Water filtration or treatment

phrankster · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 65 Location: Chandler

I haven't seen this topic come up yet, so I thought I'd ask. I'm looking at purchasing a filtration system (PURHiker filter) but don't really know too much about the filtration systems out on the market yet. Does anyone have any advice, preference or suggestions on this topic? Reason being I ran out of water once in GC and wasn't a fun experience, but that's another story.
PS: I'd like to lend a thanks to Hoolie for putting me in touch with the folks that were setting up this site. I havent met you yet, but you're alright.

cactuscat · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 459 Location: Phoenix

I've got an MSR Mini, and I'm happy with it.

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

dennisbench · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 275 Location: El Mirage

I also have the MSR Miniworks, and I love it. Although I have heard the PUR Hiker is faster I like the ease of use and ability to troubleshoot in the field(which I've never had to do..knock on wood) with the Mini.
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Daddee · Posted: 1/7/2003, 8:25 pm Post subject:

I have the MSR Miniworks as well. I love it. I've had to use it several times and it has always performed wonderfully. I used to work for REI as well, and I found that I preferred the ceramic filter of the MSR to the fiberglass or spun filters of the PUR systems. The life of the ceramic filter is quite a bit longer, and is much easier to clean and maintain in the long run.

PUR probably has the better reputation (or at least more popular) but that is mainly a marketing thing. All PUR does is make filters and they sell them to home consumers as well as hikers. All MSR does is sell to Outdoor enthusiasts, and that almost exclusively through REI. At least - that is my take on the issue.
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Shawn · Posted: 1/7/2003, 9:36 pm Post subject:

I have a PUR Explorer, and a First Need Deluxe. Both are fine. They were touted as 'purifiers" but according to "Matt" at REI Tempe, there is no such thing other than in the minds of the manufacturers. Purifiers claim to remove viruses, filters do not. PUR sent their Explorer to the EPA and asked them to test it. EPA could not replicate PUR's results. So they took it off the market, but I see Popular has the cartidges yet. PUR has since sold the outdoor division to Katadyne.

Same goes for First Need, its touted as a purifier, but this has not been independently verified.

Most sources say there is very little need for a purifier in North America, unless you are winter hiking downstream from a feed lot. If you want to be real sure, use a filter / purifier and add some of the chemical bug killers.
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evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

When Patches and I were hiking Horton Creek trail last year I tested my PUR hiker for the first time in the creek, probably half a mile or so downstream from the spring. Drank the filtered water and told Patches, "This water's so clean this close to the spring it doesn't need filtering. Few minutes later we get up to the spring, lots of people around and a huge dog peeing in the creek Crazy

Wonder how a filter handles that Rolling Eyes

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maryphyl · Posted: 1/8/2003, 8:21 am Post subject:

Being the lightweight fanatic that I am I don't take a filter. I drink a lot of water unfiltered. If I think there might be bugs in it I use iodine tabs followed with the ascorbic acid tabs that remove the bum taste. If the water is real ugly I filter it through my bandana to remove the big chunks and then boil it. I have never been sick which just goes to prove nothing much.
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Kristyn · Posted: 1/8/2003, 8:41 am Post subject:

jmzblond · Posted: 1/8/2003, 8:59 am Post subject:

I bought a PURhiker, but just got it Monday so haven't had a chance to use it yet. Then, over the w/e I saw a PURVoyageur that claims to be a purifier as well as a filter removing both bacteria and viruses. Anyone know anything about that??
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evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

overrocked · Joined: 07 Jan 2003 Posts: 51 Location: phx, AZ

I've used my MSR miniworks several times, but have a itty bitty bottle of potable aqua for backup, and can always boil after filtering through a bandana. Snow can also be pretty full of debris, so bandana really comes in handy for that too. I'd rather use the MSR for day hikes, and boil for backpacking. With the potable aqua for backup for either one.
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Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

I think it really depends on what your needs are. The ceramic filters are heavier and are not advised for backpacking. the PUR ones, from my experience, are the ones that backpackers like cuz they are lighter. I come from the school that teaches, "Every Ounce counts." I try to eliminate every ounce that i can, so I prefer a lighter filter. From what I understand is that the ceramic ones get everything out and is the best quality, but unless you plan on going to Mexico you dont really need one. The Pur ones worked good for me and they are light. I quess you need to ask yourself if its for day use or backpacking use.
As far as tabs go, I have used them once and thay are nasty, we brought crystal light along with us to hide the iodine flavour.
I don't prefer to go that direction.
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Nealz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 131 Location: Alpine, Arizona

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

Never heard of Aquamira Tablets. What are they? When we use the tablets, we have 2 bottles, one that is ready to go, and the other is just taken out of the stream and has the tabs just put in it. After the first bottle is empty then the other is ready, and we fill the empty bottle as soon as we come across a stream. We did this in the grand canyon one year and it was nice cuz there was no waiting to use the purier. We just put our bottles in the water, put a tab in it and went on our way. This was on a 12 mile day across the tonto trail.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2