Dadgum! Meant to warn y’all that filters CAN freeze and then they might not function properly. There’s no real way to know for sure if it’s filtering out the bad stuff after it freezes 😢 So, I try to make sure to put my filter in my sleeping bag on cold nights. Make sure to put it in a ziplock or stuff sack so water doesn’t leak out and wet your bag!
I strain water in the winter and boil because of the filter freezing issue. Straining can be important, on my last winter backpacking trip I strained a baby salamander out of my water. It was nice to not boil it and kill it.
Since drinking water is essential to survival on the trail, I always bring chlorine dioxide tablets as a backup to my Sawyer. Unfiltered water can do much more than give you temporary diarrhea. It can screw you up for years. Prefilters are also available to remove particulates if you don't want to use/don't have, a clean handkerchief. They can reduce the chance of clogging your filter.
@@timpearson3932 I have a video on the Florida Trail, near Ocala, of a minnow swimming around in the water I collected from a really muddy source (all the water holes were mostly dry that time of year). You never know what's going to be in there.
Hi, I’m a licensed water treatment professional and I just want to share that chlorine is not an effective means for inactivation of crypto. It really shouldn’t be relied upon for inactivation of giardia either but with enough contact time and high enough residual it can get a decent log removal. Also, for your bleach smell complaint, you can let it sit a little while longer and the smell/taste will dissipate- sunlight can speed this process as sunlight “eats” chlorine residual. Just make sure you’re letting it sit long enough before setting it in the sun to achieve good contact time ESPECIALLY if you want it to inactivate giardia.
After 30 minutes chlorine, neutralize with sodiumthiosulfate..NaS2O3... Two crystals is enough. No hazards, standard military procedure...soldiers handbook, the Netherlands, 1978....
I’m just getting into backpacking and I love your channel! It seems like there’s a video for every question I come up with. Thank you for your wonderful content! 💜
For the bleach method it's really so much better if you have two safe drinking containers because after you treat the water, pour it between the two containers for a few minutes and the bleach smell will evaporate from the water making it much more palatable.
Michael B :- The one problem with boiling water for "purification" is that dissolved solids, chemicals & pharmaceuticals are not removed by boiling. Also at higher elevations, water boils at lower temperatures, and will not kill bacteria or viruses at normal boiling times, if at all. Examples of chemicals are :- pesticides, factory waste, heavy metals Examples of pharmaceuticals are :- birth control medication, hospital waste, hormones, on the self drugs ( cold, pain relief,) blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, etc. So boiling might reduce or remove bacteria/viruses, but some sort of filtration is required to remove particles of soil, organics and debris. And almost nothing except the very best 4 or 5 stage water filters will remove all contaminants. Don't assume that you can drink water the "next day" because it was boiled. Do some serious research, ask someone at your outdoor/camping store for advice before heading out. And don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can DIY a water filter from sand , rocks and moss...it is a bit more complicated and not worth a day or two in the hospital and a week of anti-biotics ( not to mention cramps & diarrhea).
@@HomemadeWanderlust :- Efficient as a warm water bottle, but not for drinking water. The days of dipping your cup into a stream or lake and drinking direct from the source are gone in most of North America. Only on the MOST remote of locations is this even remotely safe, and boiling removes so little of the potential harmful effects of drinking untreated water, that it just is not worth the risk...especially if you have children with you. Man has contaminated the "fresh" water supply across across most of the USA and southern Canada, but our technology has given us many inexpensive filtration options for campers. Why take a chance of a hospital visit or a week of antibiotics, when a $25 water filter will do the job for you? P.S. I have spent my entire working life in water and pollution control, and also remote camping in the U.S. and Canada. Please do some research in this before endangering your health.
What does man have to do with anything? I'm pretty sure the vast majority of contaminated stream water is due to animal poop or carcasses upstream. There was never a time when it was safe to drink with your cup directly from a stream unless you're at the spring or it's a major river or lake known for clean water. Rainwater is a better option but it should still be filtered, jo matter how remote the region.
I'm with the Katadyn Befree people here... It squeeze- filters faster than the Sawyer Squeeze, is a lot easier to clean out, and is also much easier to collect through it's wide mouth bottle or bag with handle. Got mine for 40 dollars with the bag on Amazon! Works great!... Only thing that might cause some folks to still prefer the Sawyer is that the Sawyer thread fits more bottles if you want to drink through. The Sawyer may be more labor-intensive to clean, but will give you more total filters before it craps out. You still get a good relative number of filters with the Katadyn befree though, and I have found that it does fit some larger mouthed bottles that I have found, such as the quart sized gatorade bottle:-) Such an informative video though, as usual. I actually had considered the LifeStraw and reconsidered, figuring that the same things which Dixie mentioned might become an issue for me, sounds like it was a good call... I wish I could say that about all of my gear items :-) but with more money will come better items.
ok, I have both the sawyer and the BeFree and yet to use either in field. My BeFree clogged with tap water so I'm nervous about taking it on the AT for a month next week. so I will bring both. Thank you for the invaluable tip on the Gatorade bottle!
over the years boil\iodine... then got smart went to Katadyn pump (can't remember witch one) now always always the sawyer squeeze (large never small one) I made a back wash set up with a smart water cap and 1" of Tigon tubing with a 45* cut so it slips on to the other end easily but firmly. Plus I keep an extra gasket in my first aid kit. And I never sleep without it if there is the slimmest chance of a freeze. Well that's my @# years of experience. Hope to see y'all outside someday. ..... Uncle Steve
I was working a remote fire a year ago in the Ansel Adams. We were so far out there we were using mule trains to supply the camp. Ran into a USFS Back Country Ranger who was leading up a crosscut team to go in and reopen the trails. He turned me onto the SteriPen UV system. That thing is on point. (later found out another friend took one with him to Africa for a 1yr Peace Corps gig) For sure beware murky water, but this can be solved with coffee filter or clean (ish) bandana. It's about allowing the light to travel freely through the entire body of water. I carry a bottle of AquaPure tabs for back up and a set of spare CR123s. I love that thing.
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this valuable information. Often times I will do a pre-filter using a bandana In combination with a clean coffee filter. After using the coffee filter I clip it to the back of my pack and let it air dry. Later in the day I will use the dry used coffee filter as a tinder source to start a fire. Coffee filters take up no space and there is no weight. After the pre-filter process I will run the h2o throughout a DIY Sawyer gravity system. The process does take a little more time, but, to me it is worth it. Take care Dixie and thank you again for your great videos. 🤗
I camped at Mount Mitchell state park in NC. There was a crystal clear creek that ran through it. I took a chance and drank straight out of it. I didn't have any problems at all. It was the cleanest water I have seen.
I use the Katadyn Be Free squeeze water filtration system as it's much easier to fill than a standard water bottle. I also use the Sawyer squeeze filter as a back up along with boiling the water. .
Great info as usual Thanks again Dixie ! 😉 I use the Platypus 2 liter kit for when I’m with a group and Sawer squeeze for going solo. And don’t forget everyone - Do NOT let them freeze. I have also added a gravity works inline charcoal filter on occasion and I will have to say that I do think it makes some water sources I’ve used taste a little better.
My hikes these days are day hikes or overnighters with my two dogs. I make them carry about a gallon of water each, and the water I carry gets used first. Even so, at the end of the day I"m exhausted and they are still racing around. I use soda bottles for water; they are free, light, durable, and don't leak. While that usually means I have enough water for the entire hike, for backup my kit is Sawyer Squeeze with the Sawyer backflushing coupling, and as you say a ziplock for storing the filter in my sleeping bag overnight to prevent freezing. No need for the Sawyer bags or the syringe; the soda bottles are squeezable and unlikely to fail no matter how hard you squeeze. One 16oz soda bottle is reserved for clean water, and is also to be used with the coupler for backflushing. The other soda bottles are used for carrying dirty water once their clean water is used. I generally filter water as I need it. Whenever there is any concern at all about water availability or quality farther down the trail I will quickly top off even at sketchy water sources. If I later pass a source of better looking water I'll dump the sketchy stuff and top off with the better stuff.
The Sawyer Micro is packaged with the cleaning (backflushing) coupling. The Micro appears to have the same filter as the Mini (both rated at 100K gallons) and the same connections as the Squeeze.
And check out a nut bag instead of a bandanna, it’s basically a bag to filter when you are making nut milk in a blender, but it would be great on trail and you can keep your filter in that bag!?
I use the Sawyer squeeze. One annoying issue we've had is that when the water source is shallow or slow moving, it's hard to fill up the little plastic bag. Other than that, no problems. I even took it to Kenya with me last summer to filter water.
Brooke Sanville Yes! In those times it’s nice to have a scoop of some sort. My luxury item, sea to summit collapsible mug, comes in hand at times like this :)
I hiked 300 miles on the AZT and 78 miles on the Hayduke. The AZT had water that was mostly from cow tanks and ponds. It looked bad, smelled bad, and it was all there was so....I used a Sawyer Squeeze and had zero issues. It didn't get rid of the green color or dirt color but I didn't get sick or have any intestinal issues.
Thank you Dixie your videos have given me the confidence to undertake a through hike and to start preparing for taking on the AT after my retirement in a few years. Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
Hiking here in Scandinavia you'll only need a cup for all your water needs...just a cup, not even a bottle. Water is everywhere in the mountains up here, streams, rivers and lakes abound and they are all good to drink from, no chemicals, no filtering or boiling required. I just love it. My experience of along trips in Africa, Australia and South America is chlorine tablets coupled with a dedicated scarf or bandana go best, they do the most for the least amount of weight, don't freeze or clog up and can't break. Africa killed our (ultra expensive in 1998) Katadyn and MSR pump systems in short order with it's muddy water and even with constant cleaning and maintenance it broke down altogether within about two months of a seven month cycling trip. Trip, throw a few handfuls of sand (and fire ash, if you stored it from the night before's campfire) in your bandana, run the water through the sand and cloth and then drop your tablets in the clearer water.
