Kosher Jerky for Hiking and Camping
For hiking and camping, kosher jerky is close to the perfect trail protein: light for what it gives, no cooking, no cooler, and certified. Kosher backpacking food is hard to find; dried beef is one of the few ready-made options. Here is how much to carry and how to keep it good outdoors.
Why dried beef suits the trail
- Light for its protein. Around 36 g of protein in a 3 oz bag of our Original biltong.
- No stove, no pot. It is ready to eat.
- No cooler. Sealed bags keep for months.
- Salt. Useful after sweating, though not a measured electrolyte plan.
How much to carry
| Trip | Per person |
|---|---|
| A day hike | 1–2 oz |
| An overnight | 3–4 oz |
| A multi-day backpacking trip | 1.5–2 oz per day, alongside carbohydrate-rich food |
Dried beef is protein, not fuel. Carry carbohydrate (oats, dried fruit, crackers, trail mix) for energy, and use jerky for the savory, filling part of the day. More on this in biltong for endurance athletes.
Packing it
- 1 oz minis are ideal: one per stop, sealed until eaten.
- Keep bags in an outer pocket for snacking, the rest in a dry bag.
- In bear country, dried meat goes in the bear canister or bag with the rest of the food.
Weather
| Condition | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | Sealed bags are fine; opened ones soften | Finish opened bags the same day |
| Rain and damp | Opened dried meat absorbs moisture | Dry bag, and minis so nothing stays open |
| Cold | Gets firmer, still good | Nothing |
Jerky or biltong on the trail?
Biltong for most people: no added sugar in the Original, tender, savory. Meat Candy when you want something sweet at the summit, but its glaze gets sticky in the heat.
Kosher camping trips
Shul and youth-group camping trips often struggle with kosher food that is easy to carry. A bulk bag split into minis for each hiker is simple. Everything we make is meat, so keep a separate dairy food bag if there is one.
See our certified Glatt Kosher kosher beef jerky and biltong.
Try it: Kosher Trip Snack Planner. Enter people, days and kind of trip; get how much to pack.
