How Much Water???

[Haveuseen1]

I know it is dependant upon the trail you are hiking but in general how much water do you take?

If I am hiking in the sipsey I usually just bring my filter and one 34oz nalgene bottle that I fill on the trail.  I usually start with it full along with a gatorade bottle filled with water.

On longer trips I may bring two 34oz bottles and one or two of the gatorade bottles.

[McDowra]

Usually I fill my camelback (2 Liter) with ice and just a little water, Ice cold water is mighty sweet on a hot day!

[Joshua Szulecki]

For a long day hike (Sipsey), I usually bring a six-pack of bottled, flavored, waters, so about 64oz. I break them up and distribute them around my camera backpack as anti-rattle filler. I usually bring flavored water to get the nasty hot-weather taste out of my mouth, but if I bring regular water I switch to larger containers, and bring a Gatorade for the nasty taste that usually shows up around 60% through the hike. Heavy, but worth it for anything more than a few miles, or bushwhacking.

I ALWAYS have a water bottle in my backpack, usually a recycled vending machine water bottle, filled with water whenever I leave the house, although it gets used more often as a handwasher than a drink, because I keep Diet Mountain Dew in my trunk at all times.

[Rob]

I too, use my 2 liter camel back bladder, and I always take along my filter and/or iodine tabs for extended trips. For a taste change I usually take along Crystal light on the go, it's light, tastes good, and helps mask any off tastes of treated water. Good tip on the ice, however if you are going to use the water to cook with it will obviously add boil time.

[Cuffs]

I base the amount of water I carry on several factors.

Day hikes:  A liter per hour.  I like water, and hate being thirsty.  And I carry slightly more than that in the in warmer months.

Overnite hikes/backpacking:  I do all the research I can on the trail I'll be hiking and know when/where/how far between known water sources.  I carry the same as above, at least 1 liter per hour (1 hour = 2 miles for me).  If I know I'll hit a reliable water source ever 2 miles, I'll carry just over a liter.  Again, carrying more than this in warmer months.

I always have my filter with me, even on day hikes.  I also carry bottled water on day hikes.  Why?  Inevitably, I run into unsuspecting day tourons that didnt know what they were getting into and have hiked five miles without any water, carrying 2 kids, no snacks...  So I have the spare bottles for them.