Snowshoeing Can Make For Great Exercise! (This Is Why)

Though many use snowshoeing as a way to get out and experience nature during the colder part of the year. Many also use snowshoeing as a means for exercise! Though I don’t personally snowshoe for the sole reason of exercise, it definitely does help me to stay in shape, not to mention help me stay conditioned year round, so basically there is no “month of misery” as I begin the hiking season.

Rather I am able to essentially continue hiking year round, making snowshoeing a great opportunity to keep my physical activity levels up during the winter months! Now, even though I don’t personally employ snowshoeing for the sole purpose of exercise (Rather for me it’s a byproduct). But that doesn’t mean you can’t use snowshoeing as a sole means to get your exercise in, and enjoy the process of sculpting your body!

You see, snowshoeing can actually burn more calories, and require more from your body then walking or even running at the same distance. Now, obviously this depends greatly on the terrain, and slope of the land to which you are comparing the activities. But for the most part snowshoeing can provide you with greater caloric burn then you would see with many other activities, not to mention the less stress that will be put on your body while doing so!

Now for those who ask the question directly, “Is Snowshoeing Good Exercise” Let me answer briefly. Snowshoeing is a great means for exercise. Particularly for those who participate in summer sports, snowshoeing can make for a great off season placeholder. But really, snowshoeing can be a great exercise for essentially anyone, as it is not taxing on the body like other sports are, yet still allows for high calorie burn.

Below I want to take this question into greater detail, and compare the differences between snowshoeing and other well known activities that are typically employed for a means of exercise. Such as Walking, Running, Hiking, Swimming, Biking…etc.. You see, I want you to have a good idea as to how the simple, yet effective activity of snowshoeing compares in terms of fitness benefits to other common activities.

Let’s Compare Snowshoeing To Other Fitness Activities

Let’s go over the differences between snowshoeing and other activities that people typically employ in order to gain fitness benefits. First I would like to cover the benefits of snowshoeing, and why snowshoeing can be a great option to anybody looking to get some physical exercise especially during the winter season.

Plus later on we will have a chart that makes comparing snowshoeing to the other activities a breeze.

Fitness Benefits Of Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing can be a great aerobic and muscular building activity. Snowshoeing can burn anywhere between 400 calories and over 1000 calories per hour. But this greatly depends on the speed to which you snowshoe, the snow density to which you snowshoe on, and the slope to which you travel across. Not to mention snowshoeing also helps build upon a person’s ability to balance.

The wonderful thing about snowshoeing is it is not impactful to the body, meaning the snow essentially acts as a cushion protecting your joints from hard impacts as you would experience when running or walking on pavement or concrete.

Also, probably my favorite reason for snowshoeing is the fact that you can get out and explore what nature has to offer. I mean, most who get involved in snowshoeing have likely hiked through, or on top of the mountains in their area during the summer months. But doing that same exact hike in the winter time can provide an exceptionally different experience.

Now, just for some good context I want to show you the differences between snowshoeing and the below activities. I want to compare, and eliminate activities that are not likely to work for you and your fitness needs, as well as show you why snowshoeing can be such a great activity when used for the sole benefit of exercise.

We will be comparing the following activities to the activity of snowshoeing in terms of caloric burn per hour and to which speed you travel at.

Walking
Running
Hiking
Swimming
Biking / Cycling
Cross Country Skiing

Below chart is based on an average person weighing around 180 lbs, traveling on a flat, powder or packed snow covered trail

Activity / Speed	Snow Condition	Caloric Burn (Per Hour)
Snowshoeing, 2.5 MPH	Fresh Powder	544
	Packed / Ice	425

Snowshoeing, 3.0 MPH	Fresh Powder	654
	Packed / Ice	512

Snowshoeing, 3.5 MPH	Fresh Powder	907
	Packed / Ice	738

Keep in mind the numbers above are based on the user traveling on flat country. This is not always the case, as in most cases you are likely to come across rolling and even steep slopes that you will likely be required to ascend and / or descend. This can dramatically impact the caloric burn typically for the better (Climbing, and Descending can cause for greater caloric burn, which in turn makes for a better exercise)

Snowshoeing Compared To Walking / Hiking & Running

The comparisons between walking, hiking and running can be almost identical at least in terms of the activity. However the biggest difference between the 3 and snowshoeing is the fact that snowshoes prove to act as an aide while traveling across deep snow. Though the snow causes drag.

I’m sure you’re probably going to be wondering why the activity of snowshoeing can have such drastic differences in terms of caloric burn when compared to simply walking hiking or running on and everyday trail where snow is non-existent.

Well, as you can see from the graph below demonstrating the differences in caloric burn when compared to the user’s speed, I’m sure after close examination you will begin to wonder why snowshoeing (which is the same activity essentially) has such a higher caloric burn when compared to simply walking or hiking at the same pace.

