How much water do you generally carry for a day hike? I know it will vary a little from region to region but on average, how much water do you start off with on your day hike? Pick the closest answer.

It will depend on where I'm hiking and who is with me, but most commonly I carry a Camelbak with 100oz capacity.

The amount varies so much that your request in nonsensical. Hiking in S. Arizona, 5 quarts has proven inadequate for me(and others) on several occasions, while hiking in moister, higher humidity conditions (So Cal Channel Islands) I have often consumed less that one quart.

And the question arises, what if you are delayed for any reason? Just as you should have the means of starting fire, in many situations, you should always have extra water. This relates to the amount of water available in your situation.

The speed and intensity at which you are hiking, as well as the weight of what you are carrying, will also profoundly influence the required amount of H2O.

I usually carry 2-3 litres of water. I'll also always have some form of water purification with me (even if just some tablets in my emergency kit) to treat additional water if needed.

At most I'll carry the 100 oz bladder in my Camelbak plus a 1 liter bottle. I also have a water filter (which attaches to the bottle) to make more depending on the availability of sources. As Hikermor implied, in the desert SW you can't carry enough.

Typically...

In pack
1 liter bottle and cup
Camelbak bladder (clean water only)
Platypus 1liter collapsible (dirty water only)
Sawyer mini and purification tablets

In cargo pocket
Platypus 1liter collapsible (rolled up, in case I get separated from pack)

In PSK
2x whirlpak bags and purification tablets

I'm in South Louisiana. A normal day hike in familiar territory is a qt plus means to purify more if needed. In unfamiliar territory, I'll always carry a camel back with extra food in addition to my day hiking rig with water.

Two liters is what I carry for a short (a few hours) hike. A longer hike - say running from early/mid morning through late afternoon - and I take 3 liters minimum. This is in the Colorado mountains, 3 season hiking, not desert or anything extreme. Should I run out (I never have), there is much stream and lake water readily available that I could purify.

Depends on the distance untill the next place I can fill up or i'm back.

In the military the typical load out was two, one quart canteens.I have learned to work with that.I also carry a SAWYER filter and chlorine dioxide tabs for "just in case.I have a 100 oz. Camelbak but I find cleaning it after occasional use to be a pain.Canteens (Nalgenes) just are more practical for me.

BOATMAN
John