Originally Posted by
Snuts
Water is much more important to me. I have exhausted my supply a few times in my training treks, building up to my solo month long tour. I now carry 6 one liter bottles. Filling 2, 4, or all 6 in the morning dependant on the day ahead (ability to refill). I can struggle through being hungry for a day.
Yep, you don't go far without water and water is heavy. Still, I take only two regular water bottles and maybe a small water bladder. I add capacity or remove it as needed by using empty sport drink or bottled water bottles. That way I only carry them when I actually need them. If there is a 100+ mile dry stretch I might have bottles in my bags and may also have my jersey pockets loaded with bottles
Depending on where you are, a filter can be handy, especially these days since there are filters that weigh a couple ounces. I really liked having one on the Sierra Cascades route because there were ice cold mountain streams and the water in my bottles was hot in the 100+ heat. On the ST there was almost no surface water in the places where you would need it, so one wouldn't have been much use there. On the Trans America I took a filter and mailed it home because it wasn't needed.