[pct-l] Water Capacity on the Trail

[Hiker97 at aol.com (Hiker97@aol.com)]

Here are my latest water carrying ideas for the 2005 hiking season. 
1.  For 100 ounces capacity WITHOUT any weight on your back use two REI 
Double Shot hip packs with 4 Smart Water Sport (less than 2 ounces each empty - 25 
ounce capacity full).  After the Smart Water runs out you just refill with 
available water.  Put each Double Shot on the outside of each hip.  Very easy to 
use.  Really nice.  Of course, I do not use a hip belt, so this works great 
for me.  If you do use a hip belt, then one Double Shot (50 ounces of capacity) 
as a belly pouch would work.  Four of the Sport bottles gives you about 3 
liters of capacity.

2.  For your backpack use the tall narrow Smart Water 1 liter bottles (34 
ounces capacity and 1.25 ounces empty) in your outside lower web pouches so the 
weight is above your strong leg muscles and a lot less on your shoulder 
muscles.  Four of these bottles gives you another 4 liters of liter of water.  So 
your total would be 7 liters if you use 2 Double Shot hip packs/pouches.  Then 
you could easy add some capacity in your actual backpack if needed.  Don't 
forget the Dana Designs Wet Rib for another liter or so if you like to use one.

The other good thing about this system is the low center of gravity, so you 
are not tipsy going down the trail with lots of heavy water up high.  Your 
balance is a lot better, so you are a little safer.

Another thing, I do not like water bottles without a cap over drinking plug 
or end.  The reason is that I like to keep what touches my mouth clean.  How 
many time along the trail do you go through a dung section and smell all the 
feces?  I hate the idea of all that stuff floating around in the air and landing 
on my water bottles or a drinking tube.  It is bad enough to have to breath 
it.  But, may be I am just a wimpy backpacker.

Get Smart Water at Wild Oats, Whole Foods, or Traders Joe.

Later, Switchback and good luck.