During a full day of hiking, you can burn as many as 5,000 calories! The exact number of calories will vary depending on the incline at which you are walking, your body weight, the speed, and the terrain.
Generally, you will burn between 300-600 calories per hour. In as little as 10 minutes of hiking, you can burn 80 calories.
Calories burned Hiking Calculator
How many calories do you burn hiking?
The number of calories you can burn hiking depends greatly on the type of hike you embark upon. There are several other factories that play a key role as well. These include the type of terrain, the incline, your body weight, any extra weight that you might be carrying, and your pace.
A steep incline will burn the most calories. Walking uphill or at an incline takes a lot more effort from your body, and will get your heart rate up faster so it will burn more calories quickly. It also works all the muscles in your lower body.
The type of terrain can have a huge effect as well. Some hikes require that you climb and pull yourself up onto rocks. This is called scrambling and on this type of terrain, you can burn as many as 700 calories in an hour.
If you’re carrying a backpack you will automatically burn more calories as well. Many people carry a pack while hiking, and this can give a little extra push if you’re trying to maximize your caloric burn. Higher body weight will always burn more calories.
As with other forms of exercise, like running, a faster pace will burn more calories as well. Hiking quickly at an incline is an intense cardio workout and will burn more calories than a leisurely stroll on a flat trail.
How many calories are burned hiking 10 miles?
On gentle terrain, you will burn about 900 calories throughout the 10 miles. Of course, it is always dependent on the factors we discussed above, like body weight and pace.
An easy to moderate hike without the need to scramble up rocks or without switchbacks or steep inclines will take an average adult about 30 minutes to complete. When you consider that you can burn as many as 80 calories per 10 minutes of hiking, it adds up fast!
When hiking for as far as 10 miles, you will want to come prepared. Since it takes 30 minutes to walk a mile it will take you about 5 hours to complete a 10 mile hike and that doesn’t include any breaks.
You will want to make sure that you come prepared with enough water, food, and any gear you might need. That means carrying a backpack, and as we mentioned above, carrying a backpack can increase the amount of calories you are able to burn.
What burns more calories, hiking vs walking?
Hiking burns significantly more calories than walking because of the difficulty of navigating natural terrain. Very few hikes are completely flat, and the incline helps burn more calories.
Walking burns anywhere from 200-400 calories per hour while hiking can burn 200-900 calories in the same amount of time. If you’re looking for the maximum caloric burn, hiking is a better choice than walking.
If you have the option, choose a hike that has interesting terrain that varies in altitude. Hiking uphill will maximize the amount of calories burn and will burn many more than you would just walking on a flat trail.
To burn even more calories than walking, set yourself up for success by choosing a fast pace. The faster you move, the more calories you will burn. Finally, carry a pack with some weight in it. You will be preparing yourself for longer hikes and backpacking trips, and also increasing your caloric burn due to the extra weight.
How many calories does hiking in the mountains burn?
Hiking in the mountains burns around 400-500 calories per hour. Hiking in the mountains requires hikers to walk at a steep incline, and can often involve scrambling up rocks and difficult terrain.
The difficulty of the hike makes a huge difference when it comes to the ability to burn calories, and mountain hiking is a great option for exercise.
Is hiking every day a good way to lose weight?
Without a doubt, creating a daily routine of hiking is an excellent way to lose weight. As you build endurance and stamina you can continue to pursue more difficult trails.
On top of burning a huge amount of calories compared to other exercises, hiking is a lot of fun. You will be more likely to stick to an exercise routine that you find enjoyable, which will lead to more weight loss over time. Even better if you bring a hiking buddy along, as you will be able to motivate each other to keep going.
In addition to being a great exercise, spending time in nature reduces stress. Stress keeps a lot of people from losing as much weight as they could because of the negative hormones. Finding exersize that relaxes your mind while also working your body is the best way to loose weight,
Next time you’re considering going to the gym, perhaps choose to spend a few hours outside hiking instead. Nobody wants to spend a beautiful weekend afternoon inside at the gym. Instead of skipping your workout, get outside and take a hike! It is an enjoyable and healthy way to burn calories and reach your weight loss goals.
