Surviving in The Long Dark means knowing how to pack smart — especially when heading out from your safe house on long treks. When space and weight are limited, every calorie counts. That’s why this guide breaks down the best food options for travel based on calories per kilogram, using a practical tier list format. We’ll also touch on how cooking skill impacts food value and why some commonly kept foods just aren’t worth the weight.
Whether you’re an early survivor or deep into the endgame, this food breakdown will help you keep your pack light and your belly full.
🧠 Tier List Criteria
Each tier is based on calories per kilogram (Cal/kg) — the single best metric for determining weight efficiency.
- S Tier (3500+ Cal/kg): Ultra-light, high-calorie — ideal for travel.
- A Tier (3000–3499 Cal/kg): Great substitutes if S-tier items aren’t available.
- B Tier (2000–2999 Cal/kg): Decent options, but not optimal.
- C Tier (1000–1999 Cal/kg): Low efficiency — better stored at your base.
- D Tier (500–999 Cal/kg): Poor for travel. Use only if desperate.
- F Tier (<500 Cal/kg): Not travel-worthy. Eat before leaving base.
🐟 F Tier: Fish — Not for the Road
All types of cooked fish land in the F tier by default:
- Cooked Coho Salmon
- Burbot
- Rainbow Trout
- Lake Whitefish
- Goldeye
- Smallmouth Bass
- Rockfish
- Irish Lord
Even at Cooking Level 5 (which increases their caloric value), only the last three barely move into D-tier range. Fish are great for safe house stockpiles, not for expeditions.
🍖 D Tier: Cooked Game Meats (Pre-Cooking Level 5)
These staples offer solid calories but poor efficiency for travel — at least until you’re a master cook:
- Rabbit
- Deer (Venison)
- Wolf
- Cougar
- Bear
- Moose
Also in D tier:
- Canned Pineapple
- Pinnacle Peaches
- Canned Corn
At Cooking Level 5, several of these meats shift up into C tier:
- Venison
- Wolf
- Cougar
- Bear
Rabbit and ptarmigan remain at the bottom, even when perfectly cooked.
🥫 C Tier: Safe House Stockpile
Foods in this tier are best left behind as reserves:
- Pickles
- Tomato Soup
- Canned Ham
- Dog Food
- Carrots
- Peanut Butter
They’re not terrible — but not worth their weight when traveling.
🍫 B Tier: Acceptable If Needed
Not ideal, but don’t feel too bad about bringing these if your pack has room:
- Airline Food (Chicken + Vegetarian)
- Pork & Beans
- Chocolate Bars
- Dried Apples
- Maple Syrup
💪 A Tier: Travel-Ready Power Foods
These items give you solid calorie efficiency, and many are common and renewable:
- Condensed Milk
- Cattail Stalks (abundant near lakes)
- Sardines
- Ketchup Chips
- Granola Bars
- Acorns (can be gathered and processed)
- Cereal
- Beef Jerky
- MREs (Meal Ready-to-Eat)
✅ Best part? Many of these are easy to mass collect (like cattails and acorns), making them reliable long-term travel staples.
🥇 S Tier: The Holy Trifecta of Travel Food
These are the absolute best food items in the game for calorie efficiency. If you find them, save them for expeditions:
- Cured Meat – 3,600 Cal/kg
- Can be crafted with a meat curing box (Tales DLC).
- Ideal late-game travel food.
- Energy Bars – 5,000 Cal/kg
- Hefty calorie count in a small package.
- Salty Crackers – 6,000 Cal/kg
- The king of weight efficiency.
- Often found early game, so save them!
Pro tip: Don’t eat these at home. They’re best used on long trips to make space for loot and supplies.
💧 Honorable Mention: Sodas
- 1,000 Cal/kg, but also restore ~33% thirst.
That makes sodas decent substitutes for water. Bringing a few can save up to 2.2kg of water weight depending on your stash.
🧳 Final Takeaway: How to Pack Smart
When prepping for a hunting trip, scavenging run, or region hop:
- Prioritize A and S-tier foods.
- Leave B-D food at home.
- Use cooked meat and fish to maintain hunger while inside base.
- Cook at Level 5 for the best efficiency boost.
- Bring sodas to lighten your water load.
By following these rules, you’ll ensure every calorie you carry gives you the most bang for your kilo.
Stay light, stay smart, and stay fed out there, survivors. See you next time for a deep dive into tools and gear efficiency!
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