Water is essential for good health. It helps to regulate body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen throughout the body, and flush toxins from the system. 

When you’re adequately hydrated, you have improved mental clarity and are at a lower risk of experiencing illnesses. Most importantly, you’ll have more energy to stay physically active since hydration is key to preventing muscle fatigue.

The Right Amount of Water You Need to Consume

It is generally recommended that people drink around eight glasses of water per day normally and up to 1 gallon a day during a lot of activity. This recommendation varies depending on factors such as weight, age, and level of physical activity. However, for most people, eight glasses are a good benchmark.

Obviously, this "eight glasses of water" does not consider whether you are a physically active person, have a pre-existing health condition, or live in a hotter climate such as a desert. If you are in good health and do normal daily activities, the safest way to stay hydrated is to drink when you feel thirsty. Our rule of thumb was to sip every 15 min during high stress work outs. If your thirsty your body is telling you your already in need! Light-colored urine is usually an indicator that you are drinking enough water. Look at urine color charts to see different hydration indicator colors.

Dehydrating Activities

Being physically active requires more water consumption. When you are actively moving, your body is losing fluids, so it is important to drink plenty of water before, during, and after the activity. If you don’t replace the fluids you lose, you could end up dehydrated. Activities like running, hiking, camping and even swimming heat up your body and can dehydrate you more than you may realize, even if you are not sweating a lot.

Essential Hydration Equipment

Rehydration equipment is essential for active individuals. When you are dehydrated, your body is not able to function at its full potential. Here is a list of the best hydration gear for an adventurer like you.

5 Gallon Water Can

Bringing a durable 5-gallon water supply when camping can be used for drinking, cooking, and washing. This is especially helpful if there are no other clean sources of water available. The most common mistake is a poor-quality water container that leaks or totally fails when being moved and bumped around. Take into consideration the environment and if you need a more durable military option than what you would normally find. Having a large amount of water on hand can help keep everyone hydrated so bringing a plentiful supply of water is a good habit to get in when working or camping outdoors.

3L Hydration Pack

Hydration packs are the best during active hikes, work, or high-activity level. The best hydration pack to purchase is a brand with a 3L hydration bladder that you can both secure inside the main compartment of a pack, attach to the outside or carry with its own shoulder straps. It can carry enough water to keep you going for hours. Some packs have a variety of other compartments that can hold snacks, and other outdoor essentials. 3L Hydration packs are a totally hassle-free way to keep yourself hydrated during strenuous activity.

1Qt & 2Qt Canteens

Canteens are a great way to carry around water or other beverages while you're on the go and are classic military water bottle. The 2qt canteen is perfect for full-day exploration and is flexible making it more comfortable and easier to pack. A 1Qt canteen may only be good for a few hours. If you have drinking water resources nearby, there is no need to carry a lot of fluids with you during a 24-hour only activity or can be perfect for shorter distances to protect you against dehydration.

Canteen with Cook Set

Turing your military canteen into a cook set give you an upgraded hydration option. The GI canteen with a cook set offers allows for versatility in both cooking and using it to boil water to purify when needed. 2 purifications methods are always better than 1. They are compact and have been used and tested to be a great kit. This all-in-one gives you the benefit of more capability with less to carry.

Cold Weather Versus Hot Weather Hydration

Hydration is important no matter what the weather, but it is especially important when temperatures are excessively hot and your body sweats more to cool itself down.

In cold weather, your body doesn't sweat as much but hydration is still vital to optimal health and causes issues when people do not feel they need to drink! If you're going to be outside in the cold for a long time, it's important to make sure you bring enough fluids to keep your body performing at its peak ability. Drinking enough fluids can help keep you warm and prevent hypothermia.

How to Spot Safe Drinking Water in the Wild?

It is highly possible to find a location in the wild where you can discover a clean source of water. You need to observe your surroundings and make sure you can identify a few different variables before attempting to drink. Bring a large container with you so you can gather enough water to bring back to the camp.

