First off i want to thank all the members that helped me on my camp stove question. I was wondering what people are using for water purification in the back country. One of my cousins has the stery pen he said i could use but should i get a pump filter as well. Are the tablets worth bringing. I supose to be safe just bring all four but who has room for that lol. again just looking for some guidence dont want to be buying junk or unnessesary things. Thank you
water in the back country
- Thread starter howler243
- Start date
Fink
Veteran member
I have the steripen, and really liked using it. I think you'll find that most guys use the Katydon pump type filters, but I had zero issues with my steripen. One set of lithium batteries will easily last you for the duration of your trip. I do take some tablets with me, just in case.
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
I have used the Katadyn Hiker Pro for years and really like the way it packs in my pack. I also bring some Iodine tablets as a backup. Mark
I have the Sawyer gravity-fed filter system, it's basically a camelback-type of bag with a filter that attaches to the tube. You hang the bag and let it go.
I like it because you don't have to pump it, you can fill the bag, throw it on your pack and when you find a place to take a break, hang it and filter your water. You can actually put the dirty water bag on the top of your ruck and your clean water bag/bottle on the bottom of your ruck and let it go while you're walking around.
Their filter is also a lifetime filter, you run water through it in reverse once in a while to clean it, but that's it.
I modified a piece of drinking tube with a camelback quick disconnect on one end and a Sawyer quick disconnect on the other end so I can hook mine directly up to my camelback bladders using the drinking tube. That way, it's a closed system, so I don't have to sit there with it to ensure that nothing (bugs, leaves, dirt, etc) gets in my clean water bags.
As far as water purification tabs, I still take some along - s**t happens, stuff breaks or gets lost. They're light and relatively inexpensive, so there's no reason why you should be having to choose between dehydration due to lack of water or taking your chances with dirty water. You don't need a month's supply, you just need a couple days worth to get you back to your truck/car/home.
I like it because you don't have to pump it, you can fill the bag, throw it on your pack and when you find a place to take a break, hang it and filter your water. You can actually put the dirty water bag on the top of your ruck and your clean water bag/bottle on the bottom of your ruck and let it go while you're walking around.
Their filter is also a lifetime filter, you run water through it in reverse once in a while to clean it, but that's it.
I modified a piece of drinking tube with a camelback quick disconnect on one end and a Sawyer quick disconnect on the other end so I can hook mine directly up to my camelback bladders using the drinking tube. That way, it's a closed system, so I don't have to sit there with it to ensure that nothing (bugs, leaves, dirt, etc) gets in my clean water bags.
As far as water purification tabs, I still take some along - s**t happens, stuff breaks or gets lost. They're light and relatively inexpensive, so there's no reason why you should be having to choose between dehydration due to lack of water or taking your chances with dirty water. You don't need a month's supply, you just need a couple days worth to get you back to your truck/car/home.
mgriffith80
New Member
Musket Man
Veteran member
I have a Katadyn Hiker Pro too. I have been very happy with it. I do need to get a new filter for it since its getting blocked up.
dhershberger
Active Member
I'm using a sawyer squeeze filter which is currently the lightest water filter available at only 3oz.! It really is an unbeatable system.
I pack the pump also. thanks everybody for reminding me not to forget the tabs because "#$%&" happens. I usually try to find a weep on a bank and not mess with my pump filter at all. probably a gamble, but I haven't got the bug yet. but now that i have said that........
hoshour
Veteran member
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
+++ on the katydon pack pumps. I have been looking at adding a stery pen but not that concerned as the pump works dang well.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
Water treatment methods:
1) No treatment. Studies have shown in most backcountry areas of the Western US this is pretty safe, and people are far more likely to bring a pathogen into the backcountry than get infected with a pathogen from the backcountry. I don't like this method for peace-of-mind reasons.
2) Classic pump filter. I have had several Katadyns. They don't work on viruses, and there is some debate whether they do much on other pathogens. They are heavier, and will break with use. They are better for filtering larger amounts of water than some other methods, but pumping sucks.
3) "Flow" filters (Sawyer, etc.). I have these too, and like that they are at least as effective as a traditional filter and easier to use. I really like the inline filters because you can just dip your bladder and drink as you go. Downsides are similar to regular filters, but the biggest drawback is they WILL freeze in the cold and break, so cold weather use is limited.
