What Type Of Water Filter Is Right For Me? Drinking enough water during your hike is essential for numerous reasons, like keeping joints waxed, controlling body temperature, avoiding infections, furnishing nutrients to cells, and maintaining organ function. Not only that, but good hydration can also ameliorate your quality of sleep at camp and can help you stay more alert and cognitive of your surroundings.
But how do you carry enough water for days in the bush without importing down your bag or taking up much-demanded room for other inventories like food and sanctum? Having a way to collect water from sources that are not generally aseptic or drinkable has opened up a world of on-the-go hydration the likes of which we have no way ahead seen.
What Makes Water Drinkable?
When we suppose of treating water, we constantly suppose of filtering the stuff you see garbage and ground on the face of standing water. Of course, when people can see it, it’s a little bit easier to decide if the water looks fascinating or not. But, what happens when we come across water that looks so clear and stimulating, without a speck of visible dirt inside? How can we be sure that this water is safe to drink?
Does It Meet Universal Water morals?
As we mentioned over, backcountry water carries the trouble of waterborne pathogens. The Cascade Mountain Tech Personal Water filter Straw meets NSF P231 testing protocol for removing bacteria and freeloaders designed for out-of-door Point of Use adulterants.
What Type Of Water Filter Is best for us?
There are three common water pollutants; graveness Pollutants, Pump Pollutants, and Filtration Straws- like our new Cascade Mountain Tech Personal Water filter Straw. When looking at filtration systems, these are some of the rudiments you might want to estimate grounded on your requirements
water filter gravity bag
The gravity filter bag is the ultimate group trip hydration system. They’re designed for filtering large quantities of water with help from graveness( hence the name). First, the” dirty” water bag is filled from a water source, and also the system is hung from a tree or any object that allows for a downflow from the” dirty” bag into the clean water vessel. As we said, this is an excellent option for those looking to filter water for further than one person because indeed though it takes a bit longer to sludge through a large quantum of water, you will be suitable to fill everyone’s canteens with just one system.
Pros
- Get rid of most pathogens
- Filter out large bits
- Very easy to use
- It filters large amounts of water relatively quickly, making it ideal for large groups
Cros
- Doesn’t kill the virus.
- Dirty water filter bags can be difficult to seal, especially as you age
- The suggested retail price of around AU $210 is not cheap
Best use
- Suitable for groups of two or more, but also for solo hikers. I bought mine for a three-person trip
Pump water filters
The pump pollutants are a tried-and-true way to sludge water in the bush if you do not mind putting in a bit of muscle work. generally, you can pump at least one liter a nanosecond, but depending on the quantum of deposition in the water, this could take you a long time to achieve. So for those that would rather conserve their energy for the trail, the pump sludge might not be for you.
Pros
- Get rid of most pathogens
- Filter out large bits
- Easy to use
- It filters large amounts of water relatively quickly, so it can heat large groups
Cros
- Most pumps do not handle viruses
- The work requires a little strength
- Range from relatively cheap
- On the heavy side. But some heavier units are between 500 and 600 grams
- Good for natural water sources, but less effective when drawing water from sealed tanks, such as the Lalapinta Trail
- A lot of parts need to be maintained and/or replaced
Best use
- Suitable for larger groups
- If you are traveling internationally or going somewhere where the water is very unstable and you think there is a virus, pay for it
Personal Water Filter Straws
There’s no better on-the-go hydration option for traveling solo or in tone-sufficient groups than filtering water straight from the bottle. Because designed as a tube with a sludge outside, the Personal Water filter Straw lets you drink directly from the water source. Using your mouth, you draw water from the bottle through the sludge, drawing it as it goes. A favorite for trail runners, alpinists, and day trampers, these pollutants are stylishly used in areas with many reliable water sources so you can refill as demanded. Indeed if you formerly have a high-capacity filtration system, the straws compact design makes it a dependable backup system.
Pros
- cheap
- Filters out most pathogens (not viruses)
- Filter out large bits
- Very easy to use
- Drink immediately from your water source without waiting
Cros
- It doesn’t kill the virus,
- Care needs to be taken to avoid cross-contamination with some of these devices
- For personal use only, not really for group use
- It relies on very conventional water sources
- In practice, you won’t be inclined to use these devices to drink as much water as possible because it’s simply tedious. On very hot days, this can be a problem
Best use
- For those who want to pack light
- A great backup option for outdoor water use, or a great option for those who don’t like water filter bags
All this means that there is no perfect solution for filtering water. The best choice really depends on the situation and your own personal preferences. There is no wrong answer here, but make sure you have considered why you use what you use. Based on water quality (virus present?), type of water source (natural or tank water), cost, weight, ease of use, and risk of drinking untreated water.
| Bacteria | Parasites / Protozoa | Viruses | |
| Examples | E. Coli, Salmonella, Cholera | Giardia, Cryptosporidium | Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Polio |
| Size | 0.2 – 5 microns | 1 – 15 microns (relatively big) | 0.02 – 0.3 microns (relatively small) |
| Removed by filters? | Yes | Yes | Not usually |
| Removed by purifiers? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Killed by chemical treatments? | Yes | Not always | Yes |
| Found in water in developed countries? | Tap water: no | ||
| Natural water: sometimes | Tap water: no | ||
| Natural water: sometimes | Tap water: no | ||
| Natural water: rarely | |||
| Found in water in developing countries? | Tap water: sometimes | ||
| Natural water: sometimes | Tap water: sometimes | ||
| Natural water: sometimes | Tap water: sometimes | ||
| Natural water: sometimes |
Tips Warm for 0.1-micron hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane filters
Obviously, we all know that the more layers a filter straw has, the more efficient it is. But the more layers there are, the harder it is to drain the water because filtration is a continuous process from large to small. Each layer of filtration needs to be able to remove the target substance stably, protect the next layer of the filtration layer, make the effluent water quality meet the design requirements, and ensure the total filtration capacity. Too many filtration stages may result in high-pressure differences, and some filtration layers may not be fully utilized.
Therefore, when purchasing outdoor water filters straw such as water filter straws or water bottles, we need to consider the level of water pollution and the portability and maintenance of the product.