I LOVE the Platypus GravityWorks for car camping, and I have used the smaller one for backpacking. You do need a tree or something to hang it on, though, so if I ever do a thru-hike, I'll probably get the Sawyer Squeeze. Ben from Fight for Together is totally anti-filtration, and his family of 8 thru-hiked the AT without filtering once, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to risk it personally.
I’ve learned so much from your videos, thank you! Just completed my first solo backpacking trip with summit to Half Dome and made a video about my experience. Looking forward to learning more and going on more trips!
I remember when pumps were the only water filters you could get, and they were pretty new. A ceramic element pump was the bees knees and the cat's meow. These new fangled squeeze/drink through filters really changed the game. But you're right - more expensive, less effective (larger pores), still prone to freeze damage, heavier and bulkier. I'm not sure why anybody still buys them unless they want to use one filter for a large group - but even then, gravity feed systems are better for that.
i spliced the sawyer mini into my bladder line, worked great. Just make sure you put the filter close to the bladder in the line instead of close to the mouth piece.
I've used a steripen classic for a couple of years without any issues. It uses the same AAA batteries as my headlamp so I pack 4 extra and that covers me for both. I will say some of the other models of steripen have been less robust and I have seen them go down for other people, but I'd buy the classic again in a heartbeat. Beats the holy hell out of pumping your arm off, or waiting for chems or gravity to do their thing.
I’ve always used a combination of a smaller/cheaper MSR ceramic filter hand pump (removal of bacteria and Protozoa) in combination with a steripen (neutering viruses). However, I am normally backpacking or kayak/canoe camping for 1-2 weeks at a time, so not trying to go ultralight, and I travel with a group. This setup, allows us to collect water relatively quickly and the cost is low since the group shared the filter and steripen. I hope to through hike one day, and will probably start off with this set up to save on cost, but we shall see! I love how you stress the importance of having backup sources for water sterilization, definitely worth a little extra weight :)
Came upon a cow pond while on the PCT, in the Anzo-Berrego Desert. Filtered with bandanna, then boiled, then added Iodine tabs, then added lemonaid. Worked fine. I prefer dead squirrel over dead cat...Bold, Complex, but not "busy".
Nice clear snow melt fed moving streams are actually pretty safe to drink from especially if there isn't grazing cows in the area. I've known people who have been drinking from streams for a very long time and never got sick. Still, filtering is pretty easy to do and totally worth the small inconvenience to make sure you don't get giardia or something else.
Yes definitely boil your water if you want to go the extra step as you said aquamira and then you can go ahead and filter that through the Sawyer squeeze or the mini
Just wanted to say how much we like the Steri Pen. Feel like its the superior option where we go (high altitude clear water shorter trips). Fast and easy, the Ultra only weighs 5 oz and is rechargeable. Not surprised you didn’t see it much on the CDT or PCT - since it has to be recharged every ~50 liters (approx 5 days for 2 people). We plan on using it this summer for the Highline trail (7-8 days) and recharging it with an Anker portable battery half way through. But if we start doing something longer I will definitely check out the Sawyer Squeeze.
So I just picked up the Grayl Geopress purifier at REI for a four day hike up by the Idaho Montana border. It’s a 24 oz bottle that weighs 15.9 oz and functions a lot like a coffee press. It filters out pretty much everything including heavy metals and viruses and is good for about 65 gal before you need to change the filter. It’s not the lightest option but it’s definitely convenient and eliminates almost any chance of cross contamination.
This video has a great tip about tapping the Sawyer. I had backflushed it multiple times with clean water until the water coming out was consistently clear after using it on the Suwannee river, which is full of tannic acid. It still wasn't filtering properly, so, I tapped it and the darkest sediment I have seen come from a Sawyer came out. I had to do this eight more times to get it clean. Thanks, Dixie!
Another excellent vlog. You covered the topic very thoroughly. Thanks from all of people that you have saved from the consequences of dirty water. Good Luck, Rick
I used the Grayl ultralight water purifier. It does kill viruses and bacteria and is easy to use. It work is kind of like a French press and the water tastes great. I just filtered and filled my bottles.
The new Sawyer micro is available, smaller,lighter, less expensive. I just finally picked one up for this season Thank you Tell us about your watch, feature and such.
I’m still Using the mini. For mine I picked up a 2liter bottle preform/vial. Like the plastic unblown up 2litter. Same thickness of the mini maybe 1.5” longer. Weight is pretty much the same. And threw out the preform standard bottle cap an screwed on a smart water bottle cap to the preform with the little blue spout an flip cap. But the little preform I heated up a mail an melted a small hole in the bottom. Than put a little coffee filter down in the bottom of it. An filled the vial with charcoal. So than I connect my sawyer to the dirty water bag. And the clean side tip of the sawyer mine can than push into the smart water bottle flip cap nozzle. So after the dirty water passes through the filter to be cleaned. It’s than going right into an through another charcoal filter basically to clean up any taste that would of been. An comes out of the hole I melted into the bottom of it. Can either drink it from there or fill a bottle from that end.
I highly recommend the Sawyer Micro (not to be confused with Sawyer mini). It is lighter than the Sawyer squeeze and has the exact same flow rate and it’s even slightly less expensive on Amazon.
I have used my Steripen on three though hikes, with no problems. It is lightweight, simple, quick, and effective. Yes, I do carry backup batteries, which weigh very little. One set of batteries last about a month. Full disclosure: most of hikes are in the Sierras or Cascades, where water tends to be very clear.
I uses either a 2 or 3 liter CNOC as my dirty side because it's super easy to fill and clean on trail, and Smart Water bottles as the clean side. I can gravity or squeeze this way. If I need to back flush, I just pop the hose off the dirty side of the filter and squeeze the bottle until it runs clear. It also leaves me a compact option to run up to 5-6L on a long dry stretch. I can also gravity on the go with the CNOC on top of my ULA and the bottles in the side pocket. I keep my active bottles on the straps with a short bite valve tube.
For bleach, after treatment is completed, pour the water back and forth between 2 cups, or pans, so as to mix air into the water and you are also helping the bleach evaporate out. I have a Sawer 100,000 gallon filter and a couple Life-Straws for when you are on the move and can't wait to set up the Sawyer.
Thanks for this presentation. Only request that you explain the differences between filtering and purifying, specifically which of these performs both functions. Thanks
Great video, we're new to this and have decided to go with a Sawyer and Aqua Mira as a backup, neither of us got sick last summer using the Sawyer it's simple, light, and takes little space.
I believe filtering is the best and I use Katadyne mini filter for day hikes and Katadyne pocket filter for multi day and multi people hikes. Then I use the Camelback UV and if the source is questionable, I add a Katadyne water purification tablet. Will never take water from a source with dead animal (cat) in it, unless I’m forced to (haven’t had such case, yet).
So, on water filtration I am somewhere between careful and paranoid. On the other hand, I have never had to come off the trail due to a massive case of the trots. I have used a two-stage system: a Katadyn filter followed by either a steripen or tablets. Admittedly, this would not meet UL criteria at this point because of the bulk and weight. But the filter takes care of any particulates and some of the microscopic critters, and the tablets address the rest. One thing that has me reconsidering the pump filter, though, is the price of the filter cores, which do have to be replaced periodically due to gunk and potential mold. On the other hand, I have yet to see a thru hiker video series where the Sawyer squeeze did not freeze (or maybe not, who knows?) or otherwise need to be replaced partway through. It's still probably more cost-effective, but maybe a bit more risky, to go with the squeeze.
So many new videos and so much new learning. I use have the Sawyer Mini and have not needed to use it until last month, when all of the clean spring taps on the AT in CT/MA where I was backpacking were turned off for the cold. Dixie is right - the Sawyer is sl-sl-sl-slow. It took me about 35 minutes to filter less than two liters. But it had to be done. Not something enjoyable while you sit still in 15° weather. Glad to learn in this video that these MINIs clog easily. I have heard they clog with tap water and even from backflushing with tap water, so it is best to use bottled store-bought water to backflush at home. I will get a Squeeze, and keep the MINI as a back-up for when my wife occasionally hikes with me. Because the Sawyers are suseptible to freezing and then cracking, I slept with it in my bag at night and carried it in my coat waist pocket to keep it warm during the days, as everybody should know by now from watching videos by Dixie and others. But I like redundancies on a few things - food, lights, devices to ignite, and filtration. So I took my Steripen, and I used that after filtering the water. Just 90 seconds per liter. Of all the battery devices I used on this cold trip, the Steripen batteries held up best, by far. A tip I have only heard once before: - Paper coffee filters work much better on sediment and debris than fabrics do, if your orthodox filter fails. Carrying a few paper coffee filters for backup is not going to weigh you down. It is not about filtering dirt. It is about filtering toxic plant and fungi debris. Mountain laurels are deadly, for instance. I doubt you could be killed, but ut wil not help. I forage mushrooms. You just cannot imagine how abundant deadly mushrooms are. So filter, filter, filter. Last thing, portable fiters of any kind do not work on many (most?) water-soluble toxins, such as herbicides and nitrate. Do not get a false sense of security. Don't be drinking filtered water from valley mill/factory rivers, even if the mills/factories closed decades ago. I used to draw and drink straight from mountain rivers on annual trips to Franconia Notch, unfiltered, until I went through a spell of at least a year of nasty gas. My stomach was never cramped, but I had a gaseousness that would not quit for the duration of that spell, and I am pretty sure it came from something in the rivers or streams on the mountains. But hey, maybe you are into that kind of thing.
You missed the Katadyn BeFree water filtering system. I've used several systems & this one is by far the best I've used. The BeFree has become very popular on the trail. It was rated #2 on the Halfwayanywhere 2018 PCT survey.
