Water Filters

[CrumbSnatcher]

ULA Amigo Pro. Gravity filters are tha bomb! 'Nuff said.

HOOCH, thats pretty cool,i was just getting ready to say nothing beats a katadyn filter.(in filters anyway) i've used a sweetwater filter IN 99' SO-SO,CLOGGED ALOT ceramic filter. since then i've used a pur hiker (WHICH IS NOW KATADYN FILTERS) it outperformes the M.S.R. MINIWORKS.AND ANY OTHER FILTER. I COULD PUMP A GALLON AS FAST AS THE MINI-WORKS could pump a quart. keep in mind this is a few years ago(technology happens). it pumps fast and hasn't malfunctioned at all,in over 4,000 miles of use!!! alot of people do the drops. HYOH alot of the springs along the way i do not filter at all.

[Hooch]

HOOCH, thats pretty cool,i was just getting ready to say nothing beats a katadyn filter.(in filters anyway) i've used a sweetwater filter IN 99' SO-SO,CLOGGED ALOT ceramic filter. since then i've used a pur hiker (WHICH IS NOW KATADYN FILTERS) it outperformes the M.S.R. MINIWORKS.AND ANY OTHER FILTER. I COULD PUMP A GALLON AS FAST AS THE MINI-WORKS could pump a quart. keep in mind this is a few years ago(technology happens). it pumps fast and hasn't malfunctioned at all,in over 4,000 miles of use!!! alot of people do the drops. HYOH alot of the springs along the way i do not filter at all.

I replaced my Katadyn Hiker Pro with the ULA Amigo. I'm still tryin to figure out how to turn the Katadyn into a lamp.

[Tinker]

I use a First Need filter. I figure the convenience is worth the weight, especially when there are two or more in the party. It filters fast and threads right to Nalgene water bottles (or their Unbottles) and MSR bottles.

[Pootz]

Check out the link below ( the dosing stratigies section). If you decide to use Aqua Mira it will save you money and make you Aqua Mira last longer. The link is about Klearwater but also talkes about Aqua Mira. I used this dosing strastagy on my thru hike with Aqua Mira and it worked great. You use less treatment when you are not in a hurry for your water. I alway trreated my water for the next day in the evening. Also makes the water taste batter. I tried the Klear water product but found it went bad in hot weather and Aqua Mira is easy to find on the trail.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...treatment.html

[Lawn Sale]

I treat drinking water for a living and have been in the field for about 17 years. I wonder how they got the ClO2 to stabilize? ClO2 is highly unstable, but very powerful, which is why you don't need much of it.

For filters I have a MSR Waterworks EX, a Katadyn Hiker, and a Katadyn Guide. I have used Cl2 and ClO2 for chemcials, and I own a SteriPen Classic and Adventurer models.

For long hikes where weight is a factor, I take the Adventurer and Aqua-Mira as a backup. When it's not a factor I take the Classic and Aqua-Mira. If I know the terrain and the water quality sucks, I also take a filter.

Don't be afraid of the SteriPen, they're constructed well and have a proven track record. I've visited the facility and grilled the engineers and CEO for hours on potential problems, and they are all they're cracked up to be.

[gonewalkabout]

A friend has used the Katadyn mini filter on many trips with me as I used the Hiker Pro. Each time I watched him fiddle with the mini until it finnly broke on a recent outting. The few times it worked it took him about 3 times the stokes to pump a litter. I only use a filter with a group. Solo I use Aquamira and used it for 20 days on the LT in 04 no problems although its not certifiled as to kill anything and as with any chemical it has a wait time of up to 4 hrs for cold water. I never waited more than an hour.

Gonewalkabout

[adventurousmtnlvr]

just posted a document on my thread called "anyone used the steripen that has an opinion" from the Dept. of the Army ... rather long but details results in a number of types of water purifiers and their results including charts ... fyi

[adventurousmtnlvr]

forgot to put the link so here it is: Dept of Army water purification doc.

[squantrilll]

I use a millbank bag to filter the water then eithe riodine tincture or Chlorine tablets if im in a hurry or boil if I have time..

[tucker0104]

Katadyn Hiker Pro works great for me. 100+ gallons and going.

