Backpacking is a great way to explore nature and see the world. Whether you’re trekking through the Andes or taking a long walk in your local park, you need to make sure you’re getting enough calories to stay healthy.
Knowing how many calories you need each day can help you plan your meals and snacks accordingly.
Calorie needs vary from person to person, but on average, an adult needs about 2,000-2,500 calories per day for moderate activity levels. If you’re doing strenuous activities like backpacking, your calorie needs will likely be higher. To get an estimate of how many calories you need per day when backpacking, it’s important to consider some factors.
Your body weight is one of the biggest factors that determines your calorie needs when backpacking. Generally speaking, the more you weigh, the more calories your body will use for energy during physical activity. Additionally, if you have a higher percentage of body fat than muscle mass, this can also increase your calorie needs.
The intensity and duration of your backpacking trip are also important variables to consider when calculating how many calories you need each day. For example, if you’re going on a multi-day trip with multiple days of strenuous physical activity, then it’s likely that your calorie needs will be higher than someone who is just going on a short hike in their local park.
The type of food that you are carrying with you on the trip is also important. If you are only carrying lightweight foods with low calorie density (such as granola bars), then it’s likely that your calorie intake will be lower than someone who carries nutrient-dense foods (such as nuts and seeds).
Conclusion:
Calorie needs when backpacking can vary greatly from person to person depending on body weight, intensity and duration of activity as well as the type of food being carried. On average, an adult should aim for 2,000-2,500 calories per day for moderate activities such as walking or hiking. For more intense activities such as multi-day treks or mountaineering trips, aim for at least 3,000 calories per day.