Orienteering offers many benefits, but its biggest attraction is fun! It is a joy to walk and run through forests and fields armed with a compass and a map. In this thrilling chase, competitors must put their navigational skills to the test and maneuver from point to point in diverse and unfamiliar terrain, to win. If you like competing, there are many age and skill-level groups to join if you wish. Here’s Samir Becic and the Health Fitness Revolution team’s Top 10 Health Benefits of Orienteering.

Creates a balance between mind and body: The ultimate quest for the orienteer is to find that balance between mental and physical exertion, to know how fast they can go and still be able to interpret the terrain around them and execute their route successfully.

Teaches self-reliance: Orienteers learn to be self-reliant since most orienteering is individual, and even in the team versions, teammates usually practice individually to improve and be better teammates.

Sharpens decision making skills: It offers the obvious development of individual skills in navigating while problem solving to locate each control. Decision making is paramount: Should I go left or right? Should I climb that hill or go the long way around it? These decisions that constantly arise require thinking more than quick reactions or instinct; again, that is why orienteering is called the thinking sport.

Teaches how to think and act under pressure: Decisions are constantly being made under competitive stress and increasing fatigue, helping competitors become mentally tougher in other stressful situations throughout their day to day lives.

Increases fitness levels: Most orienteering terrain is quite hilly and rugged, providing the perfect environment for athletes and nonathletes alike to develop strong hearts, legs, and lungs.

Increases cardiovascular capacity: Orienteering requires walking, jogging and hiking, whose health benefits we wrote about. All three of these activities increase aerobic capacity and cardiovascular strength.

Enjoying time with nature: There is nothing more calming and centering than being in nature. We wrote about the health benefits of relaxing in nature– but exercising outdoors is good for vitamin D levels in the body and getting fresh air!

Increases self-esteem: It takes courage, endurance, and mental fortitude to forge ahead by oneself through unknown areas, particularly in unfamiliar terrain and forests. Every time one gets lost and find their way again, self-worth and self-esteem grows.

Can be very useful and even lifesaving: This sport teaches self-reliance and terrain discovery to the point where it could save lives. Orienteers acquire the skills and techniques to relocate themselves and to continue on to their destination, no matter what.

Become part of a community: The orienteering community is a great way to socialize while competing. Although it is a solitary sport, there is a sense of camaraderie among competitors both before and after a meet.

Can be done anywhere globally: According to the US Orienteering Federation, it can be done anywhere you can make or obtain a map – “through classrooms, schoolyards, city parks, urban areas, residential areas, streets, state and national parks, and wilderness areas. Even better, you can orienteer in your community, throughout the United States, and all over the world. Orienteering map symbols and appropriate colors are approved by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) and are followed around the globe (for example, blue stands for water). Therefore, if you pick up an orienteering map in China or Russia, you do not have to read Chinese or Russian to understand the map well enough to orienteer on that map.”

If you enjoy orienteering, you might also enjoy reading:

Top 10 Health Benefits of Treasure Hunting

Top 10 Health Benefits of Trekking

Top 10 Health Benefits of Hiking

Top U.S. Hiking Destinations

To see more of our Top 10 lists, click here.