How Many Calories a Swedish Soldier Burns in Field Training (Winter vs Summer)

Field training isn’t just hard—it’s metabolically brutal. Long hours on your feet, poor sleep, snow, gear, and physical labor combine into a slow-burning fire that drains the body day by day. And while everyone thinks it’s tough, few realize just how extreme the energy cost actually is.

In this article, I break down how many calories a soldier realistically burns during Swedish field exercises — across both winter and non‑winter environments.

⚠️ Keep in mind: these are approximations based on my body size, load, and activity pattern. Every person reacts differently — these numbers are directional, not absolute. We also approximate that the soldier is moving most of the day with all gear on, but unloading gear and moving less will decrease the energy burn during the day.

Table of Contents

• Why 3 Days?
• Personalised Stats & Calculation Method
• Winter Field Training: 3‑Day Breakdown
• Summer/Autumn Field Training: 3‑Day Breakdown
• Why This Matters for Soldiers
• Final Thoughts

Why 3 Days?

We’re using a 3‑day format to keep things simple and concrete. Each field day can vary (terrain, duties, weather), so this format helps smooth out those fluctuations while still showing the very real metabolic toll.

Personalised Stats & Calculation Method

• Weight: 95 kg
• Height: 187 cm
• Gear Load: ~18 kg
• Typical Daily Pattern: 6–8 hours movement, 2–4 hours broken sleep, many hours standing/sitting, digging or other work.
• Environment: Winter (deep snow, cold, digging) OR Summer/Autumn (forest terrain, digging, firm ground)

All values are estimated using METS (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) from standard physiological tables. The formula used is:

kcal/hour = MET × 3.5 × bodyweight (kg) ÷ 200

METs are adjusted depending on the activity: movement with load, snow, digging, standing, etc. We also account for extra energy cost from cold exposure, sleep deprivation, and load carriage.

Winter Field Training: The 3-Day Breakdown

(18 kg Load – Snow, Digging, Trail-Breaking)

Day 1 – Deep Snow Movement + Digging

• Movement (7 hours @ ~667 kcal/h) → 4,669 kcal
• Standing/sitting (5 hours @ ~166 kcal/h) → 830 kcal
• Sleep (3 hours @ ~83 kcal/h) → 249 kcal
• Baseline metabolism → 2,900 kcal
• Cold exposure → +450 kcal

Total Day 1: ~9,100 kcal

Day 2 – Trampled Snow Paths

• Movement (7 hours @ ~541 kcal/h) → 3,787 kcal
• Standing/sitting → 830 kcal
• Sleep → 249 kcal
• Baseline → 2,900 kcal

Total Day 2: ~7,766 kcal

Day 3 – Same Terrain, Same Load, Same Fatigue

Same estimates as Day 2.

Total Day 3: ~7,766 kcal

3-Day Winter Total

Total: ~24,632 kcal

Average per day: ~8,210 kcal/day

That’s still close to elite-athlete-level burn—and explains the weight loss, fatigue, and hunger soldiers experience after winter training.

Summer/Autumn/Spring Field Training: The 3-Day Breakdown

(18 kg Load – No Snow, Forest Terrain)

Day 1 – Digging + Movement (No Snow)

• Movement (7 hours @ ~459 kcal/h) → 3,213 kcal
• Digging (1 hour @ ~478 kcal/h) → 478 kcal
• Standing/sitting → 830 kcal
• Sleep → 249 kcal
• Baseline → 2,900 kcal

Total Day 1: ~7,670 kcal

Day 2 – Mostly Movement on Firm Ground

• Movement (7 hours @ ~459 kcal/h) → 3,213 kcal
• Standing/sitting → 830 kcal
• Sleep → 249 kcal
• Baseline → 2,900 kcal

Total Day 2: ~7,192 kcal

Day 3 – Similar Activity

Same estimates as Day 2.

Total Day 3: ~7,192 kcal

3-Day Summer/Autumn/Spring Total

Total: ~22,054 kcal

Average per day: ~7,350 kcal/day

Still extremely demanding — more than many endurance athletes burn during peak competition weeks.

Why This Matters for Soldiers

Most field rations or intake plans offer around 3,500–4,500 kcal/day (often less under real conditions). That leads to massive daily deficits:

• Winter Day 1 Deficit: ~ –5,500 kcal
• 3‑Day Winter Deficit Total: ~ –15,600 kcal
• 3‑Day Summer Deficit Total: ~ –11,000 kcal

This explains common outcomes:

• Rapid loss of body mass (often muscle)
• Loss of strength and endurance
• Cognitive fatigue and reduced decision‑making capacity
• Persistent hunger and lowered morale

Final Thoughts

Field training isn’t just mentally demanding—it’s a full‑scale energy war. Your body burns calories at rates far beyond what most people ever experience. For context:

• ~9,200 kcal/day in winter field training
• ~7,800 kcal/day in summer/forest‑terrain exercises

This is one of the reasons many soldiers pack extra food during exercises, and why soldiers need to eat everything during exercises.

No civilian job comes close. Few sports do either. The better you understand this reality, the better you can plan nutrition, optimize recovery, and respect just how demanding military field work truly is.

⚠️ Note: These are estimates based on my physical stats, load, and average daily activity pattern. Individual results will vary depending on bodyweight, load, activity, terrain, and environmental conditions.