Why does nobody talk about the weight of water on a long hike

I was on the Appalachian Trail near Harper's Ferry last month, hauling a 45 pound pack like always, when a thru-hiker asked why I was carrying 4 liters. He told me each liter weighs 2.2 pounds, so I had almost 9 pounds just in water. That moment hit me hard - I'd been overloading myself with water weight for 3 years without ever doing the math. Has anyone else had that weird realization where a simple number changes your whole approach?

3 comments

3 Comments

reese_nelson22d ago

Dude, that exact same realization hit me on the PCT last year. I used to carry 6 liters at a time because I was paranoid about dry stretches and never actually weighed my pack. Once I did the math and saw I had over 13 pounds of just water I felt like an idiot. Now I check water reports and carry a max of 3 liters and my knees are way happier for it.

john65021d ago

That thing about the knees really hits home for me. I was carrying 4 liters for years just out of habit from my first few trips where I nearly ran out, but once I mapped out the water sources better on the AT I realized I was hauling an extra 4-5 pounds for no reason maybe 80% of the time. Dropping to 2.5 liters on most sections saved my knees and my back. I mean, it's wild how we get stuck in these routines and never question them until someone points out the math.

lopez.jana18d ago

@john650 you just made me realize something ELSE about this whole water weight thing that nobody ever talks about. It's not just the weight on your knees in the moment, it's the accumulated micro stress over MULTIPLE trips. Like every single extra pound you carry throws your gait off just a little bit, and after hundreds of miles, that tiny imbalance adds up to REAL problems. You think you're saving time by not stopping to filter as often, but you're actually trading that time for future physical therapy visits. I switched to carrying 2 liters max on the AT and started doing shorter, more frequent water stops instead of hauling a lake on my back. My knees stopped clicking on descents within like two weeks. The real game changer for me was timing my water carries around high elevation sections where every ounce matters more because you're working harder to breathe.