This is because snowshoeing is done in a quite considerably cold environment where the body uses up extra energy in order to keep yourself warm hence more calories burned. Plus when you snowshoe the snow acts as drag I guess you could say like you would see with an airplane that has an improperly shaped wing. The improper shape will cause the airplane to not cut through the air as smooth as it could with a properly shaped wing.

You see, snow essentially acts like drag when you travel through it especially when it is fresh powder. But what about when it’s not powder and it is packed snow or ice to which you are traveling across? Well, it is in this instance when it is essentially like walking however due to the added weight of the snowshoes, along with the cold environment and the involvement of the arms if you are using poles you can drastically see a difference in caloric burn!

Which is no doubt a great thing especially if you are using snowshoeing as a means for exercise or simply cardiovascular fitness. In my personal opinion, I have come to the conclusion that I believe snowshoeing when compared to walking, hiking or running can prove to be a better means for exercise than the other three. Especially since it has low impact on the body, and can be easily mastered by nearly anyone.

Below chart is based on an average person weighing around 180 lbs, traveling on a flat, paved, or dirt covered trail

Activity / Speed	Trail Condition	Caloric Burn (Per Hour)
Walking / Hiking, 2.5 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	240
Walking / Hiking, 3 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	287
Walking / Hiking, 3.5 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	335

Running, 6 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	843
Running, 7 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	949
Running, 8 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	1095
Running, 9 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	1252
Running, 10 MPH	Pavement / Dirt	1373

Snowshoeing Compared To Swimming

Now, there aren’t really much for similarities when it comes to comparing snowshoeing and swimming. I mean the only thing that they really have in common is the fact that they both require movement.

However, they both do allow one to get extensive exercise. And when it comes to fitness capabilities of one over the other I kind of see swimming as a more viable and more immersive opportunity. As with swimming at you typically tend to involve much more of your body then you would with snowshoeing.

As snowshoeing is typically more of a leg activity. I mean you can involve your arms along with back and chest if you also implement poles as you snowshoe. But for the most part in my opinion I see swimming has a slight better option. Now that’s not to say that swimming is the best, as is it mainly depends on personal preference and what you prefer to be doing. But when comparing snowshoeing and swimming in a caloric burn aspect you could essentially say they both are quite similar.

Nonetheless, I see snowshoeing as a simpler and broader option for many as you can snowshoe slow, or fast (To which you can do the same with swimming), though the only downside to snowshoeing for exercise is that it is a seasonal activity. But as we come back to snowshoeing the terrain type can highly impact the caloric burn you have over a duration of time. For example if you are ascending or descending hills you can be burning over 1000 calories + per hour. Whereas swimming you can’t necessarily swim up or down hill in order to gain greater fitness benefits (You can adjust speed and stroke but that’s about all).

But then again if you want to get creative with your swim workout, there are tools available that allow you to do similar things in terms of swimming. For example, back when I was on the swim team throughout high school, in order to gain a better workout we would strap a 5-gallon bucket to a bungee cord to us using a Velcro strap that would wrap the waste of the user. The bucket would create a massive amount of drag which in turn would require much more added effort in order to travel at the same speed as one without the bucket mechanism.

So essentially, it compares to, and acts the same as if you were in snowshoes climbing a snowy hill, added effort is required in order to ascend the hill when compared to simply walking on a flat snow covered trail.

Below chart is based on an average person weighing around 180 lbs, Swimming in a typical lap pool

Activity / Speed	Stroke	Caloric Burn (Per Hour)
Swimming, FAST	Freestyle	943
Swimming, Moderate	Freestyle	689
Swimming, SLOW	Freestyle	497

Snowshoeing Compared To Biking / Cycling

I’m sure you have come to realize by this point that we are not necessarily comparing activities so much as we are comparing the impact the activity has on our health and caloric burn. When it comes to biking, speeds can vary quite extensively especially dependent on the bike you are riding (for example, mountain bike, vs road bike).

As well as the different terrain types and slope patterns. As are similar with snowshoes. But for the most part biking is quite difficult to set a caloric burn on as each rider is different (which I mean is the case with basically every activity). However, bicycle type as well as terrain type and speed as well as slope and so forth can all vary so drastically that it makes assuming an average caloric burn per hour quite difficult.

Nonetheless, for the most part biking can burn calories quite extensively just you need more distance as your able to cover a larger amount of ground due to how fast bikes are able to travel when compared to simply walking or running. However, biking does get quite difficult when the snow hits the ground, though they do make bikes designed to be ridden in snow. They call them “Snow bikes” (Huh who would have thought, Right?).