Adventurer Guy been tossing this BeFree filtering around, everyone always wants you to by say the Grayl purifier due to Viruses, my thing is I’ll be on the PCT and shouldn’t have to worry bout viruses Any thoughts you can share, thanks
True, The BeFree HollowFiber does not protect against viruses. I just completed the PCT desert and when using the filter, it was always from good running water streams. Could it contain viruses? Possibly, but unlikely. FWIW, I also carried Aqua Mira tablets in the event I had to use standing water. Here's a url to a great matrix on types of filter & protections offered. www.katadyn.com/us/us/water-know-how/types-of-filters
No matter what filtration system I have used over the years, I have always carried chlorine pills for backup. Last year while getting water, I dropped the the drinking cup filter cap which was carried downstream and lost forever. The next three days were pills. In the Sierra Nevada, paying attention to your map also gives you advance notice of where the next water source should be (although the fall season makes this less reliable.) I was once desperate enough to drink stagnant water but first put a pill in my filter cup, then after a wait, drank from the filter cup.
Hey back at you and great video! You asked: I use a Katahdyn Hiker; I sacrifice a few ounces difference on short hikes for the ease and speed--I have not done a thru-hike where ounces matter more so I could be swayed on the Sawyer! I like the Hiker because you just throw the floating suction (with pre-filter) into a water source and easily pump 1+ qt per minute into my 3L bladder! Done and gone! (And no carrying water bottles!) If water is readily available I just pump 1-2 L and if sparse I fill up the 3L to the top--thanks for all your videos! FYI: coffee filters are about 20 microns and are a great pre-filter and weigh next to nothing!
I can't believe Dixie and 392 prior comments don't mentioning my favorite method. It's not exactly esoteric, they sell it in the camping section at Walmart in Coghlan's brand. That's iodine followed up with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) after the iodine's done it's job. The ascorbic acid reacts with the iodine to form a harmless, inert, tasteless chemical, that actually precipitates out to the bottom of the bottle. If you've got your iodine and ascorbic acid quantities balances, there's no taste afterwards. And if you don't get them balanced perfectly, just make sure you've got extra ascorbic acid, not iodine. It's good for you and tastes good. An oz of the combined tablets is enough to treat hundreds of gallons of water so it's lighter than any filter or UV treater you can cary. It gets everything including viruses. It's relatively fast (30 minutes to be safe, but when I'm at a clean source I take the risk and do 15 minutes, which has always been fine for me. But make your own decisions regarding risks.) I know Dixie did mention iodine, but using it with the ascorbic acid is a whole different experience from Iodine alone. Also, I'd have noted as a downside to all the chemical treatments aside from iodine + ascorbic acid (iodine alone, chlorine dioxide, bleach) is that they are poison. I've seen many recommendations to not use any of those methods for long trips because you're drinking poison all day every day - google it, this is common advice. These are powerful oxidants, so aside from making your water taste awful, they're damaging your body. Anyway, I know filters are by far the most popular, but for weight savings, ease of use, reliability, not having to worry about freezing temperatures, and the fact you don't get an off flavor or ingest poison, iodine + ascorbic acid is by far my favorite.
Source that iodine+vitamin C kills viruses? Never heard of this and it seems highly unlikely to me, considering that both those chemicals are readily available in your bloodstream and if that was all it took, we wouldn't need antibodies.
Well, yes, iodine can be harmful if taken for long periods of time but not sure if taken small amounts for 7 days to purify water is toxic to the thyroid gland. I leave that decision to medical experts who are also wilderness experts.
thank you so much for mentioning this. I just want to make clear that the iodine kills the bacteria and only after 30minutes it is safe to pour in the ascorbic acid. the acid will oxidize the iodine and thus make it taste neutral and be harmless to the human body. But ascorbic acid is actually not healthy for humans since it cannot be made into real vitamin c. So you will just pee it out. but yes, the taste is quite nice.
@@SpaghettiToaster Google "iodine water purification," there are thousands of sources. Iodine and chlorine bleach are both commonly used for chemical water purification for people in remote areas and in emergency situations around the world and have been for decades. It's not my claim that Iodine is used for water purification, Dixie has it in the video we're commenting on. I'm just bringing it up to add that you can get around nearly all the drawbacks of using Iodine by waiting until your purification is done and then add Vitamin C also.
Good video, thank you. I use a Katadyn Hiker Pro as a Scout leader who sometimes has to provide for others. Many of the youth use the Sawyer. No failures as of yet...
So far I have been using the Grayl Geopress. Haven't used it yet on hikes but will soon. I do use it daily for city water and noticed that the chlorine is filtered out. After trying to drink city water without using the Grayl Geopress, I now can really taste the chlorine.
Good job... BUT... since this is supposed to be geared toward beginners, I wish you would have touched on the difference between a "filter" and a "purifier", as well as the micron size of the filter element pores. This way new people won't be so confused when shopping for a filtration system and they see the advertised micron sizes and the words "filter" and "purifier". Quickly... A "filter" will typically remove bacteria & protozoa(i.e. Giardia & Cryptosporidium). It takes a "purifier" to remove viruses & chemicals. It all has to do with the pore size(microns) of the filtering element.
@@jkid9942 Exactly. The average person watching these videos doesn't have a clue that there are government restrictions on manufacturers regarding the use of the words "filter" and "purifier", nor do they have a clue why, or what any of that means (pore size/microns, etc.). That's why I am a little disappointed that Dixie did not mention it.
I agree. The video is useful, but she did skip over some important information. The Sawyer doesn't filter out viruses. Thanks for this comment, super useful.
@@chriseidam7319 YES... But only in relation to viruses. The UV light will not remove or neutralize chemicals. Speaking of not removing... remember that the UV light does not actually remove anything, it only sterilizes it. In other words, the "bugs" (and anything else in the water that is small enough to pass through the MINI) are still there, and you are drinking them, they have just been sterilized(can't reproduce). Which is not necessarily a bad thing because the rapid and massive reproducing ability of the "bugs" is what makes you sick, not the presence of them.
There are bad things in many water sources that treatment and boiling cannot remove. Chemicals and heavy metals, for example. Even some sediments and other natural "impurities" can be problematic especially if you are going to be out drinking several liters a day for a long period of time. For a few days, or even a week or so, it's highly unlikely to be a problem, but for through hiking, I can't imagine any reputable informed expert recommending any method that does not include filtration. As for the bleach solution, this should really be considered an emergency last ditch option, as the bleach itself is not safe. Even small quantities can be a problem over longer periods of time. A few drops per liter is going to add up to somewhere between a teaspoon and a tablespoon every single day, and bleach will wreak havoc on the healthy biome of your mouth and stomach, if not your entire digestive tract. It's better than cryptosporidia, but that doesn't make it safe over the long haul.
Great video. I've used various MSR Pump Filters over the years (section hiking the AT). The MSR Pump Filters are great, but sometimes it could get very uncomfortable having to position myself so the pump hose would reach the water source and the pump would reach the water bottle. Now I'm using the Sawyer Squeeze. Love it! I can fill the bag then find a comfortable spot and fill my water bottle. Add a few drops of Sweetater Drops. Repeat if necessary.
I’m happy to carry a little extra weight for best available water treatment. In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia I used Katadyn pocket fitted with carbon filter first, then Steripen (USB charged version). It all fits in the original Katadyn zipper bag. I used a Nalgene big mouth fitted with the Human Gear cap that the steripen fits snugly into. Katadyn Pocket isn’t cheap...until you calculate the cost per litre based on 50,000 litre life. It’s not heavy all up, but it takes a little space.
My general go-to is the Sawyer, the performance to weight is fantastic and it's really small. If we go out in a group of 3 or more I have an MSR pump that makes a ridiculous amount of water very quickly, and we take turns carrying it. But it is heavy, bulky, and takes a few minutes to set up and then drain/stow away. As a backup I still carry tablets and a trick if you don't like the flavor, bring a small bottle of Stevia Drops in whatever flavor you prefer (I generally just use Lemon). A small squirt of Stevia covers the flavor of whatever you treated with. Last resort is filtering through a shemaugh, and boiling.
Ordered the "Katadyne Pocket Filter" some days ago. Weighs 550 grams, so definitely not the most lightweight solution, but as it is really good quality and comes with 20 years warranty, i think it was worth the pretty steep price. Pumps 1 liter in 1 minute, and is good for 50.000 liters.
Thanks again for your always GREAT videos. When I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro the porters/cooks boiled the stream water. I drank it and got the worst case of diarrhea ever along with fever, flu like symptoms, etc. SO, when I did the Inca Trail I carried a "Lifestraw" bottle with a filter attached to the lid. No diarrhea. It was a little difficult to suck through the straw but it was worth it not to get sick. I loved your Camino series and was planning to go there this summer, but we all know how that turned out. Happy Trails.
Bleach is the way to go on a thru hike!! I started the PCT with a Sawyer Squeeze Mini. I had some frost on the third night, woke up and feared my filter was frozen so I checked it right away. When I shook it some free flowing drops came out so I thought I all was well. Two weeks later Giardia made me miserable. Two drops of bleach to a liter is the same dilution that city water systems use. So, if you live in town chances are you've been drinking bleach water and your body is used to it. Yes, you have to let it sit for 30 minutes but that's a good thing, and here's why. The golden rule is to never walk into a water resupply with empty bottles. Never count on water being at the next source, so always have half to one liter at all times. I got into a habit of chugging my liter from the prior water source when I filled up for the next leg. To store and dispense the bleach I used a clean Visine bottle. Super lite weight and easy. I also liked having bleach to clean my ass blaster. Way better than TP. Don't knock it till you try it.
I bought the PUR brand of pump filter at a garage sale for $10 two decades ago and used it a few times over the years with the original filter. FYI, that old one has received immensely fewer complaints for resilience over the years than the Katadyn version. The parts and filter from Kat are said to be interchangeable with the PUR original per REI. One might notice the output water is slightly yellow. I've not experienced that, but I read somewhere that the PUR original filter might be impregnated with iodine for added effectiveness.
