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Posted: 7/31/2011 9:02:49 AM EDT
There are so many options! I'm looking for something like the MSR Sweetwater, and some version of the steri-pen. Can anyone recommend one, or share a story of one breaking?
Any amazing deals to be had? This is my first water filter setup, and the very beginning of my "preps" 
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Posted: 7/31/2011 9:17:58 AM EDT
[#1]
In for answers.
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Posted: 7/31/2011 9:47:52 AM EDT
[#2]
don't bother with the steri pen. A good filter will do fine.
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Posted: 7/31/2011 10:05:54 AM EDT
[#3]
Life Straw.
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Posted: 7/31/2011 2:50:04 PM EDT
[#4]
There are water filters which trap the common nasties, and water purifiers which get 'em all.
Plusses and minuses to both. If needed, and this is not often required, further treatment of water run through filters can be accomplished by various means. Most often this by use of chemical additives, or boiling. The SteriPen is only as good as its' batteries, and while it works well, batteries have a way of failing. there are a number of battery-powered items that are used to treat water. Some rely on water being pretty clear to allow UV light to disinfect water, so ridding water of sediment is important with these devices. As with any battery-powered item, one should consider whether the device will be used in cold temps. If so, will the battery be capable of doing its' job? What will you do if the batteries are discharged, and you need new ones? Are your particular batteries at all uncommon? Are the batteries capable of being recharged, and if so, are there solar re-chargeres available for your particular battery? In a post SHTF world, batteries, particularly uncommon ones will be like gold, Solar re-chargers and suitable batts will be worth their weight in gold. But I digress. If I was to start from scratch, I think I would buy a water purifier that had been made using the same filter for a long time, so the purifier filters were fairly common and relatively inexpensive. Buy a BUNCH of filters. I would also have as a backup the means to boil water, and the means to add chem additives to canteens, such as MicroPur tablets. If I used batt-powered devices, I would make sure that I had adequate batts on-hand, and also that I had the capability of solar re-charging the required number of batts. For example, if you needed two freshly re-charged batts every two days, and your single solar re-charger could only supply one batt in same time period, then you need another solar re-charger. Mebbe more than that, to account for cloudy days and so forth. In the long run, it will come down to how efficiently you can boil water. Never forget that. Other well-informed folks will have their own opinions, and you should listen to them as well. Just make sure the person you're listening to has actually used their equipment under field conditions, and also understands the difference between water filter, and water purifier. |
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Posted: 7/31/2011 3:34:14 PM EDT
[#5]
Something else to keep in mind with water filters/purifiers is that care has to be taken when you use them in the cold - they freeze!
A few years ago, I was doing a winter climb in Colorado, spent an hour chopping a hole in the frozen lake near our campsite and filled all the water bottles. I was so used to throwing the filter back in the pack that I didn't even think about the temp and when we got up the next morning, everything was frozen solid! Since we were going light, we didn't have enough fuel to melt much snow and ended up having very little water all day; it was no fun. I guess the lesson is be aware of the limits of your gear and also have a backup method. |
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Posted: 7/31/2011 4:28:12 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Something else to keep in mind with water filters/purifiers is that care has to be taken when you use them in the cold - they freeze! A few years ago, I was doing a winter climb in Colorado, spent an hour chopping a hole in the frozen lake near our campsite and filled all the water bottles. I was so used to throwing the filter back in the pack that I didn't even think about the temp and when we got up the next morning, everything was frozen solid! Since we were going light, we didn't have enough fuel to melt much snow and ended up having very little water all day; it was no fun. I guess the lesson is be aware of the limits of your gear and also have a backup method. Good point, to which I would add that the ceramic filters have been known to freeze and crack., thus becoming useless. At least the other types of filters can possibly thaw out and still be useable thereafter. |
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Posted: 8/1/2011 7:02:21 PM EDT
[#7]
I just ordered a steripen from STP http://ww2.sierratradingpost.com/steripen-traveler-mini-water-purifier~p~3543c/?filterString=search~steripen%2F
The price was $32.50 after a 35% off coupon. Coupons of varying amounts are generally available; you used to get a 20% coupon for just signing up for their DealFlyer. I don't know how well they work. |
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Posted: 8/1/2011 7:47:47 PM EDT
[#8]
I just bought the Platypus gravity Works and used it for 4 days on a kayak camping trip.
AWESOME. It filters 4 litres of water in about 3 minutes with no pumping. It back flushes and never wears out or clogs up. Did I mention there is no pumping? I have used an MSR Waterworks for decades and the pumping sucks. link |
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Posted: 8/2/2011 10:17:20 AM EDT
[#9]
I just bought a MSR MIOX. I haven't used it out yet but I like how it works.