4) Drops/tablets. They are ultralight and convenient. I don't like the wait times or the taste of some methods.
5) UV Treatment. I have a steripen and this is my favorite method for areas with a lot of water, because I can save weight by only taking a quart at a time, and filling as I go. It is quick and easy. It deactivates everything, including viruses. You do need pretty clear water and you depend on batteries. Works in the cold.
6) Boiling. By far the safest method. It is slow, and you end up with really hot water. It takes fuel to do it.
My .02
1) No treatment. Studies have shown in most backcountry areas of the Western US this is pretty safe, and people are far more likely to bring a pathogen into the backcountry than get infected with a pathogen from the backcountry. I don't like this method for peace-of-mind reasons.
2) Classic pump filter. I have had several Katadyns. They don't work on viruses, and there is some debate whether they do much on other pathogens. They are heavier, and will break with use. They are better for filtering larger amounts of water than some other methods, but pumping sucks.
3) "Flow" filters (Sawyer, etc.). I have these too, and like that they are at least as effective as a traditional filter and easier to use. I really like the inline filters because you can just dip your bladder and drink as you go. Downsides are similar to regular filters, but the biggest drawback is they WILL freeze in the cold and break, so cold weather use is limited.
4) Drops/tablets. They are ultralight and convenient. I don't like the wait times or the taste of some methods.
5) UV Treatment. I have a steripen and this is my favorite method for areas with a lot of water, because I can save weight by only taking a quart at a time, and filling as I go. It is quick and easy. It deactivates everything, including viruses. You do need pretty clear water and you depend on batteries. Works in the cold.
6) Boiling. By far the safest method. It is slow, and you end up with really hot water. It takes fuel to do it.
My .02
slim jim
Active Member
Sawyer filter with tabs for backup. Lightweight and effective. When I hunt in freezing temps I wrap the sawyer filter with a clothing item and stuff in pack. Haven't had one crack yet but I don't hunt in the extreme frigid temps of the far north either
clacklin009
Active Member
I use the Katadyn Hiker Pro and the Katadyn water bottle. They will get rid of the bacteria, viruses, cysts and will improve the taste of the water. Pens treat the stuff but it stays in the water, they don't remove dirt, and the water needs to be clear for them to work. If you want to use tablets I'd go with the Katadyn Micropur tablets they are the only EPA registered tablets that kill all microorganisms to the EPA standard including Cryptosporidium.
Sawyer actually recommends sleeping with it in your bag to keep it from freezing... I'm going the same route as slim jim and wrapping it good and keeping it in the tent with me.
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
I have been using the MSR hyperflow for 5 years and it is a great way to treat water in the back country. I recomend this pump to people but it is the only one I have used.
sagehunter
New Member
I have a MSR pump which is great. I used the iodine tablets one year to save weight but didnt like wait half hour to drink.
ID_MW
Member
Steripen is a great lightweight and rapid working product, but I have experienced problems with it in the cold. I learned the hard way that you should take the batteries out and stick them in your pocket between uses, or keep the whole unit in a insulated pocket. The steripen is awesome when you know you will be encountering clear water sources, like mountain streams or lake water. For turbid water sources, like ones encountered in a lot of desert environments, the pump style or filtered products are really nice, and worth the extra weight- unless you are cool with slimy/gritty brown water in your mouth (yuck). I will also always have some chlorine dioxide tablets just in case- these are so lightweight and packable it is almost a no-brainer. Of all the topics on this great forum, I think that back country hydration is one of, if not THE most important aspect of a hunters preparation for a back country outing. Best of luck on your upcoming back country hunts.
Huntography
New Member
- Jan 1, 2013
- 39
- 0
Will be using my Geigerrig with inline filter on all archery elk season in Colorado.
Works really well.
Rudy
Works really well.
Rudy
MacDonald
New Member
We used iodine tabs in the service, and today the smell of iodine will make me puke!. I'm hunting the high country, so this season I'll haul a steripen along with some Aquamira tablets, but I'll also take along some pieces of cheesecloth to put over the mouth of the container to act as a "large object" screen.