Dixie my go to file is the Katadyn Vario water filter. This is a different one than the one you showed. It costs $86.46 (Amazon) to $94.95. I go hiking with the Boy Scouts and this filter is really good for groups. It is about the size of a Nalgene bottle. The benefits are: The wide mouth Nalgene bottles screw on the bottom of the filter so you do not have to hold on to the bottle and it pumps water thru the filter both in the down and up stroke. You can filter a quart a minute. It weighs 15 oz and has a nice zipper storage bag. I keep it just inside the top of my pack, so it is easy to get to. It is easy enough for even the ten year old boys to use. I love your channel and the spot on advice you give. Keep up the good work
I use it because it is used by a group of 12 or more of us. I was also talking about hiking with 10 to 18 year old Scouts with little to no experiance at backpacking. We are lucky if they do not over pack or pack stuff we tell them not to, like jeans. The Scouts would bust their light weight bottle or bag and then we would have a scout with no water source, hense why we want Nalgene bottles. I have hiked enough to be able to take on the extra weight. Us adults in the troop are just trying to get them out backpacking not completing the AT, PCT or CDT. Us adults all have light weight gear, but most youth do not. Our "thru hikes are only 5 to 8 days at max and 50 or so miles at max". If I was solo hiking and not providing for a group of youth I would ditch the Nalgene and use a Sawyer and light drinking bottle like Dixie. All gear has a use for specific purposes. Tractor trailers have a use, supplying a whole store, but I would not use one to go grocery shopping for my family. Hope that clarifys why I use that gear.
When I was camping a lot 20 30 years ago. We used iodine in solution. Two or three drops in a quart, wait 20 minutes. No problem if you just plan ahead a little. Same amount in cooking, but you can use it immediately. I grew to like the taste, slightly bitter and metallic. It meant I wasn't going to get sick.
Excellent video! I have the Katahdyn Exstream XR water purifier. Although it's no longer made the "My bottle" seems to have taken its place. It's a 3 stage "purifier" not just a filter. I started using it on a medical mission trip to Brazil in 2001 and never stopped. I generally replace the filters annually depending on gallons of use. Godspeed, and keep your videos coming!
I use the sawyer mini as an in-line filter for the water from my pack water source. For cooking and brushing and other things I use the Katadyn water bottle with the built in filter and just squeeze the water out of that. Never had any issues and that particular setup works out well for me.
Awesome video!! I personally have used the Steri Pen and it has worked well for me. I do agree, it sometimes requires pre-filtering to remove any sediment that might be in the water you collect. Mine actually came with a pre filter system that attaches to the top of my water bottle and I love it as a first step to filter out dirt and sedimentment. It has worked well for me though and with allergies preventing me from using iodine tablets, it has been an excellent option for me! Thanks so much for all these informational videos, I always enjoy them and learn so much!
Hey Dixie! Just want to update some information on the boiling method for water purification... according to the CDC water only needs to be brought to a ROLLING boil for ONE minute to eradicate bacteria, Protozoa and viruses. The only modification to this is for elevations greater than 6,500ft- then the ROLLING boil time is THREE minutes. I haven’t been able to cut/paste link with my iPad but this info can be found with google search. The boil method may still be less than ideal to the Sawyer or BeFree filters but the lower boil times can conserve a bit more fuel. I will say that “dead cat” or cow pond water deserves boil & filter as you practiced -for nothing else but mental comfort.
I use the sawyer as a gravity filter. Also usually flavor a liter in the morning and another in the evening if the sources are clear. Plain water through the day.
Good practical info. If people want to know the science between purifiers, microns, filter they can do their own research. Wonderful internet you don't have to check out a book at the library. Self evidence based practice otherwise know as experience is something good to share and you do a wonderful job at it. Another awesome video. My choice is the Sawyer squeeze. I have the Katadyne hiker pro, Sawyer squeeze and mini. Thank you.
I use the gravity system. My go to mix was blue Gatorade. That seemed pretty heavy. I've been using "Liquid IV" everyday at work. Buy it at Costco. Its in a little .5 oz pouch. It says to mix in 16 oz water, but its waaay too strong, so mix it in a 1 liter (35.2 oz) and its great. If i drink 4 liters per day, thats 2 oz per day. If im on a section for 6 days, that 12 oz.
There are important differences between a water filter, and a water purifier. Some of those differences can involve you squatting near the trail, “burping” from both ends. Boiling and/or filtering is a good start - but only a start. Get a water purifier. It’s only critical. Also what the “Gear Skeptic” has to say about water purification. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
For me, the steri light pen works great. I tend to backpack in the NW where there are multiple lakes and streams, and I've never had an issue. I used it for a week on the JMT last year and it rocked.
I climb Munros in Scotland Most have great waterfalls with great tasting water. Never used a filter, However some hills don't have as many waterfalls and have Small "Burns" therefore I use purification tablets. Very rare though. Great series.
Used PreMac pumps for years about 0.4 ltrs per minute. Gets rid of everything likely in the UK . Manual operation very light very small A bit of a taste as it does have a weak iodine ball in it but not disgusting. Limited average life span of around 40 litres but well worth a look if you can find them .
I may be weird in taste but I actually like Polar Pure (iodine), ever since using it in Minnesota/Ontario boundary waters canoe trips. Definitely want to filter any floaties, but fast and really reliable.
Life straw also donates a straw to people who do not have access to clean water such as people in rural Africa. I think it’s worth it just for that and the fact it’s so minimal and light weight
RE: MSR Guardian Purifier Pump Personally I wouldn't feel all that comfortable using a system that directly puts the filtered water in your mouth. If it fails you might well have already taken a few sips before realising it happened. Then again is one able to tell when a pump system fails? So I guess that's the reason why it apparently doesn't seem to be an issue to most people. If it happens it happens and you're not gonna be able to tell unless the failure is major. After going through all the options despite the price and weight, I would go for a 'MSR Guardian Purifier Pump'. It's military grade, cleans itself while in use, ... and also removes viruses. Having safe water seems worth going the extra step. EDIT: I wrote this before the end of the vid; you're mentioning this filter yourself ;-)
Has anyone ever backpacked with the Berkey Sport? I have the gravity water treatment system made by Berkey as well and I love it! I plan on backpacking the AT once I'm out of the military. Looks like the Berkey Sport or the Sawyer will be my go-to, but would like some feedback!
I'v been using an MSR AutoFlow gravity filter for about 10yrs now and see no reason to change. No hassle, it works great and I'm in a canoe so weight is a secondary consideration.
Survivor Filter - 0.05 Micron is the "drink through" filter I chose.... $30 Amazon. (Filters Viruses) 3 Removable Internal Filter Stages - Membrane Ultra Filter which Lasts up to 100,000 Liters (26,417 Gallons), Replaceable Carbon Filter that last up to 1000 Liters (264 Gallons) and are simple to change and the Cotton Pre-Filters which last 264 Gallons a Piece (5 Extra Cotton Pre-filters included) Screws right onto a standard water bottle like you were showing. Great video!!!
I got the Sawyer mini after having the original and don't think I'd ever use the mini again, too slow flow and just not enough weight saving.... maybe if I just thought I won't need to treat much or any I could keep as a toss in for a day trip(but really a few chemical tabs would be a better choice for that) but otherwise the regular Sawyer is much better option. I hadn't considered the gravity filters seriously but I take your point about the time spent, and that could be nice to not have to deal with.
A water filter removes bacteria and parasites but not viruses. This isn't a problem in the US because the water is fairly clean but in a third world country filtering water may not be enough you might also have to boil it/treat it. I once ran into tricky situation when backpacking along the Olympic National Park Coast the only water sources were the ocean and a stagnant green stream. I had no way to de-salinize ocean water so i had to filter from the stream, the water was still green even after it had run through my filter and to be extra safe I boiled it. I later found out the green water was safe to drink, the water was green because it contained tannin and tannin tastes bitter but wont harm you. I take a Katadyn water filter on most of my hikes that way I dont need to carry alot of water I fill up whenever I come across a stream.
Just want to comment here. In 1982, when Giarda sp? wasn't a known issue by many, posted signs in Yosemite said to boil water for 10 minutes. What? That was new. OK. I did. I contracted Girarda. One of the most miserable experiences ever and it ruined my entire summer. Fast forward- My 1st backpacking trip 3 years ago I borrowed someone's steripen. Though heavy, it worked great until it didn't. Luckily I was with someone else and their system. Lesson learned. Now my overly cautious self uses a Katadyn Be Free (easy-peasy) with a Sawyer Squeeze backup or a partner's backup. I have emergency tablets too. On some occasions, I will bring a CNOC for extra water storage as it is easy to scoop in those difficult scoopable places.
I'm really excited to use the new Sawyer Micro on the PCT. Same flow rate but smaller and lighter. Plus the bags seem sturdier, yet lighter. We'll see how it goes.
Dadgum! Meant to warn y’all that filters CAN freeze and then they might not function properly. There’s no real way to know for sure if it’s filtering out the bad stuff after it freezes 😢 So, I try to make sure to put my filter in my sleeping bag on cold nights. Make sure to put it in a ziplock or stuff sack so water doesn’t leak out and wet your bag!
Sawyer has new filters that claims they remove virtually all contaminants. sawyer.com/products/select-filter-and-purifier/
I strain water in the winter and boil because of the filter freezing issue. Straining can be important, on my last winter backpacking trip I strained a baby salamander out of my water. It was nice to not boil it and kill it.
Since drinking water is essential to survival on the trail, I always bring chlorine dioxide tablets as a backup to my Sawyer. Unfiltered water can do much more than give you temporary diarrhea. It can screw you up for years. Prefilters are also available to remove particulates if you don't want to use/don't have, a clean handkerchief. They can reduce the chance of clogging your filter.
@@Back2SquareOne You are correct QuietStorm, a gastrointestinal incident caused by bad water or food can have years-long effect.
@@timpearson3932 I have a video on the Florida Trail, near Ocala, of a minnow swimming around in the water I collected from a really muddy source (all the water holes were mostly dry that time of year). You never know what's going to be in there.
Hi, I’m a licensed water treatment professional and I just want to share that chlorine is not an effective means for inactivation of crypto. It really shouldn’t be relied upon for inactivation of giardia either but with enough contact time and high enough residual it can get a decent log removal. Also, for your bleach smell complaint, you can let it sit a little while longer and the smell/taste will dissipate- sunlight can speed this process as sunlight “eats” chlorine residual. Just make sure you’re letting it sit long enough before setting it in the sun to achieve good contact time ESPECIALLY if you want it to inactivate giardia.
