When backpacking, having enough water is essential to staying healthy and hydrated. But how much water should you bring? This can be a difficult question to answer because it depends on the individual, the climate and the terrain.
Climate: The climate will affect how much water you need to bring on a backpacking trip. In hot climates, you’ll need more water than in cooler climates.
You’ll also want to consider if it’s going to be rainy or dry during your trip. In general, it’s best to plan for the worst-case scenario and bring enough water for the entire duration of your trip.
Terrain: The terrain of your backpacking trip will also affect how much water you need. If you’re hiking up steep hills, you’ll need more water since you’ll be expending more energy than if you were hiking on flat terrain. Also, if there is no access to potable water along your route, then you will need to carry enough for the entire duration of your trip.
Individual Needs: How much water an individual needs while backpacking depends on their body size, activity level and sweat rate. Generally speaking, if someone is active they should drink at least one liter per hour while backpacking in hot weather and up to two liters per hour in very hot weather. People who are not as active may not require as much water as those who are more active.
Conclusion:
When planning a backpacking trip it is important to take into account the climate, terrain and individual needs when determining how much water should be brought along. Generally speaking, bringing one liter per hour for those who are active in hot weather is a good place to start but this could increase up to two liters per hour in very hot weather or if climbing steep hills.