Good portable water purifier for backpacking

[J]

Howdy all.

Wife and I are looking for some good water purification systems that would be a good fit backpacking with less than trust-able water near by. Might be taking a trip to Peru next year and backpacking the Andes mountains including Machu Picchu. Can't trust the water in the faucet, or in the streams, so need good filtration, long life, and compact size. Price is the least important factor.

I've got a big pump driven system for here at the house, but these will also serve as a good backup for BoB when not used backpacking.

So what works well, and what do you recommend?

Thanks,
--J

[Irving]

Sawyer MINI if it meets your filtration requirements. They sell them at Walmart. I've got a couple and they are very compact.

http://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-mini-filter/

http://sawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Mini-LS_4-498x480.jpg

[Ah Pook]

http://www.rei.com/search?query=water%20purifiers

SterilPEN has been getting good reviews. Doesn't take care of sediment though.

[asmo]

Sawyer.. all the way.

They are great and I highly recommend them.

[hollohas]

I have been using the MSR Sweetwater for at least a decade. Very easy pumping action (pumps on up and down stroke), very fast filtration rate, cleanable and replaceable filter, included pre-filter screen. Handle folds slightly to make it pack a little better. It's not as small as the sawyer, but I have hundreds and hundreds of miles with it in my pack and it NEVER got in my way. Makes the best tasting water I have ever had. If you want to have the best protection from the smallest viruses (probably a good idea in foreign lands) also get the drops.

http://www.rei.com/product/617913/msr-sweetwater-water-filter

[Tinelement]

+1 for the Sweetwater. Love mine. Had it for about 6 yrs and comes on every adventure and carry in my EDC daily.

[Wulf202]

Being the resident water geek.

The problem with uv treatments (steripens and the like) are that it doesn't remove any tastes, mmm cow run off. If you double up with filters it's pretty good protection.

The sawyers are one of the best portable filters out there, and I have or have had most of the options.

If I were to go down there I would use a prefilter, chemical or UV treat then sawyer.

[hollohas]

I like the sawyer too (and have one) but I don't trust it in the backwoods far from home. I use mine in my day bags and car bags but I choose something more substantial when in the boonies.
The filter on the sawyer is small and I suspect it could clog quickly with dirty water. And IMO the plastic bag is the weak point. I'd hate to have the thing accidentally get punctured when you need it most. The sawyer is an absolutly awesome backup but it will never be my main heavy use filtration solution.

[Irving]

The nice thing about the Mini and squeeze is that it is threaded to go onto the plastic water bottles, in case you puncture the bag like above.

[hollohas]

The nice thing about the Mini and squeeze is that it is threaded to go onto the plastic water bottles, in case you puncture the bag like above.
Good point. But then you're forced to carry around dirty water and use it as a filter straw. Not great if you want to fill a pot with water to make some coffee or a pot for dinner. Great for survival, not great for backcountry camping.

And I don't know anyone who carries disposable, flexible plastic water bottles while backpacking. It's hard plastic Nalgene or metal bottles almost exclusivly.

[Irving]

Also, if you're having to filter super dirty water, you'd probably want to use a handkerchief to pre-filter the water, but that slows things down as well.

hollohas: I've used the squeeze bag to fill a few containers (2 bags per full canteen) for soup and coffee and stuff. The way you roll the bag to squeeze the water through the filter is great. But it would for sure not be as smooth having to do the same through a water bottle, and even less fun through a soda bottle.

[hollohas]

hollohas: I've used the squeeze bag to fill a few containers (2 bags per full canteen) for soup and coffee and stuff. The way you roll the bag to squeeze the water through the filter is great. But it would for sure not be as smooth having to do the same through a water bottle, and even less fun through a soda bottle.

Oh, I absolutly agree the squeeze bag works just fine to fill canteens or pots. Not as fast, not as easy, but works fine.

I was considering the possibility of filing those things if the bag failed. And to be clear, mine hasn't failed. It most likely will never fail. It is tough. But to me that seems like enough of a potential that I don't use it on serious backcountry trips. I'd hate to be 3 days in without away to fill containers with filtered water. But, the sawyer is small and light enough it is a GREAT emergency backup in case your main filter failed.

[Alpha2]

Look into Lifestraw. It's our go-to device for most eventualities. There are other excellent devices for more quantity intense solutions.

