How Much Water Should I Carry For Desert Hiking?

What You Need + Emergency/Extra Water = Hydration

Take What You Need

The recommended daily water intake, for average body sizes, is between 3 and 6 Liters, depending on your weight, for a body at rest.

• This does not account for temperature, humidity, exertion level, distance, or elevation
• The recommended daily water intake is for proper bodily functions (sweating, salivating, eliminating, etc)
• Your personal hiking history should indicate whether to bring more or less water than the daily recommended amount

Add Emergency/Extra Water

Now add 2 to 3  more  Liters of water to your recommended daily water intake.

• Consider temperature, elevation, distance, and personal history
• Emergency water can be used to clean wounds
• Extra water can aid in emergency survival situations
• Remember, that emergency water can be used on you or someone else

Cached Water

If you cache some extra water, as is commonly done in desert backpacking, always protect it in a critter proof container.  Outsak bags work great.