Hiking Calorie Burn Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the hiking calorie burn calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Total Calories Burned
calories = round(terrain_met * total_weight_kg * duration_hr)Calories per Hour
cal_per_hour = round(terrain_met * total_weight_kg)Calories per Mile (est)
cal_per_mile = round(terrain_met * total_weight_kg / (6 / terrain_met * 3))Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
weight_lbs | Body Weight(lbs) | 160 |
duration_hr | Hiking Duration(hr) | 3 |
terrain_met | Terrain Difficulty | 6 |
pack_lbs | Backpack Weight(lbs) | 10 |
total_weight_kg | Derived value= (weight_lbs + pack_lbs) * 0.4536 | calculated |
How It Works
How Hiking Calorie Burn Is Estimated
Formula
Calories = MET x Total Weight (kg) x Duration (hours)
Total weight includes body weight plus pack weight, since carrying a heavier load increases energy expenditure.
MET Values for Hiking
| Terrain | MET | |---------|-----| | Flat, easy | 4.0 | | Moderate hills | 6.0 | | Steep, rough | 8.0 | | Mountaineering | 10.0 |
Pack Weight Effect
Carrying a pack increases calorie burn proportionally to the added weight. A 20 lb pack on a 160 lb person adds about 12% more calories burned.
Worked Example
A 160 lb person hikes moderate hills for 3 hours with a 10 lb pack.
weight_lbs = 160duration_hr = 3terrain_met = 6pack_lbs = 10
- 01Total weight = (160 + 10) x 0.4536 = 77.1 kg.
- 02Calories = 6 x 77.1 x 3 = 1388 kcal.
- 03Per hour = 6 x 77.1 = 463 kcal/hr.
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Hiking Calorie Burn Calculator