3 WATER & HYDRATION
IN THE WORLD OF SURVIVAL, remember the rules of three.
Rule 1: You can live for three hours without shelter (in extreme conditions).
Rule 2: You can live for three days without water.
Rule 3: You can live for three weeks without food.
The average adult needs at least one liter of water per day for proper hydration. This amount is slightly reduced by size and age. Thirst is the first symptom of dehydration. Others include dizziness, headache, dry mouth, dark urine, and light-headedness. Dehydration can set in very quickly and the effects often lead to poor decision making and/or injury. Proper hydration is absolutely critical in every Bug Out scenario.
Because a Bug Out Bag (BOB) is a 72-hour kit, I suggest you pack a minimum of approximately three liters of fresh drinking water per person. Even with three full liters, there is little margin for error. Certain weather climates increase the amount of water a person needs to survive. You’ll consume more water if your journey is especially rigorous. Personal hygiene can also tap into your water supply. The water you carry will constitute a large percentage of the overall weight of your BOB. The good news is that the weight will decrease as you hydrate. In a survival situation, a good water container can be invaluable. Your choice in water containers is very important.
Divide your water supply up among different containers. I never suggest carrying all three liters of water in a single container for two reasons.
I suggest dividing your water into the following three different containers.
These bottles are durable and crush resistant. I have used them in countless adventures and never has one failed me. I’ve even dropped one from fifty feet while rock climbing and it came out unscathed. Get the wide mouth version. They are easier to fill and they can double as a dish to eat from if necessary. On their sides are printed measuring units, which is convenient for preparing dehydrated meals. I’ve also never had one leak. You can trust it in your pack.
These canteens weigh about the same as any Nalgene bottle. Rather than just carrying two Nalgene bottles, I suggest opting for a metal alternative. A metal container can be used to boil and purify drinking water collected “in the field” should your immediate supply run dry.
Packing a collapsible soft container allows you to reduce bulk as water is used. Consume the water in this container first. When empty, they take up virtually no space and weigh just a few ounces. They are not as durable, but with the two other containers listed above, you can afford to sacrifice durability for weight and space with this option. There are many different styles of these available at most outdoor retailers. The brand I use is Platypus.
Platypus Soft Bottle Full
Platypus Soft Bottle Empty
Wrap your Nalgene Bottle with ten to fifteen feet of duct tape! Not only does it help protect your bottle, but duct tape is an excellent multi-use survival resource. It has hundreds of uses. Some of these include: first aid bandage, cordage and tarp/tent/gear repairs. Wrapping your water bottle instead of packing an entire role of tape saves you space and weight.
Nalgene with Duct Tape
Emergency Bandage
Repair Tear in Tarp
Shelter Building Cordage
There are many factors that can impact how long three liters of water will last. If the weather is hot and arid, you will naturally consume more water. Traveling by foot through rough terrain can require more water as well. Personal hygiene will also deplete water rations. Because water is so critical to survival, I highly recommend packing two water purification options to safely replenish supplies when given the opportunity. While your BOB is planned for 72 hours, there is no guaranteed timeline. You need to be prepared to collect water from resources in route to your Bug Out Location.
There are several fresh water sources that do not need to be purified.
Bringing water to a rolling boil is one purification option, but it’s certainly not always the most convenient when headed out of or through a disaster zone. Boiling water takes valuable time and fuel resources. Building a fire may also draw unwanted attention. It is a good idea to have at least one additional (if not two) method of purifying water.
Manufacturers have created an assortment of amazing backpack-friendly filter systems to meet outdoor enthusiasts’ increased demand for smaller and lighter water filter options. The most popular of these systems is a hand pump water filter. They are incredibly effective and robust. However, for a Bug Out Bag, they can be a little pricey—ranging from eighty to three hundred dollars depending on the features. In my BOB, I carry the Katadyn Hiker Pro, which costs around eighty dollars.
Pump Filter System
Katadyn MyBottle Purifier
This pump filter is about the size of a pop can and weighs in at 11 oz. It can filter up to one liter of water per minute, which is almost as fast as any water faucet. It’s durable, easy-to-use and perfect for a BOB. Similar models are made by other manufacturers, as well.
THREE-STAR RATING
The rubber tubing that comes with a hand pump filter kit can also be used as a fuel siphon, an emergency tourniquet, or a long straw for inaccessible water sources.
Straw to Reach Water in Hollow Tree
Tubing as Fuel Siphon
Emergency Tourniquet
Several manufacturers have also introduced an integrated bottle and filtering system. This combo unit allows you to scoop up questionable water and then drink out purified water through a built in filter and chemical treatment system inside the bottle itself. These are very good water purification solutions for Bug Out Bags.
Often called Survival Straws, these are exactly what they sound like—a straw with a filter attached. They are very inexpensive (around fifteen dollars), lightweight, effective, and compact.
Aquamira Frontier Filter in Action
These are excellent BOB filtering systems. For the price, performance, and size, you just can’t beat a straw-style filter. I keep one as a backup should anything happen to my pump system.
Chemical treatment tablets are extremely lightweight and take up almost zero space in a BOB. They are also pretty cheap and readily available at most any outdoor retailer. When it comes to these, I ask, “Why wouldn’t you include them in your BOB?”
Bottle of Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide Purification Tablets
Depending on the brand, one tablet usually treats one liter of water. The purification wait time can be anywhere from thirty minutes to four hours. You can fill up a bottle, toss in a tablet and let it work while you continue to hike. For minimalist packers, these are a perfect purification back-up option. And, if stored properly, they have a very long shelf life.
Many people use these terms interchangeably when in fact, they are very different. A water filter does just what you would think—it filters debris from water. Most do an excellent job of filtering out threats such as bacteria and protozoan cysts. However, many filters don’t remove viruses. Viruses are best killed using some sort of chemical or UV treatment. Water purifiers combine both a filter and a chemical treatment for an all-in-one system. The threat of water-borne viruses is very low in the US and Canada and a .2–3 micron filter is considered sufficient. In third world countries, though, a combination purifier is recommended.
Water with floating particles and debris should be pre-filtered before running through one of the above-listed purification methods. Several items in your BOB can serve as a Multi-Use Crude Water Filter. Three of these options are:
Using a Bandana as Crude Pre-Filter
When it comes to water, I have some redundancy in my personal BOB. In addition to three fresh liters, I also pack a Pump Filter, a Survival Straw, and Purification Tablets. I could also boil water with my metal canteen or cooking pot if necessary. I’ve been sick from drinking bad water in the field and it was one of the worst situations of my life. I recommend you have at least two water purification methods in your BOB. Find the Water and Hydration Organizational Supply Checklist in the appendix.
If you live in an area prone to heat waves or drought, consider packing more than three liters of fresh drinking water, and also pack a local map that indicates waterways and bodies of water.