[TFOGGER]

I've been looking at the stuff by Giegerrig. They have pressurized hydration packs with the option to add filtering...

http://www.geigerrig.com/hydration-packs/accessories-Inline-virus-filter.html

What I don't know is if their filters will improve taste as well as removing particulates/viruses/bacteria

[Great-Kazoo]

Oh, I absolutly agree the squeeze bag works just fine to fill canteens or pots. Not as fast, not as easy, but works fine.

I was considering the possibility of filing those things if the bag failed. And to be clear, mine hasn't failed. It most likely will never fail. It is tough. But to me that seems like enough of a potential that I don't use it on serious backcountry trips. I'd hate to be 3 days in without away to fill containers with filtered water. But, the sawyer is small and light enough it is a GREAT emergency backup in case your main filter failed.

Coffee filters, cheap, easy to store, can be used as tinder to get a fire going.

[hollohas]

I've been looking at the stuff by Giegerrig. They have pressurized hydration packs with the option to add filtering...

http://www.geigerrig.com/hydration-packs/accessories-Inline-virus-filter.html

What I don't know is if their filters will improve taste as well as removing particulates/viruses/bacteria
This filter does contain carbon media so it should remove at least some bad tastes and chemicals.

[TFOGGER]

This filter does contain carbon media so it should remove at least some bad tastes and chemicals.

Yeah, I've been talking to the Geiger rep... I can buy their stuff wholesale, so I might get the filter to try out. I already have one of their hydration packs, and I retrofitted my OGIO with one of their bladder systems, so the filter would just be a plug and play deal.

[Irving]

Some of the survival guys on Youtube seem to love the Geigerrig, but they did all mention in their videos that they were sent one for free to test.

[Firehaus]

I posted this in another thread, but this filter I picked up is built to last. I wish it would filter down lower on the micron scale, but I think pairing it with uv could be the way to go.

http://m.rei.com/product/653573/katadyn-pocket-water-filter?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-41227-_-55963-_-Custom+Link&avad=55963_a74fc826&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F653573%2Fka tadyn-pocket-water-filter%3Fcm_mmc%3Daff_AL-_-41227-_-55963-_-Custom%2BLink%26avad%3D55963_a74fc826&avad=55963_a74fc826



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[Irving]

I was considering the possibility of filing those things if the bag failed. I'd hate to be 3 days in without away to fill containers with filtered water. But, the sawyer is small and light enough it is a GREAT emergency backup in case your main filter failed.

I know, that's what I said! :p

[Great-Kazoo]

I posted this in another thread, but this filter I picked up is built to last. I wish it would filter down lower on the micron scale, but I think pairing it with uv could be the way to go.

http://m.rei.com/product/653573/katadyn-pocket-water-filter?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-41227-_-55963-_-Custom+Link&avad=55963_a74fc826&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.rei.com%2Fproduct%2F653573%2Fka tadyn-pocket-water-filter%3Fcm_mmc%3Daff_AL-_-41227-_-55963-_-Custom%2BLink%26avad%3D55963_a74fc826&avad=55963_a74fc826



Sent from my iPhone

If you're using a portable filter, access to UV (outside of sodis) and on the go will be minimal.

[vim]

I have a First Need that I trust. http://www.rei.com/b/first-need?s_kwcid=h7Xb5m3k|pcrid|3213269189|pkw|First%2 0Need|pmt|bp|bing|main

I don't generally begrudge the weight in my pack. If you don't mind waiting while the chemicals do their thing, or dealing with a certain amount of ... stuff ... in your water, purification tablets or chlorine dioxide drops (http://www.rei.com/product/866996/aquamira-water-treatment-drops) are cheap and light.

I was in Yosemite high country for a while this summer and used both the First Need purifier and the Aquamira drops during different periods.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

+1 for the sweet water as well.

[mcantar18c]

What's the consensus on those water bottle filters like the CamelBak Groove and Brita's offerings?

[Wulf202]

J. Let me put this in a matter of numbers when you look these suggestions up.

Domestic threats are usually .5 micron or larger. 3rd world threats are as small as .05 micron. Chemicals can bridge the gap on filtering but if you're starting from scratch getting something that will for sure do the job then overkill with chemicals and have a great trip.

[Firehaus]

If you're using a portable filter, access to UV (outside of sodis) and on the go will be minimal.

I'm looking at something like this to use after filtering.

http://www.steripen.com/protector/


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[sbgixxer]

Katadyn makes good quality stuff in a small package.