trails and resupply points with extensive information on the PCT and Colorado Trail.
Pacific Crest Trail (reddit.com) is useful for asking questions and researching.
John Muir Trail (JMT) Resupply
List of the most common locations where Outdoor Herbivore mails resupply buckets/boxes on the JMT.
JMT.org maintains a list of places along the JMT that will hold your resupply packages. Several of these businesses charge a fee for the service.
John Muir Trail (reddit.com) is useful for asking questions and researching.
Appalachian Trail (AT) Resupply
List of Post Offices near the ATList of the most common locations where Outdoor Herbivore mails resupply locations on the AT.
WhiteBlaze.net is an excellent resource for planning your resupply points along the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail (reddit.com) is useful for asking questions and researching.
Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Resupply
List of Post Offices near the CDT
A quick and dirty guide for planning a hike on the CDT
Continental Divide Trail (reddit.com) is useful for asking questions and researching.
Arizona Trail (AZT) Resupply
List of the most common locations where Outdoor Herbivore mails resupply boxes on the AZT.
AZT.org is a good starting point for researching the trail and Guthook app (Atlas Guides) for maps and conditions.
Arizona Trail (reddit.com) is useful for asking questions and researching.
How to Address Thru Hiker Packages
For more information about how to send your order for package holds, or have it shipped to a thru-hiker, see shipping food to thru hikers.
What can you expect from Outdoor Herbivore?
Healthy, high-calorie meals. Our meals contain minimally processed fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes to provide a carb-protein-fat combination that will deliver a sustained energy release so that you won't feel dull and sluggish. All ingredients are 100% vegetarian. No artificial ingredients. Most ingredients are organic. Gluten-free options are also available.
Easy & Fast Meal Preparation. All ingredients are dried. Just add the packaging contents to boiling water or cold water to hydrate. All meals are ready to eat in 10 minutes or less.
Varied Flavors – because everyone’s tastes are different. We use various spices and herbs to impart tasty, distinct flavors instead of the standard salt & pepper seasoning.
Eco-Friendlier Packaging. We use compact packaging that is safe for boiling water. If you are making your own trail meals, you can purchase our plain reusable heavy weight reclosable high-temp pouches.
Light Weight. We've achieved incredible weight and size reduction by using a combination of high-quality freeze-dried and dehydrated whole food ingredients. Once the food is soaked (reconstituted), the portions are 1-3X their dried size. You can find the meal weight listed on the product details page.
Made by Backpackers. As vegetarian backpackers, we understand the challenges in consuming enough calories to meet energy needs. Our meals are sure to satisfy your hunger and replenish your energy. Let us supply your meals for your next long-distance hiking trip!
We specialize in shipping food to Thru Hikers
If the thought of consuming processed rice and noodle meals, sugary snacks, energy bars, and other junk foods for the duration of your outdoor trip concerns you, then you have come to the right place. Outdoor Herbivore is your alternative to the commercial, chemically-processed trail foods. Each dish we offer is perfected on the trail by long-distance backpackers passionate about food, health, animal welfare, and the environment.
