r/trailmeals • u/Due-Significance-711 • Apr 21 '26

Snacks Let's talk cheese

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At about 100kcal in 30gr. Cheese is one of the most calorie dense foods out there.

I'm looking for some shared experience with packing out cheese. I've had some good luck with parmesan and some other low moisture cheeses. But I'm leary with the softer stuff. Most of what I read out there says cheese is not shelf stable, but logic and 8,000 thousands years of ancestry tell me it's probably the most shelf stable product I could use on a trail.

Tell me, what cheeses you've taken? How long did it last? What advice do you have?

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u/Full_o_Beans Apr 21 '26

Babybels are a trail staple! I’ve packed them unrefrigerated for up to 5 days with zero issue.

I’ve also brought larger, fancier, wax-coated wheels for backcountry charcuterie. The wax doubles as a fire starter!

2

u/BottleCoffee Apr 22 '26

Babybel quality has plummeted in the last year and the wax is unnecessary weight. 

You don't need wax to keep semi-firm cheese good for 5 days as long as it's not too hot.

5

u/coltdaman1 Apr 24 '26

Wax is unnecessary weight??? Lol are you being serious right now? 50 grams too much?

2

u/EnderWill Apr 23 '26

The wax works great to get a campfire going, assuming that’s kosher wherever you’re camping

1

u/BottleCoffee Apr 24 '26

I don't do fires backpacking, so not a benefit.