13 Best Sandwiches for Hiking That Are Better than the Average PB&J

Are you getting ready to head out for the trail and are tired of the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwich that you usually pack?

Well, I totally get it, and I was there too, so I’ve compiled a list of the best sandwiches for hiking that I’ve started to love!

These will help you switch up your hiking meals and let you enjoy that well-deserved lunch or dinner that you’re so looking forward to!

Let’s jump right in to the sandwich ideas so you can get out on the trail!

Best Sandwiches for Hiking

Below you’ll find a few of the best options for sandwiches that travel well and make for great options for on the trail.

1. Tuna Salad Sandwich

A nice easy lunch that you can make pretty easily at home is a tuna sandwich.

This option is loaded with protein and veggies and is really easy to make and pack to bring with you on the trail.

Simply mix together a can of tuna, some mayo, finely chopped celery, diced onion, some sweet peas, and a bit of relish.

Season it as you see fit with salt and pepper, and add a bit of lemon juice if you like.

You can choose to either build your sandwich before you leave home, using your favorite bread, or assemble it when you’re on the trail.

I personally like to assemble it when I’m ready to eat because it helps keep the bread from getting soggy, but if you’d prefer to make it easier, go ahead and make it at home!

Pair the sandwich with some kettle chips or crackers, and you’re all set!

2. Nutella and Banana

If you have a sweet tooth and need to cure that craving when you’re hiking, then this might be your new favorite lunch option.

Spread a layer of Nutella spread on your each side of your favorite bread.

Then, thinly slice a banana and layer the slices onto the bread before closing it up.

If you don’t like Nutella, you can also substitute it for any sort of nut butter (peanut, almond, sunflower, etc.).

This is the perfect option for you if you aren’t really craving a savory sandwich but still need some sort of meal on the trail.

This is one of the best backpacking sandwiches, because it can last for quite a while after it’s made.

Because this option doesn’t have much protein, I would plan to pack a few snacks that will keep you more energized with you.

This could be hard-boiled eggs, protein bars, or trail mix.

3. Classic Ham and Cheese

I can bet that you’ve probably had your fair share of classic ham and cheese sandwiches in your day.

But it’s just such a great easy option that I couldn’t not add it to this list.

So you probably know this goes, but just layer a few slices of deli ham and cheese onto your favorite bread and add whatever dressing you like.

I personally like to add mayo, but I know some people who like mustard or just plain butter, so use whatever you like!

You can also swap out the ham for any other deli meat, including turkey, roast beef, or salami.

Of course, you can also personalize your sandwich by choosing your favorite cheese and adding any other toppings like lettuce or tomatoes if you like.

Pair this sandwich with sides like trail mix, carrots, or clementines.

4. BLT

Many people don’t know that a BLT can be so much more than a sandwich that you just have at home!

You can totally take one on the go as well! Plus, it’s a nice nutritious option for hiking.

Most people already know how to make up a BLT, but if you don’t, it basically is just bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

When you make it at home, it’s typically made with toasted bread, so if you like, toast your choice of bread.

Then just layer on however much bacon, lettuce, and tomato you like, along with some mayo.

You may need to stick a toothpick or something in the sandwich to keep it in place until you’re ready to eat it at lunchtime.

5. Club

Kind of similar to a BLT, a club sandwich makes for another really yummy and really well-rounded sandwich to bring on the trail.

Toast up some bread and then layer all of your favorite toppings onto it.

You can add deli meat and cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and anything else that you like.

Typically, people will use some sort of mayo or honey mustard as the sauce.

I prefer to pack these separately and then just dip the sandwich in them when it’s time to eat, to prevent it from getting soggy.

Pair this meal with some crackers, apple slices, or oranges for a really yummy trail lunch!

6. Chicken Salad

Somewhat similar to a tuna salad sandwich, a chicken salad sandwich also offers a lot of protein and a nice, cold lunch to eat on a hot day on the trail!

There are quite a few ways to make this salad, as many people add a variety of different things to it.

Start with some cooked chicken (you can also use canned chicken), and mix it up with some mayo, chopped celery, diced onion, salt, and pepper.

A few other toppings that some people enjoy adding are pickle relish, grapes, hard-boiled egg, and cheese.

Then you’ll just simply add the mixture onto your favorite type of bread and you’re ready to eat!

Just like with the others, you can choose to either assemble it at home or keep the bread and mixture seperate to assemble at lunchtime.

7. Fried Egg

While this option may be better suited if you’re leaving the house and need breakfast on the trail, you could eat it any time of day.

I personally love a fried egg sandwich and find that it fuels me up really well for the day.

Simply fry up an egg on a pan and lay a slice of cheese on it until it’s slightly melted.

Put your egg on your bread, which can be either toasted or just plain, and there you have it!

A delicious fried egg sandwich, ready for you to enjoy as you hike down the trail.

This makes for the perfect breakfast to take with you that you make right before you leave.

If you want it for later and want to keep it warm, you can try wrapping it in some aluminum foil, although the bread might get a tad soggy.

8. Ham and Swiss Panini

This one is really close to your classic ham and cheese sandwich, but instead, it’s made into a panini.

Pull out your panini press and get it heating up, so that it’s ready for you once you’ve assembled your sandwich.

Layer some deli ham and cheese (a popular kind is swiss) onto your bread and then set it in the panini press to heat it up.

You’ll be left with a delicious heated sandwich, that can be eaten cold just as easily as it can be warm!

Store it in a container until lunch and then pull out this delicious hiking sandwich when you’re ready to eat!

