Best way to carry water

[PREACHERMAN]

what is the best way to carry water

[Echo2]

In what situation?

[finallyME]

I have found the best way to carry water is to have someone else carry it for you. The second best is to have your dog carry it for you. If those two options aren't available, then carry it in a container in your pack, or on your belt, or in your hand.

So, if you have to carry it yourself, then the best way is in a container. A good water container generally only has one hole, and then that hole can be closed off with a method to keep water from going around the hole closure. A mesh bag doesn't make a good water container.

[hunter63]

Depends how much you are gonna carry?

One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, so unless you only plan on carrying a couple of canteens, water bladder, or water bottles, you are gonna need a cart, sled, wheel barrow, (interesting enough there apparently several way of spelling wheel barrow, wheelbarrow, wheel barrel) or has been mentioned, a pack animal.

I generally carry a couple of el-cheapo water bottles, or a canteen on a day outing, but keep my eyes peeled for a bush re-supply, with filter straw and tabs.

[BornthatWay]

I prefer the instant water that is in powder form in little packets and only takes one drop to make a gallon. Oh how I wish this was true.

[finallyME]

One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds,

dehydrated water is much, much lighter, if weight is a concern for you.

[Cast-Iron]

dehydrated water is much, much lighter, if weight is a concern for you.

It's even lighter at altitude so try and walk uphill the whole way to "lighten" your load!

[Pale E O]

My stainless steel "Kleen Canteen" water bottle doubles as a teakettle/soup pot/water purifier. When it is nestled in next to the camp fire (cap off please) it quickly comes to a boil. The water weighs the same but it allows me to travel light. I don't really need a stove and its heavy fuel or even pots and pans if I am cooking instant stuff. I don't even need a water purifier if I am traveling where wood is available (though I do usually carry the tabs anyway). A quick scrub in the sand shines it back up after serving its purpose as a teakettle. If it is still hot, a quick soak in a stream and I have ice water. Then it goes back to being a canteen carrying the sterilized water/tea/etc.
I like it's survival purpose, as that bottle, a fire kit, and a knife take care of most of the basics.
Watch out for stainless water bottle brands that have a plastic lining. Not all brands are good for use to boil water, unless you like lining your gut with melted plastic.

As for the dehydrated water... heck, just dehydrate yourself so you weigh next to nothing and can simply float up that hill!

[kyratshooter]

I find that carrying water is best accomplished by converting it into something that is much more beneficial and does not seem such a waste of effort, like wine, Burbon or Scotch. If actual thirst quenching is needed then lauger, ale or meede.

A water run is work, a beer run is recreation!

[crashdive123]

Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

[Beans]

You can use the Bear Grylls method of carrying your water.

Drink all you can.
Your Stomach becomes a water carrying container
Your Bladder becomes a secondary container

Empty secondary container into a clean drinking container

Repeat above instructions, until you are rescued

It works better then the Dehydrated water for some people

[rebel]

70+ years latter... Ain't edumacation great.

[1stimestar]

I use water bottles. But I will say, if you are climbing many steep hills, they do tend to get in the way. I also have a backpack with a camelback in it. I hated it. Too much to mess with, especially if you are going to be out long enough that you need to fill it up out in the field.
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

[pete lynch]

On a short hike I usually carry water in a 32 oz powerade bottle in my day-pack. Supplemented with means of purification, like hunter63, ie. straw and tablets plus a few drink mixes to help with taste.
On road trips or camping I have a pair of 2-quart bladder canteens I fill at home and keep in reserve. I will carry one filled with me;The other canteen I stash in my vehicle or other safe place.
If I'm car camping I have a 7 gallon jug I fill and take along.
If I'm just out fishing or pond-paddling I just take a couple bottled waters.
At work I have a 32 oz nalgene I keep in my lunchbox.

[jfeatherjohn]

On or near your hips; if you carry water on your back, you'll wind up making a chiropracter rich.

[Phenix]

I would say in a metal container, and with the ability to boil it, you shouldn't have to carry large amounts.

[Wildthang]

I have a pack very simular to 1stimester's. If that isn't enough I find a source and boil or purify it.

[1stimestar]

Those are Nalgene bottles. I carry two because while there may be lots of water where I backpack, a lot of it is silt filled glacier run off and beaver ponds. The silt clogs up my filters too fast and no one should drink anything from a beaver pond. We have lots of kettle ponds (made from left over giant chunks of ice from glaciers that are no longer there) but that is standing water so I don't use that either. So when I come to a small stream, I like to stock up.

[jfeatherjohn]

I would say in a metal container, and with the ability to boil it, you shouldn't have to carry large amounts.

Well, if you are hiking in the Southwest, that may not be as true.

[kyratshooter]

I use water bottles. But I will say, if you are climbing many steep hills, they do tend to get in the way. I also have a backpack with a camelback in it. I hated it. Too much to mess with, especially if you are going to be out long enough that you need to fill it up out in the field.
Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

Sorry 1TS, but looking at you carrying that half a log for a hiking stick I wondered why so big? My hiking sticks are usually about half that size. Then I remembered the gladitoial battle in Star Wars where Luke jabs open the monster's mouth with a big bone, and think about you living in grizzly country.

Yep I'd carry the biggist stick I could tote!