Backcountry Water Purification

[hirshey]

Use the Katadyn as well. Good stuff. I carry tablets in my emergency kit just in case. Only in a last case scenario will I drink straight from the crick. Too many goodies in there.

How often are you guys replacing the element? I can't find anything about how often you should.

As long as you keep it clean, it will last a long time. A green scrubby pad from the kitchen will clean up the sediment after each use. One filter will last a year with moderate to heavy use, if you keep it clean.

Agreed. Just like any piece of gear, cleaning really extends the life of the product. Do Katadyn filters also have the out-spout that pushes water out of the filter instead of through it if the filter is too dirty? Our old sweetwater does... kinda a nice dummy-proof way of knowing if you've pushed it too far.

[C-Money]

Use the Katadyn as well. Good stuff. I carry tablets in my emergency kit just in case. Only in a last case scenario will I drink straight from the crick. Too many goodies in there.

How often are you guys replacing the element? I can't find anything about how often you should.

As long as you keep it clean, it will last a long time. A green scrubby pad from the kitchen will clean up the sediment after each use. One filter will last a year with moderate to heavy use, if you keep it clean.

Agreed. Just like any piece of gear, cleaning really extends the life of the product. Do Katadyn filters also have the out-spout that pushes water out of the filter instead of through it if the filter is too dirty? Our old sweetwater does... kinda a nice dummy-proof way of knowing if you've pushed it too far.

The Water pretty much wont feed threw the filter if it is to dirty. You can feel a difference as you pump it threw, and you know its time to clean.

[JackOfAllTrades]

The Water pretty much wont feed threw the filter if it is to dirty. You can feel a difference as you pump it threw, and you know its time to clean.

Agree'd... If you push a bleach solution through it after ever other trip or so, it'll last you a long time. Also, always use the pre-filter on the pickup tube. I'm going on three years on the same cartridge.

-Steve

[wints13]

Steri pen...works great small and light weight

[shanevg]

I just got a SteriPen for Christmas. Haven't used it yet but read good reviews.

[elkpack]

I really like the Katadyn Hiker.   Has been very reliable and works well for me.  Can pump lots of water in short order.

[TangoU]

I've used the prior version of this MSR filter for years: http://www.rei.com/product/695265  and have liked it.

I don't always filter though around the PNW. I have a couple of thoughts and personal rules about it.  The faster the water is running and the higher the elevation the more likely the water is to be clean. For example, if I'm above tree line I won't filter.  I'll actively or passively melt snow above tree line and drink it without filtering.  If I can't find a spot where the water comes directly out of the ground and is moving I'll drink it without filtering. I filter everything outside the US and Canada.

I've swallowed so much water in places like Lake Sammamish, Lake Washington, Lake Tapps, etc on accident after biting it while wake boarding, skiing, etc and I don't worry much about that. And that water is way messier than a stream high in the cascades. 

-Allen

[kalamasasquatch]

I prefer to boil it when feasible. Otherwise, use a filter. Tablets are definitely space and weight efficient, but all those chems can't be good for you. 

Stay away from the Steri Pen. Its a UV light you stick into water and the UV kills the bacteria's ability to breed. Great idea, but.. I tried a three day backcountry trip with it and it wouldn't work most of the time. I don't know if its because the water was cold or the cold kept sucking the batteries dead. Either way, I took it back to REI and never looked back. It almost ruined the trip.

I was having the same problem with my steri-pen, i talked to them and they told me what happens is that fresh melt water can be so pure that there is very little conductivity for the sensors to sense it is in water. they said if i run into that again to add something to the water like E-mergency to give the water some conductivity. tried it and it worked....... love my pen!

[jeepasaurusrex]

I won't buy anything from REI, bunch of 

[danderson]

Campmor.com is a good place to find some good water purifiers, I use the sweetwater for backpacking, another good one is the platypus

[hillbillyhunting]

I won't buy anything from REI, bunch of 

I see your point and I am not responding to this to defend REI, but couldnt all of us on here who voice opinion about how to manage resources be considered tree huggers.  Just a thought.  I know I could be seen as a tree hugger just based on the fact that I am passionate about our natural resources. 

[netcoyote]

   

I won't buy anything from REI, bunch of 

I see your point and I am not responding to this to defend REI, but couldnt all of us on here who voice opinion about how to manage resources be considered tree huggers.  Just a thought.  I know I could be seen as a tree hugger just based on the fact that I am passionate about our natural resources. 

I agree with hillbillyhunting. There is much more to be gained by looking at our common interests as outdoorsmen, that to fall for the trap of decisiveness which politicians love to get us into.  I used to shop at REI a lot when I was doing a lot of mountain climbing. Bought a majority of my gear from them. During my climbing trips I met a lot of people from all walks of life and political views. Doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, construction workers, journalists, teachers, etc. Most of the time we didn't talk much about jobs since we were all focused on the objective of reaching a summit. I thought it was a good environment to sort of "cross-pollinate" ideas. It worked well until someone decided to get into a political battle, but that was few and far between.

So, back to the water purification....For many years I used only purification tablets or an iodine solution. The water tasted like crap but the method was effective and I never carried a bulky and heavy filter device. On a trip to Argentina, we both filtered water and then treated it with iodine because of the high risk of pathogens.
Now I travel without my ropes, crampons and climbing gear and carry a rifle and game dressing gear. I figure I have room for a filter so I have been using a small PUR filter for the last few years.

FWIW...the BEST water I ever drank was directly out of a stream coming down off of a two day climb of the North Ridge of Mt Stuart. I was so thirsty I was willing to gamble any bad juju that might come my way.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Go into REI and tell them you need some equipment to go kill bambi and see what reaction you get.

[hillbillyhunting]

I tell them all the time.  They ask why I go through equipment like I do and I tell them I hunt and put their product through the ultimate test.  Never had a bad reaction.  I bet some employees would have a negative reaction, but I dont care.

[JLS]

I shop at REI, and when I'm looking for hunting gear I tell them specifically what it will be for.  I've never been treated disrespectfully as a result.