Filtering water on the way
A pocket filter and purification tablets let you drink from springs and streams instead of carrying everything.
- Squeeze Water Filter (0.1 micron)85 g · ≈ £30
- Water Purification Tablets (Pack of 100)45 g · ≈ £10
Free · no account · 2 minutes
Hiking and trekking autonomy: water, food and energy
On foot, everything is carried: every litre of water and every day of food weighs on your back. The Azimut Nomad score rates the four pillars of your trek — energy, water, food and safety — for your destination and season, and shows where to lighten or strengthen.
Figures checked on
Your reference needs, per day
The values the calculation uses for this activity, before adjusting for the month of travel.
- Electricity, for the group
- 300 Wh/day
- Drinking and cooking water, per person
- 3 L/day
- Food energy, per person
- 3,200 kcal/day
- Average distance
- 20 km/day
The month of travel adjusts these values: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2 and the electricity need by 0.85; in winter, water by 0.8 and electricity by 1.3.
What the score measures
Hiking has the lowest electricity need of the five activities: 300 Wh a day for the group — phone, GPS, headlamp. The food pillar drops beyond one week, then two, of travel: everything is carried on your back.
Energy
The output of a 100 W portable panel under your destination's sunshine, adjusted for the season, against the activity's 300 Wh a day.
Water
Natural water to filter, estimated from the destination's annual rainfall; summer heat raises the need.
Food
How easily food can be carried and restocked, depending on the activity, the latitude and the length of the trip.
Safety
How harsh the climate is — latitude and winter — and the risk inherent to the activity.
Overall score: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%; each pillar is rated from 5 to 95.
The gear that matters
Three families of gear make the difference for this activity. Examples from the nomad catalogue, indicative prices:
Lightweight energy
A high-capacity power bank and a small folding panel keep your phone, GPS and headlamp charged for days.
- High-Capacity Power Bank (26,800 mAh)480 g · ≈ £64
- Solar Charging Backpack Panel (25 Wp)480 g · ≈ £81
Off-grid safety
A satellite communicator sends a message or an SOS without mobile coverage; a compact kit covers minor injuries.
- Satellite Communicator (Garmin inReach Mini 2)100 g · ≈ £297
- Compact Trail First Aid Kit (30-Piece)180 g · ≈ £27
Our guides to go further
Frequently asked questions
Is the score free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free. It takes two minutes, with no account and no credit card. A free account then lets you save your trips and come back to your dashboard.
How is the score calculated?
Four pillars are rated from 5 to 95 — energy, water, food and safety — based on your destination, your activity and, if you provide them, the month, trip length and group size. The overall score weights them: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%. It is an indicative estimate, not a guarantee.
Where do the daily needs on this page come from?
They are the calculation's reference values for this activity: 300 Wh of electricity per day for the group, 3 L of drinking and cooking water and 3,200 kcal per person, and about 20 km a day. The month of travel adjusts them: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2.
Does the score work for a trek of several weeks?
Yes. Trip length is part of the calculation: beyond one week, then two, the food pillar drops, because on foot everything is carried on your back. For a long trek, plan your resupplies in the day-by-day route.
Calculate your autonomy before you leave
Tell us your activity and destination: your four ratings and the pillar to strengthen appear straight away.
Calculate my autonomy scoreThe score is an indicative estimate based on averages: it does not replace preparing your trip.