danmcph Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I have a filter, I have also used tablets. Filter=heavy tablets = wait 45 minutes or longer to drink What is the best way to purify water that is light and you can drink immediatly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesman Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Try a Steripen - lighter/smaller than a filter and good to go in 60 seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Water Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 get an in-line ceramic filter. a buddy of mine uses it and it seems like a great device. me personally i get by fine with aqua mira and wait 20-30 minutes no taste (that i notice). but the inline filter is instant and immediately available--no digging for it. my friends is glass filaments or something?? probably can find a ceramic one which has less freeze worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielHarro Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Aquamira http://aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-treatment-drops/product-description Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine-iac Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Only travel in Alaska or remote areas in N. Cascades. Drink right out of the streams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Water Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 i drink right out of the streams in wallowas and much of oregon, adams, and even new england (greens, whites, mahoosuc, baxter st park) never had a problem. treat if standing or aquatic body below high alpine tarn status, if area above is suspect to human/heavy animal contamination. can bypass the 'above' status in large part if it is coming out of the ground immediately in front of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceaxe23 Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 get an in-line ceramic filter. a buddy of mine uses it and it seems like a great device. me personally i get by fine with aqua mira and wait 20-30 minutes no taste (that i notice). but the inline filter is instant and immediately available--no digging for it. my friends is glass filaments or something?? probably can find a ceramic one which has less freeze worry. Yea I used to have one of those and it was great. It froze one night and split open. My new filter is huge and heavy. I may have to look for a new ceramic filter or the pen. The pen won't freeze but may just break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlympicMtnBoy Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Had a good experience with the Sawyer inline filter bottle in the Sierras this year. My buddy brought one and we shared it to drink out of streams and didn't have to carry much water with us. We pulled the filter out and used it as a gravity filter to fill our water bladders for our summit day. Worked really well, I'm going to get one as my trusty sweetwater finally died this weekend. I also use Aqua Mira but I've developed the ability to taste it pretty easily and I kind of like to taste the "pure" mountain water instead. I use it for backup or for situations where I will only need a liter or two for a day trip or something. I used a steri-pen once, worked fine but I have yet to get over the batteries needed thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 (edited) I think the answer to your question really depends on the application. The level of treatment needed really depends on the trip you are taking, I don't think there is necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer. For example, define "purify" -- most filters will do nothing against viruses, which isn't really a problem in North America but can be elsewhere. So maybe sometimes you care about that, and maybe you dont. Maybe some trips you might bring iodine for this reason. Or a heavier filter (such as the first need) which claims to be small enough for common viruses. On other trips, maybe you need nothing. I very rarely use filtration, especially if my trip is in the alpine. However, I have an MSR Sweetwater which I use backpacking, and I would not call it heavy (it's about 300 grams). It's helpful when you know you will only have access to lakes and stagnant water, as it also filters out muck. But I would not bring it to India, where water-borne viruses might be more common. I'd bring something a bit heavier, or supplement with iodine or UV. Or not. Chemicals, as you note, are time-consuming. Additionally, they don't work as well in cold water. But, sometimes I will bring only chemicals, as a backup, when I'm expecting lots of clean water I can drink untreated. Have you considered a steri-pen or other UV type system? They're fast and work well in cold water but of course do not filter out muck. If your trip takes you somewhere this is acceptable, then that might be the best option. my $0.02 Edited September 7, 2011 by rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbaker Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 (edited) Iodine is super light and cheap. I think it's awesome. edit: it takes about 10 minutes to dissolve. Edited September 8, 2011 by alexbaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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