Diagnostic & Decision 9 min read

Hiking autonomy score: prepare a multi-day trek

By Azimut AI · May 30, 2026 · Updated October 7, 2026 · Our editorial policy

A multi-day trek rarely fails where you expect it to. It fails because the margins were never worked out: a GPS battery dead before the hut, a spring that has dried up, food too tight for a stage that runs long. The Nomad score measures them on four pillars: energy, water, food, safety.

pillars: energy, water, food, safety

3 L

of water per person per day (reference)

3,200

kcal per person per day (reference)

5–95

score scale

The 4 pillars of the Nomad trek score

• Energy — what the GPS, head torch, satellite messenger and phone draw (300 Wh a day for the group, the score's reference value), against what a power bank and, at camp, a small solar panel supply.
• Water — 3 L per person per day as the reference, multiplied by the days between two safe sources; a personal filter extends this pillar without weighing down the pack.
• Food — 3,200 kcal per person per day, and the days between two resupplies. On foot you carry everything: beyond one to two weeks without a planned resupply, the weight of food becomes the limit, and the score counts it.
• Safety — satellite SOS, a first-aid kit suited to the remoteness, the season and the climate of the area.

How the pillars combine

The overall score weights water at 30%, energy at 25%, food at 25% and safety at 20%. Water weighs most because it is what ends a trip.

The calculation accounts for the place (sunshine and rainfall), the month, the duration and the group size. Elevation gain, fitness, weather windows and escape points are not a pillar: they decide whether the route is realistic, and are checked separately, before you run the score.

Reading the score: 3 decision bands

Below 40 — postpone or shorten

At least one pillar does not cover the route. Fix the weakest first: it is the one that sets your number of self-sufficient days.

40 to 70 — targeted adjustments

Departure is possible with a list of actions: an extra battery, recalculated resupplies, filtration, first-aid training.

70 and above — ready for this route

Your autonomy covers the trek you tested. Run the score again if the season changes or the route gets longer.

Key takeaways

The Nomad trek score rests on 4 pillars: energy, water, food, safety.
Reference needs on foot: 300 Wh a day for the group, 3 L of water and 3,200 kcal per person per day.
Water weighs 30% of the score, energy and food 25% each, safety 20%.
Below 40: postpone or shorten; 40 to 70: targeted adjustments; 70 and above: ready for this route.
A formal score is warranted from 4 days of full autonomy, or 2 days in zones without quick rescue.

FAQ

What is the difference between a trek score and a van or motorcycle score?

The four pillars and their weighting are the same; the reference needs change with the activity — on foot, 3 L of water and 3,200 kcal per person per day — and load matters: beyond one to two weeks without a planned resupply, the weight of food weighs on the food pillar.

From how many days is a formal score needed?

Practically, from 4 days of full autonomy, or 2 days in zones without quick rescue (high mountain, desert, boreal forest). Below that, the classic checklist is enough.

Does the score replace a guide's advice?

No. It formalises material and logistical preparation. For technical routes, a local guide's terrain reading remains indispensable.