How Do You Hydrate While Backpacking?

By Robert Palmer

Hydrating yourself while backpacking is an essential part of staying healthy and safe on the trail. When you’re out in nature, your body needs extra fluids to stay properly hydrated, especially when you’re exerting yourself on a long trek. There are a few key things that you can do to ensure that you stay properly hydrated while backpacking.

Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated on the trail begins with drinking plenty of water. Your body needs plenty of fluids to keep it functioning optimally, so make sure that you’re always carrying enough water for your journey and drinking it regularly throughout the day.

If you’re able to, find natural sources of water along the way and use them to refill your bottles. However, make sure that any natural sources you do use are safe for drinking by either boiling or filtering them first.

Eat High-Water Foods
In addition to drinking plenty of water, eating high-water foods is an excellent way to stay hydrated while backpacking. Fruits such as watermelon, oranges and grapefruits are all great sources of natural hydration because they contain high amounts of water in their fleshy centers. Vegetables such as cucumbers and celery also contain large amounts of water, so be sure to pack some snacks before heading out on your journey!

Stay Cool
Finally, staying cool is another important way to help keep yourself hydrated while backpacking. Heat can cause dehydration quickly so make sure that you’re wearing light clothing and taking frequent breaks in shaded areas throughout the day if possible. Additionally, try not to overexert yourself too much by taking regular rest stops along the way and giving yourself enough time between hikes to recover properly.

Conclusion

Staying properly hydrated while backpacking is essential for staying healthy and safe on the trail! Make sure that you’re drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, eating high-water foods and staying cool whenever possible in order to ensure that your body is getting all the fluids it needs along your journey!