Water Capacity

[brian039]

How many liters of water capacity would be appropriate to carry on the Colorado Trail?

[Dogwood]

I would not carry more than 2 1/2 L at a time.

[garlic08]

In Colorado high country, I seldom carry more than one liter, but have capacity for three. I remember one long ridge above treeline nearly 15 miles with no water, and the northern end crosses some low dry terrain in the Front Range, nearly 20 miles I think between water sources.

[mweinstone]

i dont go hiking without a 6 litre bag and fill it from a pint to full when the fancy suits me. im allways water rich.

[Highway Man]

I normally filled up max. 2.5 L of water, and had total 6.5 L capacity. I didn't use the two 2L Ocean Spray bottles till the last two or three days.

[Hole-In-The-Hat]

Your water capacity will depend on your pace and your willingness to detour off-trail to get water. In my case, 7 pints (~3.3 liters) was sufficient to avoid leaving the trail. Most of the time two pints was enough, with my reserve Platypus bag being used for dry stretches and dry-camping.

[300winmag]

I carry a 3 L. hydration bag a 1 L. bike bottle (for electrolyte drinks) and a 1. L. roll-up Platypus container. The Platypus is for those "dry" camp days.

My water treatment is SteriPen for the bike bottle and chlorine dioxide tabs for the others.