Filter vs Iodine?

[Matthoek21]

When in the backcountry of the Rocky Mountains where finding mostly good sources of water, why do some prefer a filter vs just dropping iodine tablets along with the tablet that removes iodine flavor? I've always used tablets and never a filter. Tablets seem to be easier/lighter/smaller and less bulky to pack. Just wonder what pros and cons are? Used a filter one time a long time ago and it was a pain in the butt pumping the water and keeping hose from sucking in dirt and getting clogged up. What does everyone think and what do y'all use and have you ever got sick still using one or the other?

 

[Usmcvet]

Iodine tablets are definitely smaller & lighter and have that advantage, however I will forgo that advantage to having the versatility of purifying & FILTERING any type of water source. If need be I'd drink any water to survive, but I'm not go out Naked & Afraid like. I'd rather not be drinking silt, picking bugs, grass, and pieces of feces out of my cup/mouth. I do take tablets in addition to my filtration system in case it goes down.

 

[CrossCreeks]

I take both with me, rarely use the tablets but if it was to come down to simply a weight issue I would go with the tablets, but I would also like to have as much possible filtered out of the water before I drink it.

 

[ScottR]

Page 98 of EBJ 96, I did an article on this.

 

[Slugz]

Filter all the way here.

 

[Bughalli]

I use either method depending on the conditions. Last year I wasn't happy with the level of effort my filter required for the volume I wanted (older pump style), so I used iodine tablets. Faster and easier all around. I added an electrolyte tablet to cover up the taste in drinking water. Tasted great. I didn't add any iodine to the water used for food because I boil it before adding to Mountainhouse packet. This year I'm trying the larger capacity gravity filters. I wanted to get a bigger plastic container to carry more water to camp and reduce the number of trips I made for water. So given I was already going down that route, adding a gravity filter seemed pretty easy and hardly adds any weight at all.

For me I think the deciding factor is how many days I am hunting, temperatures, consumption, how much water I want to have on hand at camp (relative to the hike required to get it), etc. If it's a long hike down canyon, using bigger containers to hold more water and a gravity filter makes sense. If short hike, easy access, etc I might just use iodine.

 

[sheephunter]

Regarding the picking up dirt problem, I wrap a coffee filter around the pickup end of my hose and secure in place with a rubber band, this acts as an excellent pre-filter.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

Filter! Iodine tasting water is nasty. I've used UV filters which purify water with uv light. They are light and are super light weight.

 

[tdcour]

Hey Matt, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be going with the Sawyer squeeze or mini this year. At a weight of 3 oz you can filter water pretty easily. They have an adapter kit they sell where you can actually put the filter in line on your hydration bladder or fill your bladder with clean water through the drinking tube. Pretty sweet setup and I think you can actually use it like a gravity filter with two hydration bladders. Hard to beat in my opinion.

 

[ScottR]

Iodine tablets are definitely smaller & lighter and have that advantage, however I will forgo that advantage to having the versatility of purifying & FILTERING any type of water source. If need be I'd drink any water to survive, but I'm not go out Naked & Afraid like. I'd rather not be drinking silt, picking bugs, grass, and pieces of feces out of my cup/mouth. I do take tablets in addition to my filtration system in case it goes down.

If I don't know what my water sources will be like I always take my filter, if I am sure that I can grab moving water and throw iodine in on the trail, the weight savings is worth it.

 

[ScottR]

Filter! Iodine tasting water is nasty. I've used UV filters which purify water with uv light. They are light and are super light weight.

The drop stuff from Aqua Mira is about the same weight as iodine tabs and no taste to contend with.

 

[Laddy]

Sawyer mini clogs rather easily where I hunt off grid, bring the syringe and back filter.

I switched to the aqua Mira drops last year when I read of them online. Having spent a lot of my youth backpacking the taste of iodine flavored water is still in the back of my throat....but the aqua Mira drops are awesome, and I really can't taste it, especially with water flavors these days. Takes 15-20 minutes to work, so you can't drink it immediately but I vote drops.