9. Fluffernutter

This is similar to a peanut butter and jelly, but in my opinion, so. much. better.

If you’ve never been out to the East Coast, then you may have never even heard of this funny-named concoction, but trust me, it’s delicious!

Use whatever bread you like, but I personally prefer some sort of Italian sliced bread, because it’s thick and delicious.

Then, layer peanut butter on one side of the bread and marshmallow fluff on the other side.

Now, if you aren’t on the East Coast, you may not be able to find marshmallow fluff in store, but you can get it online.

Don’t be fooled by the marshmallow creme that you might find in the store, because it isn’t the same thing!

I find that this is one of the best backpacking sandwiches, because it’s really easily made at home and lasts for quite a while after it’s made.

Similarily to the Nutella and banana sandwich, I would pair this with some protein-packed snacks to keep that protein up!

10. Egg Salad

This is one of the easiest types of salad sandwiches for hiking to make, and it also ensures that you have plenty of protein to stay energized for the day.

Start by hard boiling some eggs and let them cool before choppin them up into small pieces.

Stir in some mayo, green onion, salt, pepper, and mustard. You can also season with paprika.

If you’d like to add a bit more to yours, consider adding things like pickles or relish, celery, bacon, or canned chicken.

Then just follow the same directions and add your mixture onto your choice of bread.

Vegetarian Hiking Sandwiches

If you eat a Vegetarian diet and need something delicious to bring out on the hiking trail, consider checking out one of these sandwiches!

11. Hummus and Veggies Pita

Although this one is technically not a sandwich, since it’s on a pita rather than bread, it’s still a delicious choice.

Grab yourself a pita and open it up, then spread a layer of your favorite hummus onto the pita.

Add some of your favorite veggies into the pita including roasted zuchinni, bell pepper, adn onion.

Other great choices for veggies include sprouts, cucumber, spinach, and tomato.

This is a nice nutritious lunch to bring along on the trail.

12. Chickpea Salad

This chickpea salad is similar to either an egg, chicken, or tuna salad, but is a great option for those with a vegetarian or vegan diet.

You’ll make this basically the same way that you would as an egg salad sandwich.

First, simmer your chickpeas for about 10 minutes, with the liquid, and then drain them and let them cool.

Mash them until they reach a consistency that you like, and then mix in some chopped celery, diced onion, parsley, vegan mayo, dijon mustard, and season with salt and pepper.

You can also add green onions, lemon juice, or diced bell pepper to add more flavor.

Then just layer the mixture onto your favorite bread and you’ve got yourself a deliciosu vegetarian sandwich for hiking!

13. Avocado Club

A club sandwich is one of my favorites, so why not turn it into a Vegetarian opiton?

This is really similar to your classic club, but instead of adding deli meat, you’re going to load it up with fresh avocado!

A few ideas of toppings that you can add include lettuce, tomato, cucumber, roasted bell peppers, arugula, spinach, and of course, the avocado.

Some people also add cheese to this, so if you have a favorite vegan cheese, you can also add this!

As for the dressing, you could use either a vegan mayo, or you could go for your favorite type of hummus.

Sides for Hiking Lunches

Now that you’ve got your hiking sandwiches all ready to go, you’re going to need a few sides to add to your pack to make a full meal.

Here are a few of the best options that I like packing with me in my bag.

• Carrots
• Crackers
• Apple slices
• Trail mix
• Mixed nuts
• Oranges
• Jerky
• Dried fruit
• Granola
• Protein bars

Are Sandwiches Good for Hiking?

Yes, sandwiches are a great option to bring on the trail because of easy they are to make and pack up.

You can get them all made at home and then just pack it into a container to bring along with you.

They also can be made to be very nutritious and have a lot of the nutrients that you need on the trail, including protein and carbs.

What is a Good Lunch to Bring on a Hike?

There are a lot of fantastic lunches that you can pack in your hiking pack for a day out on the trail, but there a few better options for you.

You should be packing a nutritious lunch that will keep you energized and ready for a full day of hiking.

A variety of carbs and protein are some of the most important nutrients to pack in your lunch.

You can get this from a sandwich, and you can also add to the meal by having a variety of snacks like protein bars, trail mix, and dried fruit.

What Kind of Sandwiches Travel Well?

It can be hard to find sandwiches that travel well, since they can almost all be pretty easily crushed if you aren’t careful.

The sandwiches on this list all can travel pretty easily, but the best way to ensure they don’t get crushed is to package them correctly.

The best sandwiches that don’t typically fall apart are ones that have a sauce to help keep them together, like peanut butter, mayo, or butter.

I’ll share a few of the best tips for storing your sandwich below.

Tips for Storing Hiking Lunches

If you’re having trouble keeping your sandwich or other lunch stored without it getting totally crushed, trust me, you aren’t the only one.

Below are a few tips to ensure that your lunch stays in tact for when you’re ready to eat.

✔ Use a hard-sided container, which will keep your sandwich from getting squished.

✔ Store a flexible ice pack near the sandwich to keep it cold.

✔ Keep condiments and “wet” foods seperate from bread until it’s time to eat to avoid soggy bread.

✔ Spread condiments between meat and cheese to avoid having soggy bread.

✔ Use reusable zipper bags to keep all of your snacks in one place.

✔ Store snacks in reusable bags to avoid waste.

FAQs

Wrap-Up: Sandwiches for Hiking

If you’re looking for something yummy to bring along with you on the hiking trail, then you’ve found just the right list!

I hope that you’re able to choose one of these great sandwiches for hiking and make yourself a nice nutritious meal for the trail.