How Much Food Do I Need To Hike 30 Miles?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yes, you can absolutely hike 30 miles in a single day

. Many long distance thru-hikers accomplish this many times over during their trek. So, there’s no reason you can’t do it as well. The secret is to work up to the distance over time and come into the day fully prepared with the proper gear and nutrition.

How do I prepare for a 30 mile hike?

  1. Take yourself out for a walk two or three times during the week. Make sure to move briskly enough to get your heart rate up, and then keep it up for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Be sure to wear the same shoes that you’ll be wearing on your hike. …
  3. Carry a lightly-weighted daypack on your weekday walks.

How much food do I need for a 10 mile hike?

A reasonable goal is about

11⁄2 to 21⁄2 lbs. of food (or 2,500 to 4,500 calories) per person per day

. A person doing 10 miles of strenuous hiking with a 4,000-foot climb will obviously burn more calories—and need a lot more food—than someone covering a few miles of relatively flat trail who plans to chill at the campsite.

How can I hike 25 miles a day?

Hike More Hours:

Start Early and Finish Late

To hike 25 miles at an average of 3 mph would take only 8 hours and 20 minutes. If you want to hike long distances, then hiking during daylight hours is a great goal to aim for. Depending on the time of year, that could be 14-plus hours of hiking.

How hard is it to hike 20 miles a day?


It is possible to hike 20 miles without being super fit, although you most likely will be quite sore the next day

. Remember, not all hikes are created equally – it may be possible to hike for 20 miles in a day over good ground on flat terrain.

How do I hike 20 miles?

What is a reasonable distance to hike in a day?

Most people will plan to hike

3-10 miles

per day, depending on what shape you’re in and how much elevation gain there is.

How do I prepare for a 40 mile hike?

For example, if you’re doing a 40 mile, 5-day trip, you should try to

hit at least 16 miles per week, if not more

. If you can, try to do at least one or two full-day hikes early in the month; hiking 8 miles or more with your pack on during a day hike will be a true test of your preparedness.

What food should I bring hiking?

  • Trail mix.
  • Nuts, seeds, nut-based bars or nut butter packs.
  • Fresh, whole fruit that doesn’t require refrigeration such as apples, bananas and oranges.
  • Dried or freeze-dried fruits and veggies.
  • Energy bars, chews or gels.
  • Granola or granola bars.
  • Ready-made tuna salad pouches.
  • Whole-grain tortillas.

What is the best energy food for hiking?

  • Beef Jerky. A simple snack to stay full of energy is the salty protein strips known as beef jerky. …
  • Energy bars. …
  • Dried soup. …
  • Tuna and crackers. …
  • Sausage and cheese rolls. …
  • Instant pancakes. …
  • Trail mix. …
  • Dried fruit.

How many calories should I eat when hiking?

The meal should be low in fat and fiber, high in carbohydrates and contain some protein. The goal is to eat enough to provide fuel while allowing enough time to digest the food before hiking. Aim for

300 to 500 calories at least an hour before hiking

.

How long should it take to walk 20 miles?

Normal Pace: It would take a person about

5 hours

to walk 20 miles at a normal pace. Relaxed Pace: It would take a person about 6 hours and 45 minutes to walk 20 miles at a relaxed pace. Fast Pace: It would take a person about 3 hours and 30 minutes to walk 20 miles at a fast pace.

How many miles can an average person walk in a day?

The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly

1.5 to 2 miles

. It’s a good idea to find out how many steps a day you walk now, as your own baseline. Then you can work up toward the goal of 10,000 steps by aiming to add 1,000 extra steps a day every two weeks.

Is 7 miles a long hike?


A 7-mile hike can become a long hike for both beginner and experienced hikers, depending on the terrain and the elevation gain

. Knowing the amount of time you take on hikes is vital to handle the shifting weather and trail conditions. Make sure to pack only the essentials to avoid weighing yourself down.

Can you walk 22 miles in a day?

A trained walker can walk a 26.2-mile marathon in eight hours or less, or

walk 20 to 30 miles in a day

. Steadily building your mileage with training allows you to walk long distances with less risk of injury.

Is walking 25 miles a week good?



People only need to walk up to 12 miles per week or for about 125 to 200 minutes per week to improve their heart health

,” said the lead author Brian Duscha. “Our data suggest that if you walk briskly for 12 miles per week you will significantly increase your cardiovascular fitness levels compared to baseline.

How many miles is a good hike?

Avid hikers max out at an average of

16 miles

for a full day of hiking. Difficulty of terrain, fitness level, as well as the weight of your pack if you are backpacking are the main factors that impact hiking distance. Beginners should not attempt to hike more than 8-10 miles in a single day.

Can I hike 15 miles a day?


Based on your normal level of exercise each week you should hike about 3 – 15 miles a day

. All of these numbers can change depending on circumstances, but if you’ve been exercising regularly each week the same amount you will likely be able to complete between 3 – 15 miles fairly well.

Can you hike 10 miles a day?

If your fitness level is relatively good and the hike isn’t littered with hills, mountains, or other obstacles, your 10-mile hike could be around four to five hours. However,

if there are large hills or steep slopes, it’s possible a 10-mile hike could take all day

.

Can you hike too much?

Hiking too Far or too Fast too Soon

Much like adding weight to your pack, you also have to earn the right to add miles to your day.

When you start a long trail with an overly ambitious itinerary you have a higher risk of sustaining an overuse injury.

How many miles can the average hiker hike in a day?

Every hiker and trail is different, but on average, you can hike

8 – 15 miles

a day [5]. Even the slowest hikers can cover a considerable distance if they have the time to spare. At a pace of 2 mph (slower than average), you can comfortably hike 10 miles in a day.

How many miles should a beginner backpacker get?

As a bare minimum expect to get

12 miles a day

under your belt, but don’t be surprised if you find a leisurely pace actually bags you 20 miles by the time you need to set up camp. Once you really find your stride, you may be one of the many backpackers who regularly push 30 miles or more daily.

How far can a beginner backpacker hike in a day?

Many beginning hikers wonder how many backpacking miles per day they can expect to cover. On average, a backpacker with some experience usually treks at speeds ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 miles per hour. At this speed, if you hike for 7 hours each day of your trip, you can trek between

17.5 and 24.5 miles

.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.