How do you treat water?

[melonhead]

Went on our first official backpacking trip, which turned out great for us newbies.

Because we didn't know much about filtering water, we decided to just boil the water. The only problem was waiting awhile to drink it once it cooled off.

It made me wonder: What is the way most of you guys treat water? I am looking into getting Aquamira water treatment drops. Seems pretty easy, and I dont have to worry about wasting fuel everytime we need to treat water.

[squidbilly]

I use the Katadyn Hiker Pro. I've lightened it up a bit by leaving some of the accessories at home. For example: I dont need the wide mouth bottle adapter because I use cheaper, lighter one liter bottles. I leave the intake hose weight behind: rocks are found at most of the water sources anyway. Katadyn Hiker Pro

This seems like a nice filter, but I haven't used it. Aquamira

The Steripen is light and compact, uses UV light to kill the bugs. I've heard that some have had quality issues with the units though.

[DavidR]

I use a MSR Sweetwater

How do you treat water?

It purifies and removes sediment. The steripen is popular, but the water must be free of debris to start with. More great products at Alabama Tent and Trail.

[dogwood]

I got my first water filter several years ago - a PUR(now Khatadin) Guide - and have used a filter on every trip, since!  You get cold water in a few minutes, easier to filter than boil, and they are a great investment!

[wirerat123]

Katadyn Hiker Pro for me as well.

[Mountain Dog]

Aquamira here.  Less weight and as effective as I demand.  It does not kill everything but then again, it kills most that I experience hear in the east.  Backpacker did a study a few years ago and found most water pure enough to drink stright.  I avoid water below beavers and low land stagnate water.  When researched, most problem on the trail attributed to water is really about sanitation.  It is hard to stay clean when packing.  FYI, never let another hiker put his hands into any of your food, such as chips, and never eat food, chips, when offered if other hikers have also had their hands inside the bag.  One disclamer, I grew up sharing creeks with cows so what does not bother me might bother city slickers.

[southmark]

Aquamira here.  Less weight and as effective as I demand.  It does not kill everything but then again, it kills most that I experience hear in the east.  Backpacker did a study a few years ago and found most water pure enough to drink stright.  I avoid water below beavers and low land stagnate water.  When researched, most problem on the trail attributed to water is really about sanitation.  It is hard to stay clean when packing.  FYI, never let another hiker put his hands into any of your food, such as chips, and never eat food, chips, when offered if other hikers have also had their hands inside the bag.  One disclamer, I grew up sharing creeks with cows so what does not bother me might bother city slickers.

What Mountain Dog said. Been drinking backcountry water for the last 30 something years untreated and unfiltered. Never been sick. Grew up in rural Alabama drinking from all manner of creeks and ponds. If you swim in any lakes or rivers or water ski, you have consumed untreated and unfiltered water. The only water that I have ever treated (with Aquimira) was beaver ponds in Maine. I'm not advocating that you not treat or filter your water but as Mountain Dog said most backcountry illness blamed on water is usually from poor hygiene. Bottom line, do what makes you feel comfortable.

[Rigormortis]

I use the SteriPen, light weight, simple to use, time to treat 90 seconds and you are ready to drink.

[buck]

MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter

[melonhead]

Appreciate the varied responses. Think I'm gonna go with the aquamira water treatment drops. 12 bucks on amazon with good reviews, plus Im common sense enough to know where to scoop water and feel comfortable about it. Also grew up swimming in creeks.

[JC785]

Katadyn hiker pro, works great!

[Rigormortis]

Aquamira here.  Less weight and as effective as I demand.  It does not kill everything but then again, it kills most that I experience hear in the east.  Backpacker did a study a few years ago and found most water pure enough to drink stright.  I avoid water below beavers and low land stagnate water.  When researched, most problem on the trail attributed to water is really about sanitation.  It is hard to stay clean when packing.  FYI, never let another hiker put his hands into any of your food, such as chips, and never eat food, chips, when offered if other hikers have also had their hands inside the bag.  One disclamer, I grew up sharing creeks with cows so what does not bother me might bother city slickers.

Mountain Dog, very good information that you have offered above, good friend who was a 2009 Appalachian Thru Hiker had to leave the trail for two weeks when he come down with giardia lamblia (gardia) after eating a couple of chips that was given to him by a fellow thru hiker.

Rigormortis

[2dogsrunnin]

We used a SteriPen on the AT last fall for the first time.  It was light and worked great.  I agree that running water is usually fine to drink, but in the fall we were collecting water from basically mud puddles.

[camel]

i have guide and hiker pro- friend has seeetwater- my daughter gave me  the new gravity bag from katadyn
for Christmas - all work very well. Camel

[Forster2spear]

From where you purchase  gravity bag?

[Ewker]

I am still carrying the old PUR (Katadyn)  hiker with iodine tablets as backup

[Firedog]

Pro Hiker for me 2.

[montysano]

I have an old First Need that I take on the rare occasion that I'm someplace beside the Sipsey.  When I'm bushwhacking in the Sipsey, I'm with Southmark and Mountain Dog: I drink unfiltered water.  Like MD, I'm an old farm boy who grew up wallowing around in all kinds of muck, which seems to have given me a robust immune system.  I don't recommend this for others, but it works for me.

[southmark]

I read a post recently over on backpacking light about filtering water. The poster said that his dad was a geologist that had hiked all over the country and whenever he hiked with his dad and filtered his water his dad just laughed at him.

[Eliteoomph]

Steripen for sure... Fast, simple, lightweight and effective