Calories Burned Kayaking
Calorie Calculator
About kayaking
Kayaking at moderate effort is 5.0 METs, which is 176 calories in half an hour for a 155 lb paddler and 352 in an hour. The strange part of the Compendium's paddling section is that whitewater carries the same 5.0 as a flat lake. Race the boat and the rating jumps to 13.5, higher than most people can hold while running, so one word covers a much wider range than it looks like it should. What moves you along that range is stroke rate, not scenery. A touring stroke that keeps a loaded boat rolling is a different job from a hundred strokes a minute against current.
Calories Burned by Body Weight
Calories burned per 30 minutes of kayaking at moderate intensity (MET 5)
| Body Weight | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 120 lbs (54 kg) | 136 cal |
| 140 lbs (64 kg) | 159 cal |
| 155 lbs (70 kg)Reference | 176 cal |
| 170 lbs (77 kg) | 193 cal |
| 185 lbs (84 kg) | 210 cal |
| 200 lbs (91 kg) | 227 cal |
| 220 lbs (100 kg) | 249 cal |
Calories Burned by Duration
Calories burned at 155 lbs body weight, moderate intensity
| Duration | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 88 cal |
| 30 minutesReference | 176 cal |
| 45 minutes | 264 cal |
| 60 minutes | 352 cal |
| 90 minutes | 527 cal |
Calories by Intensity
Different intensities burn different calories. MET (Metabolic Equivalent) measures exercise intensity.
Food Equivalent
30 minutes of kayaking burns enough calories to offset:
Based on 176 calories burned (30 min at 155 lbs)
Tips for Kayaking
- Rotate the torso and let the back pull the blade, paddling with the arms alone empties the shoulders inside twenty minutes
- Keep the top hand around eye level through the stroke, a low top hand turns the blade into a rudder
- Plant the blade fully before you pull and take it out level with your hip, everything past that is dragging water
- Check the wind before you launch and paddle into it first, coming home tired against a headwind is how people end up stuck
Frequently Asked Questions
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