Packing light is key when it comes to wild camping. Getting all the kit you need in one bag can be difficult and a long days hiking can be made even harder when your bag is heavy.
One way to save weight is to not carry too much water with you, as water can be heavy. But what if you realise you haven’t brought enough water? In this guide, we will look at how to get water when wild camping.
Should I take water with me when wild camping?
When setting out to go wild camping, it is important to take water with you at the beginning of your trip as you can never be sure that you will be able to find a safe water source. Prepare to take enough water to last you long enough to return to a safe place should you struggle to find water when camping.
Whilst you might be a survival expert and understand how to get water from natural sources, you can’t guarantee what you are going to find in nature. For example, you might plan to use a particular water source when wild camping and find that the water has been contaminated, leaving you without water.
How much water to take wild camping?
Most people will drink around 2 litres (64 ounces) of water each day. However, you should consider the conditions and activities you will be undertaking to ensure you have enough water for refreshment.
If you plan on undertaking strenuous exercise when you are out wild camping, you should make sure you have extra water to replenish any water you lose through sweating.
If you are out in warmer weather, this again is something that you should consider as the heat will mean that you need more water.
One way to reduce the amount of water you bring with you is to consume meals that don’t require water to cook (unless you don’t mind drinking the used cooking water). Taking pre-cooked, cold pasta meals are a great way to get the carbohydrates you need when in the great outdoors without needing to use water.
How to take water for wild camping
When it comes to taking water with you when you go wild camping, you will want a water bottle that has a handle and a wide opening. Although it will mean extra weight when you set off, you must take as much water as you can in case you are unable to find a water source when you are out wild camping.
The handle will come in useful for attaching the bottle to a backpack or belt. This can be done either by using clips on your backpack or with a piece of paracord.
The wide opening is important if you do want to refill the bottle. If you are looking to fill the bottle with water you have purified, it will be much easier for you to fill it with a wide opening than a small one.
I would recommend you get the Hydro Flask 32oz water bottle as it is leak-proof, has a wide mouth as well as a carry handle.
We have more recommended products in our wild camping gear section.
How to get water when wild camping
You now you find yourself out in the wild and in need of water. You don’t have any with you and need to find a suitable natural water source. The question is, where do you get your water from?
Mountaineering Scotland recommend that, whilst the water in the mountains above human habitation is safe to drink, you follow these basic rules when taking water from a natural source:
- Take water from a flowing stream rather than still water
- Avoid water sources that are obviously muddied or where there is a lot of livestock
- Don’t draw water from below where someone has been washing themselves or their equipment
Is stream water safe?
Mountaineering Scotland say that the water in the mountains is generally safe to drink, however there is the possibility of contracting a water-borne infection if you don’t follow good hygiene practices.
Below are some of the infections you could catch if you don’t purify your water before consuming it:
- E. coli – This infection can lead to diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting
- Salmonella – This can lead to fever, vomiting and diarrhoea with blood
- Leptospirosis – This can lead to fever and flu-like symptoms
- Giardia – This can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea
How to purify your water
To give you extra reassurance when drinking untreated water, you should purify it. There are four basic methods of purifying water that you can use when wild camping. Let’s look at each of them in detail:
Boiling water to purify it
Boiling water is a simple way to purify your water as you can use your camping stove to do it. The combination of the temperature and the time spent boiling will be enough to kill off the organisms infecting the water. This method will also help to treat water that is cloudy and mirky.
Depending on the elevation of your camping spot, you will need to boil the water for different periods of time according to the US National Parks Service:
- If you are camping at an elevation below 6,500 feet, you should have the water at a rolling boil for at least 1 minute
- If you are camping at an elevation above 6,500 feet, you will need to have the water at a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes
Filtering
Filtering the water you are to drink is an important step to ensure that you remove any particles in the water.
If you are looking to pack light, the Sawyer Squeeze is a great option as it takes up little space in your rucksack and might just help you avoid any nasty illnesses.
Chemical disinfection
Chemical disinfection relies on using purification tablets or liquids to kill off any nasties in the water.
Purification tablets are a great way to make large quantities of water safe for drinking and cooking but aren’t a good option for smaller amounts of water. Most tablets with treat around 2 litres of water at a time and are very cost-effective.
As these work well with larger quantities of water, packing a bottle that you can collect a larger amount of water in (including enough for cooking) will be very useful here. The water bags below fold down to a size small enough to fit in your pocket, so won’t take up too much room when packing light.
UV Treatment
If you prefer not to use chemicals to treat your water, you could opt for a UV water purifier.
UV treatment systems are battery-powered systems what can either be added to a bottle of water to purify it or can be incorporated into the bottle itself.
If you are looking to buy a bottle for wild camping and need to treat smaller amounts of water for drinking. This might be the right system for you and I would recommend the Mountop Water Purifier Bottle, which has a UV purifier build into the lid.
Ask the landowner
If you are unable to find safe drinking water from streams, you can always ask the landowner if they have a supply you can use.
Use the Refill app
The Refill app is also a useful emergency option should you struggle to get water. This app has a map of lots of different places where you can fill a water bottle. This might just come in handy if you find yourself in desperate need of some water.
Summary
Ensuring you have enough water is vital when it comes to wild camping. Without careful planning and preparation, you can’t guarantee that you will have access to natural, safe water sources.
My tips would be:
- Identify emergency supplies via the Refill app before you leave
- Take at least one full bottle of water with you
- Take some purification tablets and a large, foldable bottle
- For smaller trips, take a UV bottle
- Don’t drink the water directly from the source in large quantities without checking what is upstream first