Has anyone had a problem with Aqua Mira leaking from its container? I’ve noticed several small bleach spots on the lid of my pack. Both AM bottles feel somewhat wet, yet the lids are closed tightly. This only happens while hiking and not at home. I’m thinking it’s a change in altitude. Any suggestions?
guru
Maybe the lids are deformed or defective. I used Aqua Mira for four weeks this summer at an average elevation of 10,000 feet and had no problems.
Black Toe Bob
I used Aqua Mira for my entire PCT thru-hike, and had no leakage problems; however, I do remember that one of the hikers in Yogi’s PCT Handbook says that he/she had problems.
I always had my bottles in a Ziploc bag, just to be sure.
Pacer
The only problem I and others had last year on my A.T. thru-hike were the bottom corners would get banged up and would eventually leak. I carried my bottles on the outside mesh pocket of my golite pack, no baggie and never had a problem. I only know of a couple of people that had theirs leak on the bottle but again due to abuse to it. Almost everyone on the A.T. last year used it. Happy trails,
Karma
GA-ME 03
Karma
I dunno…going from low altitudes to higher altitudes causes sealed bottles to become pressurized and maybe leak, but once you open it up the pressure equalizes, there should be no further leaks. My aqua mira has not leaked (yet)
RockyTrail
This year, I had to fly home and back, and one of my bottles leaked out completely when I got back to the trail. It probably had to do with the altitude change on the plane, as this was my 3rd resupply of aqua mira and I had no previous problems with it.
bearbait
We have noticed ours leaks fairly regularly. Usually when we stuff it in our food bags. We’ve taken to putting them in the side pockets, making sure they are upright (stretch pockets on Vapor Trail are good for this!). Don’t have a problem if we are careful.
Gravity
gravity man
Thanks for the responce from everyone. I currently keep it in a small ziploc bag. But, it still has a way of leaking out just a bit. I was going to keep it on the outside of my pack in a side mesh pocket on my last hike. But, I noticed AM states not to have the bottles in direct sunlight. I wasnt sure if hiking in the woods would be too much sunlight or not. I’m not really sure how sunlight could penetrate those white bottles. But, I suppose the folks at AM found a problem with it’s effectiveness… perhaps it’s UV rays?
guru
I started the trail with Aqua Mira and like Karma I had problems with the corners cracking and eventually leaking. This happened several times eventhough I was careful to protect the bottles. And I was NOT the only one. I found a good half dozon other thru hikers who had the same problem. After buying the third set (14 bucks per set) and having problems I swiched to Polar Pure (9.99 for 2000 litters) and never looked back. I finished with Polar Pure and WILL NEVER WASTE MONEY ON AQUA MIRA again! Maybe the bottles are designed poorly. Who knows.
happy hiking!:cheers
boorah
You might want to looking at trail journals from the pct and cdt since the at does not go through higher altitudes that may be causing your bottles to leak. As for the east coast, if it’s leaking, the change in altitude is not the problem. If your out west and in exposed sun light all day, I would expect the bottle to pressurize due to the exposure. The at is a green tunnel with cooler temps. Even PA doesn’t compare to the pct and cdt’s southern parts. If you come to a conclusion, please be sure to post it on here.
As for boorah, though Polar Pure is good stuff and I knew a couple of people who used it, it still doesn’t kill cysts which are the little bastards that cause giradia. Just be carefull.
Though something like 75% of those who get giradia get it from self contamination. When your in Maine drinking from lakes that beaver live in and moose wade through all day or on the pct drinking out of a horse trough, be sure to take precautions with your drinking and cooking water and personal cleanliness and if you share your gorp, poor, never grab. Happy trails
Karma
GA-ME 03
Karma