Hiking Tips | How Much Water Do I Need? – Arizona Hikers Guide

There are several factors to consider before heading out into the wild west. The three main factors I think of when planning my next trip includes the location/weather, the difficulty of the hike, and the duration. A great online tool is the Hydration Calculator on the Camelbak website.

Location/weather: Arizona is one of the most diverse states on the planet and as such the climate can change dramatically from region to region.  It is so important to check the local weather before attempting any day hike or backpacking trip.  Also, when hiking in high altitudes it is important to remember the air is thinner and often drier than at lower altitudes which can cause dehydration to set in faster.  If you are hiking in hotter climates or at higher altitudes, it is generally accepted that a liter of water an hour is sufficient.

Difficulty: This one should be fairly obvious.  If your heart rate begins to climb your body will lose water from perspiration and respiration.  This is especially true if you are not only hiking harder but also gaining altitude at the same time.  If you are not continually replacing lost fluids your body will become dehydrated.

Duration:  Read the infographic below.  Since I’m a math teacher I like to think in formulas and the one shown below works well in most cases.  It is generally recommended that for every ONE mile you hike you should be carrying at least 8 OZ. of water.  Another good formula is ONE liter (~34 oz.) of water for every ONE hour of hiking.  This rule will depend on how fast your hiking pace is.