Do you have a favorite water purification regimine that would treat for EVERYTHING? This is all new to me.
After 30 minutes chlorine, neutralize with sodiumthiosulfate..NaS2O3... Two crystals is enough. No hazards, standard military procedure...soldiers handbook, the Netherlands, 1978....
What do you think about lifestraws vs. other filters
Check out chlorine dioxide water purification tablets. Recently found out about them. Would appreciate any feedback anyone has on them.
Stay safe.
Huh
By far the best backpacking series on RUclips!
Umm take out the words “backpacking” and the statement will be more accurate.
I’m just getting into backpacking and I love your channel! It seems like there’s a video for every question I come up with. Thank you for your wonderful content! 💜
For the bleach method it's really so much better if you have two safe drinking containers because after you treat the water, pour it between the two containers for a few minutes and the bleach smell will evaporate from the water making it much more palatable.
Think like having a straw and blowing into it would also do that?
I boil my water (using camp fire)the night before going to bed to use for the next day. This allows cooling while I sleep.
Michael B Good way to be efficient! Thanks for sharing.
Seconded. On cold nights you can take the water you boiled in your sleeping bag as a hot water bottle :)
Michael B :- The one problem with boiling water for "purification" is that dissolved solids, chemicals & pharmaceuticals are not removed by boiling. Also at higher elevations, water boils at lower temperatures, and will not kill bacteria or viruses at normal boiling times, if at all.
Examples of chemicals are :- pesticides, factory waste, heavy metals
Examples of pharmaceuticals are :- birth control medication, hospital waste, hormones, on the self drugs ( cold, pain relief,) blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, etc.
So boiling might reduce or remove bacteria/viruses, but some sort of filtration is required to remove particles of soil, organics and debris. And almost nothing except the very best 4 or 5 stage water filters will remove all contaminants. Don't assume that you can drink water the "next day" because it was boiled. Do some serious research, ask someone at your outdoor/camping store for advice before heading out.
And don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can DIY a water filter from sand , rocks and moss...it is a bit more complicated and not worth a day or two in the hospital and a week of anti-biotics ( not to mention cramps & diarrhea).
@@HomemadeWanderlust :- Efficient as a warm water bottle, but not for drinking water.
The days of dipping your cup into a stream or lake and drinking direct from the source are gone in most of North America.
Only on the MOST remote of locations is this even remotely safe, and boiling removes so little of the potential harmful effects of drinking untreated water, that it just is not worth the risk...especially if you have children with you.
Man has contaminated the "fresh" water supply across across most of the USA and southern Canada, but our technology has given us many inexpensive filtration options for campers. Why take a chance of a hospital visit or a week of antibiotics, when a $25 water filter will do the job for you?
P.S. I have spent my entire working life in water and pollution control, and also remote camping in the U.S. and Canada. Please do some research in this before endangering your health.
What does man have to do with anything? I'm pretty sure the vast majority of contaminated stream water is due to animal poop or carcasses upstream. There was never a time when it was safe to drink with your cup directly from a stream unless you're at the spring or it's a major river or lake known for clean water. Rainwater is a better option but it should still be filtered, jo matter how remote the region.
I'm with the Katadyn Befree people here... It squeeze- filters faster than the Sawyer Squeeze, is a lot easier to clean out, and is also much easier to collect through it's wide mouth bottle or bag with handle. Got mine for 40 dollars with the bag on Amazon! Works great!...
Only thing that might cause some folks to still prefer the Sawyer is that the Sawyer thread fits more bottles if you want to drink through. The Sawyer may be more labor-intensive to clean, but will give you more total filters before it craps out. You still get a good relative number of filters with the Katadyn befree though, and I have found that it does fit some larger mouthed bottles that I have found, such as the quart sized gatorade bottle:-)
Such an informative video though, as usual. I actually had considered the LifeStraw and reconsidered, figuring that the same things which Dixie mentioned might become an issue for me, sounds like it was a good call... I wish I could say that about all of my gear items :-) but with more money will come better items.
ok, I have both the sawyer and the BeFree and yet to use either in field. My BeFree clogged with tap water so I'm nervous about taking it on the AT for a month next week. so I will bring both. Thank you for the invaluable tip on the Gatorade bottle!
Thats why i love Switzerland. You can drink from nearly every lake or river thats clear when higher up.
over the years boil\iodine... then got smart went to Katadyn pump (can't remember witch one) now always always the sawyer squeeze (large never small one) I made a back wash set up with a smart water cap and 1" of Tigon tubing with a 45* cut so it slips on to the other end easily but firmly. Plus I keep an extra gasket in my first aid kit. And I never sleep without it if there is the slimmest chance of a freeze. Well that's my @# years of experience. Hope to see y'all outside someday. ..... Uncle Steve
I was working a remote fire a year ago in the Ansel Adams. We were so far out there we were using mule trains to supply the camp. Ran into a USFS Back Country Ranger who was leading up a crosscut team to go in and reopen the trails. He turned me onto the SteriPen UV system. That thing is on point. (later found out another friend took one with him to Africa for a 1yr Peace Corps gig)
For sure beware murky water, but this can be solved with coffee filter or clean (ish) bandana. It's about allowing the light to travel freely through the entire body of water. I carry a bottle of AquaPure tabs for back up and a set of spare CR123s.
I love that thing.
Hello Dixie, thank you for sharing this valuable information. Often times I will do a pre-filter using a bandana In combination with a clean coffee filter. After using the coffee filter I clip it to the back of my pack and let it air dry. Later in the day I will use the dry used coffee filter as a tinder source to start a fire. Coffee filters take up no space and there is no weight. After the pre-filter process I will run the h2o throughout a DIY Sawyer gravity system. The process does take a little more time, but, to me it is worth it. Take care Dixie and thank you again for your great videos. 🤗
Coffee filter? Brilliant, thank you!
I camped at Mount Mitchell state park in NC. There was a crystal clear creek that ran through it. I took a chance and drank straight out of it. I didn't have any problems at all. It was the cleanest water I have seen.
That's luck, and I'm glad it didn't hit you, but once you get sick one time from contaminated water, you'll never take that chance again.
I use the Katadyn Be Free squeeze water filtration system as it's much easier to fill than a standard water bottle. I also use the Sawyer squeeze filter as a back up along with boiling the water. .
Great info as usual Thanks again Dixie ! 😉 I use the Platypus 2 liter kit for when I’m with a group and Sawer squeeze for going solo. And don’t forget everyone - Do NOT let them freeze. I have also added a gravity works inline charcoal filter on occasion and I will have to say that I do think it makes some water sources I’ve used taste a little better.
My hikes these days are day hikes or overnighters with my two dogs. I make them carry about a gallon of water each, and the water I carry gets used first. Even so, at the end of the day I"m exhausted and they are still racing around. I use soda bottles for water; they are free, light, durable, and don't leak.
While that usually means I have enough water for the entire hike, for backup my kit is Sawyer Squeeze with the Sawyer backflushing coupling, and as you say a ziplock for storing the filter in my sleeping bag overnight to prevent freezing. No need for the Sawyer bags or the syringe; the soda bottles are squeezable and unlikely to fail no matter how hard you squeeze. One 16oz soda bottle is reserved for clean water, and is also to be used with the coupler for backflushing. The other soda bottles are used for carrying dirty water once their clean water is used. I generally filter water as I need it. Whenever there is any concern at all about water availability or quality farther down the trail I will quickly top off even at sketchy water sources. If I later pass a source of better looking water I'll dump the sketchy stuff and top off with the better stuff.
The Sawyer Micro is packaged with the cleaning (backflushing) coupling. The Micro appears to have the same filter as the Mini (both rated at 100K gallons) and the same connections as the Squeeze.
Eeeee I love that she’s come out first thing in the morning!!! Thank you for all these videos!!!
And check out a nut bag instead of a bandanna, it’s basically a bag to filter when you are making nut milk in a blender, but it would be great on trail and you can keep your filter in that bag!?
I use the Sawyer squeeze. One annoying issue we've had is that when the water source is shallow or slow moving, it's hard to fill up the little plastic bag. Other than that, no problems. I even took it to Kenya with me last summer to filter water.
Brooke Sanville Yes! In those times it’s nice to have a scoop of some sort. My luxury item, sea to summit collapsible mug, comes in hand at times like this :)
I carry a collapsable silicone cup specifically to fill the dirty water bag for my Sawyer Mini.
I hiked 300 miles on the AZT and 78 miles on the Hayduke. The AZT had water that was mostly from cow tanks and ponds. It looked bad, smelled bad, and it was all there was so....I used a Sawyer Squeeze and had zero issues. It didn't get rid of the green color or dirt color but I didn't get sick or have any intestinal issues.
Thank you Dixie your videos have given me the confidence to undertake a through hike and to start preparing for taking on the AT after my retirement in a few years. Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
I wish I could retire now and start my hiking career
Hiking here in Scandinavia you'll only need a cup for all your water needs...just a cup, not even a bottle. Water is everywhere in the mountains up here, streams, rivers and lakes abound and they are all good to drink from, no chemicals, no filtering or boiling required. I just love it.
My experience of along trips in Africa, Australia and South America is chlorine tablets coupled with a dedicated scarf or bandana go best, they do the most for the least amount of weight, don't freeze or clog up and can't break. Africa killed our (ultra expensive in 1998) Katadyn and MSR pump systems in short order with it's muddy water and even with constant cleaning and maintenance it broke down altogether within about two months of a seven month cycling trip. Trip, throw a few handfuls of sand (and fire ash, if you stored it from the night before's campfire) in your bandana, run the water through the sand and cloth and then drop your tablets in the clearer water.
Holy Moly! You are really on a roll with this informative series of videos. Thanks for giving back and God bless!
I can’t believe she drank the dead cat water 😂 that’s just tough right there. A real trooper!
You had me at “Hey, ya’ll....”
I LOVE the Platypus GravityWorks for car camping, and I have used the smaller one for backpacking. You do need a tree or something to hang it on, though, so if I ever do a thru-hike, I'll probably get the Sawyer Squeeze. Ben from Fight for Together is totally anti-filtration, and his family of 8 thru-hiked the AT without filtering once, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to risk it personally.