 

[Matthoek21]

Thanks guys. Scott my EBJ just got here today and I read your article. Good stuff.
My thing is I have always found somewhat of a moving source. Maybe I've been fortunate but I've never had to draw from an elk wallow. I'm sure filter is good for that.
The other thing is time and effort pumping filters vs. time(30 min) waiting for iodine to treat. Then another 20-30 minutes waiting on PA tablets to remove iodine taste. I always keep two 64-70 oz. bladders so one is always full with treated water and anytime I come to water source when other is empty I fill and treat.
Either way I guess they all have benefits and drawbacks. Your article and my thread had perfect timing. Thanks again and hopefully this helps others decide on their method of choice.

 

[Matthoek21]

Hey Matt, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be going with the Sawyer squeeze or mini this year. At a weight of 3 oz you can filter water pretty easily. They have an adapter kit they sell where you can actually put the filter in line on your hydration bladder or fill your bladder with clean water through the drinking tube. Pretty sweet setup and I think you can actually use it like a gravity filter with two hydration bladders. Hard to beat in my opinion.

Yea Scott mentioned that Sawyer mini in his article. Have you read it yet? I literally just got mine in the mail today. Sounds like that one is kind of nifty, especially being able to use it from bladder to bladder with the gravity feed. Hope yours works well for ya this year.
Oh by the way, what ,when, and where are you chasing this fall? Do you have something lined up?

 

[tdcour]

Yea Scott mentioned that Sawyer mini in his article. Have you read it yet? I literally just got mine in the mail today. Sounds like that one is kind of nifty, especially being able to use it from bladder to bladder with the gravity feed. Hope yours works well for ya this year.
Oh by the way, what ,when, and where are you chasing this fall? Do you have something lined up?

Wish I had kept my paper magazine subscription instead of digital. I'm still waiting on the last EHJ let alone EBJ to get to my app where I can download it. Trying to access it on the computer sucks too. I'm ready to read the articles though! I'm going through some withdraws.

We are chasing mule deer above timber in SW Colorado with the stick and string. Doing a scouting trip first part of August so I'll get to test the Sawyer there. You going archery elk again?

 

[ScottR]

Wish I had kept my paper magazine subscription instead of digital. I'm still waiting on the last EHJ let alone EBJ to get to my app where I can download it. Trying to access it on the computer sucks too. I'm ready to read the articles though! I'm going through some withdraws.

We are chasing mule deer above timber in SW Colorado with the stick and string. Doing a scouting trip first part of August so I'll get to test the Sawyer there. You going archery elk again?

Will be up on the old app tomorrow. Had some set backs launching new app, will be posting here when it goes live.


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[Matthoek21]

Wish I had kept my paper magazine subscription instead of digital. I'm still waiting on the last EHJ let alone EBJ to get to my app where I can download it. Trying to access it on the computer sucks too. I'm ready to read the articles though! I'm going through some withdraws.

We are chasing mule deer above timber in SW Colorado with the stick and string. Doing a scouting trip first part of August so I'll get to test the Sawyer there. You going archery elk again?

Sounds like fun. I tried drawing a deer tag 2nd choice but didn't. Hopefully the Sawyer works goodnfor ya. Wish I could go scout before hand. Yes I'm heading out for archery elk again this year. Hope to ground check something. Good luck on your deer hunt. Let me know how it goes.

 

[tdcour]

Sounds like fun. I tried drawing a deer tag 2nd choice but didn't. Hopefully the Sawyer works goodnfor ya. Wish I could go scout before hand. Yes I'm heading out for archery elk again this year. Hope to ground check something. Good luck on your deer hunt. Let me know how it goes.

I'll let you know how the sawyer mini works for me as well. Ended up going with the mini because its easier to use with my hydration packs I'm planning on using. Planning on using it like the other gravity filters on the market with 3L hydration packs.