Which Workout Burns More Calories?

From kayaking to surfing to hiking—find out how many calories you burn during these and more popular outdoor sports.

Running vs Swimming
The winner: Running
Swimming has many benefits, including giving you a great full-body workout while keeping it easy on your joints. But, if a super-high calorie burn is what you're after, you're going to have to sweat it out. Running at a 7-mile per hour pace for one hour burns nearly 700 calories, while swimming at 50-yards-per-minute burns around 550 calories per hour. 

Biking vs. Inline Skating
The winner: Biking
Turns out two wheels are better than eight. Ride to the office at about 12 to 14 miles per hour for one hour and you'll burn around 560 calories, approximately 60 more calories per hour than inline skating.  Whatever way you roll, we suggest keeping a continuous speed and not coasting for maximum burn.

Frisbee vs. Beach Volleyball
The winner: Beach Volleyball
Get that game going! An hour-long game of beach volleyball will burn about 484 calories, while that Frisbee toss will only burn approximately 208 calories per hour. 


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Kayaking vs. Surfing
The winner: Kayaking
Both kayaking and surfing are great for your core and your arms, but kayaking actually burns more than 100 more calories per hour, 346 compared to surfing's 208, so pick up that paddle!

Hiking vs. Horseback Riding
The winner: Hiking
Horseback riding is a great core workout, but for the ultimate calorie burn you'll want to hit the hills without the horse. Hiking burns 400 plus calories per hour, while horseback riding only burns around 270. Just make sure you have a good pair of hiking shoes (check out our favorite gear here!) or your hike and your calorie burn won't get very far.