[Socrates]

AquaMira worked fine for me. I sent my pump home my first stop at Mountain Crossings. (among other things... And I don't want to hear a word from anyone about my Nemo tent! lol) It was just weight that I didn't need, not to mention completely useless if it breaks.
I used a small plastic cup to dip the water into my bottles. A few stops I ended up with tiny debris but not enough to bother me and on rarities when it might be a concern, you can just use a bandanna or shirt to to use as a filter on top of the bottle as you pour.
As far as having to wait 15 minutes, is 15 minutes really gonna kill ya? Hell it takes time to pump anyway. And as far as the chemical taste, whatever. I never noticed. I used individual flavoring packs. But if you want only water, when you're tired and/or sweaty, it'll be the least of your concerns and I'm not saying it has a chemical taste anyway.
Good luck with your hike. I think buddies/companions stand a better chance at finishing if you get along. I wished I had one for the company. My ex-fiance broke up with me just months before my hike and we were supposed to go together. That's partially the reason I got off the trail. So my personal lesson learned? I won't attempt it again till I have a girl in my life to go with me. I'm just not solo material.

[wrongway_08]

Katadyn Hiker Pro for me. I use a platy, and so I like the in-line connections in the hoses so that I can pump and filter right into the platy and not have to remove it from my pack. On our recent 7-day SNP hike with a 10-person scout group, my Hiker Pro was used most, as the various Sweetwater and MSR filters some of the kids carried did not do the job as quickly.

X2

Mine worked great overall during the thru and when the filter clogs, just wash it off in the stream and your good to go!

[mtnkngxt]

So basically as far as water treatment goes.

Filters- Pur of Katadyn are the most reliable.

Chemical- Aquamira or Polar Pur

DIY- Stuff sack with inline filter or katadyn filter.

Then theres the steripen and MIOX....

Anyone used the MIOX

[Hikes in Rain]

I do. Got one as a gift (those things are WAY expensive). But they're light, do a pretty good job of sanitizing water, you can treat a boatload of water all at once, and they have the cool gadget thing going. I usually draw a crowd. Downsides are that they use a hefty battery that doesn't fit anything else in my gear, and they're a sanitizer, not a purifier. That would mean I'm pretty picky about my sources, since it won't do a thing about any organics or sediments in the source water.

And the chlorine "soup" it produces has a serious bleaching effect if you drip it on your clothes!

[LIhikers]

Most of my hiking is with my wife and she doesn't want to use chemicals to treat the water due to a minor medical concern. So, we've got a Katadyn Hiker Pro filter and it seems to work well. I recommend it.

[mtnkngxt]

x2 on the katadyn thats what i have, also bought a steripen haven't used it yet.

[cravj1988]

I thru hiked last year (GAME07), and started with an MSR filter (2 lbs.) Switched to aquamira at neals gap (2 oz), but I did not like the taste. Finally at the NOC I switched to bleach in a 2 oz rei bottle. Make sure the bleach is no less than 6% sodiumhypochloride. I prefer the lemon scented. 2 drops per liter is all you need to sanitize the water. Let stand 20 min if the water is really cold, and be smart about the source. Also the bleach is good for killing chiggers under the skin, and for cleaning bed rolls at Hostels which may have MRSA-staph. After hurricane katrina, there were hundreds of journal articles related to purifying water, so look them up if you do not trust me. 98% of the worlds water supply is treated with chlorine. One tablespoon of 6% bleach will purify 5 gal of water. That relates to 2 drops per liter.

[Nitro]

Katadyn Hiker Pro with a (new) fuel filter added to the intake line.

The pre-filter is to avoid clogging the main ($$$) filter. Someone on here posted that suggestion a year or two ago.
It really seems to help, but YMMV. It does add weight and bulk to an already big filter, but it's worth it IMO.

[gravityman]

use the MIOX in 2005. Work 100%, but we got REALLY sick of the taste somewhere in NY. We did everything we could to find potable water from that point North. So I wouldn't suggest it for a through hike if you are taste sensitive.

We use a filter now. Miniworks, but I hate how slow it is. The Hyperflow is very interesting, but haven't decided based on a few people's clogging complaint. I'll most likely buy it from REI so I can exchange it if I'm not happy with performance.

Gravity

[lonehiker]

[quote=mtnkngxt;700472]So basically as far as water treatment goes.

Filters- Pur of Katadyn are the most reliable.


I have always used a General Ecology First Need water filter (15+ years). It has always been reliable. During my appx 1,700 AT miles this summer, I used two cartridges (had just started on my third). Might have been able to get more out of each cartridge but had sent myself a replacement in a re-supply box. I had not even backflushed either one.

I have filtered some very nasty water with it and have never suffered any digestive issues.

Drawback is that it is heavier than most. But, water consumption is arguably one of the most critical things to consider on a thru-hike (any hike for that matter) so it is an area that I don't compromise on.