Take a look at the Aquamira products. I carry both their tablets and filter as a back up. Both models weigh very little and the basic frontier model is pretty cheap insurance for under $10. For longer trips I take my Katydyn filter since carrying a lot of water is too heavy. The Aquamira products fit a nice niche for BOBs and my day hike pack.

Aquamira

 

Wow those are nice cheap products. Thanks.

 

I haven't used a filter unit per se, but this is how I've do it:
hand spoon water from stream into oval canteen cup. atop cup i place a piece of cloth from a tight knit polo type shirt. on it i set a coffee filter. catches floating nasties and gunk.
when cup is full enough, i boil it for 20 minutes.
let cool. pour into 1000ml bottle(s). repeat as required.
when done, i clip the cloth and filter on back of my pack to airdry while traveling.
at dusk i wash the cloth and stow for future. dirty filter is fire tinder.

 

That sounds good, other than your boiling time. By the time the water boils, it's safe. Don't waste the fuel boiling it longer.

 

Aquamira chemicals look good, but their filters don't really get much.

If you're carrying a Nalgene bottle, then the Sawyer purifier is best. I've linked to their website and a website named Moontrail for inexpensive pricing, previously (if you can get the search function to give intelligible results)...

 

I have a katadyn, not sure of the model, that cost $70 from a local shop, pumps reasonably fast, and weighs less than 1 lb. It filters all microbes. It does need the filtration unit replaced, but not until 1,000 liters (or something like that) and I'm no where near that number since I don't use the filter often.

I don't think that chemical water treatments kill all microbes, which is another reason to get a filter.

HippieSurvivalist

 

If I want to go lite weight, or just for a day hike - I will bring some iodine pills.

If I am going with several people, or for an over night stay, most of the time I will bring my filter.

It also depends on the area. If I know the water is going to be really dirty, I will bring my filter. If I know the water is going to be clear running streams, then maybe some iodine pills - if that.

Sometimes I do not bring my filter or pills because I go in remote areas with no people living up stream.

 

Another thing to consider for lightweight backpacking is stabilized oxygen:

http://www.foodreserves.com/stabilized-oxygen.html

I have not tried this or know much about whether these claims are true, but it is worth looking into.

 

That is good stuff but 20 dollars for 2 ounces is pretty high. Google MMS protocol and its the exact same thing. Most pathagens require a lack of oxygen so when it crosses the cell walls they are killed and expelled as waste.

I think we paid 18 dollars for 8 ounces. It should be much cheaper through a water treatment site.

 

I carry Katadyn tabs as a backup to boiling

 

I've used iodine tablets and liquid betadine both, and carry powdered tang or gatorade to kill the taste. I've never tired the tast removing pills. Now I carry a filter. I have several, I'm partial to the MSR Hiker for short trips, Katadyne are good, too. I like to drink a lot of water, and cannot carry enough, so filters give me a steady supply in much less time than iodine, and with no bad taste. I still keep iodine tabs in my BOB, but also keep two filters there.

 

Hey EdD270 - thanks for the advice. The powdered gatorade is a good idea I never though of. Will plan that in my stockpilings also. I got to plan for (young) kids and they usually understand "survival" (unless it is fun or taste good!). Gatorade will also be good to replace lost salts etc I guess.

I currently also do a both approach - iodine tablets and I have both a kadyn and an MSR water filter - both with maintenace kits. I also have an MSR whispherlite to boil water if time permits.

 

http://www.berkeywater.com/SportBerkey/BerkeySport.html





http://www.katadyn.com/brands-products/katadyn/tab/product-categories.html

 

http://www.berkeywater.com/SportBerkey/BerkeySport.html




http://www.katadyn.com/brands-products/katadyn/tab/product-categories.html

]​

How much do you trust those incorporated bottle filters? From all the cutaways I've seen it looks like a coffee filter with some carbon. I've always boiled my water because I don't want to carry a heavy filter and I don't trust those bottle filters.

Have you been using them for a while? Any ill affects?​

 

Water storage for apartment dwellers.

Sorry if I am on the wrong thread here ActionJackson(did search, water storage, pulled your thread), but just stumbled on this very interesting water storage device.
You could put your filtered water in this & it would give you a huge reserve.
It would not matter whether you, filtered of treated the water or got it from a tap it would give you an instant storage set up. Use at camp?
This is a 55 gallon collapsible barrel. 3" x 27" x 40"
Fits into a very small space(almost flat, would go under your bed). Need someplace to put that precious water in an emergency this could be the solution.:thumb:

http://www.emergencyh2o.com/awareness.htm

 

Sorry if I am on the wrong thread here ActionJackson(did search, water storage, pulled your thread), but just stumbled on this very interesting water storage device.
You could put your filtered water in this & it would give you a huge reserve.
It would not matter whether you, filtered of treated the water or got it from a tap it would give you an instant storage set up. Use at camp?
This is a 55 gallon collapsible barrel. 3" x 27" x 40"
Fits into a very small space(almost flat, would go under your bed). Need someplace to put that precious water in an emergency this could be the solution.:thumb:

http://www.emergencyh2o.com/awareness.htm

I have a 5 gallon collapsible container in my BOB but I do like this idea for home use as well. As long as it's in a place where it won't get punctured I think it's a really great idea.

