How much water do you carry in your pack?

[Colby3]

I know it all 'Depends". Lets you have a 7 mile hike hunt planned. No available water anywhere on the hunt route. Idaho in September archery elk. Elevation gain 2000' and hunt route is mostly at 9000'. Temperature 65* for a high. Partly cloudy skies. Light winds less than 10mph. I may have missed a few more variables.

 

[Mallardsx2]

1 gallon for those conditions minimum. Probobly 2 to be safe.

 

[Dan-06]

One gallon would be enough for me.

 

[Maverick1]

Can't think of a place in ID where you won't come across water for 7 miles. (In NM, AZ, or other desert places, possibly!). But, I'll play along sport.
96 oz for a one day hunt (up the mountain, hunt, then back down the mountain that same night).
128 oz for a full day, overnight stay, and the morning hunt and hike down the mountain the next day, back to the vehicle by 11:00. And then guzzle down the extra gallon that @Mallardsx2 carried up with him. LOL. 1 gallon = 8 pounds.

 

[MTTW]

2-20 oz. water bottles. Drink a bottle before I leave the truck and 3 or 4 when I get back. I have done it a couple of hundred times.

 

[2rocky]

Depends if you are going to do it in 2 hours or 12 hours....and what is your farthest point from water. Are we talking a loop or point to point or out and back?

Ideally you will run out of water 15-30 minutes before you get back to camp/trailhead and be able to fully appreciate the beverages you have stashed there...It would be a damn shame to carry an extra 16-32 oz of weight for ALL 7 miles! Kind of a waste if you finish at the end and aren't thirsty.....

If you hike/jog/run much beforehand in the summer, you can pretty well determine what your oz/hour needs are when exerting yourself. Thats the best way to answer your own Question.

 

[David58]

Can't think of a place in ID where you won't come across water for 7 miles. (In NM, AZ, or other desert places, possibly!). But, I'll play along sport.
96 oz for a one day hunt (up the mountain, hunt, then back down the mountain that same night).
128 oz for a full day, overnight stay, and the morning hunt and hike down the mountain the next day, back to the vehicle by 11:00. And then guzzle down the extra gallon that @Mallardsx2 carried up with him. LOL. 1 gallon = 8 pounds.

In NM, likely! If my dogs are not with me, I will tote a 3 liter camelbak and a couple of 32 oz bottles. If the dogs are with me, 3 more liters. Who needs a cast iron weight to go rucking when I just tote water?

David
NM

 

[npaden]

I would generally carry a 3 liter bladder and maybe an extra 20oz bottle if it was going to be a warm day.

 

[Werty]

I generally always have 2 liters in the pack. I always drink a bunch before I leave the truck if I'm not sure of another water source

 

[95tigerbill]

Pre-hydrate as MTTW states then carry 2 liters.

 

[sneakypete]

2 liter bladder

 

[mukbowhunt]

I know it all 'Depends". Lets you have a 7 mile hike hunt planned. No available water anywhere on the hunt route. Idaho in September archery elk. Elevation gain 2000' and hunt route is mostly at 9000'. Temperature 65* for a high. Partly cloudy skies. Light winds less than 10mph. I may have missed a few more variables.

Two 48 ounce nalgenes daily. Throw in a cheap pump that allows you to refill.

 

[44hunter45]

3 litre bladder with Liquid IV or Emergen-C added

 

[IEATELK]

I always do 1-32oz nalgene on day hikes within 4 miles of the truck or camp… or 2 (32 oz) nalgenes for anything further. And a gallon plus if i know i dont want to be caught with my pants down. Which has happened. Make the mistake once and you wont again.

 

[SAJ-99]

Fill the water bladder to 3 liters. I have never gone empty on a single day and have went much farther than 7 miles. I don’t think I drink as much water as some people though.

 

[cahunter805]

I typically fill my bladder 2-3L and then carry an extra 20oz water bottle as an emergency stash.

 

[LIK2HNT]

The older I get the more water I drink. Also altitude matters a lot now. When I was young I would take 2 quarts water. Drink plenty before starting the hike, and would only drink 1 quart throw out the day. Always kept the other quart for emergency in case I was going to spend the night out. Or in case I got injured and had to spend the night. Back at the truck/camp I would drink 2 plus quarts.

 

[Hertervillian]

2l minimum if I’m out west, and that’s a half day hunt. Full day means 3l minimum.

 

[Tradewind]

I drink a quart before heading out, so the tank is more or less 'full'.
Carry 3 20 bottles. figure on running out abt 3 pm.

 

[ismith]

I know it all 'Depends". Lets you have a 7 mile hike hunt planned. No available water anywhere on the hunt route. Idaho in September archery elk. Elevation gain 2000' and hunt route is mostly at 9000'. Temperature 65* for a high. Partly cloudy skies. Light winds less than 10mph. I may have missed a few more variables.

What are the elk drinking?