Here are a few variables you should identify and consider before drinking from any body of water.

Animals

Did you know that many animals in the wild drink water that isn't safe for humans to drink? This is because their bodies are adapted to living in areas where the water isn't always clean. For example, deer, elk, and moose all drink from small streams and ponds while they don't seem to have any problems after drinking that water. If you see animals avoiding a source of water completely, then you can all but guarantee that water is not safe. All-in-all, this means that just because animals are drinking from it doesn't mean you don't need to purify it first.

Water Source

If you're out in nature and come across a stream or pond, don't be afraid to take water! Make sure the water is flowing and not stagnant as that may indicate it's not safe to drink. When you drink from stagnant water, you risk ingesting bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and even death. Drink from running water can reduce your chances of getting sick.

Water Color

If the water is cloudy, it may be due to sediment in the water. This is not necessarily harmful, but it can give the water a strange flavor. If the water is very cloudy, you may want to filter it before you drink it. Green water can be due to harmless algae which might result in an unpleasant taste. If the water is very green, you may need to filter it before you drink it. Cleaning the water, you collected through filtration and purification can save you from possible diseases you can get from wild water. It is always recommended to purify your water just to be on the safe side!

How to Filter and Purify Water in the Wild?

Water is necessary for life, especially for survival in the wild. Filtering and purifying water are the most important things a person can do when stranded or lost in the wilderness. Every outdoor enthusiast should learn these two crucial skills.

Purifying water can protect against illnesses that can be contracted from drinking unclean water. There are two steps to make sure you have drinkable water.

Filtration

Filtration outdoors without specialized equipment is possible! Water can be filtered through a piece of fine, clean, wet cloth by placing it over the top of the opening of the container you are filtering into. The water will slowly drip through the cloth, and the sediment will remain on top. You can repeat the process multiple times until no debris is present. This is a simple, effective way to filter out sediment and other unwanted particles from your water.

Purification

Boiling water is one of the most effective ways to purify it. You can use the G.I. Canteen cook set to boil water for 2 minuets. Let it boil for at least one minute to kill any harmful bacteria or viruses and it is safe to drink for the next 48 hours if no foul smell or discoloration occurs.

Drinks to Consume

Clean Water

Water is the healthiest drink for your body. It's very hydrating, flushes toxins out of your system, and helps keep your body functioning at its best. In addition, a lot of water is needed to help digest food and absorb nutrients.

Drinks to Avoid

Coffee

Coffee is a dehydrating drink. It can cause you to lose more fluid than you take in, leading to dehydration. When you become dehydrated, you may feel tired, have a headache, or experience other symptoms. To prevent dehydration, it's important to drink plenty of fluids when you drink coffee. You may also want to consider avoiding coffee if you're concerned about dehydration.

Energy Drinks

There is a reason why many people choose not to drink energy drinks – and that’s because they can be dehydrating. This is because of the high levels of sugar in these drinks, which can cause you to lose more water than you take in. When you’re dehydrated, you can feel tired and drained, and this is the last thing you need when you’re trying to stay alert.

Soda

Soda has been linked to dehydration for a long time. The drink has a high concentration of sugar and caffeine, which can lead to fluid loss in the body. Drinking too much soda can also cause you to feel bloated and gassy. It's impractical to purchase any sugary drinks for rehydration purposes.

Symptoms of Dehydration

• Excessive thirst
• Dark yellow to light orange pee with a strong smell
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Dry lips, mouth, eyes, and skin
• Peeing little, and fewer than 3 times within 24 hours

Conditions That Require More Water Consumption

• Diabetes
• Diarrhea
• Extensive sun exposure
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Medicines that cause frequent peeing like diuretics

Staying hydrated is important no matter what you're doing. When you are outdoors, it is extra important to prioritize hydration. This means having plenty of water with you in safe containers. Also, knowing what to do in case you're out of water in a secluded place is the best skill you'll ever learn as an outdoor enthusiast. Don't get thirsty and enjoy every second of your adventure!