Hiking Calorie Needs Calculator

Daily calories from distance, elevation, and pack weight.

Body weight (lb)

Pack weight (lb)

Distance (miles)

Elevation gain (ft)

Terrain

Tab to move between fields

Total calories burned

1,476

Hiking effort (cal)1,237

Estimated time (hrs)3.4

Calories per mile155

Calories per hour362

Water needed (L)1.7

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your body weight (lb) and pack weight (lb).
Enter total hike distance (miles) and cumulative elevation gain (ft).
Select terrain conditions: maintained trail, moderate off-trail, or scramble/bushwhack.
Read total calories burned, hiking-only calorie effort, and estimated hiking time (calculated using Naismith's rule from your distance, elevation gain, and terrain).
Use the calories-per-mile, calories-per-hour, and water-needed results to pack enough food and water for the hike.

How the result changes with Body weight (lb)

Total calories burned: Total estimated calories including hiking effort and basal metabolism.
Hiking effort (cal): Calories from hiking effort alone (excludes BMR).
Estimated time (hrs): Estimated hiking time using Naismith's rule (3 mph + 1 hr per 2000 ft gain).
Calories per mile: Average calories burned per mile of hiking.
Calories per hour: Average calorie burn rate per hour.
Water needed (L): Estimated water needs based on duration and intensity.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Body weight (lb) = 150, Pack weight (lb) = 25, Distance (miles) = 8, Elevation gain (ft) = 1500 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Total calories burned
Total calories burned = hikingCalories + bmrDuringHike
1476 = 1476
Calculate Hiking effort
Hiking effort = (flatCalPerMile * distanceMiles + elevationCal) * terrainMultiplier
1237 = 1237
Calculate Estimated time
3.4 = 3.4