View Full Version : How long does one Aqua Mira Kit last?
I did some figuring and I know that 1 set of Aqua Mira treats about 30 gallons, which is about 108 liters of water. I know it all depends on how much water you drink while out there, but on average, should I plan on purchasing more every 3 weeks?
What has everyone's experiences been w/this?
Footslogger
08-31-2006, 16:22
Are you talking about "shelf life" ?? I bought 5 - 6 sets prior to my thru in 2003 and kept what I wasn't using in my bounce box. Bought a set or two along the way when it was more convenient at the outfitter than fetching my bounce box. After my hike I ended up with about 3 sets unused with expiration dates well into the future.
One thing I will tell you from experience though ...is that all "drops" aren't created equal. By that I mean that after adding 7 drops per liter from both Part A and Part B I sometimes ran out of one before the other. Not much you can do with a partial Part A or Part B. For that reason alone is it a good idea to have a set in "stand by".
'Slogger
I just nearly used an entire set in 15 days on the JMT. Three weeks would have been pushing it for me. My partner used a platypus and went through his first set - and started on a second in 15 days. It all depends on how much you drink. Weather is a factor - as is the distance and duration that you hike each day. Someone who hikes 7 hours and 12 miles/day will need to drink less than someone who hikes 12 hours and 20+ miles/day.
In other words.... YMMV.
Jack Tarlin
08-31-2006, 18:55
Two and a half to four weeks is about right; it depends how much water you drink straight, how much town water you pack out, etc.
You'll go thru 8 to 12 Aqua Miras in the course of a thru-hike.
At 12 to 14 dollars a shot, this means that Aqua Mira will set you back $100-150 dollars. It's also not available in a lot of places, and Murphy's Law of the Trail will kick in sooner or later, i.e. you'll run short of the stuff in the middle of nowhere and have to play Drinking Water Roulette for awhile til you can find a place that sells the stuff.
I use Polar Pure, which I think is just as effective if used correctly.
One bottle, which is usually $12.99, is good for 2000 quarts of drinking water, i.e. it'll last you your whole trip.
Personally, I'd rather take that hundred bucks I save and do something more useful with it.
Two and a half to four weeks is about right; it depends how much water you drink straight, how much town water you pack out, etc.
You'll go thru 8 to 12 Aqua Miras in the course of a thru-hike.
At 12 to 14 dollars a shot, this means that Aqua Mira will set you back $100-150 dollars. It's also not available in a lot of places, and Murphy's Law of the Trail will kick in sooner or later, i.e. you'll run short of the stuff in the middle of nowhere and have to play Drinking Water Roulette for awhile til you can find a place that sells the stuff.
I use Polar Pure, which I think is just as effective if used correctly.
One bottle, which is usually $12.99, is good for 2000 quarts of drinking water, i.e. it'll last you your whole trip.
Personally, I'd rather take that hundred bucks I save and do something more useful with it.
How does it taste and does it protect against everything? I didn't see Crypto listed.
How does it taste and does it protect against everything? I didn't see Crypto listed.
I've used both products - so I have some perspective here.
I used Polar Pure from Neels Gap to Katahdin in 2000, and again on hikes of the BMT, Foothills Trail, Alabama Pinhoti, and lots of other weekend outings. Somewhere in Northern Virginia - me and two or three other hikers started to taste the iodine in Polar Pure at about the same time. It's not bad - but you will start to notice it after a while. It did become nauseating for me - and I sent for my filter which I carried for about 1 week.
Some Vitamin C added to the water AFTER the 20-minute waiting period will eliminate the iodine taste - as will crystal light, tang, gatorade, Zingers to Go, or any other flavoring. I can't speak to Polar Pure being effective against Crypto.
During my recent JMT hike I started noticing an aftertaste associated with the Aqua Mira after about a week. It made it difficult to drink without adding some flavoring (Zingers to Go).
Maybe I have some sensitive taste buds. Maybe not. Whatever you do - if you choose to flavor your water - wait until the chemical treatment has run its course before adding anything to your water.
Good luck.
How does it taste and does it protect against everything? I didn't see Crypto listed.
i like the taste of it better than polar pure,i used polar pure for years
switched to aqua mira just last year:cool: neo
hikerjohnd
09-01-2006, 16:33
I use Polar Pure, which I think is just as effective if used correctly.
Are you or have you ever been concerned with the health issues with the increase in iodine? I assume your trail diet would reduce iodine from other sources so... just curious.
hikerjohnd
09-01-2006, 17:29
I'm under the impression that there weren't any. Modern diets on/off trail don't really contain iodine anyways.
Maybe you know something that I don't?
Iodine is in several foods naturally - sea food, asparagus, others that escape me at the moment. Salt (table salt) has iodine added (hence iodized salt) that keeps it from sticking together. A rise in iodine can cause thyroid problems. While we will probably do not take in enough iodine with normal daily cooking, many preserved trail foods are high in salts (and some of those salts are iodized, but not all) and then add to that iodine used to treat water over a long period of time (we are talking a month or more here) and it is possible to build up too much iodine. Some people worry about it, some do not. I have to be careful because of a thyroid condition - I use only sea salt around the house and can not use polar pure on the trail.
and not enough iodine can cause goiter....especially in women. A common condition in the third world.
and not enough iodine can cause goiter....especially in women. A common condition in the third world.