 

Just wanted to add a couple of thoughts and bust a myth. Filters are the ticket for expected water use and pills are for real emergencies. Pills are much smaller, lighter cheaper,and easer to carry but are a royal PITA to use.
Boiling water.... No microbes can survive above 160F for any length of time. Water at sea level boils at 220F So if your water has hit boil, it has been at will above 160 for a long time. Doing anything more than bringing it to boil is a waste of time, fuel and water.
If your at elevation, that is above say 10.000 feet, it will boil at a much lower temp but I don't have the exact temp right off the top of my head. It's still above 160f though. The boy scout myth that everyone wants to add to of boiling water for 5,10, 30 minutes or even an hour is just BS.

 

Found this....
"The policy adopted by parks that manage backcountry use is to purify the drinking water you collect in the backcountry by using one of the following methods:

Boil water for 1 minute plus an additional minute for each 1,000 feet above sea level.
Filter water with a portable water filter system that eliminates Giardia.
Use water-purifying tablets or drops that kill Giardia.
Most medical experts we interviewed, however, argue that simply bringing water to a boil is sufficient. Boiling water for several minutes is considered excessive. For details, see the "Boiling" section of our Water Treatment for International Travel article."

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/water+risks.html

 

Found this....
"The policy adopted by parks that manage backcountry use is to purify the drinking water you collect in the backcountry by using one of the following methods:

Boil water for 1 minute plus an additional minute for each 1,000 feet above sea level.
Filter water with a portable water filter system that eliminates Giardia.
Use water-purifying tablets or drops that kill Giardia.
Most medical experts we interviewed, however, argue that simply bringing water to a boil is sufficient. Boiling water for several minutes is considered excessive. For details, see the "Boiling" section of our Water Treatment for International Travel article."

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/water+risks.html

I don't know about anyone else but my Dad and I went deer hunting in the High Sierras of California year after year form the time I was about 5 all the way up into my 20s. We would hike some very remote areas and not once did my Dad filter the water we drank. We always drank straight from the mountain creeks and streams and never got sick. Now, in lower elevations, I wouldn't drink unfiltered stream water.

 

You had it right, light & fast =$$$
This SteriPen kit is awesome.
http://www.basegear.com/steripen-system-pack.html

 

Very cool idea, a little pricey but what's clean water worth??

 

I see some people still using iodine to disinfect water. Iodine is supposed to be ineffective at cryptosporidium removal. Crypto is supposed to be one of the most common waterborn pathogens in the USA now, so be careful.

 

Crypto is hard to kill, but not impossible. However, if you focus on killing the small stuff, and filtering the large, then its not such a hard solution. The Aquamira Fontier Pro will filter out Crypto. So if you use that in conjuction with tablets, you get excellent purification at a rock bottom price.

The bundle that I sell is probably the most comprehensive of any water purification product on the market and especially good for a BOB.

http://www.readypro.biz/water-purification-bundle.html

 

The steripen or other products like it are probably the best bet. Yes, they are sort of pricey, but you get clean water quickly without expending any energy (pumping).

 

Water filters do something that neither pills or steripens can do: remove debris from the water.

 

Now this is a good point.

 

We used the pills all the time while I was in training and the taste that people complain about never bothered me any. Not once was it ever a problem either about waiting for 30 minutes for the pills to do their thing. I left with full canteens/water bladder. And as we came across new water sources, we would either drink down your lowest canteen, or consolidate your almost empty ones together, than refill and apply pills. Also not to mention, I know we seldom waited the full 30 minutes, if I remember we always went with a 5 minute to ten minute wait than it was good to go. Im not advocating that or saying you should do something aside from what the directions say, Im just saying we did it all the time and I dont recall anyone ever getting sick or having any problems. In a worst case scenario where your out of water and come across a water source, even if you did wait for 30 minutes before drinking, it really is no worst than the time it would take to stop and build a fire and than boil it. I dont know, it just never was a big deal for me. To me the biggest advantage filters have are to remove the debris out of my water. Thats why I'd suggest having one. But the pills to me or the easiest, less hassle approach over all.

 

Today 09:56 AM
Ihatebugs Water filters do something that neither pills or steripens can do: remove debris from the water.

This is true, luckily they make a filter to go along with the steripen.
The link on page 1 of this thread takes you to a site and shows a package that includes a filter.

If they didn't have that, I'd be reaching for a filtering device

 

Cheap fast and light, I've used them and never had an issue, keep 2 in my bob, lighter than carrying more h20.
http://giardiaclub.com/survival-water-filter-straw/index.php

 

I personally have the MSR Hyperflow Microfilter.
http://www.msrgear.com/watertreatment/hyperflow.asp

It is (so far) one of the most faster system (3L/min), 7.4oz only, easy to use and can produce about a 1K L prior to change the filter. There is also a prefilter that you throw in the source that will clean the water prior jamming the filter.
This is a good thing for mud or remains, depending of the water source...

It is built (filter) as thousands of tinny straw that have micro holes (0,2micron) to let the water purify. It also have the option of "backwash" (like for your home pool) to clean for flow recovery. There is also the adapter for bottle like Nalgene, so it can filter directly inside the bottle.

If you are concern with the quality of the water regarding virus, you may also add some water pills or just a drop or two of bleach to ensure the water is 100% clean. Regarding the quality of water source we have here in North America, this would be good only for the south were there is more viral manner.

With the speed of 3L/min, you can produce a great amount of clean and fresh water!
No mess of boiling the water and wait hrs prior to be able do drink it.

 

I have this one....

 

I like Katadyne filters too. The old boiling standby works, however it leaves a smoke trail. You might not always want to do that.

 

another plus for the pills is you can add a drop of water and make a salve out of them to treat minor abrassions.