Last updated on November 1st, 2022 at 04:50 pm
Interested in leveraging the off season for a fierce workout? Then, it’s important to understand how many calories some of our favorite winter activities burn. To maximize your winter workout, we suggest trying snowshoeing and cross country skiing. So, in this post we explore the calories burnt snowshoeing vs cross country skiing.
Does Snowshoeing Burn a lot of Calories
Firstly, hikers and trail runners shouldn’t seriously consider snowshoeing. In fact, it’s serious exercise that burns serious calories. Plus, snowshoeing is also great resistance training.
For example, the average snowshoer using poles can burn between 420-1000 calories per hour of travel.
Is Snowshoeing Better Exercise Than Walking
Indeed, snowshoeing is a better workout than walking in the regular season.
In fact, depending on your weight, you can burn 65-100 calories per hour by walking. Whereas, with snowshoeing, you can see up to 1000 per hour.
Plus, if the snow is deeper, you’ll get an even better exercise.
Not to mention, walking is hardly a full body workout like snowshoeing. For instance, snowshoers will feel the burn from larger steps and balancing in abs, obliques, glutes and quads. Actually, it’s a lot like running in dry sand.
Calories Burnt Snowshoeing
Now, because we want to get the most out of our winter hikes, we broke down how many calories hikers can burn in snowshoes. Moreover, this will help answer our question, ‘how many calories are burnt snowshoeing vs cross country skiing?’
Snowshoeing Calories Burnt For Different Body Types
First, we have a table for three people, each Snowshoeing for 30 minutes.
The heavier a person is, the more energy it will take to move forward, which explains the differences between weights. The data used in the table below originally appeared July 2004 Harvard Heart Letter.
| Person's Weight | Duration | Calories Burnt |
|---|---|---|
| 125 lb | 30 Minutes | 240 calories |
| 155 lb | 30 minutes | 298 calories |
| 185 lb | 30 Minutes | 355 calories |
Now, while this data provides a good snapshot, there are a other variables to consider.
For example, snowshoeing with trekking poles will burn way more calories than without.
Plus, we have an entire post dedicated to the best snowshoeing poles if you are convinced to get a pair for your next trek.
Why Does Snowshoeing Burn So Many Calories
Firstly, snowshoeing builds upon walking, which is an activity that already burns a lot of calories per unit of time.
And, walking on snow with broad shoes makes each step a bit more difficult to execute.
Essentially you’re battling the snow to lift with each step. Furthermore, the wider surface area creates a larger amount of resistance.
RELATED: Best Snowshoes for Beginners
Moreover, this action requires additional muscles to execute; more specifically muscles around your hip flexors and glutes.
How Many Calories Do You Burn While Cross Country Skiing
Now, cross country skiing is the definition of a full-body cardio workout.
And, just like snowshoeing, there are different techniques that may burn more or fewer calories.
In fact, on average cross country skiing burns over 400-1000 calories per hour.
Cross Country Skiing Calories Burnt
The table below shows calories burnt at an easy to moderate pace. So, while cross country skiing is an amazing workout, it does involve some instances of gliding.
As a result, you will notice that snowshoeing at a similar speed burns slightly more calories.
| Person's Weight | Duration | Speed | Calories Burnt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 lb | 30 min. | 4.0 - 4.9 mph | 199 calories |
| 155 lb | 30 min. | 4.0 -4.9 mph | 247 calories |
| 185 lb | 30 min. | 4.0 - 4.9 mph | 294 calories |
Source for Table Comparing Calories Burned Cross Country Skiing: CalorieLab
The above table provides a great snapshot of how many calories cross country skiing burns when the activity is done at a moderate pace.
RELATED: Best Snowshoes for Kids
As a result, based on the above table, and the comparison table for snowshoeing provided earlier, snowshoeing would seem to burn more calories.
However, you may now be wondering, ‘what if you were to increase your speed while cross country skiing?’ So, we go into this further below.
Cross Country Skiing Burns More Calories at Faster Speeds
As with any activity, cross country skiing provides the ability to go faster, and uphill. In fact, making even small changes to the speed you’re moving will greatly impact the calories you burn on your excursion.
Calories Burnt Cross Country Skiing at Faster Speeds
For instance, calories burnt cross country skiing can differ greatly depending on your speed. Furthermore, if moving at 7.0 – 8.0 mph, cross country skiing will burn more calories than snowshoeing.
| Person's Weight | Duration | Speed | Calories Burnt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 lb | 30 min. | 7.0 - 8.0 mph | 370 calories |
| 155 lb | 30 min. | 7.0 - 8.0 mph | 458 calories |
| 185 lb | 30 min. | 7.0 - 8.0 mph | 546 calories |
Source for Table Comparing Calories Burned Cross Country Skiing: CalorieLab
The above table shows how increasing speed can impact calories burnt cross country skiing. However, there are still ways to improve the workout to burn more calories.
RELATED: 9 Benefits of Cross Country Skiing
For instance, adding a slight incline will drastically increase your effort and impact the number of calories burnt. In fact, moving briskly uphill while cross country skiing will burn above 1,000 calories per hour for almost any bodyweight. And, that is some major energy output.
How Many Calories Do You Burn Cross Country SKiing per Hour
To reiterate, cross country skiers can expect to burn between 500-1100 calories per hour when traveling at the moderate pace.
However, after boosting yourself to 7-8mph, cross country skiing can burn 740-1100 calories per hour.
Plus, you can try some uphills or avoid downhills on your journey, which can help burn even more.
Why Does Cross Country Skiing Burn so Many Calories
Cross country skiing burns so many calories primarily because of resistance and how much of your body is required for movement.
For instance, each ski has so much surface area in contact with the ground that propelling forward requires significant effort. Moreover, this is true even though it feels like you are gliding on air.
RELATED: Best Snowshoes for Running
In fact, your entire body is engaged during cross country skiing, which makes it a killer workout. For instance, your legs, core, and upper body are completely required to move forward, even at slow speeds.
As a result, regardless of speed, it is going to be a good workout.
Can You Lose Weight Cross Country Skiing
In short, absolutely!
For instance, as we’ve discovered, cross country skiers burn an incredible amount of calories. Plus, since its such an amazing full body workout, you’ll be toning all sorts of muscles.
Thus, cross country skis are an amazing tool for skipping the gym membership in the winter. And, because their size is not weight-based like snowshoes, you don’t have to size down as you shed the pounds.
However, it’s important to keep a fluid movement and avoid gliding if you want to burn all these calories.
Try Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing
Regardless of which you choose, rest assured these two winter sports are going to be one heck of a workout.
In fact, you will burn tons of calories, get full-body tone, and feel rejuvenated taking on the cold weather.
So, if weight loss is your goal, both activities burn so many calories that it ultimately shouldn’t matter which one you decide upon.
Try your hand at each! And, spend more time on the one you enjoy most, either way, they’re both fun to take on with a friend.
Image Credit: Yellowstone National Park | (source) | Public Domain Mark 1.0
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