Originally Posted by
MuddyWaters
If your light enough....its less important though.
Do you really care if carrying 18 or 20 lbs? Does it really make difference?
Nope. IMO. Not for everyday hiking at 20 mpd.
I recall 2 long water carries of 20-25 mi, with dry camp in middle recently. Fairly hot conditions.
Did both on 1.5-2 L water after drinking at source. But still carried 3.5L . I know that if I do half mileage in next morning when cooler, I need minimal water for that 10 mi. So really only need water for 10-15 mi + dinner.
Why carry extra then?
Well, suppose one lt wt water bottle leaked, or dropped and rolled off edge of trail.
Always good to have extra just in case, when consequences are more severe.
Cutting something like water too close....is plain stupid in dry conditions.
Things happen. I keep bottles in tent so animals cant chew on them. (Gatorade/sugar smell and residue) Woke up once with one mostly leaked out. Nothing important got wet, was able to use bandana to sop up and dry almost a liter from floor. But shows eventually, especialky with cheap disposeable bottles, things happen.