4 Ways to Carry Water in the Wild
Morgan Rogue 10.28.21
Water is something that is often forgotten. I’ve watched people in 100+ degree heat set out for a 3 mile hike with nothing but 1 single 16oz bottle of water.
If you are planning to be outdoors for any period of time, no matter what time of year it is, you need to stay hydrated. Whether you’re sitting at a blind all day or going on a vigorous nature hike, you need to be consistently sipping water throughout your day.
Of course, this is true no matter whether you’re indoors or out, but water is easily accessible when you’re at home.
Taking water with you is essential. It doesn’t matter if you live in a place with water everywhere, the less work you have to do to purify water, the better.
Of course, sometimes you’ll need to purify water and that’s fine, too. Take a water purification device or two with you and absolutely be prepared to purify water when needed or available.
In the mean time, we can also be prepared by taking a good amount of clean water with us without having to worry about where our next drop is coming from.
Here are the top 4 ways to carry water into the wild:
Thermos
Insulated water bottles like Hydro Flask or Yeti can be a great options to keep your drinks cool in any weather conditions. Whether it’s cold or hot outside, your water can stay cool, and not frozen, for at least 24 hours or so. I’ve left my Hydro Flask in the car for 72 hours in freezing weather and the water never froze. They really work.
What’s nice about an insulated water bottle is that you can pump clean water directly into
Though I understand weight can be an issue for many, but you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons to see if this would be a good option for your ventures.
You can get them in all sizes to fit your needs, can even throw some larger ones in your vehicle for emergencies.
Water Bladder
Personally, when I’m out and about, I much prefer a water bladder, like a CamelBak or Platypus because the water is placed on my back and I simply draw from a hose. It’s mostly hands free and I don’t have to fuss around too much with getting bottles in and out of anywhere. I may be carrying bottles in my pack, but I can always have access to water with a water bladder.
Even my kids have their own water bladders. It also makes it easy to give our dogs water on the trail. It makes sense for the whole family.
Some have complained that they’re difficult to clean, but there are cleaning accessories for them. If you keep them clean and dry, only put clean water in them, they won’t smell and won’t taste funny.
Collapsible Containers
I’m in love with anything collapsible. My favorites are anything from Wolverine Tuff. They have a water bottle that can attach to a backpack, belt or pretty much anywhere. They also offer various sizes of collapsible containers.
Not only are the bags BPA free, but they’re also extremely durable and tough. I’ve had them for years on various adventures and have always been pleased with their performance in the field in all kinds of conditions and abuse.
There are many collapsible water container brands so look at a few. Because of their design, even with water in them, they’re lightweight.
The best thing about collapsible contains is that once you’ve used the water, you can certainly purify clean water back into them, but in the mean time, they can be collapsed down and packed away in a lightweight, compact manner.
Water Bottle with Water Purification
Any type of water that has a water purification system inside of it is a huge plus when you’re outdoors. You can simply scoop up some water from a stream and when you drink from the straw, it purifies it before it ever reaches your lips. It’s pretty genius and cuts down on the amount of items you may have to carry with you.
I will say, these systems might be difficult for young children. My children (5 and 2) still have a difficult time sucking through those straws. So keep that in mind for kids.
Though I would say be careful what type of water you put into these water bottles. I wouldn’t put mud water into them, but something from a flowing river or other kind of ‘clear’ source, is a good idea.
Of course, if you’re heading out to a cabin or doing some car camping, somewhere where you’re not going to be required to carry all of your gear all the time, then taking a few 7 gallon water containers or even gallons of water to your site is certainly a good idea.
And don’t forget about your pets! Collapsible dog bowls work wonders to save on space and weight.
Don’t forget the water! Each person and animal should have at least 1 gallon of water, per day, and more if you plan on doing any strenuous work. Add in some extra water for cooking and hygiene needs, as well.
