Easy No‑Simmer Camp Soups for Cooler Hiking Days

As the seasons shift and we head into cooler months, a hot mug of soup on the trail can become one of life’s small pleasures. Those early starts are crisp, the air feels fresh, and by the time you stop for lunch or roll into camp, something warm can make all the difference.

The good news is that warming soups don’t not need to be complicated. With a few small additions, what looks like your standard cup‑a‑soup can be transformed into something far more filling and comforting, using ingredients you can easily find at the supermarket and prepare with just‑boiled water.

Coconut Laksa‑Style Noodle Soup

A bold, comforting upgrade when you want something with real flavour

This one feels like a big step up from a basic cup soup, but it is still incredibly easy.

You pack

  • Rice noodles or udon nests, broken up

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons coconut milk powder

  • 1 teaspoon laksa paste or dried curry paste

  • Stock powder

  • Optional extras: dehydrated vegetables, fried shallots, chilli flakes

On trail

  • Add everything to your mug or pot

  • Pour over just‑boiled water

  • Cover and let it sit for 5 to 7 minutes

Miso Noodle Soup

A light but deeply savoury cuppa soup upgrade

Fast, salty and perfect when the temperature drops or the breeze picks up.

You pack

  • 1 single‑serve sachet of miso paste or 1 tablespoon dried miso powder

  • A small handful of rice vermicelli or instant ramen noodles, broken up

  • Optional add‑ins: dried seaweed, dehydrated vegetables, sesame seeds

  • Optional flavour boost: 1–2 dried shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced or snapped into pieces

On trail

  • Add everything to your mug or pot (see tip re Miso paste below)

  • Pour over almost boiling water

  • Cover and wait 3 to 5 minutes

Tips: Breaking mushrooms into smaller pieces at home helps them soften quickly.
Miso is fermented. Add it your mug once the water has cooled a little to help preserve the probiotics.

Tomato & Couscous Soup

A simple way to turn a cup soup into something filling

This is about as easy as it gets, but surprisingly satisfying.

You pack

  • Instant couscous

  • Tomato soup sachet or tomato soup powder

  • Vegetable stock powder

  • Optional extras: dried basil or oregano, olive oil sachet

On trail

  • Add couscous, soup powder and stock to your mug or pot

  • Pour over just‑boiled water

  • Cover and wait 5 minutes

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

Comfort food made trail‑easy

This one keeps things familiar while making your cuppa soup feel far more substantial.

You pack

  • Fine vermicelli or 2‑minute noodles

  • Chicken stock powder or packet chicken cup‑a‑soup

  • Dehydrated vegetables

  • Optional extras: fried shallots, cracked pepper, olive oil sachet

On trail

  • Add noodles, soup mix and vegetables to your mug or pot

  • Pour over just‑boiled water

  • Cover and wait 3 to 5 minutes until noodles soften to your liking

Michele Michel