Water carry

[sketchbag]

Symptoms by percent body weight water loss:

* PERCENT WATER LOST --------- SYMPTOMS
* 0% --- none, optimal performance, normal heat regulation
* 1% --- thirst stimulated, heat regulation during exercise altered, performance declines
* 2% --- further decrease in heat regulation, hinders performance, increased thirst
* 3% --- more of the same (worsening performance)
* 4% --- exercise performance cut by 20 - 30%
* 5% --- headache, irritability, "spaced-out" feeling, fatigue
* 6% --- weakness, severe loss of thermoregulation
* 7% --- collapse likely unless exercise stops
* 10% -- comatose
* 11% -- death likely

[Nutrition for Cyclists, Grandjean & Ruud, Clinics in Sports Med. Vol 13(1);235-246. Jan 1994]


For my body weight 4% water loss is about 2L. I usually carry a 3L Camelbak. When I went into the Maze in the Canyonlands I carried about 7L.

Damn. Back when i was training Muay Thai I'd weight my self after a work out and I'd have lost about 10lb (about 6% of my body weight) and thats while still wearing shorts and shirt soaked with sweat. I'd usually drink about 2 liters of water during the work out too.

I wonder if loosing water very rapidly through sweating is any different. Cause I didnt really suffer from any of these sever symptoms, sometimes I'd be light headed, and if I stayed after class to grapple I'd get bad muscle cramps in my calves. but thats about it...

 

[hollowdweller]

I don't like to carry a lot unless I have to but I like to have enough to last me from water source to water source.

 

[Gautier]

Well, considering that it's first week of September and it's 104F here today with 30% humidity and temperatures between April and August are about 120-130F...I tend to carry as much water as I can out here in the desert.
I could walk 100 miles (if I make it 10 without dying of heatstroke is more accurate) in 3 directions and be lucky to find water without digging for it.
Generally I carry 3X 2.5L bladders in the bag, one hooked up and two in reserve, and occasionally I'll add a 1 quart canteen on my belt during the summer. It's never a matter of if I carry water, it just depends on the temps how much. Took me about 2 or 3 years to get used to the summers out here but it certainly made me appreciate water almost instantly and made me work that much harder on my procurement skills in the desert. Ofcourse, not everyone has to think as hard or work as hard to get water in different areas, so your mileage will vary.


Gautier

 

[Thomas Linton]

water is heavy.except for ammo it has to be the heaviest thing pound for pound one can bring

Sorry and no offense intended, but this reminds me of the old riddle: "What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?"

But I take your point. Water is 2 lbs a quart.

As for underestimation, folks do it constantly, even those who should know better. A Philmont Ranger told some Scouts that a single, 1 qt. canteen was enough although their trek included one day with no water along 14 miles with a 3000 ft. climb to a dry camp. Water the next day after about four miles downhill. In August. In west-central New Mexico. Fortunately, most smiled and put the second and third canteens back in their packs after he left. Three 2 gal. ziplocs took care of the three who took the advice and had only one canteen.

 

[Thomas_J]

Damn. Back when i was training Muay Thai I'd weight my self after a work out and I'd have lost about 10lb (about 6% of my body weight) and thats while still wearing shorts and shirt soaked with sweat. I'd usually drink about 2 liters of water during the work out too.

I wonder if loosing water very rapidly through sweating is any different. Cause I didnt really suffer from any of these sever symptoms, sometimes I'd be light headed, and if I stayed after class to grapple I'd get bad muscle cramps in my calves. but thats about it...

Those are not percentages of body weight, they are percentages of water weight which is probably about 55-60% for men.

Don't forget that if you do a workout that is around 1000-2000 kcal that that is a significant amount of metabolized food that has been exhaled as CO2 just like all that gas in your car ends up as exhaust.

 

[sasha]

I guess its mostly where you live. Here in SO CALI its hard to find water during the summer. After a couple times of dehidrating (sp) my self i rather carry too much water then not enough. At the worst when i got home i found that i lost about 7lb and thats drinking 3L that i carried on me and 2L that i had in the car. It took me about 2 days to feel my self again. Always carry more water then you normaly would drink. You never know how your body would react that one day. Platypus bladders are the best they pack into nothing after you drink the water. Out there clean water is more important then knifes, Guns or food.
Pict Is there any place to find those water bags in the US. How well build are they?? Or is it just better to carry the Platypus bladders.

Sasha

 

[Tim-Gabz]

I have had no nasty surprises but have had a few misfortunes where the water I was carrying was very much needed. I used to keep 1/2L under the seat of the car and my wife increased it when we got married as she was the one with a few nasty experiences in the Namib desert and hiking the length of the Kuseb canyon in summer.

I travel through Botswana and once travelling across the pans in my colleagues 4x4,we were forced to wait for others by a water hole it was hot 45c (113f). Great, the water hole was saline. My extra water packs were needed. I generally carry some Larken bottles and a 5l container in the trunk.

When walking on site I carry a thermos of ice and 3L of water

 

[Trout Tamer]

I live in central New Mexico, which is geographically classified as semi-arid. Most of my day hikes occur in areas without any water beyond what the hiker brings for himself. Therefore, I always cary a liter of Gatorade and at least two liters of water, carried in a Nalgene bottle and regular, plastic bottles. I believe I'll buy a Platypus bladder to replace the regular plastic bottles.

I have a PolarPur bottle stored in my survival kit which accompanies me on all hikes. I don't often get the chance to use it but it's there in case I'm lucky enough to come across some water. Of course, the Manzano Mountains, the southern end of the range that lies east of Albuquerque, have some perfectly clear, cold springs that are comprised of 80% arsenic... !!

 

[Tim-Gabz]

I have a PolarPur bottle stored in my survival kit which accompanies me on all hikes. I don't often get the chance to use it but it's there in case I'm lucky enough to come across some water. Of course, the Manzano Mountains, the southern end of the range that lies east of Albuquerque, have some perfectly clear, cold springs that are comprised of 80% arsenic... !!

Get y're Manzanzo Bottled water, contains only pure natural products.

 

[ROCK6]

I too have pushed the envelope on not having enough water in some pretty remote locations and don't want to flirt with those situations again. If we're doing any long hikes or backpacking, I alwasy have a filter with me. Shorter hikes, I'll still have some Polar Pure or purification tablets.

The family is set up with Camelbacks and it's so much easier to tell the kids to take a few sips and keep hydrated. Even with the bladder, I almost always have a water bottle or two on me...extra water, but they also make filling the bladders easier or pouring water for the pooch.

ROCK6