Lightweight Water Purification

“What is your favorit light weight way to purify water?

I've been useing iodine tablets along with the nutralizer for the convienence.

Also on our last hike I was drinking from springs that seemed pure and praying over the water for insurance. So far I haven't gotten sick and I think thats the method I'm going to continue to use.”

“Your system is about as light as you can get. I've been doing the same for 35 years and haven't gotten sick but you have to be careful where you get that water. I never drink directly from lakes or rivers but find a safe source like a spring or stream that comes from an uninhabited area. If there is any doubt I boil the water before drinking. If I'm cooking with it I just get the water boiling, then put the food in - its purified!

On the other hand, sometimes its just easier to hike with a good friend who has a filter. Right SnowNymph?”

“The sweetest, clearest spring water I ever tasted made me sick for a week. The source was a cave full of bat guano.”

“I make sure I dip clean, clear water and then either boil or use iodine tablets. bacpac makes an excellent point; e.coli is an equal opportunity crap dweller.”

“I like Aquamira for a chemical treatment. It has a good shelf life, is light and has no bad taste.”

“I take no chances. Before I drink it, it passes through the Pur Hiker first. I got iodine & nutralizer as a back up. I've had to boil water only onse before and it sucks!
If I'm going to be boiling water anyway, I don't bother to filter it.”

“Ok, I use a pur hiker microfilter. This does filter out bacteria & protozoa, but viruses? do I need to treat with iodine or something after filtering? I'm asking because I'm going to be in Peru, possibly Bolivia, and I have zero faith in the water... What's your opinion?”

“It takes iodine, chlorine, or boiling to kill viruses. Filters don't remove viruses but purifiers do. Most purifiers use chemical means but one uses a chemical-free cartridge.”