Thru-Hiking Prep Part 5: Resupply
Resupply is one of those thru-hike topics that sounds purely logistical until you’re standing in a gas station holding three Snickers, a dented can of Pringles, and a box you mailed yourself two months ago wondering what past-you was trying to accomplish.
The truth is, resupply doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to support your rhythm on trail.
This post covers how to think about resupply, what actually belongs in a resupply box, and how a few simple systems can make town stops faster, cleaner, and way less chaotic.
Start With a Resupply Style That Fits You
Most thru-hikers land somewhere between planning everything and planning nothing.
Mail drops work well if you have dietary restrictions, rely on specific supplements, or just like knowing what’s coming. Buying food as you go offers flexibility and fewer logistics. Many hikers use a hybrid approach, mailing boxes to harder-to-shop sections and resupplying in towns everywhere else.
The right choice is the one that reduces friction for you. If planning ahead lowers stress, lean into it. If flexibility keeps you sane, build around that.
What Actually Belongs in a Resupply Box
Most resupply boxes don’t fail because they’re missing food. They fail because they’re disorganized.
A solid resupply box usually includes:
- Foods you already know you’ll eat
- A few calorie-dense staples you can rely on
- Electrolytes or drink mixes
- Supplements or medications
- Small replacement items like blister care or sunscreen
Packing these items into smaller internal bags makes a huge difference. Food in one place. Town-only items in another. Random essentials like chargers, headlamp batteries, and meds kept together in a ditty or oddity bag so they don’t disappear into the bottom of your pack.
This also makes it easier to bounce what you don’t need. Grab what’s essential, reseal the rest, and move on.
Cooking and Eating Without the Town Chaos
Resupply is when your food system either proves itself or becomes annoying.
A simple cook kit makes town-to-trail transitions smoother. A 750 ml pot hits the sweet spot for most thru-hikers, big enough for dinners but compact enough to pack easily. Keeping your pot nested with a pot pocket helps insulate meals and protects other gear when everything gets stuffed back into your pack.
Long-handled utensils matter more than people expect. They let you eat directly from bags without getting food all over your hands, which is especially useful on the first day out of town when everything feels slightly sticky. Some hikers carry a titanium spoon or spork for durability, others prefer a bamboo spoon for comfort and simplicity.
And yes, some people cook in their mug, some in their pot, and some in a dedicated system like a crotch pot. The right answer is the one that keeps you fed with minimal effort.
Volume Matters as Much as Weight
Resupply planning often focuses on calories per ounce, but volume matters just as much.
Bulky food fills packs quickly, especially right after town. Roll-top packs help manage this, but organization helps even more. Using a Snack Sack or storage sacks for food lets you compress volume as supplies disappear instead of fighting a fixed shape for days.
Pack liners play a big role here too. They protect food and sleep systems when resupply days overlap with rain, spilled drinks, or leaky packaging.
None of this is about being fancy. It’s about leaving town without your pack feeling like a brick.
Water Carries and Stretch Sections
Not all resupply planning is about food. Some sections require longer water carries, and that changes how you pack.
Collapsible water containers make it easy to scale capacity only when you need it. Carry more through dry stretches, then roll it down and forget about it when water is plentiful again.
Keeping water accessible matters too. Shoulder strap pockets or bottle systems let you drink consistently without stopping, which helps with energy, hydration, and overall mood during long days.
Read our entire blog about water carries and storage here.
Snacks, Access, and Eating Often
Most thru-hikers don’t bonk because they forgot calories. They bonk because food is annoying to reach.
Keeping snacks accessible changes everything. A feedbag or hip belt pocket gives you a place for bars, candy, and salty snacks that you can grab without stopping. It encourages consistent eating, which keeps energy and morale steady throughout the day.
The same goes for systems like the Bare Boxer. For shorter food carries or sections where food storage matters, having a compact, rigid container simplifies packing and removes decision-making around how to store food at night.
Don’t Forget the Small Stuff
Resupply boxes are also where small comfort items shine.
A mini lip balm, sunscreen stick, or fresh hygiene item can feel disproportionately good after days on trail. Reef-safe sun protection is especially helpful in exposed sections where shade is limited and reapplication needs to be quick and mess-free.
These are the things that don’t weigh much but can protect you and make you feel human again.
Expect Your Plan to Change
Every thru-hiker eventually opens a box, laughs, and sends half of it ahead.
Your appetite will change.
Your mileage will change.
Your tolerance for certain foods will absolutely change.
Build your resupply plan knowing you’ll adjust it. Bounce boxes. Trade food. Buy something weird just because it sounds good in the moment.
Resupply isn’t about optimization. It’s about sustainability.
Resupply Is a Skill You Learn by Doing
The first few resupplies might feel clumsy. That’s normal. By a few hundred miles in, you’ll know how many days you like to carry, what foods actually work for you, and how to pack your kit so leaving town feels smooth instead of stressful.
Good gear helps, but systems matter more. Simple organization. Reliable waterproofing. Easy access to food and water. Tools that stay out of your way so you can focus on walking.
That’s the goal of resupply.
Keep it simple. Keep adjusting. Keep moving.
