How much water do you carry?

[Man of Tanith]

As title im curious as to how much water folks carry when out and about.
Obviously you can use unpurified for puttin out fire but to cook drink wash up with i prefer treated water and usually have 2 litres in my pack.
Works fine til its ruddy warm so i'm debating addin some more but then its the whole weight issue

 

[santaman2000]

I think 2 liters is going to be about the limit for what's practical to carry for reasons of both weight and bulk.

I'm happy washing up with stream water and using it for some cooking. Drinking depends on the source; I've been lucky in having some sources I trusted unfiltered but that's rare now.

 

[KenThis]

On a warm day trip between 3 and 4 litres but then I'm naturally sweaty, like to be prepared and will also us it to soak a bandana to cool off now and again.

 

[lou1661]

Between Two and five, Two NATO bottles and a three ltr camelbak and a empty two ltr dromedary for expansion if necessary. Its worked for me in most places i have been.

 

[Man of Tanith]

Between Two and five, Two NATO bottles and a three ltr camelbak and a empty two ltr dromedary for expansion if necessary. Its worked for me in most places i have been.

Goodly amount
Was thinkin supplement the two osprey bottles with the US big canteen (old school) which would boost me to 3 1/2-4 l

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

For an overnight I carry two one litre bottles in my pack and a US 2 quart canteen on a strap over my shoulder.

 

[lou1661]

Goodly amount
Was thinkin supplement the two osprey bottles with the US big canteen (old school) which would boost me to 3 1/2-4 l

I never really got on with the two quart canteen, i found the camelbak much more flexible, especially as i could grab it and carry on its own.

Louis

 

[Man of Tanith]

Ive bad memories of uncleaned manky surplus camelbacks......

 

[unit392]

Being relatively new to bushcraft, I've only done single-day trips. I always carry about 3 l of water, a 2 qt US collapsible canteen in the backpack, and an 1 qt US canteen on my belt for quick access. Also, I have a rule to replenish the canteens to full whenever possible. Had some situations concerning dehydration, not taking any chances now. I even carry the 1 qt on my belt whenever I leave home for more than 15-20 mins.

 

[Nice65]

I used to use Source bladders, the wide mouth version so they can be cleaned properly. They fit in bags better than fixed shape bottles. Camping for two nights with two small dogs = a 2 ltr for me and 1.5 ltr for them with some left over for our walk back. Very heavy, but I generally used it all. Due to the issue with cleaning the pipes in these, I just take the 1.5 if I'm taking the dogs with me.

I'm about to buy a Kleen Kanteen 0.8 for my personal drinking water only. I can top it up from another bottle, or get it filled at a pub, but it'll just be my ​drinking water.

 

[Janne]

This may come as a surprise considering my profession, but I carry Pepsi.
Why?
Tastes nice, contains sugar (=energy) and Caffeine .
Water for cooking and coffee is easily obtained.

 

[dewi]

3 litres per day... hence the reason I like going to meets where I don't have long walks from the car to the camp.

Mind you, I carry a litre of alcohol as well, so perhaps that is the reason my rucksack weighs so much... not to mention the huge quantities of food I take with me. I like to be well fed and watered wherever I am.

I want to try going out with very little kit this summer though for a solo camp to see how I fair... and I've marked a litre of emergency water and a purifying straw for my kit, so it'll be a litre. I'm hoping to find some fresh water in the Lake District... fingers crossed.

 

[Leshy]

Where you go, dictates how much water.

I enjoy looking on the OS map and choosing outings near or passing ancient water springs and rivers.
Increasing local geo knowledge and significantly decreasing need to carry gallons.
A collapsible container and good purification technique should suffice.

However, in fire prohibited areas, or near farmland ( eg pesticides ,farm run off )
I have used this system...

http://www.drinksafe-systems.co.uk/

Portable , lots of choice and priced right .

Not affiliated with this company , just a happy customer.

 

[boatman]

Read this and lighten up
http://www.lightandmatter.com/article/hiking_water.html

 

[sunndog]

Usually two old 750ml aldi orange juice bottles full and an empty 1ltr patypus

 

[Man of Tanith]

Read this and lighten up
http://www.lightandmatter.com/article/hiking_water.html

Im not concerned about dehydration.
More a lack of a brew when i get there

 

[JonathanD]

Over what time period are we talking about. For one day, I only carry 1litre. And in most months of the year I never drink all that.

 

[Man of Tanith]

Over nighter
I do sweat like a sweaty thing so even on day bimbles i tend to carry 2 litres

 

[dewi]

Over nighter
I do sweat like a sweaty thing so even on day bimbles i tend to carry 2 litres

That is why I carry 3 litres.... I like a drink of the alcoholic variety, and the body needs what the body needs. Bizarrely a couple of cups of coffee you can go through a litre easily.... then food, often dehydrated (much like my body) needs water... and just drinking water... I reckon your 2 litres is about right for the average. Add some booze to the mix, its more water, obviously.

Be interesting to see how a group of us, say 8, survived with just 1 litre of water for two days. We take water for granted for the most part... its all too easy to turn on the tap. Given a situation where the tap isn't an option, and lets say for arguments sake the purification straw is broken... who would be thirsty after 48 hours.

I'd wager I'd be a thirsty one given my current knowledge.

 

[santaman2000]

Read this and lighten up
http://www.lightandmatter.com/article/hiking_water.html

Most of that article looks pretty accurate. It does seem to contradict itself on one point though. It states that while the old standard of 8 glasses (8 ounces each) per day (or a total of 2 US quarts) is probably more than really needed; yet it then states that contrary to current thinking, thirst is a reliable indication of when you need to drink. Either assumption taken alone might be valid but in reality I drink between 1 and 2 pints per meal due to thirst alone when sedentary. Then another pint at some point between meals. MUCH, MUCH more when active in the heat.

That said, the question of whether I would actually dehydrate to a point where it was dangerous if I failed to drink that much is open for debate. I've certainly ran out of water before and still made it just fine albeit with a HUGE uncomfortable thirst for the rest of the day.