Water Filtration and Purification for Backpacking

The various items I use for filtering and purifying water when backpacking. Covers pre-filtering, microfilter hand pumps like the MSR Miniworks, purification tablets, and UV (ultraviolet) sterilization with the Steripen Classic and Steripen Adventurer

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• steripen
• adventurer
• classic
• microfilter
• water
• filter
• filtration
• purify
• purification
• treatment
• msr
• miniworks
• backpacking
• hiking
• survival
• ultraviolet
• UV
• safe
• drinking

[vaneztax]

Great idea, is steripen that good? What do you think of Sawyer filter? Thanks

[upupaepops]

@vaneztax The Steripen products are superb. Easy to use, and fast. They are still my "go to" item for treating water that is mostly to completely clear of sediment, etc. The Sawyer products have a great reputation, and hollow fiber membrane technology is certainly the "new" generation of filtration. Sawyer is also known for their value as relatively inexpensive products, and they now have version that will filter out viruses, as well as the other common bacteria.

[robcat007]

This is one of the BEST YouTube videos I've ever seen. So informative, thorough, and concise. Thanks a bunch!

[upupaepops]

@robcat007 Many thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[upupaepops]

@blueshoestoo Thanks for the info! Actually, this answers my question, which is whether or not the Lifestraw will pass water just from a gravity feed, and it appears that it will! So, all you really need is just the most basic "hiking" lifestraw, and a water bladder. Fill the bladder, hang it up, and let it gravity filter through the Lifestraw directly into a water bottle. Same setup as the Sawyer, but much less expensive! I'm going to pick one up and try it out. Thanks again!

[blueshoestoo]

@upupaepops @upupaepops LifeStraw has just such a set-up, called the LifeStraw Family (so it appears on their website) but i cant find it for sale in the United States. I can only find the pocket water filter at one place called greenbeetlegear on the web.

[upupaepops]

@blueshoestoo Lifestraw has such a great and inexpensive technology, it would be cool if it could be adapted to a gravity type system, like filling a water bladder and then letting it filter through the Lifestraw and drain into a water bottle.  Same concept as a Sawyer system, but less than half the price. I may pick one up and experiment.

[blueshoestoo]

@upupaepops well thats true, i didnt think about that, i suppose youd have to filter that water for particles then boil it. thats a great point, it would be much more expedient to just pump filter that water first.

[upupaepops]

@blueshoestoo  I agree on the likeliness of virus contamination being pretty low. And you're right, you can fill your water bottles and then use the Lifestraw when drinking. The only downfall is if you need filtered water for anything else, like cooking, or for other drinking needs like coffee. That's where filters that can at least accomodate a gravity flow come out ahead. But if all you need is drinking filtration, the LifeStraw is a super affordable alternative.

[blueshoestoo]

@upupaepops true, but in North America, unless you are drinking water contaminated with human excrement , viruses are not a concern. I think the LifeStraw is extremely practical, they only weigh 2 oz, and you fill your water container with unfiltered water if you have to, drink out of it with your straw. They filter 1000 liters!