💧 Carry
Begin with enough water for the conditions and your route. Heat, humidity, exertion and distance between sources all matter.
← REWYLD FIELD GUIDEPLAN IT.
SKILL 02 / WATER
PLAN IT.
FIND IT.
MAKE IT SAFE.
Water is one of the first things to plan for—not something to think about after you're thirsty. Carry what you reasonably can, know where your next source is, and have a dependable way to treat it.
💧
WATERCARRY • FIND • TREATStart Before The Trailhead
WATER IS A PLAN
A filter in your pack is not a water plan. Think about how much you can carry, where dependable sources are likely to be, how conditions may change, and what you'll do if a source is dry or questionable.
🗺️ Locate
Identify likely refill points before leaving. Maps and local knowledge help, but seasonal sources can change or disappear.
🛡️ Treat
Have a treatment method you understand, plus a backup appropriate for the trip. Clear-looking water can still contain things you cannot see.
Know What Your Gear Actually Does
FILTERING VS. PURIFYING
Physical Filtration
Many common backpacking filters are designed to physically remove bacteria and protozoa. Their exact capabilities vary, so know the specifications and limitations of the filter you're carrying.
Broader Treatment
Purification methods are intended to address a broader range of biological hazards, potentially including viruses depending on the system or method. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the product you use.
💧 SHAUN'S FIELD NOTE
Don't wait until a trip to figure out your water system. Run water through it at home, learn how it connects, and know how you'll collect water when the bank is muddy, steep or hard to reach.
Three Systems I Talk About
CHOOSE THE TOOL FOR THE TRIP
Different water systems solve different problems. The best choice is the one whose capabilities match the water sources, group size and conditions you expect.
SAWYER-STYLE SQUEEZE FILTER
Lightweight and versatile for many hiking and camping trips. Useful with compatible bags or bottles and easy to work into a simple refill routine.
GRAYL-STYLE PURIFIER
A press-style system built around purification rather than basic filtration. Useful when broader treatment capability is important to your trip.
KATADYN BEFREE-STYLE FILTER
A soft-flask system that combines carrying and filtering in a compact setup. Like any filter, flow and care depend on how it's used and maintained.
Source Selection Matters
FINDING WATER
Prefer Better Sources
When you have a choice, favor cleaner-looking, flowing sources over stagnant water—but appearance alone never proves that water is safe to drink.
Look Around You
Consider what may be upstream or nearby: campsites, livestock, wildlife activity, roads, agriculture, storm runoff or other contamination sources.
Plan for Seasonal Change
A creek or pond shown on a map may not be dependable year-round. Drought, heat and recent weather can change what you find on the ground.
Simple, Dependable Backup
BOILING WATER
Boiling is a dependable way to address biological hazards when you have a suitable container and heat source.
Bring clear water to a rolling boil. CDC guidance for backcountry water recommends boiling for 1 minute; above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let it cool naturally and store it in a clean container.
Boiling does not remove harmful chemicals, fuels, salts or other chemical contamination. If you suspect chemical contamination, choose another water source.
💧 FIELD RULE
Treatment doesn't fix every bad source.
Choosing the best available water source is part of the skill.
Don't Forget The Containers
CARRYING & HANDLING
Enough Capacity
Your bottle, bladder or dirty-water bag needs enough capacity to bridge the longest realistic gap between dependable sources.
Clean vs. Dirty
Keep untreated-water components from contaminating the clean side of your system. Know which bottle, hose or bag serves which job.
Protect Your Filter
Follow the maker's care instructions. Some hollow-fiber filters can be damaged by freezing after they've been used.
Drink Consistently
Don't intentionally ration yourself into dehydration. Adjust the route, pace and water plan when conditions demand it.
Common Problems Are Usually Planning Problems
COMMON WATER MISTAKES
01
Assuming a blue line on the map guarantees water.
02
Depending on one treatment method with no backup.
03
Not knowing what your filter or purifier actually treats.
04
Cross-contaminating clean water with dirty components.
05
Carrying too little capacity between water sources.
06
Choosing questionable water just because it looks clear.
REWYLD FIELD CHALLENGE
USE YOUR SYSTEM BEFORE THE TRIP.
Fill your normal water container, collect some tap water as though it were your backcountry source, and run through your complete treatment routine. Learn the connections, flow rate, cleanup and storage while the consequences of a mistake are zero.
CARRYTREATADAPT
REWYLD FIELD GUIDE / WATERDON'T JUST CARRY A FILTER.
DON'T JUST CARRY A FILTER.
CARRY A PLAN.
Know your sources. Know your system. Keep a backup.
STAY WYLD.