Filtration & Purification

There is a deep-rooted opinion that you don’t always need to filter water where streams are fed by fresh snow-melt, but this is a dangerous presumption to make. The truth is, no matter how gorgeous the setting or how sweet and pure the water tastes, there is no way to tell whether or not it is riddled with little bugs that can make you really, really sick. A good portable water filter makes all the difference, and there is a great variety of different solutions for all kinds of outdoor situations.

Gravity Water Filters

Gravity filters use gravity to filter water, without squeezing or pumping. They mostly consist of a bag with a hanging mechanism that you fill with the water you want to filter, a filter, and a long tube that can be used to fill a water container, that sometimes comes included in the system. Simply fill the bag from the water source, hang it up, and gravity carries water down through the filter and into a clean water container

Squeeze Water Filter

As the name implies, this type of filter works by squeezing water through the filter. These filters need to be back flushed more often than other filters, because clogging reduces the flow rate and makes it harder to squeeze water through. Back flushing is done by using a syringe to shoot water through the filter in the opposite direction of what water flows though when filtrated. Most squeeze water filters come with a syringe cleaning system to make this process simple.

Water Filtration Pumps

Pump filters also require manual effort to pump water through the filter. Pump water filters are versatile because they can filter from shallow running water and the filter itself is replaceable, but you have to actively pump to filter. Most pumps come with two hoses, one that you drop into the body of water you want to filter from and one that transfers the filtered water into your water container of choice, like a hydration pack, and allow you to draw water even from shallow running water. The filter itself is replaceable and the whole system can be taken apart to clean, which makes it easy to maintain.

UV Light Water Purifiers

Pen style UV light water purifiers use UV light to treat water. This way you eliminate viruses in addition to bacteria and protozoa unlike most water filters. UV water purifiers don’t filter out sediment though, and they require batteries or a charge to work.

Water Filtration Bottles

Water filtration bottles have a built in filter that either filter water as you sip through the filter or the water is pressed through the filter like a coffee press. They’re very easy to use, but the amount of water you can filter and carry is limited by the size of the bottle.

Purification Tablets

Water purification tablets virtually eliminate bacteria, most protozoa, and viruses from water, and they are always good to have around in addition to the filter. They do contain chemicals, and can leave a bit of an iodine taste, but it beats cryptosporidium infection.