How Many Calories Burned Backpacking 10 Miles?

By Anna Duncan

Backpacking is an excellent way to explore nature, but it’s also a great way to get in shape and stay healthy. On average, a 10-mile backpacking trip can burn up to 1,631 calories for men and 1,261 calories for women.

That’s equivalent to more than two hours of running or four hours of walking at a moderate pace. Furthermore, the amount of calories burned backpacking 10 miles can increase depending on the weight of your pack, the terrain you’re hiking on, and the speed at which you’re hiking.

Weight of Your Pack – How much you weigh plays an important role in how many calories you burn while backpacking. The heavier the load you carry in your pack, the more work your body has to do and the more calories you’ll burn. Studies have found that carrying a backpack weighing 20% of your body weight can increase calorie expenditure by up to 25%.

Terrain – The terrain also plays an important role in how many calories you burn when backpacking 10 miles. If you’re climbing hills or mountains, then the number of calories burned will be higher than if you were hiking on flat land. Additionally, if there are obstacles like rivers or streams that need to be crossed then that will also increase calorie expenditure.

Speed – The speed at which you hike will also affect how many calories are burned. Generally speaking, faster speeds require more effort and therefore result in burning more calories than slow speeds. According to one study, hiking at 2 mph can burn up to 600 more calories than walking at 1 mph.

Conclusion:
How many calories burned backpacking 10 miles is dependent on several factors such as weight of your pack, terrain and speed. Generally speaking, it is possible to burn up to 1,631 calories for men and 1,261 for women on average when completing a 10-mile backpacking trip. However this number increases depending on other factors such as weight carried in your pack and speed hiked at.