Group Camping Water Storage: How to Choose the Right Container

Quick answer

For group trips, match the container to the longest carry, not to the campsite headcount. If the vehicle parks beside the table, a rigid 20L jerry can is the simplest group camping water supply. If everyone walks in, split the load into 4-10L soft containers per person and keep one small collapsible bottle for the trail. Buy capacity you can actually move when full.

Start with the carry, then size the container

Water weighs about 1 kg per litre, so a full 20L container is roughly 20 kg before the shell and handle. That single number decides most group setups. Measure the longest one-way carry from the water source or vehicle to camp, then cap any container at a weight one person can carry comfortably over that distance. Under 50 m, a 20L jerry can is fine. Between 50 m and 400 m, two 10L containers beat one 20L because two people can share the job. Over 400 m, plan on 4-6L per person per trip and refill more often.

Group camping water supply also depends on how the water will be used. Drinking and cooking water needs a clean, closable container. Wash water can come from a separate, clearly marked container so you do not cross-contaminate the drinking supply. If you filter or treat water at camp, a wide-mouth container is easier to fill from a pump or gravity filter than a narrow jerry can spout.

• Under 50 m carry: one 20L rigid container is the least fuss.
• 50-400 m carry: two 10L containers, one per carrier.
• Over 400 m: 4-6L per person, refilled during the day.
• Keep drinking water and wash water in separate, labelled containers.

Water bladder vs jerry can camping: what each one is good at

A water bladder or soft roll-top container collapses as it empties, so it takes almost no space in a pack or vehicle once used. That makes it the better choice for backpacking, bikepacking, and any trip where pack volume matters more than instant access. The trade-off is that soft containers need a flat surface or a hanging point to stay upright, and they are harder to fill from a shallow stream without a scoop.

A jerry can is rigid, stands on its own, and usually has a tap or spout that makes dispensing easy for a group. It is the better base-camp container. The trade-off is bulk: an empty 20L jerry can still takes 20L of space, and it is awkward to strap to a bike or carry in a pack. Many groups end up with both: a jerry can at camp and a soft container for day trips away from the base.

• Choose a bladder or soft container when pack volume and weight matter most.
• Choose a jerry can when the container stays at camp and needs a tap.
• Plan a hanging point or flat rock for soft containers at camp.
• Check that the fill opening matches your filter or pump outlet.

Collapsible water storage camping: where it fits

Collapsible water storage camping works best as a secondary container, not the only one. A flat-packing container is easy to stash in a vehicle or pack and takes up almost no room when empty, which suits trips where you are unsure how much water you will need. The limitation is stability: a partly filled soft container can tip, and a full one still weighs the same as any other container of that volume.

The same flat-packing logic applies to camp kitchen gear. If you are already carrying water for a group, choosing cookware and dinnerware that nests and collapses keeps the total load manageable. Sea to Summit's XLite range is built around that idea, and the collapsible cook sets pair well with a soft water container because both flatten down when not in use.

• Use collapsible containers as backup capacity, not the primary group supply.
• Fill soft containers only as full as you can carry safely.
• Nest cookware and dinnerware to offset the bulk of water containers.
• Label collapsible containers clearly if they hold wash water.

Match container material and closure to your water source

The closure matters more than most buyers expect. Roll-top closures with taped seams are reliable for soft containers because there is no zipper or valve to leak. Rigid containers usually rely on a screw cap or tap, which is easier to operate with cold hands but can drip if the seal is dirty. Wipe grit off the threads before closing, especially when filling from a sandy or silty source.

If you treat water with tablets or a filter, add the treated water to a clean container rather than treating inside a container that has held untreated water. A dedicated drinking container with a narrow opening reduces spills during pouring, while a wide opening makes cleaning easier. Neither is wrong; pick based on whether you will mostly pour or mostly filter.

• Roll-top and taped seams suit soft containers and rough handling.
• Screw caps and taps are easier for group dispensing but need clean threads.
• Treat water first, then pour it into the clean drinking container.
• Wide openings clean more easily; narrow openings spill less.

Decision rules for group water storage

• Rule 1: Cap container weight at what one person can carry: Water is about 1 kg per litre. If the carry is longer than a few minutes, keep any single container at 10L or less and give each person their own. If a full container needs two people, it is too big for the carry.
• Rule 2: Use rigid at base camp, soft on the move: A jerry can with a tap stays at camp. A roll-top or bladder container goes in the pack for day trips and refills. Most groups need one of each, not one or the other.
• Rule 3: Buy collapsible only as backup capacity: Flat-packing containers save space when empty but are less stable when full. Use them for extra capacity or wash water, not as the only group supply. If you cannot stand it up full, do not make it the main container.
• Rule 4: Separate drinking water from wash water: Use two clearly labelled containers. Cross-contamination is the most common group water mistake and it is entirely avoidable. Two containers, two labels, no shared spouts.
• Rule 5: Check the fill opening against your filter: A wide mouth fills easily from a pump or gravity filter; a narrow spout pours neatly but is harder to fill. Match the opening to how you will actually add water. Test the fit before the trip, not at the stream.

Gear that supports a group water plan

• Evac Bikepack Dry Bag Set: The Evac Bikepack Dry Bag Set is a pair of 3.7L dry bags with roll-top hypalon closures, fully taped seams, double-stitched construction, and 420D HD nylon fabric, plus Stretch-Loc straps and triple lash rails for cargo cages. Two 3.7L bags let two riders or walkers split the load, and the roll-top closure keeps water in and trail grit out when the bags are strapped to a bike or pack.
• XLite Collapsible Mug: The XLite Collapsible Mug is made from food-grade silicone with a glass-reinforced nylon base and rim, has reinforced rings for grip and reduced heat transfer, and nests with XLite dinnerware and cookware. A stable, low-weight mug makes it practical to drink from a shared group water supply without carrying a separate rigid cup, and it flattens to save pack space.
• XLite Collapsible Pot: The XLite Collapsible Pot has a flat-packing design that nests with XLite dinnerware, an integrated Flip-Lock handle, a Lid Keep, a silicone lid lifter, and a built-in strainer. If you are boiling water for a group, a pot that packs flat and has a secure handle offsets the bulk of the water containers you are already carrying.

Who this approach fits

Best for

• Groups camping within a short carry of a vehicle or water source
• Bikepackers and backpackers who need to split water between two or more people
• Trips that mix a base camp with day trips away from the main supply
• Groups that already carry collapsible cookware and want the water plan to pack as flat

Not for

• Solo trips where a single 1L bottle is enough
• Groups that need treated water plumbed to a fixed camp tap
• Trips where no one can carry more than a few litres at a time