Backpacking is a great way to explore nature and get some exercise at the same time. It can also be an effective way to burn calories and lose weight. But exactly how many calories are burned backpacking?
The amount of calories burned backpacking can vary from person to person, depending on factors such as body weight, intensity of the activity, terrain, altitude, and duration of the activity. Generally speaking, though, it’s been estimated that an average person can burn 500-1,000 calories per hour backpacking. This number can increase for heavier people or for those who are carrying a heavier load.
The intensity of your backpacking trip will also have a huge impact on how many calories you burn. If you’re hiking up steep hills or carrying a heavy pack, you’ll be burning more calories than if you’re taking a leisurely stroll along an even trail. The terrain and altitude will also play a role in how hard you’re working while backpacking; mountainous trails with elevation changes require more energy than flat trails.
Finally, the duration of your backpacking trip will affect how many calories you burn. If you’re out for an hour-long hike or overnight camping trip, you’ll obviously be burning more calories than if you were out for just a few minutes.
Conclusion:
How many calories are burned backpacking depends on several factors such as body weight, intensity of activity, terrain and altitude changes as well as the duration of the trip. Generally speaking though, it’s been estimated that an average person can burn 500-1,000 calories per hour while backpacking. For those carrying heavy loads or doing more intense activities such as mountain climbing or carrying heavy packs uphill could potentially burn even more.