Let’s face it. Bitter northland winters can make you feel old, sad, inactive and downright flabby if you let them. But here’s the deal. It doesn’t have to stay that way. You may not be able to beat winter, but you surely can join it while experiencing a host of benefits in the process. Snowshoeing provides an unrivaled way to experience the joys of winter. What’s the alternative anyway? Sullenly peering out your window for months on end until things finally thaw? That’s overrated, my friend.

Besides enjoying the adventure and beauty of winter. Regular snowshoeing will keep you feeling happy, fit and positive until spring arrives. The mental health benefits of such rigorous exercise are well-documented. Snowshoeing will surely chase away those winter blues, giving you a better outlook on life during the shorter days. Just how good is snowshoeing for you? To answer that question, let’s look at the calories you can burn by snowshoeing.

Crescent Moons foam snowshoes are the perfect pair of snowshoes for any of your winter wonderland adventures!

How Many Calories Does an Average Person Burn in One Hour of Snowshoeing?

Although it’s impossible to give an exact number on the calories you’ll burn in an hour of snowshoeing, a good rule of thumb is 600. This average comes from Snowsports Industries America (SIA). For those more experienced at snowshoeing who’ve learned how to increase their speed and terrain difficulty, that number could climb to 1,000 calories per hour!

Compare that extreme calorie loss to the average amount burned from walking and you’ll quickly see why snowshoeing is the ultimate winter workout. The average calories burned from an hour of walking is a mere 250.

Besides the intensity of your workout and terrain, other factors will determine how many calories you burn. Some of those could include:

• Outside Temps: More extreme outside temps, whether hot or cold, result in more calories burned.
• Clothing and Gear: Not surprisingly, the more your clothing or gear weighs, the more calories you’ll lose.
• Body Weight: You typically burn more calories if you weigh more.
• Age: As you age, you start burning fewer calories per day than when you were younger.
• Sex: Men burn more calories than women.
• Muscle Mass: The greater your muscle mass, the more calories you’ll burn. This could be at least part of the reason men tend to burn more calories than women (although some women have a greater muscle mass than some men).
• Thermogenesis: This term deals with how much energy it takes to break down the food you’ve consumed. It will vary from person to person and based on what types of foods you consume before a workout.
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Either one of these factors will cause women to burn more calories.

Can You Increase the Calorie Burn While Snowshoeing?

As you can see from the above variables, nearly all the calorie burning factors are in your control. For instance, you obviously can’t change your age, but you still can gradually improve your muscle mass.

As already shared, your quickest results will come from increasing your workout speed and terrain difficulty. Because snowshoeing is such a great calorie-burning workout, you’ll want to gradually work up to higher speeds and more challenging landscapes.

Attempting to do too much too soon could lead to an injury. When starting, just be encouraged that you’ll already burn considerably more calories than you would by walking.

What Muscles Do You Work When Snowshoeing?

One of snowshoeing’s greatest virtues is that it provides both cardio and strength training. It’s a low-impact, full-body workout. Snowshoeing has similar health benefits to running. You’ll tone all of your muscles in the process.

More specifically, your arm, back and shoulder muscles will get a great workout if you use poles. You’ll also see focused results in your hamstrings, calf muscles and quads. You can expect a stronger core and better balance from regular snowshoeing. Also, be prepared to lose several inches off of your waist. We haven’t found anyone who’s bothered by that!

Crescent Moon Snowshoes Will Rekindle Your Love for Winter

Our best-in-the-industry snowshoe and snowshoe accessory designs will give you the optimal outdoor winter experience. You’ll feel and look healthier and happier as a result.

Whether you want to meander through the woods or run on snow-covered trails, we have the perfect set-up for your goals. Our foam snowshoes have transformed the experience previously provided by traditional aluminum ones. Foam snowshoes feel like an extension of your shoes and the dexterity they provide is unrivaled.

Some people dread it when winter’s icy grip takes hold. We’ll show you how to love it!