I’ve learned so much from your videos, thank you! Just completed my first solo backpacking trip with summit to Half Dome and made a video about my experience. Looking forward to learning more and going on more trips!
I remember when pumps were the only water filters you could get, and they were pretty new. A ceramic element pump was the bees knees and the cat's meow. These new fangled squeeze/drink through filters really changed the game. But you're right - more expensive, less effective (larger pores), still prone to freeze damage, heavier and bulkier. I'm not sure why anybody still buys them unless they want to use one filter for a large group - but even then, gravity feed systems are better for that.
i spliced the sawyer mini into my bladder line, worked great. Just make sure you put the filter close to the bladder in the line instead of close to the mouth piece.
I've used a steripen classic for a couple of years without any issues. It uses the same AAA batteries as my headlamp so I pack 4 extra and that covers me for both. I will say some of the other models of steripen have been less robust and I have seen them go down for other people, but I'd buy the classic again in a heartbeat. Beats the holy hell out of pumping your arm off, or waiting for chems or gravity to do their thing.
Thanks Dixie! I use MSR Trailshot Microfilter + Steripen in Russian mountains. And I’m still alive 😃
I have that pump, and if you have more than 1 person, it is great. Fast, pretty clean, and connects right to water bladders
I’ve always used a combination of a smaller/cheaper MSR ceramic filter hand pump (removal of bacteria and Protozoa) in combination with a steripen (neutering viruses). However, I am normally backpacking or kayak/canoe camping for 1-2 weeks at a time, so not trying to go ultralight, and I travel with a group. This setup, allows us to collect water relatively quickly and the cost is low since the group shared the filter and steripen. I hope to through hike one day, and will probably start off with this set up to save on cost, but we shall see! I love how you stress the importance of having backup sources for water sterilization, definitely worth a little extra weight :)
Came upon a cow pond while on the PCT, in the Anzo-Berrego Desert. Filtered with bandanna, then boiled, then added Iodine tabs, then added lemonaid. Worked fine. I prefer dead squirrel over dead cat...Bold, Complex, but not "busy".
Nice clear snow melt fed moving streams are actually pretty safe to drink from especially if there isn't grazing cows in the area. I've known people who have been drinking from streams for a very long time and never got sick. Still, filtering is pretty easy to do and totally worth the small inconvenience to make sure you don't get giardia or something else.
Yes definitely boil your water if you want to go the extra step as you said aquamira and then you can go ahead and filter that through the Sawyer squeeze or the mini
Just wanted to say how much we like the Steri Pen. Feel like its the superior option where we go (high altitude clear water shorter trips). Fast and easy, the Ultra only weighs 5 oz and is rechargeable. Not surprised you didn’t see it much on the CDT or PCT - since it has to be recharged every ~50 liters (approx 5 days for 2 people). We plan on using it this summer for the Highline trail (7-8 days) and recharging it with an Anker portable battery half way through. But if we start doing something longer I will definitely check out the Sawyer Squeeze.
So I just picked up the Grayl Geopress purifier at REI for a four day hike up by the Idaho Montana border. It’s a 24 oz bottle that weighs 15.9 oz and functions a lot like a coffee press. It filters out pretty much everything including heavy metals and viruses and is good for about 65 gal before you need to change the filter. It’s not the lightest option but it’s definitely convenient and eliminates almost any chance of cross contamination.
This video has a great tip about tapping the Sawyer. I had backflushed it multiple times with clean water until the water coming out was consistently clear after using it on the Suwannee river, which is full of tannic acid. It still wasn't filtering properly, so, I tapped it and the darkest sediment I have seen come from a Sawyer came out. I had to do this eight more times to get it clean. Thanks, Dixie!
I love using my Sawyersqueeze regular model ..never have been a aqua mira user...digging the thumb nail as well..tasty tasty agua...minus the giridia
Another excellent vlog. You covered the topic very thoroughly. Thanks from all of people that you have saved from the consequences of dirty water. Good Luck, Rick
I used the Grayl ultralight water purifier. It does kill viruses and bacteria and is easy to use. It work is kind of like a French press and the water tastes great. I just filtered and filled my bottles.
The new Sawyer micro is available, smaller,lighter, less expensive. I just finally picked one up for this season
Thank you
Tell us about your watch, feature and such.
I’m still Using the mini.
For mine I picked up a 2liter bottle preform/vial. Like the plastic unblown up 2litter.
Same thickness of the mini maybe 1.5” longer. Weight is pretty much the same.
And threw out the preform standard bottle cap an screwed on a smart water bottle cap to the preform with the little blue spout an flip cap.
But the little preform I heated up a mail an melted a small hole in the bottom. Than put a little coffee filter down in the bottom of it. An filled the vial with charcoal.
So than I connect my sawyer to the dirty water bag. And the clean side tip of the sawyer mine can than push into the smart water bottle flip cap nozzle.
So after the dirty water passes through the filter to be cleaned. It’s than going right into an through another charcoal filter basically to clean up any taste that would of been.
An comes out of the hole I melted into the bottom of it. Can either drink it from there or fill a bottle from that end.
I highly recommend the Sawyer Micro (not to be confused with Sawyer mini). It is lighter than the Sawyer squeeze and has the exact same flow rate and it’s even slightly less expensive on Amazon.
I always use the Sawyer squeeze. I like the sounds of " lighter " for the Micro. I'm going to buy one for my next hike
I have used my Steripen on three though hikes, with no problems. It is lightweight, simple, quick, and effective. Yes, I do carry backup batteries, which weigh very little. One set of batteries last about a month. Full disclosure: most of hikes are in the Sierras or Cascades, where water tends to be very clear.
I uses either a 2 or 3 liter CNOC as my dirty side because it's super easy to fill and clean on trail, and Smart Water bottles as the clean side. I can gravity or squeeze this way. If I need to back flush, I just pop the hose off the dirty side of the filter and squeeze the bottle until it runs clear. It also leaves me a compact option to run up to 5-6L on a long dry stretch. I can also gravity on the go with the CNOC on top of my ULA and the bottles in the side pocket. I keep my active bottles on the straps with a short bite valve tube.
I tried the Grayl Geopress water bottle filter this summer and never got sick! It's the fastest at filtering water on the market. Great show!
For bleach, after treatment is completed, pour the water back and forth between 2 cups, or pans, so as to mix air into the water and you are also helping the bleach evaporate out.
I have a Sawer 100,000 gallon filter and a couple Life-Straws for when you are on the move and can't wait to set up the Sawyer.
Thanks for this presentation. Only request that you explain the differences between filtering and purifying, specifically which of these performs both functions. Thanks
Great video, we're new to this and have decided to go with a Sawyer and Aqua Mira as a backup, neither of us got sick last summer using the Sawyer it's simple, light, and takes little space.
I believe filtering is the best and I use Katadyne mini filter for day hikes and Katadyne pocket filter for multi day and multi people hikes. Then I use the Camelback UV and if the source is questionable, I add a Katadyne water purification tablet. Will never take water from a source with dead animal (cat) in it, unless I’m forced to (haven’t had such case, yet).
So, on water filtration I am somewhere between careful and paranoid. On the other hand, I have never had to come off the trail due to a massive case of the trots. I have used a two-stage system: a Katadyn filter followed by either a steripen or tablets. Admittedly, this would not meet UL criteria at this point because of the bulk and weight. But the filter takes care of any particulates and some of the microscopic critters, and the tablets address the rest. One thing that has me reconsidering the pump filter, though, is the price of the filter cores, which do have to be replaced periodically due to gunk and potential mold. On the other hand, I have yet to see a thru hiker video series where the Sawyer squeeze did not freeze (or maybe not, who knows?) or otherwise need to be replaced partway through. It's still probably more cost-effective, but maybe a bit more risky, to go with the squeeze.
All these video are making it much easier to prepare for this hiking season, thank you for taking the time to make these.
Trail shot hand pump filter work wonderful and it's easy to use and clean. 1 liter of h2o per min.
So many new videos and so much new learning.
I use have the Sawyer Mini and have not needed to use it until last month, when all of the clean spring taps on the AT in CT/MA where I was backpacking were turned off for the cold.
Dixie is right - the Sawyer is sl-sl-sl-slow. It took me about 35 minutes to filter less than two liters. But it had to be done. Not something enjoyable while you sit still in 15° weather.
Glad to learn in this video that these MINIs clog easily. I have heard they clog with tap water and even from backflushing with tap water, so it is best to use bottled store-bought water to backflush at home.
I will get a Squeeze, and keep the MINI as a back-up for when my wife occasionally hikes with me.
Because the Sawyers are suseptible to freezing and then cracking, I slept with it in my bag at night and carried it in my coat waist pocket to keep it warm during the days, as everybody should know by now from watching videos by Dixie and others.
But I like redundancies on a few things - food, lights, devices to ignite, and filtration. So I took my Steripen, and I used that after filtering the water. Just 90 seconds per liter. Of all the battery devices I used on this cold trip, the Steripen batteries held up best, by far.
A tip I have only heard once before: - Paper coffee filters work much better on sediment and debris than fabrics do, if your orthodox filter fails. Carrying a few paper coffee filters for backup is not going to weigh you down. It is not about filtering dirt. It is about filtering toxic plant and fungi debris. Mountain laurels are deadly, for instance. I doubt you could be killed, but ut wil not help. I forage mushrooms. You just cannot imagine how abundant deadly mushrooms are. So filter, filter, filter.
Last thing, portable fiters of any kind do not work on many (most?) water-soluble toxins, such as herbicides and nitrate. Do not get a false sense of security. Don't be drinking filtered water from valley mill/factory rivers, even if the mills/factories closed decades ago.
I used to draw and drink straight from mountain rivers on annual trips to Franconia Notch, unfiltered, until I went through a spell of at least a year of nasty gas. My stomach was never cramped, but I had a gaseousness that would not quit for the duration of that spell, and I am pretty sure it came from something in the rivers or streams on the mountains. But hey, maybe you are into that kind of thing.