Anyway, snow bikes are made with a much wider tire in order to provide better flotation in the snow. Though from my personal experience with snow bikes I have come to the conclusion that they really don’t do all that well in snow, especially fresh snow that has yet to be packed! Nonetheless biking is a great option for exercise but when trying to decide between biking, or snowshoeing I would personally pick snowshoeing all day long, that is if snow covers the ground.

As I just don’t care to deal with the struggles that come from trying to bike in snowy conditions. But again like every other activity its all based on your personal preference. If we compare cycling to snowshoeing on flat lands the caloric burn count essentially is close to the same, but dependent on the caveats between the two you can make one more difficult then the other and vice versa.

Below chart is based on an average person weighing around 180 lbs, Traveling on a Flat, paved or dirt trail

Activity / Speed	Caloric Burn (Per Hour)
Cycling, FAST	857
Cycling, Moderate	686
Cycling, SLOW	514

Snowshoeing Compared To Cross Country Skiing

Given that Cross Country Skiing is basically from the same mother as snowshoeing (I mean, they could nearly be twins). We just have to include, and compare the differences between the two. That is, in terms of fitness benefits!

If you notice when comparing the charts between cross country skiing (below) and snowshoeing (above), you’ll notice when moving at a slower pace the both of them are nearly identical in terms of caloric burn. However, when you compare the moderate to Fast pace between the two, snowshoeing begins to take the lead burning a substantial amount more calories.

Now, I’m sure you’ve noticed the data for Cross Country Skiing is quite a bit lighter in terms of data then its counterpart (Snowshoeing). This is because data was scarce to come across in terms of snow condition, and calories burned per hour… But given the data we do have it looks to show the two are basically identical in terms of calories burned when moving at a slower rate, but up the speed and snowshoeing proves to be a better exercise.

I believe this is because skis stay nearer to the surface of the snow then snowshoes, as well as for the most part you don’t have to lift skis each step you take. Also keep in mind skis work more off of momentum when it comes to holding faster paces. where as snowshoes require the user to essentially speed up the entire motion. But skis you can just glide across the snow with each push you give yourself.

But do keep in mind all of the tables here are based on a flat land caloric burn. If we were to compare snowshoeing and cross country skiing when ascending slopes, I think the snowshoes will prove to be the easier option. But when it comes to descents it is seen as the opposite.

Below chart is based on an average person weighing around 180 lbs, traveling on a flat, snow covered trail

Activity / Speed	Caloric Burn (Per Hour)
Cross-Country Skiing, FAST	772
Cross-Country Skiing, Moderate	673
Cross-Country Skiing, SLOW	589

Conclusion

Based on the data above I hope you were able to see just how beneficial snowshoeing can be in terms of fitness, as it is great for cardio and endurance purposes as well as balance and muscular progression. But do keep in mind the data in the tables above were all based on a 180 lb person traveling on a flat trail. Factor in slopes / hills and you can expect to see quite a variance between them all. But for the most part, including slopes and different terrain types into the equation will just make the caloric burn per hour go up.

Not only given that snowshoeing is a great option if your looking to burn off some extra calories, it is also very easy on the body. I consider snowshoeing to be a low impact activity. Given the fact that you are essentially walking on a cushion that blankets the ground around you. Now, of course this totally depends on the snow density to which you snowshoe on. But even if you snowshoe on Ice, the crampons will dig into the ice slightly, providing you with alittle absorbency to take some of the impact each step you take, where as walking on pavement you basically have nothing to help absorb the impact other then your shoes.

If your considering snowshoeing as a fitness activity, or just simply a means to get some exercise in? I totally suggest you go for it. As it proves to hold nearer to the top in terms of fitness benefits when compared to other sports and activities many employ for their fitness needs. As well as, allows one to get out and enjoy nature when the snow blankets the ground. I mean, it’s not like your going to go swimming outside when it’s 20 Degrees out, and theirs 2 feet of snow lining the ground. Unless you’re some sort of superhuman? If so all the power to you!

All in all, snowshoeing is great for essentially anyone, its easily mastered, and simple to adjust the intensity of your workout on the fly. Looking for a hard workout? Hit the fresh powder and climb some hills. Looking for something simpler to start? Hit the packed trails! I mean options in terms of intensity are quite large.

I hope you were able to find some value from this article, If you’re looking for any further information on snowshoeing fitness be sure to check out my other “Go To” Resources below. Otherwise be sure to check out the Outdoor Luxuriez Snowshoeing Lounge for more information regarding snowshoeing in general.

This Is Colt Signing Off!

Go To Resources:

Learn what muscles you use when snowshoeing so you understand the muscle groups being targeted during the exercise!

Also if your looking to prepare a little before the snowshoeing season be sure to check out my post that covers simple ways at how you can get in shape for the snowshoeing season!

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