HOW MUCH WATER TO CARRY?

One of the easiest ways to get yourself into trouble in the field is to underestimate something simple. Water is at the top of that list. It looks basic. It isn’t.

Let's make one thing clear from the start: There is no formula that lets you turn your brain off. If you are looking for a single number (“X bottles per hour” or "Y liters per day"), you are thinking about water preparation the wrong way.

Think Before You Move

Every operation is different. A cold morning winter hike is not the same as a humid summer push. Walking through a city is not the same as moving through the mountains.

Additionally, you are not the same as the person next to you. Some of you sweat more. Some of you heat up faster. That matters when it comes to water consumption.

So, what do you do? Research first.

Look at water usage patters for:

• Similar operations;
• Similar weather; and
• People with similar builds and conditioning.

Then, test it yourself. You go out. You carry water. You see how much you actually use. You pay attention. And you adjust.

Over time, you get sharper. More accurate. More reliable.

Use the Rule of Thirds

At Shepherds, we deploy a simple framework of thirds:

• 1/3 of the water – What you think you need (based on your research)
• 1/3 of the water – Operational reserve (to be used if your research was inaccurate)
• 1/3 of the water – Emergency reserve (to be used to save your life)

That last third is not for comfort or convenience. It is for when things go wrong.

And things will go wrong: Delays. Heat spikes. You miscalculate. Someone else runs out.

Then Adjust for Reality

Now, look at the operational environment.

Can you refill easily? For example, will you have your car? Will you be in a city with stores or at a park with water fountains?

If yes, you may be able to carry less than the Rule of Thirds would demand.

Or are you on your own? For example, not having a guaranteed water source, or not knowing when you will next be able to resupply.

If that’s the case, you carry more than the Rule of Thirds suggests. No debate. No regrets.

Be Prepared; No Shortcuts

This is not just about water. This is about how you think.

Weak thinking looks for shortcuts ("Just tell me how much water to bring"). Strong thinking considers, then accounts for, all of the variables potentially in play.

In the Flock, we train the second kind of mentality.

We do not guess. We do not mindlessly copy. We do not rely on luck.

We research. We test. We plan. We adjust.

This is what it takes to be ready.