You missed the Katadyn BeFree water filtering system. I've used several systems & this one is by far the best I've used. The BeFree has become very popular on the trail. It was rated #2 on the Halfwayanywhere 2018 PCT survey.
Adventurer Guy been tossing this BeFree filtering around, everyone always wants you to by say the Grayl purifier due to Viruses, my thing is I’ll be on the PCT and shouldn’t have to worry bout viruses
Any thoughts you can share, thanks
True, The BeFree HollowFiber does not protect against viruses. I just completed the PCT desert and when using the filter, it was always from good running water streams. Could it contain viruses? Possibly, but unlikely. FWIW, I also carried Aqua Mira tablets in the event I had to use standing water. Here's a url to a great matrix on types of filter & protections offered. www.katadyn.com/us/us/water-know-how/types-of-filters
No matter what filtration system I have used over the years, I have always carried chlorine pills for backup. Last year while getting water, I dropped the the drinking cup filter cap which was carried downstream and lost forever. The next three days were pills. In the Sierra Nevada, paying attention to your map also gives you advance notice of where the next water source should be (although the fall season makes this less reliable.) I was once desperate enough to drink stagnant water but first put a pill in my filter cup, then after a wait, drank from the filter cup.
I have tabs as well as platypus 3L and a Sawyer with it's own 1L bag. The gravity is pretty good
Hey back at you and great video! You asked: I use a Katahdyn Hiker; I sacrifice a few ounces difference on short hikes for the ease and speed--I have not done a thru-hike where ounces matter more so I could be swayed on the Sawyer! I like the Hiker because you just throw the floating suction (with pre-filter) into a water source and easily pump 1+ qt per minute into my 3L bladder! Done and gone! (And no carrying water bottles!) If water is readily available I just pump 1-2 L and if sparse I fill up the 3L to the top--thanks for all your videos! FYI: coffee filters are about 20 microns and are a great pre-filter and weigh next to nothing!
I can't believe Dixie and 392 prior comments don't mentioning my favorite method. It's not exactly esoteric, they sell it in the camping section at Walmart in Coghlan's brand.
That's iodine followed up with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) after the iodine's done it's job.
The ascorbic acid reacts with the iodine to form a harmless, inert, tasteless chemical, that actually precipitates out to the bottom of the bottle. If you've got your iodine and ascorbic acid quantities balances, there's no taste afterwards. And if you don't get them balanced perfectly, just make sure you've got extra ascorbic acid, not iodine. It's good for you and tastes good.
An oz of the combined tablets is enough to treat hundreds of gallons of water so it's lighter than any filter or UV treater you can cary. It gets everything including viruses. It's relatively fast (30 minutes to be safe, but when I'm at a clean source I take the risk and do 15 minutes, which has always been fine for me. But make your own decisions regarding risks.)
I know Dixie did mention iodine, but using it with the ascorbic acid is a whole different experience from Iodine alone.
Also, I'd have noted as a downside to all the chemical treatments aside from iodine + ascorbic acid (iodine alone, chlorine dioxide, bleach) is that they are poison. I've seen many recommendations to not use any of those methods for long trips because you're drinking poison all day every day - google it, this is common advice. These are powerful oxidants, so aside from making your water taste awful, they're damaging your body.
Anyway, I know filters are by far the most popular, but for weight savings, ease of use, reliability, not having to worry about freezing temperatures, and the fact you don't get an off flavor or ingest poison, iodine + ascorbic acid is by far my favorite.
Source that iodine+vitamin C kills viruses? Never heard of this and it seems highly unlikely to me, considering that both those chemicals are readily available in your bloodstream and if that was all it took, we wouldn't need antibodies.
@ Of course they do, that's literally one of their main functions.
Well, yes, iodine can be harmful if taken for long periods of time but not sure if taken small amounts for 7 days to purify water is toxic to the thyroid gland. I leave that decision to medical experts who are also wilderness experts.
thank you so much for mentioning this. I just want to make clear that the iodine kills the bacteria and only after 30minutes it is safe to pour in the ascorbic acid. the acid will oxidize the iodine and thus make it taste neutral and be harmless to the human body. But ascorbic acid is actually not healthy for humans since it cannot be made into real vitamin c. So you will just pee it out. but yes, the taste is quite nice.
@@SpaghettiToaster Google "iodine water purification," there are thousands of sources. Iodine and chlorine bleach are both commonly used for chemical water purification for people in remote areas and in emergency situations around the world and have been for decades. It's not my claim that Iodine is used for water purification, Dixie has it in the video we're commenting on. I'm just bringing it up to add that you can get around nearly all the drawbacks of using Iodine by waiting until your purification is done and then add Vitamin C also.
Good video, thank you. I use a Katadyn Hiker Pro as a Scout leader who sometimes has to provide for others. Many of the youth use the Sawyer. No failures as of yet...
So far I have been using the Grayl Geopress. Haven't used it yet on hikes but will soon. I do use it daily for city water and noticed that the chlorine is filtered out.
After trying to drink city water without using the Grayl Geopress, I now can really taste the chlorine.
Good job... BUT... since this is supposed to be geared toward beginners, I wish you would have touched on the difference between a "filter" and a "purifier", as well as the micron size of the filter element pores. This way new people won't be so confused when shopping for a filtration system and they see the advertised micron sizes and the words "filter" and "purifier".
Quickly... A "filter" will typically remove bacteria & protozoa(i.e. Giardia & Cryptosporidium). It takes a "purifier" to remove viruses & chemicals. It all has to do with the pore size(microns) of the filtering element.
Amen! I see those words used interchangeably and I cringe. There really is a difference and you need to do your homework 😁
@@jkid9942 Exactly. The average person watching these videos doesn't have a clue that there are government restrictions on manufacturers regarding the use of the words "filter" and "purifier", nor do they have a clue why, or what any of that means (pore size/microns, etc.). That's why I am a little disappointed that Dixie did not mention it.
Will my Sawyer MINI combined with my Steripen "purify"?
If not, what do you recommend to replace the MINI?
Thanks.
I agree. The video is useful, but she did skip over some important information. The Sawyer doesn't filter out viruses. Thanks for this comment, super useful.
@@chriseidam7319 YES... But only in relation to viruses. The UV light will not remove or neutralize chemicals.
Speaking of not removing... remember that the UV light does not actually remove anything, it only sterilizes it. In other words, the "bugs" (and anything else in the water that is small enough to pass through the MINI) are still there, and you are drinking them, they have just been sterilized(can't reproduce). Which is not necessarily a bad thing because the rapid and massive reproducing ability of the "bugs" is what makes you sick, not the presence of them.
There are bad things in many water sources that treatment and boiling cannot remove. Chemicals and heavy metals, for example. Even some sediments and other natural "impurities" can be problematic especially if you are going to be out drinking several liters a day for a long period of time. For a few days, or even a week or so, it's highly unlikely to be a problem, but for through hiking, I can't imagine any reputable informed expert recommending any method that does not include filtration. As for the bleach solution, this should really be considered an emergency last ditch option, as the bleach itself is not safe. Even small quantities can be a problem over longer periods of time. A few drops per liter is going to add up to somewhere between a teaspoon and a tablespoon every single day, and bleach will wreak havoc on the healthy biome of your mouth and stomach, if not your entire digestive tract. It's better than cryptosporidia, but that doesn't make it safe over the long haul.
Great video. I've used various MSR Pump Filters over the years (section hiking the AT). The MSR Pump Filters are great, but sometimes it could get very uncomfortable having to position myself so the pump hose would reach the water source and the pump would reach the water bottle. Now I'm using the Sawyer Squeeze. Love it! I can fill the bag then find a comfortable spot and fill my water bottle. Add a few drops of Sweetater Drops. Repeat if necessary.
I’m happy to carry a little extra weight for best available water treatment. In Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia I used Katadyn pocket fitted with carbon filter first, then Steripen (USB charged version). It all fits in the original Katadyn zipper bag. I used a Nalgene big mouth fitted with the Human Gear cap that the steripen fits snugly into. Katadyn Pocket isn’t cheap...until you calculate the cost per litre based on 50,000 litre life. It’s not heavy all up, but it takes a little space.
My general go-to is the Sawyer, the performance to weight is fantastic and it's really small. If we go out in a group of 3 or more I have an MSR pump that makes a ridiculous amount of water very quickly, and we take turns carrying it. But it is heavy, bulky, and takes a few minutes to set up and then drain/stow away.
As a backup I still carry tablets and a trick if you don't like the flavor, bring a small bottle of Stevia Drops in whatever flavor you prefer (I generally just use Lemon). A small squirt of Stevia covers the flavor of whatever you treated with.
Last resort is filtering through a shemaugh, and boiling.
Ordered the "Katadyne Pocket Filter" some days ago. Weighs 550 grams, so definitely not the most lightweight solution, but as it is really good quality and comes with 20 years warranty, i think it was worth the pretty steep price. Pumps 1 liter in 1 minute, and is good for 50.000 liters.
Thanks again for your always GREAT videos. When I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro the porters/cooks boiled the stream water. I drank it and got the worst case of diarrhea ever along with fever, flu like symptoms, etc. SO, when I did the Inca Trail I carried a "Lifestraw" bottle with a filter attached to the lid. No diarrhea. It was a little difficult to suck through the straw but it was worth it not to get sick. I loved your Camino series and was planning to go there this summer, but we all know how that turned out. Happy Trails.
Bleach is the way to go on a thru hike!! I started the PCT with a Sawyer Squeeze Mini. I had some frost on the third night, woke up and feared my filter was frozen so I checked it right away. When I shook it some free flowing drops came out so I thought I all was well. Two weeks later Giardia made me miserable. Two drops of bleach to a liter is the same dilution that city water systems use. So, if you live in town chances are you've been drinking bleach water and your body is used to it. Yes, you have to let it sit for 30 minutes but that's a good thing, and here's why. The golden rule is to never walk into a water resupply with empty bottles. Never count on water being at the next source, so always have half to one liter at all times. I got into a habit of chugging my liter from the prior water source when I filled up for the next leg. To store and dispense the bleach I used a clean Visine bottle. Super lite weight and easy. I also liked having bleach to clean my ass blaster. Way better than TP. Don't knock it till you try it.