I have used MSR Waterworks for years and they work very good just require work. I plan on using a filter (gravity or otherwise) and then the MIOX to purify.. My backup is Katadyn Micropur MP 1 tablets.... Andy.. |
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Posted: 8/2/2011 10:32:43 AM EDT
[#10]
I re-read my post and realize I didn't actually offer any useful advice.
I'd suggest what you need depends on where you're going. In the US, a nice lightweight filter from a good maker like Katadyn or MSR should cover you pretty well, getting rid of all bacteria and potentially some of the larger viruses. If you're going someplace really nasty, an actual purifier like the First Needs XL will get rid of pretty much all the bacteria and viruses and even some chemicals. Keep some iodine tablets on hand, also, but remember that they will eventually spoil so watch the date on them. I just got a SteriPEN adventurer which, in fairly clear water should get rid of all viruses and bacteria, and I'm going to pair it with a prefilter to remove sediment. Between that and my First Needs, I feel like I can get clean water just about anywhere right now. |
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Posted: 8/5/2011 4:49:47 PM EDT
[#11]
Filters always seem to clog or break. Steripens are a great idea, but batteries are a concern.
I go a simple approach. Bandana (to filter out large particles) and iodine tabs (Or polarpure, Aquamira, etc.) Shelf life is then the main concern. I have finally realized the simpler things are, the fewer things can go wrong. Just my 2 cents. 
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Posted: 8/7/2011 5:39:48 AM EDT
[#12]
bandana or t-shirt and a steri-pen.
I thought about adding a formal prefilter but just never have done it. Edited: No slight to anyone but for me if batteries ever become scarce then so will iodine pills and at that point it is time to boil water or develop intrinsic immunity. Shelf life if lithium AA's is 15 years. |
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Posted: 8/8/2011 6:04:06 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
I re-read my post and realize I didn't actually offer any useful advice.
I'd suggest what you need depends on where you're going. In the US, a nice lightweight filter from a good maker like Katadyn or MSR should cover you pretty well, getting rid of all bacteria and potentially some of the larger viruses. If you're going someplace really nasty, an actual purifier like the First Needs XL will get rid of pretty much all the bacteria and viruses and even some chemicals. Keep some iodine tablets on hand, also, but remember that they will eventually spoil so watch the date on them. I just got a SteriPEN adventurer which, in fairly clear water should get rid of all viruses and bacteria, and I'm going to pair it with a prefilter to remove sediment. Between that and my First Needs, I feel like I can get clean water just about anywhere right now. i recently read that the first need only gets some of the larger virus', and that many harmful ones slip through. something abut pore size. this might be something to look into more seriously. i did not do the additional research. to the op, i went with a 1, 2 punch. i use the msr miox, then after 30 minutes i pump the treated water through their mini-ex filter. the miox alone works. but i like my water to be free of floaties. according to cascade the miox neutralizes some of the runoff chemicals found in water. the carbon in the mini also absorbs others. do they get all of it? probably not. but "some" is better than most of the other systems. i have heard many suggest the katadyn pocket filter. but, for the same price i get the miox, mini-ex and an extra ceramic element. while the ceramic can freeze and crack rendering it un suitable for filtering, the fiber filters (katadyn - first need) are also no good after they freeze. |
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Posted: 8/9/2011 4:27:51 PM EDT
[#14]
Buy a First Need, $90, and be done with it.
Rated to filter virus, silk screen pre-filter, activated charcoal for chemicals, back flush cleaning, and comes in a carry case that doubles as a gravity feed bag. Hiking, I have a couple alternatives from straws to the MSR Miniworks but if its survival and I don't know what my starting water quality is going to be, that's my First Need. Tj |
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Posted: 8/9/2011 5:46:29 PM EDT
[#15]
WAPI pasteurization tool. for $6 and a pre filter for in camp
pre filter and a steripen w solar charger for mobile. Iodine tabs for backup (they're far less effective than the above) Thanks for the link to the discount steripen |
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Posted: 8/11/2011 10:36:31 AM EDT
[#16]
I used the MIOX pen at the Marine Mountain warfare training center, I really liked it, and plan on picking one up they are a little pricey though.
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Posted: 8/11/2011 12:25:19 PM EDT
[#17]
After reading this thread I went ahead and ordered one of those too.
I like the idea of having it as a backup to my steripen and other stuff. |
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