An average person can burn anywhere between 100 and 250 calories in 30 minutes of canoeing. After canoeing for an hour a person can burn between 300 and 500 calories. The exact calories burned will vary depending on the weight, speed, and water conditions. 

Canoeing is a fun way to get outside and enjoy nature, but it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of working out to burn calories. It may come as a surprise that canoeing can burn as many as 500 calories per hour while simultaneously working shoulder, arm, and core muscles. 

Calories burned Canoeing Calculator

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How many calories are burned canoeing for 30 minutes?

The exact number of calories burned canoeing in 30 minutes of canoeing varies depending on several factors. You could burn as many as 250 calories or as few as 100. 

One factor that affects how many calories you will burn while canoeing is the condition on the day that you paddle.

For example, are you paddling on still water, or is there a current helping to push you along? Are you paddling into a headwind perhaps? These conditions will contribute to how much energy it will take to paddle the canoe. If it requires more effort, you will burn more calories. 

The other factors contributing to the total calories burned in 30 minutes of canoeing are the speed at which you are paddling and your body weight. 

The general rule is that the higher the bodyweight of a person, the more calories they will burn while canoeing. This is because it takes more energy and effort to paddle as the bodyweight increases. 

How many calories are burned canoeing for 30 minutes?

As previously discussed, the conditions play a big role in how many calories are burned while canoeing for one hour. The biggest factors are your body weight and how much effort they are exerting while paddling. 

As an example, let’s say that you are paddling on a river where the current is helping push the boat along slightly. A person of an average weight of about 130 pounds is paddling the canoe at a leisurely pace.

The highest speed reached is about 2mph. The paddler will burn about 200 calories after an hour of paddling at a mild speed. 

A person who weighs a bit more – let’s say about 180 pounds – will burn about 357 calories paddling at the same leisurely speed of 2mph. 

Now, if the same 130-pound person from early were to paddle faster and harder, reaching a pace of 5 mph they could burn between 400 and 500 calories within that same hour. The 180-pound person would burn even more, potentially as many as 700 calories within the hour. 

Is canoeing good for weight loss? 

While many may default to long hours at the gym to achieve weight loss, exciting outdoor activities like canoeing can also contribute to reaching a healthy weight. It’s important to find activities that are enjoyable because those will be the most sustainable exercises to perform again and again. 

On top of burning significant calories – canoeing also works many muscles in the body such as the core, shoulders, and arms. Strength training on top of calorie deficiency is a great way to lose weight and build strong muscles.

Paddlers can even incorporate some interval training, by paddling as fast as they can for a period and then slowing to a milder to moderate pace. Just remember that the more effort used paddling, the more calories you will burn. 

On a sunny weekend morning, few people would spend a day in the gym by choice. Instead, a fun-filled day of paddling a canoe on the water can burn plenty of calories, and can be a great way to lose weight or stay fit.

Exercises that are healthy as well as enjoyable, like canoeing, are an excellent choice for any fitness-minded person.