Great video. Well-organized, thorough, yet concise.
I bought the PUR brand of pump filter at a garage sale for $10 two decades ago and used it a few times over the years with the original filter. FYI, that old one has received immensely fewer complaints for resilience over the years than the Katadyn version. The parts and filter from Kat are said to be interchangeable with the PUR original per REI. One might notice the output water is slightly yellow. I've not experienced that, but I read somewhere that the PUR original filter might be impregnated with iodine for added effectiveness.
Dixie my go to file is the Katadyn Vario water filter. This is a different one than the one you showed. It costs $86.46 (Amazon) to $94.95. I go hiking with the Boy Scouts and this filter is really good for groups. It is about the size of a Nalgene bottle. The benefits are: The wide mouth Nalgene bottles screw on the bottom of the filter so you do not have to hold on to the bottle and it pumps water thru the filter both in the down and up stroke. You can filter a quart a minute. It weighs 15 oz and has a nice zipper storage bag. I keep it just inside the top of my pack, so it is easy to get to. It is easy enough for even the ten year old boys to use. I love your channel and the spot on advice you give. Keep up the good work
I use it because it is used by a group of 12 or more of us. I was also talking about hiking with 10 to 18 year old Scouts with little to no experiance at backpacking. We are lucky if they do not over pack or pack stuff we tell them not to, like jeans. The Scouts would bust their light weight bottle or bag and then we would have a scout with no water source, hense why we want Nalgene bottles. I have hiked enough to be able to take on the extra weight. Us adults in the troop are just trying to get them out backpacking not completing the AT, PCT or CDT. Us adults all have light weight gear, but most youth do not. Our "thru hikes are only 5 to 8 days at max and 50 or so miles at max". If I was solo hiking and not providing for a group of youth I would ditch the Nalgene and use a Sawyer and light drinking bottle like Dixie. All gear has a use for specific purposes. Tractor trailers have a use, supplying a whole store, but I would not use one to go grocery shopping for my family. Hope that clarifys why I use that gear.
When I was camping a lot 20 30 years ago. We used iodine in solution. Two or three drops in a quart, wait 20 minutes. No problem if you just plan ahead a little. Same amount in cooking, but you can use it immediately. I grew to like the taste, slightly bitter and metallic. It meant I wasn't going to get sick.
Excellent video! I have the Katahdyn Exstream XR water purifier. Although it's no longer made the "My bottle" seems to have taken its place. It's a 3 stage "purifier" not just a filter. I started using it on a medical mission trip to Brazil in 2001 and never stopped. I generally replace the filters annually depending on gallons of use. Godspeed, and keep your videos coming!
I use the sawyer mini as an in-line filter for the water from my pack water source. For cooking and brushing and other things I use the Katadyn water bottle with the built in filter and just squeeze the water out of that. Never had any issues and that particular setup works out well for me.
At the next Scout Troop meeting I will be speaking on this subject. This video covered everything for me. Thank you so much Dixie!
Awesome video!! I personally have used the Steri Pen and it has worked well for me. I do agree, it sometimes requires pre-filtering to remove any sediment that might be in the water you collect. Mine actually came with a pre filter system that attaches to the top of my water bottle and I love it as a first step to filter out dirt and sedimentment. It has worked well for me though and with allergies preventing me from using iodine tablets, it has been an excellent option for me! Thanks so much for all these informational videos, I always enjoy them and learn so much!
Hey Dixie! Just want to update some information on the boiling method for water purification... according to the CDC water only needs to be brought to a ROLLING boil for ONE minute to eradicate bacteria, Protozoa and viruses. The only modification to this is for elevations greater than 6,500ft- then the ROLLING boil time is THREE minutes. I haven’t been able to cut/paste link with my iPad but this info can be found with google search. The boil method may still be less than ideal to the Sawyer or BeFree filters but the lower boil times can conserve a bit more fuel. I will say that “dead cat” or cow pond water deserves boil & filter as you practiced -for nothing else but mental comfort.
I use the sawyer as a gravity filter. Also usually flavor a liter in the morning and another in the evening if the sources are clear. Plain water through the day.
Good practical info. If people want to know the science between purifiers, microns, filter they can do their own research. Wonderful internet you don't have to check out a book at the library. Self evidence based practice otherwise know as experience is something good to share and you do a wonderful job at it. Another awesome video. My choice is the Sawyer squeeze. I have the Katadyne hiker pro, Sawyer squeeze and mini. Thank you.
I use the gravity system. My go to mix was blue Gatorade. That seemed pretty heavy. I've been using "Liquid IV" everyday at work. Buy it at Costco. Its in a little .5 oz pouch. It says to mix in 16 oz water, but its waaay too strong, so mix it in a 1 liter (35.2 oz) and its great. If i drink 4 liters per day, thats 2 oz per day. If im on a section for 6 days, that 12 oz.
There are important differences between a water filter, and a water purifier. Some of those differences can involve you squatting near the trail, “burping” from both ends. Boiling and/or filtering is a good start - but only a start. Get a water purifier. It’s only critical.
Also what the “Gear Skeptic” has to say about water purification.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
For me, the steri light pen works great. I tend to backpack in the NW where there are multiple lakes and streams, and I've never had an issue. I used it for a week on the JMT last year and it rocked.
HEY-- Once you go dead cat, you'll never go back!
Sawyer has also come out with the Micro Squeeze that's 2 oz and has the same flow rate as the normal squeeze.
I climb Munros in Scotland Most have great waterfalls with great tasting water. Never used a filter, However some hills don't have as many waterfalls and have Small "Burns" therefore I use purification tablets. Very rare though. Great series.
Used PreMac pumps for years about 0.4 ltrs per minute.
Gets rid of everything likely in the UK .
Manual operation very light very small
A bit of a taste as it does have a weak iodine ball in it but not disgusting.
Limited average life span of around 40 litres but well worth a look if you can find them .
I may be weird in taste but I actually like Polar Pure (iodine), ever since using it in Minnesota/Ontario boundary waters canoe trips. Definitely want to filter any floaties, but fast and really reliable.
Life straw also donates a straw to people who do not have access to clean water such as people in rural Africa. I think it’s worth it just for that and the fact it’s so minimal and light weight
RE: MSR Guardian Purifier Pump
Personally I wouldn't feel all that comfortable using a system that directly puts the filtered water in your mouth.
If it fails you might well have already taken a few sips before realising it happened.
Then again is one able to tell when a pump system fails?
So I guess that's the reason why it apparently doesn't seem to be an issue to most people.
If it happens it happens and you're not gonna be able to tell unless the failure is major.
After going through all the options despite the price and weight, I would go for a 'MSR Guardian Purifier Pump'.
It's military grade, cleans itself while in use, ... and also removes viruses.
Having safe water seems worth going the extra step.
EDIT: I wrote this before the end of the vid; you're mentioning this filter yourself ;-)
Oh! Filtration!
I thought it said flirtation on the trail, and had settled in for a nice story. But . . . water.
I used bleach in the Air Force survival course. For many years smelling bleach brought back memories of that course.
Has anyone ever backpacked with the Berkey Sport? I have the gravity water treatment system made by Berkey as well and I love it!
I plan on backpacking the AT once I'm out of the military. Looks like the Berkey Sport or the Sawyer will be my go-to, but would like some feedback!
I'v been using an MSR AutoFlow gravity filter for about 10yrs now and see no reason to change. No hassle, it works great and I'm in a canoe so weight is a secondary consideration.
Survivor Filter - 0.05 Micron is the "drink through" filter I chose.... $30 Amazon. (Filters Viruses) 3 Removable Internal Filter Stages - Membrane Ultra Filter which Lasts up to 100,000 Liters (26,417 Gallons), Replaceable Carbon Filter that last up to 1000 Liters (264 Gallons) and are simple to change and the Cotton Pre-Filters which last 264 Gallons a Piece (5 Extra Cotton Pre-filters included) Screws right onto a standard water bottle like you were showing. Great video!!!
You haven't seen a sawyer filter video where it is still going after 15 years.
I got the Sawyer mini after having the original and don't think I'd ever use the mini again, too slow flow and just not enough weight saving.... maybe if I just thought I won't need to treat much or any I could keep as a toss in for a day trip(but really a few chemical tabs would be a better choice for that) but otherwise the regular Sawyer is much better option. I hadn't considered the gravity filters seriously but I take your point about the time spent, and that could be nice to not have to deal with.
A water filter removes bacteria and parasites but not viruses. This isn't a problem in the US because the water is fairly clean but in a third world country filtering water may not be enough you might also have to boil it/treat it. I once ran into tricky situation when backpacking along the Olympic National Park Coast the only water sources were the ocean and a stagnant green stream. I had no way to de-salinize ocean water so i had to filter from the stream, the water was still green even after it had run through my filter and to be extra safe I boiled it. I later found out the green water was safe to drink, the water was green because it contained tannin and tannin tastes bitter but wont harm you. I take a Katadyn water filter on most of my hikes that way I dont need to carry alot of water I fill up whenever I come across a stream.
Just want to comment here. In 1982, when Giarda sp? wasn't a known issue by many, posted signs in Yosemite said to boil water for 10 minutes. What? That was new. OK. I did. I contracted Girarda. One of the most miserable experiences ever and it ruined my entire summer. Fast forward- My 1st backpacking trip 3 years ago I borrowed someone's steripen. Though heavy, it worked great until it didn't. Luckily I was with someone else and their system. Lesson learned. Now my overly cautious self uses a Katadyn Be Free (easy-peasy) with a Sawyer Squeeze backup or a partner's backup. I have emergency tablets too. On some occasions, I will bring a CNOC for extra water storage as it is easy to scoop in those difficult scoopable places.
I'm really excited to use the new Sawyer Micro on the PCT. Same flow rate but smaller and lighter. Plus the bags seem sturdier, yet lighter. We'll see how it goes.