How Much Water To Bring On The Hike? Some fundamentals are essential to keep your body lively and healthy. Eating right, having some activity, and drinking enough water are among a few but very basic of these necessities. Many of us already know that an adult body is made of 60% water, and we need to consume a good amount of water to keep our organs fresh and working.
Now, whenever we exercise or sweat from light activity, water gets drained out of our bodies, and we feel thirsty. We must drink water to quench our thirst and give our bodies a kickstart. You must stay hydrated on the terrains if you are doing any activity, whether a gym session or hiking.
It is important to keep water bottles with you while you hike or bike, mountaineering, or exercise to restore the water you have lost from precipitation or sweating. How much water to bring on the Hike? It depends on the intensity of your hiking, how long you are going to hike, your age, how much you sweat, and if you have any knee or foot pains.
While hiking on the terrains, backpack weight must be adequate. It is because the feet and knees start to feel pressure while you hike for long hours. The same goes for taking the water flasks or water bottles with you.
How Much Water To Bring On The Hike?
How much water to bring on the Hike? If you carry too much, it will lead to severe pain, and if the water quantity is not much, you’ll feel dehydrated after a short while.
Keeping An Eye On The Water Intake On Terrains
A general recommendation is to drink half a liter of water if you are doing a moderate workout under moderate temperatures. Still, if the intensity of your workout is at an advanced level, like hiking on rough and bumpy surfaces, you must drink more water.
Analyzing and keeping your water intake in check is necessary because if you don’t, you’ll get dehydrated. Getting dehydrated may cause you to feel dizzy and leave the hiking terrain in between.
Recommended Water Intake on the Hike
Adults should take 2 cups of water per hour during the hikes, while the children have to take 1-1.5 cups. Still, the amount of water can vary depending on the Hike’s intensity and if you have any system to let water out of your system. Keep an extra bottle of water with you for the safe side because hiking terrains are unpredictable, and the weathers are harsh there, so you can’t be sure how much water you must take on the hikes.
The worst scenario would be that you’ll be dehydrated, which may have serious consequences. Dehydration is not craving a bottle of chilling cold soda or ice cold water while you climb hills like a tiger, it is serious on the terrains, and you must take serious action to overcome this situation.
Dehydration – Water Intake On Hiking Terrains
Below are some of the symptoms of dehydration that you may feel when you have lost water in your body and need to fuel yourself up:
- Headaches or dizziness
- Stumbling on the terrains
- thirsty
- Lose appetite
- Want something cold to drink
- Irritability
- Brain fog
These symptoms may not feel serious if you run errands within the city where it’s easy to access water sources and quench your thirst. Still, if you are on hiking terrains, then it’s difficult for you to get an instant water source, so you have to rely on the water you have in your backpack.
If you don’t quench the thirst, then you’ll get into some serious trouble because you may slip or feel restless on the terrains, which will, in return, make your hiking venture a nightmare rather than a good experience.
Dehydration Tips On The Terrains
When you feel dehydrated, a source of clean filtered water would seem like a solution to all your problems, and instead of drinking like a sane person taking sips, you’ll gulp a liter of water within seconds. It seems fair, but it can have negative side effects. Instead, we would recommend that you:
Take A Break From Hiking
When you feel restless or have been feeling dehydrated, you must rest from hiking and sit in a cool place. Take some deep breaths, drink water, and sip with a conscious mind, knowing when to stop.
Take Electrolytes
Along with water, you can also take electrolytes and any non-alcoholic fluid that may help you recover. Allowing your body to cool down and sipping chilling fluids can bring the body temperature down and help restore your freshness.
Have Hydration Packs
If possible, buy a backpack with hydration packs where you can keep your water bottle and take sips from the hose whenever you feel thirsty or dehydrated. It’s a great way to keep you hydrated because the water hose is constantly on your shoulder to remind you of drinking water.
Have Small Snacks
When you hike on higher altitudes, in general, on rough or bumpy surfaces, you need electrolytes to restore the energy to keep hiking. For this purpose, take some small snacks containing sodium or potassium to keep you all jacked up for the hiking.
Plan Your Hiking Route
While planning the hikes, especially during the summer days, make sure to map the route so that you encounter a water fountain or water source during the hiking. Water has heavyweight, so instead of filling your backpack with heavy flasks, take a limited amount of water with you, and the rest you can refill from the sources.
If hiking in remote areas where water accessibility is not much easier, take an adequate amount of water with you because you’ll have no choice. If you can approach any lake or waterfall during the route, you can refill your water bottle.
Carry A Wet Cloth On Your Head
When you are dehydrated, you’ll feel extra warm and all sweaty. To protect yourself from fainting during the trails, make sure to have some soft cotton fabric cloth that you can wet and carry on your head. It will eliminate any minor signs of heatstroke or dehydration until you get a safe water source.
Avoid Going In The Sun
As a precautionary measure, try not to hike on a sunny day or keep the hiking timings after 4 PM when the sun is setting so that you don’t feel lightheaded while on the terrains, especially when you are a beginner.
Conclusion
How much water to bring on the hikes? It is a tough question, but a quick answer is to keep an adequate amount of water with yourself on the hikes. The amount goes 1L every two hours for adults, while the kids can have 1-2 cups of water every hour. The exact amount depends on your Hike’s intensity, the time you’ll be hiking, your age, and if you have any knee or foot injuries.
Examining your situation and routes well before hopping on to the hiking venture and planning everything will make your hiking experience a lively, adventurous venture. Moreover, you can better judge the water intake that you’ll need on the terrains.