6 Best Jerkies For Rainy Day Hikes That Hold Up in a Downpour

The sky opens up an hour into your hike, turning the trail into a slick, muddy track. You’re soaked, but your spirits are holding. You reach into your pack for that protein-packed jerky you’ve been looking forward to, only to find a sticky, wet clump of meat in a bag that’s failed you.

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Why Your Jerky Choice Matters in Wet Weather

When you’re dealing with persistent rain, not all trail snacks are created equal. Jerky, the quintessential hiker’s fuel, is particularly vulnerable. Its preservation relies on being dry, and reintroducing moisture—whether from a leaky pack or just pervasive humidity—can ruin its texture and appeal in minutes.

The problem comes from two angles: the jerky itself and its packaging. Sugary glazes become sticky, syrupy messes when wet, getting all over your hands and gear. Softer, more tender styles of jerky have a higher moisture content to begin with, making them quicker to turn mushy. A flimsy bag or a weak resealable zip is a guaranteed failure point in a downpour.

Choosing the right jerky for wet conditions is less about brand loyalty and more about strategic selection. It’s a small detail that has a huge impact on trail morale. A satisfying, dry snack can be the highlight of a tough, rainy day, while a soggy failure is just one more thing to be miserable about.

Tillamook Zero Sugar for a Non-Sticky Snack

If you’ve ever dealt with jerky that feels tacky right out of the bag, you know the culprit is often sugar. Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it actively attracts and holds onto water molecules from the air. In a humid, rainy environment, a sugary jerky glaze is a magnet for moisture.

Tillamook’s Zero Sugar line sidesteps this problem entirely. By eliminating the sugar, you get a jerky that is naturally less sticky and far more resistant to getting gummy in damp conditions. The flavor comes from smoke and spices, not a sugary coating, which helps it maintain a pleasant, dry-to-the-touch texture even when the air is thick with moisture. This is a workhorse jerky built for function.

Stryve Biltong for Its Drier, Resilient Texture

Biltong isn’t technically jerky, and that’s its advantage in the rain. This South African-style dried meat is air-cured in a process that results in a naturally lower moisture content than many smoked jerkies. It’s sliced thin from whole slabs of meat after drying, which contributes to its unique, resilient texture.

Because it starts so dry, biltong is exceptionally resistant to absorbing ambient moisture. It won’t get slimy or sticky. Instead of rehydrating into a mushy mess, it simply maintains its tender, steak-like character. For backpackers on multi-day trips where gear is likely to get damp over time, biltong’s inherent dryness makes it a very reliable choice. The tradeoff is that it can be more crumbly than slab-style jerky, so handle the bag with a little care.

People’s Choice Old Fashioned for Toughness

Sometimes the old ways are the best, especially in a downpour. People’s Choice Old Fashioned jerky is a throwback to when jerky was purely about preservation. It’s incredibly dry, tough, and lean, with minimal ingredients and almost no surface moisture. This isn’t a tender, easy-chew snack; it’s a slab of seasoned, dried beef that makes you work for it.

That toughness is its greatest asset in wet weather. This jerky has so little moisture to begin with that it’s practically waterproof. It simply will not get sticky or fall apart, even with direct exposure to rain. For the hiker who values resilience above all else and doesn’t mind a serious chew, this is the most bombproof option available. It’s a snack that provides not just protein, but a satisfying activity for a few minutes while you take a break under a dripping tree.

Oberto Original in a Reliable, Resealable Bag

The jerky itself is only half the battle; the other half is the bag it comes in. A great jerky in a terrible bag is a useless jerky in the rain. Oberto is a widely available, classic brand, but its packaging is a standout feature for the all-weather hiker. The bags are typically made of thick, durable material with a robust zip-style closure that provides a confident seal.

This matters when you’re fumbling with cold, wet hands or trying to quickly close a bag before the rain soaks its contents. A weak or misaligned zipper is a common failure point, but Oberto’s design is generally reliable. The jerky inside is a more tender, mainstream style, which makes the bag’s performance absolutely critical. You are relying on that seal to protect the more vulnerable jerky inside, making it a solid choice for day hikes where you’ll be in and out of the bag once or twice.

Epic Venison Bars: Individually Wrapped Defense

For maximum protection against the elements, you can’t beat individual packaging. Epic Provisions bars, particularly the Venison Sea Salt Pepper bar, offer a fantastic solution. Each serving is hermetically sealed in its own wrapper, creating a completely waterproof barrier. This is the ultimate "grab-and-go" solution for a truly foul day.

The advantage is obvious: you can pull a single bar from your pack without ever exposing the rest of your food supply to the driving rain. This is a game-changer on multi-day treks or long, wet day hikes where you need to fuel up multiple times. The primary tradeoffs are cost and waste. Bars are often more expensive per ounce than bulk jerky, and you’ll have more wrappers to pack out. But for guaranteed dryness and convenience, the price can be well worth it.

Country Archer for Flavor That Survives the Damp

A common flaw with many jerkies is that the flavor is all on the surface, often in a sticky glaze that washes away or turns gooey in the rain. Country Archer Provisions often focuses on deep marinades, where the spices and seasonings penetrate the meat itself. This creates a flavor profile that’s integral to the jerky, not just sitting on top of it.

This approach means that even if the jerky’s surface gets a little damp, the core flavor remains intact. You still get that savory, satisfying taste you were hoping for, rather than a bland, washed-out piece of meat. It strikes a great balance, offering a more tender chew than ultra-dry styles but with a more resilient flavor than heavily glazed options. It’s a choice for the hiker who refuses to let bad weather compromise good taste.

What to Look for in All-Weather Jerky Packaging

Ultimately, your jerky is only as weatherproof as its container. Whether you’re buying a specialty brand or a gas station staple, the packaging is your first and most important line of defense against moisture. A little scrutiny before you buy can save you from a soggy snack disaster on the trail.

When you’re choosing a jerky specifically for a potentially wet trip, pay close attention to the bag itself. A few key features can make all the difference.

• Strong Resealable Zippers: Look for dual-track or thick plastic zippers that provide a tactile "click" when they seal. Avoid thin, flimsy seals that barely seem to connect.
• Thick Bag Material: A thicker, foil-lined bag is more resistant to punctures from other items in your pack, like trekking pole tips or the corner of a map case.
• Individual Wrappers: For the highest level of protection, especially on longer trips, individually wrapped bars or sticks are unbeatable.
• Minimal Air: A bag that is vacuum-sealed or has very little air inside is less likely to develop internal condensation from temperature changes.

No matter how bomber the manufacturer’s packaging seems, the smartest move is to always add your own layer of protection. Tossing your jerky into a sturdy, reliable zip-top freezer bag is a simple, cheap, and highly effective piece of insurance. It’s a perfect example of how a little preparation matters more than having the most expensive gear.

Don’t let a forecast for "showers" keep you off the trail. The woods have a special kind of magic in the rain, and being prepared with the right fuel makes it that much easier to enjoy. Pack a snack that can handle the weather, pull on your rain shell, and get out there.