How Much Water to Carry
Match what you carry to heat, effort, and refill options.
Carry too little water and you cut your day short; carry too much and you haul dead weight. The right amount depends on heat, effort, and where you can refill.
A common baseline is about half a liter per hour of moderate hiking. In heat or on hard climbs, budget up to a liter per hour.
Plan around refill points: if a reliable source sits at the halfway mark, you only carry enough to reach it, plus a margin.
Treat any backcountry water before drinking. When sources are unreliable or unknown, carry the full amount and confirm before you count on a refill.
Step by stepHow to do it
- Estimate hours of hiking and expected heat.
- Budget 0.5 to 1 liter per hour.
- Map reliable refill points along the route.
- Carry to the next reliable source plus a margin.
AnswersCommon questions
Can I rely on streams to refill?
Only when a current, credible source confirms the water is flowing. Treat all backcountry water before drinking.