Shelf life of Potable Aqua

“Hey guys,
Anybody know the shelf life of Potable Aqua iodine tablets? I just realized that its been sitting in my pack for 2 1/2 years. I only use it for emergencies, but I dont want to find out a week after the fact it's no good.”

“3-6 months, I have read. 2 cents.I am trying a new one called Polar Pure and does NOT have a shelf life!”

“They don't cost that much. I would just replace them and not worry about it. Even by doing that there's no telling how long they were on the shelf at the store. If there isn't a date on the bottle I would contact the mfr with the lot # and they should be able to tell you if they are good or bad.”

“6 Months!?! ouch. Thanks Jerbear for the warning. I'll talk to the manufacturer and find out about that and Polar Pure.”

“Yikes! That was a good question. I don't know how long I've been toting mine along. I never gave it a second thought.”

“I found this, It may answer some of your questions.

http://www.equipped.com/parepack.htm" target="_Potable Aqua">Hiking Alabama”

“Hi Sunny!”

“Hiya jerbear! Are you ever going to send those pictures to me?? ;o)”

“I swear I do NOT have em! We will need to do another trip and take some more!You too next time! RAW”

“I'm sure the effective life of iodine tabs is much longer than a few months...”

“I took the pictures with YOUR camera. I think the girls at the photoshop kept them. Grrrrrrr!

Important lesson learned... You can never take too much film on a backpacking trip!!

I'd love to hike with you, again. Let me know when you head back to Ohio. Maybe we can arrange an Ohio or Lower Michigan hike.

Yo Bare!”

“Will do. Now exactly what picture do you want! BigDawg!lol”

“They used to claim 4 years unopened, now its 2,, and if you open them, 1. get a new bottle at the beginning of the year, and you'll be safe, or use straight iodine drops, 2% iodine, 2 drops per quart, it's the same stuff and the iodine can be used on cuts and scrapes too”

“I talked to the manufacturers. Heres the scoop: Potable Aqua: 4 years from production date or 1 year after its been opened. The production date is inked on the side of the label. For example 060107 That would be manufactured in June of 2001 batch number 7. Polar Pure: Indefinite opened or closed. As long as you can see iodine crystals in your bottle of Polar Pure, you will be able to achieve the proper saturated solution required to treat your quart / liter bottle of water.

I believe the Polar Pure is larger, heavier, and costlier then the Potable Aqua, and able to treat more water. It would make for a better primary treatment or home emergency kit. Potable Aqua makes for a better emergency purifier for daypacking due to its size and no-brainer use, so thats what I bought.

Note: Before you buy, check the date of production. The stuff in Big 5 is almost a year old. A16 was 7 months. Same cost.”

“thanks.”

“Good info to have Markar. Thank you.”