Hiking vs Cycling: Calories Burned Compared (2026)

Cycling burns 9.4 calories per minute, totaling 281 calories in 30 minutes and 562 in an hour, while Hiking burns 7.0 calories per minute, totaling 211 calories in 30 minutes and 422 in an hour. Cycling has a MET value of 8.0, while Hiking has a MET value of 6.0.

Hiking and Cycling are popular activities that differ in calorie expenditure. Factors such as METs, body weight, duration, and intensity influence the number of calories burned during these exercises.

What Is the Difference Between Hiking and Cycling?

Hiking is a moderate impact outdoor activity involving walking on trails or uneven terrain. It engages various muscle groups and can vary in intensity based on the trail difficulty. Cycling is a low impact activity that involves riding a bicycle, either outdoors or on a stationary bike. It provides a cardiovascular workout and can be adjusted for intensity.

Hiking vs Cycling: Calories Burned Side by Side

The following comparison outlines the calories burned during Hiking and Cycling side by side.

Duration (155 lb / 70 kg)	Hiking	Cycling
15 min	105 cal	141 cal
30 min	211 cal	281 cal
45 min	316 cal	422 cal
60 min	422 cal	562 cal

Values are for a 155-pound (70 kg) person. A heavier body burns more, a lighter body less, at the same intensity.

Which Burns More Calories, Hiking or Cycling?

For burning the most calories: Cycling burns 70 more calories than Hiking in 30 minutes and 140 more calories per hour.

For time efficiency: Cycling burns 9.4 calories per minute, while Hiking burns 7.0 calories per minute.

For lower-impact exercise: Cycling is a low impact activity, while Hiking is considered moderate impact.

Tracking Exercise in Nutrola

Calories burned only count toward your goal if you record them. Nutrola lets you log a session of hiking or cycling by describing it in your own words by voice or text, by picking an exercise type and intensity, or by entering the calories directly, and on iOS and Android it can sync workouts automatically from Apple Health or Health Connect. Logged workouts sit next to the food you track from a photo, barcode, or voice entry, so calories in and calories out stay in one place. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

Sources and Method

MET (metabolic equivalent) values are from the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al.), the standard reference for the energy cost of physical activity. Calories are estimated with calories = METs x body weight in kilograms x duration in hours. Hiking is rated at about 6.0 METs (cross-country) and Cycling at about 8.0 METs (moderate, 12 to 14 mph). Real burn varies with fitness, technique, terrain, and effort, so treat these as close estimates, not exact counts. This is educational and not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which activity burns more calories?

Cycling burns 281 calories in 30 minutes and 562 calories in an hour, while Hiking burns 211 calories in 30 minutes and 422 calories in an hour.

How many calories does Hiking burn in an hour?

Hiking burns 422 calories in an hour, which is based on a MET value of 6.0.

How many calories does Cycling burn in 30 minutes?

Cycling burns 281 calories in 30 minutes, with a MET value of 8.0.

What is the calorie burn difference in 30 minutes?

Cycling burns 70 more calories than Hiking in 30 minutes, totaling 281 calories for Cycling and 211 calories for Hiking.

Which is better for weight loss?

Cycling is more effective for weight loss due to its higher calorie burn, with 562 calories burned in an hour compared to Hiking's 422 calories.

What are the MET values for Hiking and Cycling?

Hiking has a MET value of 6.0, while Cycling has a MET value of 8.0.

Key Takeaways

• Hiking burns 211 calories in 30 minutes.
• Cycling burns 281 calories in 30 minutes.
• Cycling burns 562 calories in an hour.
• Hiking burns 422 calories in an hour.
• Cycling has a MET value of 8.0.
• Hiking has a MET value of 6.0.