I'm going on a week long hiking trip and need safe water. What brand and model of water filter/pump should i get? Whats good quality for a low price?
The best water filter depends on your objective. A ceramic filter removes large amoeba and bacteria, but not viruses from water sources. A filter that includes activated charcoal removes some harmful chemicals. The gear that you purchase is determined by factors such as speed of treatment; types of exposure threats; portability; ease of use; field maintenance. Study reviews and advice. Backpacker Magazine and YouTube are two sources of good information. The most popular filters are pump or gravity feed. SteriPen is an ultraviolet alternative, though unreliable in field testing that I have seen. Expect to pay $100 for any good filtration system. A ceramic filter is essentially permanent. Other filters require replacement periodically. Do not spend less on filters that do not perform adequately for removal of common water pathogens. I have used the MRS Miniworks and Platypus GravityWorks filter. GravityWorks is the fastest, easiest filter for water treatment.
I like the MSR miniworks because it is reliable and easily serviceable. The downside is that it is heavy. If weight is an issue, I will either use bleach or Aquatabs to treat the water.
Most distance and light weight hikers carry a Steripen and a paper coffee filter. The Steripen uses U.V. light to sterilize the water, takes about 1 minute for a liter. The paper coffee filter removes any particulate matter in the water if necessary. Depending on the model they cost from $39 to $109. The one I carry is about the size of a large felt tip pen and weighs around 4 oz. It's rechargeable from a usb port, can be charged from my solar charger. The battery is good for 40 or 50 liters between charges.
