Backcountry Water Purification

[Wea300mag]

I was curious what was the prefered method for purifying water these days. I have always used the tablets but feel I may be "old school" now. I've recently read on here that some don't do anything.

[woodswalker]

Being a recipient of 'beaver fever'  AKA Giardia, will change your mind on going without SOME kind of purification.

[JimmyHoffa]

I use a filter for drinking water.  The cooking water gets boiled anyways, so I bypass the filter on that.  I've been out with a few that drink straight from the streams as long as it's cold, up high, and flowing rather quickly.

[mossy8352]

I now filter all water in the wild, don't care if it is cold and running fast or not after an elk camp buddy had a hole eaten in his liver from dose of bad water. We always boiled our camp water and I carried water from home to hunt with. Now I carry an emergency water filter in case I run the canteen dry. Better safe than sorry for me.
 

[Bean Counter]

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.

[JPhelps]

Katadyn Pro Hiker filter.

[throttlejocky20]

I always carry a water bottle that filters the water. Last year on our annual backcountry camping trip I bought some drops. Theres 2 parts and it takes about 20 min untill ready. I had no issues and it had no effect on the tast.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've been out with a few that drink straight from the streams as long as it's cold, up high, and flowing rather quickly.

I used to do that. I've been really lucky!

I use a Katadyn  pro hiker filter when I've backpacked in. Other day hikes, I carry two fresh 20oz bottles of water when I start out. Or use a 42oz bladder in my pack.  I've hiked many miles in a day on less than those two bottles without muscle cramps. On long hikes in colder weather, One of the bottles is good for two hot soups. Of course I drink all the broth.

-Steve

[BLKBEARKLR]

I use the steri pen

http://www.rei.com/product/799003

[Wea300mag]

I'm surprised by the number who don't worry about it. I've never had any issues but always use the tablets. I used to hike with an old timer who always claimed his stomach was stainless steel and he never used anything and he never had any issues. Is it something you can become immune to? I really don't want to find out the hard way.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I don't have the coin for a steri pen, but that will be my next method.

I have a friend that drinks out of clear streams all the time. Never had an issue.. So he says.

-Steve

[jeepasaurusrex]

I've never worried about it. Since an early age I've been drinking out of streams and have never had an issue. Maybe that is the key. I grew up on well water and have only recently been drinking city water. I do pack a couple bottles of bottled water in my day pack, but don't carry a filter or chemicals. I am however, careful of what water I do drink from. If there is cattle grazing in the area and the visit the same stream, I wont drink from it.  

[Bob33]

The odds of getting infected from most clear running water sources in Washington are actually quite small.  They are not zero, however.

If it were a matter of being dehydrated or drinking untreated water, I would choose the latter.  Symptoms typically take 7 to 10 days to appear, and that's often the problem: patients often get sick a few weeks after drinking the water, go to the doctor, and get treated for something entirely unrelated.  If you do drink untreated water, pay attention and see a doctor at the first signs of any symptoms. Properly and quickly treated, the chances of complete recovery are generally high.

There are purifiers and there are filters. Filters remove certain bacterial particles but do not kill all viruses.  REI has some good reading material here: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/water+filter+howto.html
 

[Bearhunter]

Dan check this filter bag out.  Katadyn Base Camp Water Filter.  This is what we used on our 9 day backcountry hunt in Wyoming this year.  Its about the cheapest route to go and is extremely light.  Its top rolls up like a dry bag which is basically what it is.  You can stuff your clean sock, underwear, camera or anything in it that you dont want wet, then when you get to camp you unload it and fill with 2.6 gallons of water hang in a tree in the shade and have clean filter water to drink and makes a handy wash station as well because the output it slow so you can wash up and not use a ton of water.  I personally think this is the absolute best system out there for shear light weight, packability and multitasking with it.  Its cool because no one recommended it to me, just kind of stumbled upon it and absolutley love its multiple uses!!!
http://www.rei.com/product/737349

[Ridgerunner]

I've switched to a steripen and love it.  I havent had any problems with it and the water tastes great and no pumping is required./