>>84809>My biggest hurdle is how do I carry 2 day's worth of water and not just lug around a heavy 5 gallon jug?There is rarely any reason to do this unless you're in the desert AND you specifically choose a route with no reliable water sources. I never carry more than 2 liters of water, although I honestly do almost no backpacking in the desert unless it's canyoneering and for that you're typically camping at the bottom of a canyon where there is a running stream. Pretty much all other environments, you can always find water. Just get a filter or some chemical treatment.
Otherwise: MSR dromedary bags are high capacity and strong, while Platypus bladders are super lightweight (at the cost of some durability) and packable. I would use a bladder to carry that much water, not a jug, since they are space-conforming, and pack down to nothing when you're done with them.
Also, 5 gallons is way more than you need for a two day and one night camping trip. My water intake depends on the temperature and my amount of exertion (I also don't really pay attention to how often I refill per day), but I think my water use is more around like <1.5 gallons a day. I think you could get away with 2-3 gallons for your trip because you'll be at your car the morning of the first day and the evening of the second day. Always "camel up" when you can.
