Hello to all, Will be starting on the AT in the spring. Water is the Question. Is there a need to carry a water sack with you to fill up before you hit the shelter for the night. If you do what water sack is the one to use ??? THANK YOU !!! all for passing on all the GREAT info so our hikes will be the best they can be. HIKE YOUR HIKE !!!
Brother Buzz
There are places along the AT where the spring is a long ways down hill. My solution was to carry a 3 liter collapsable Nalgene canteen. One trip to the spring and I could get enough for dinner, breakfast, and get me on my way the next morning.
Peaks
I didn’t carry one. I’d sometimes go back to the water source in the morning, but the few times the source was too far (more than .2 miles) away from the shelter, I’d just fill up once and just hit the next source along the way, which isn’t usually too far. You can find water bags at any outfitters, they’ll know what you’re talking about. You don’t really need one; it’s a matter of luxury, if you think the convenience outweighs the 6 oz. But heck, at the very worst you could always just mail it home.
0101
I never found one necessary. To save weight I just take my 2 - 1 liter bottles, put them in my pack and walk to the water source. For me it’s much easier and you save the weight of the water sack.
guru
I also use a Nalgene canteen while on the trail. The canteen is extremely light with very good capacity. I have used it for years without any leaks.
Life is good…Swamp Dawg
Swamp Dawg
I carry all my water in two of those 2 liter pepsi empty bottles they throw out and a 3 ounce 2 liter bladder bottle to save 2 more ounces over the Nalgene. I just can’t stand the N word. The weight of my water is only 3 ounces for 6 liters of water all day I carry. Or I would have to carry a water filter and I hate water fiters, just the site of one of those water filter getting water where I drink makes me sick. I would rather stick to my long term chemical water treatments, like spur’s picture 11/9/04 Hikerdude.:cheers.
hikerdude
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPLY !!! Water is one thing I think about to much. Hike Your Hike !!!
Brother Buzz
In '02 we need to carry at times as much as 4 liters of water. We had a draught in PA,NJ and NY. The springs were dry. Some days it was 7 to 10 miles between good water sources and 90+ degrees in the shade. On our way into Port Clinton from the 501 shelter I drank 9 liters of water. The feels like temp was 105. I would not hike the trail without an ability to carry 2 liters in some kind of container. We (Flame and I) carried Platypas bags. Happy trails.
Papa Smurf
Despite the negetive feedback about bladders / Nalgenes and water filters, we carried all three for our '04 thru hike. We used a Camelbak Unbottle (or just a Camelbak bladder if you want yours in your bag). Filters were a life saver on the trail. I can’t count the number of times we filtered water for chemical hikers. The other advantage with a filter is you can get your water from almost ANYWHERE. There were several occasions where there was no water and we had to filter water from a rain puddle on the trail or from a puddle on top of a mountain. Plus, filtered water always tastes better if you like having good tasting water.
We carried the Nalgene bottle through the Smokies because we put boiling water in them and put them in our sleeping bags to keep us warm. After the cold weather was done, we sent them home. Invaluable trick when (not if) the weather gets colder than you anticipated. It’ll keep you warm for something like 8 hours or so. You can’t do it with 3 liter soda bottles or (most) bladders.
We did see a lot of people carrying platypus bags to fill and bring back to camp. Handy when you don’t want to get back up and walk .5 miles back to water for more.
Definitely carry at LEAST the capacity of 1 liter… 2 or 3 is much better.
Dave and Miranda