INFO

HOW TO STAY HYDRATED WHEN HIKING 

AND WHY!!

FACTS & TIPS

YOU MAY NOT KNOW

Just like shoe sizes or Starbucks orders, no single answer can cover all the bases when it comes to staying hydrated when hiking. We are all physically unique and therefore need our own set of guidelines. 

Each person reacts to physical duress, activity + heat in different ways.  There are a ton of factors to be considered such as BMI, physical shape, sun exposure, distance, diet, and more.

You can lose up to 60 ounces of water per hour when hiking in 90° heat.  (That’s about 4% of the body weight of a 150lb male.)

SCARY FACT:

.5% water loss – Increased strain on the heart 1% water loss – Reduced aerobic endurance 3% water loss – Reduced muscular endurance 4% water loss – Reduced muscle strength, fine motor skills, and heat cramps 5% water loss – Heat exhaustion, cramping, fatigue, and reduced mental capacity 6% water loss – Physical exhaustion, heatstroke, and coma

HOW DOES THE LACK OF WATER AFFECT YOUR BODY?

DRINKING WATER MAKES YOU SMARTER!

Your brain is about 75% water. As a result of being dehydrated, it shrinks.

HIKING HYDRATION HACK

If using a hydration bladder:  Fill 2/3 of the way with water and then pack ice in there.  Why?  Cold Water allows our bodies to rehydrate faster because it is absorbed more quickly

HIKING HYDRATION HACK 2

If using water bottles:  Fill one full of water.  Fill the other with a mix of water and ice.  Drink the one without ice first.

This way you have nice crisp, cold water to look forward to towards the end of your hike.

CALCULATE HOW MUCH WATER YOU SHOULD TAKE ON A HIKE

A STEP-BY-STEP HOW-TO GUIDE