Water Filtration?

has anyone considered carrying only a gallon or two of water, and getting a water filtration system lighter weight, and less bulk to carry (in areas where water is available, obviously) just thinking in ways of weight savings for longer treks, would be less water/weight to haul around.. I typically carry a 6 gallon jerry can for washing dishes/showering/cooking, + 2 gallons in my Rinse Kit + to heat/pressurize the water, for shower, or cleaning. (use less) and bottled water small or large case depending on passengers/length of outing.

 

It's good to carry a water filter *in case* you run out, but I wouldn't rely on the availability of a stream or pond everywhere you go as your primary source of water.

When backpacking, yeah, you'll need to think about the weight you're carrying with you, but we have pickup trucks. If you have problems with carrying a few gallons of water, you need to pack less non-critical stuff, lol

 

I'd just bring the water Scott and only rely on filtration for an emergency

 

I was wondering about these...

$46 Sawyer Products SP160 One Gallon Gravity Water Filtration System w/Dual-Threaded Mini Filter, Blue/White/Clear

https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Produ...ocphy=9002909&hvtargid=pla-304999162470&psc=1
small, packable, and light...

 

$16 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness, 1 Pack, Blue

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QF3TW4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_QcawEbPAK4KMH

 

I always carry in what I need. But your circumstance may be different with a family

I have heard good things about this unit in the past:

$383 MSR Guardian Water Purifier for Backcountry Use, Global Travel, and Emergency Preparedness

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B019ERWU66/?coliid=I1SE9QMX7DMQW&colid=3H04UCN155LOM&psc=1

 

Just carry it in. 6 gallons of water is about ~60lbs which isn't much considering how much people tend to haul in. Find somewhere else to cut weight.

It's not so much being able to have potable water as it is having a reliable source of water. You may end up finding yourself in a situation where you aren't able to GET to a water source because of a breakdown, injury, etc. Or the water source you find ends up being too stagnant, contaminated, dried up, too low and silty, etc. It also serves a couple of uses: as coolant if you pop a hose in the middle of nowhere, fire extinguisher (even if you already have an actual fire extinguisher), and keeps you untethered from a water source so you're not always trying to stay next to the creek or too afraid to venture out.

You can still add that gravity filter, but just use it as a supplementation and to replenish your supply. You never know if you'll get to your destination and then realize your jerry can busted losing all it's water. Or you are pretty low on water when you find some folks that have been stranded for half a day and only brought out one bottle of water (happens a lot, novice off roaders, hikers, people with dogs) The filtration rate is pretty slow so keep that in mind (about 1g/20mins or so, so probably 1.5 hours to top off your jerry can).

oh and one more thing, keep in mind that those filtration systems only filter out most bacteria and protozoas, but do nothing for viruses. So if you're filling up downstream from some dude that shits in the creek with Hep A it's going to do nothing for you. Far fetched but still

 

I always keep one of these in my truck and in my packs

 

Agree!

You'll still need to boil or use iodine tablets (or UV sticks or whatever) to kill the viruses.

If you get a filter, I'd go for a gravity feed one, unless you like an arm workout.

For most lakes and streams, as long as the water isn't stagnant, you can just boil it, no need to filter.

 

Yup. Ideally I boil water if need be. But the straw is good for a hike out in case you run out of your water stores.





I'd 200% never drink natural water "just because" on a camping trip. Such an unnecessary risk to assume.

 

I've done boiling and iodine tablets and trust both methods, although drinking warm water or iodine water sucks lol

Have never tried the UV filtration because I just don't trust it. I know it does because the science backs it up and there's documentation and everything....but is it really water you just made potable from a stream if it doesn't suck in some way? lol Maybe just getting old and dangfangled technology scares me

and I agree, gravity filter is the best method IMO. Very simple, cheap, compact system and have seen too many katadyn or similar pump style filters fail (handle breaks, o rings fail, discs clog up or break, need too much maintenance) or pumping gets old after a while. They are nice when they work, completely useless when they don't.

all IMO but yeah, just haul it in. It's the basic necessity for life. You can survive without food, you can chop a tree down with a multitool, but you can't survive without water.

 

Yeah, it is just an accelerated version of letting the sun naturally kill the bacteria. But it really does seem like those magic lights or copper bands you see on infomercials that cure arthritis and cancer or whatever, lol.

 

.5 gal / day.

Say 1.75gal /day for a family of 4.

And that's drinking like a horse.

7 gal covers you for 4 days.

It's also takes up one cubic foot.

Portable Water Storage Container Refreshment Cooler with Cap and Spigot Nozzle with on/off Tap Emergency Water Jug (7 Gallon Capacity)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ABKS0HY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_nabwEbYVKB28S

 

i currently carry a 6gallon jerry can, and a 2 gallon rinseKit +....

I bought 2 of these tofill and freeze instead of buying ice blocks for my cooler, and can later use them in a fridge for drinking water..

HydraPak Seeker - Collapsible Water Storage (4L/140oz) - BPA & PVC Free Camping Hydration Reservoir - Malibu Blue

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NC5L3W/ref=twister_B07GJ1WRBG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

and yes I read reviews from Amazon of people doing the same... filling with water (going to leave some room for expansion, and then freeze solid for ice blocks in my cooler.. still may need 1-2 bags of loose ice, but I can live with that.

 

I'd probably carry in some water, but keep a gravity bag system with me. These are super fast at filtering water!

$102 Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 4-Liter

Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter High-Capacity Water Filter System

 

for myself and my wife i have 4 nalagene bottles plus 5 500ml bottles of water inside the cab. i carry a collapsible 2 gal container.

i also bring my platypus system. i use it when i backpack and you cannot beat getting 2 liters of water in 3 mins. its lightweight and no moving parts.

the only way to kill a virus is to boil. that being said if you use some common sense on where your getting your water, youll never have a problem.

some of the best tasting water ive ever had has come from springs in the Appalachian mountains.

 

Filtering is for backpacking. These are trucks that can carry plenty of extra water. Plus filtering always taste like shit to me.

 

These are worth every penny. Ive used mine backpacking a few times and it is so fast and easy

 

It’s always good to carry a filter just in case. Takes up no room and could save you in a bad situation. Check out Sawyer filters. The squeeze is a good one. You really just need a small one if it’s for back up and pretty cheap.

 

I want this:



https://www.waterfixercompany.com/survivorpro.html