Food is often the heaviest thing in a backpack, yet cutting it too far leaves you exhausted, cold and miserable on the trail.

Aim for foods with at least 100 calories per ounce, or about 125 calories per 30 grams, which is why nuts, oils, cheese, dried fruit and instant grains dominate trail menus.

Repackage everything into zip bags, remove cardboard boxes and excess packaging, and plan meals that need only boiling water so you save fuel and washing up.

A good day looks like this: instant oats with dried fruit for breakfast, tortillas with peanut butter and cheese for lunch, and a one-pot pasta or rice meal for dinner, plus snacks all day.