I have used the MSR Sweetwater in the past, but it has failed multiple times. Most notably when I was in the middle of a section hike in Shenandoah. Talk about a bummer. I am looking to replace the filter with something that I can count on and was curious what others had used.
Thanks for the advice
TT
Trekking Travis
We used the Katadyn Guide without a hitch for our two hikes. It may not even be available anymore, but it’s just like its smaller cousin, the Katadyn Hiker. Our last outing was a few years ago, but the Katadyn Hiker was by far the most common filter being used at the time. These filters don’t fail outright, they just get progressively slower (harder to pump). They may become a struggle to use, but you can pretty much make them limp along until you reach town.
I don’t have experience with any other filters, other than seeing a couple people who used gravity models.
Non filter options:
Aqua Mira drops are extremely popular. The water still tastes good after this method.
We saw a few people using Polar Pure on the AT, as well, though if you’re thruhiking, you may not want to do iodine for such a long period of time. Opinions on this vary, of course. It leaves a flavor and brownish color in the water.
Chipper & Jeff
If you’re open to non-filter suggestions, I second Aqua Mira! It’ll never swallow valuable cubic inches in your pack, weigh you down, clog in mid-liter, or bust on you in the field. Someone will inevitably complain about the taste (someone would inevitably complain about free money). But try it out for yourself. At most, I taste a slight lemon-aid taste when I overdose at a highly-questionable water source.
Matt
The water quality is very good on the AT in general. I drink out of springs & many of the higher elevation streams (with no man made development above).
I carry Potable aqua iodine tablets in case I need to treat water. I rarely go through a single bottle on an AT thru-hike.
Happy Trails!
freebird
I am a section hiker with 840 miles competed. I only use the Katadyn Hiker filter. I used one filter in the hikes from Hot Springs to Kincora, and one filter from Damascus to Pearisburg. I put a Mr. Coffee filter inside the filter canister and wrap it around the bottom of the filter. I change that every few days. I take the whole assembly apart when I get to a motel, rinse it all out and let it air dry. I use a water bag as much as possible to help minimize sucking dirt into the filter from the bottom of a pool of water. I don’t want chemicals in my water. The drops are fine for some but not for me. If you don’t mind the extra weight, 15.6 oz for filter and water bag, then you’ll be happy with this filter. I usually put the old filters in my mail drops and start the section hike with a new filter. The filters are at least $30 so this may not be the most attractive option for some hikers. This filter has clogged but never completely failed on me. Also, there have been two times where I could not have gotten water if I didn’t have a filter to pump it out of a difficult to reach spot. Happy trails to all!
Pyro
I used Aqua Mira and loved it b/c of the lack of weight & room it took in the pack. Used full strength at the beginning of the hike, but by the end I only used it when gathering water in the valley areas. Didn’t use it at higher elevations, being closer to sources, with no problems.
Another contraption I’d like to try is the Steri Pen. Using ultraviolet light to sterilize the water in about 90 seconds. Only thing is if your batteries die, you’re S-O-L!
Blue
I’ve used mine for about four years now and have had great luck with it. The new filter units have a microscreen that fits around the filter unit and it helps to screen out more junk than before. When it gets dirty I just wash it out and it keeps on working. I can figure 200-300 gal. of clean water per filter and taking the filter out and drying it on a warm day seems to make a big difference. Only problem is the cost of the replacement filters. At about $40.00 a pop it can get expensive to replace. I try to start with a new filter each summer and my hiking-pard carries a replacement.
Hardcharger
Hardcharger
I used a SteriPen all the way on an '07 AT Thru - only once did it get “too cold” to function, likely the batteries got too cold, but once warmed worked fine.
As for when/if the batteries die – always carry a spare set. Very small weight penalty for nearly “instant” water. Then purchase a new set at next resupply stop.
Also carry a few treatment tablets as back up - just in case.
Evil Eye
If you’re looking for an alternative to using a filter, welcome to the club. I could never get one to last very long, but I’ve also been known to break a bowling ball :). I do what Freebird does, mainly drink from pure sources. I carry Aquamira for occasional use, rarely use a whole set for a thru hike. I’ve also broken an Aquamira bottle, and that will ruin whatever it touches, so I carry it in a ziploc bag.
Garlic
I just carried the antibiotics for giardia, or however you spell it, and drank from what looked liked good sources. I never got sick at all. A few pills don’t weigh anything anyway. and all the girls on the trail will think you’re a real bad-ass and wanna hang-out with you.
Jesse
I’ve been using the MIOX since 2004. You put a little bit of water in it, shake it up in a salt solution, turn it on and you then put the solution into your water. It’s expensive ($135 or so) and it runs on batteries. I carry an extra set of batteries and a oz or two of salt. Works for me mostly because it’s so small and light.
Bear Bag Hanger
Drank untreated water from many a good spring in Maine and one in NC, but used the Hiker on pond water between Tanyard Gap and Pump Gap Trail in section 14 of NC AT. (Met TT and party at Lovers Leap Rock Saturday April 5th before their descent into Hot Springs.) Anyway, the hiker produced good tasting water from the pond. It was only my first use of the filter, but thumbs up here.
BTW Jesse, I understand giardia is a very regretable experience. I admire your stance and logic, but…
David
David
You guys are risking a lot more than just an upset stomach. Personally, I wouldn’t take the chance on all my planning / time / $$$ that goes in to a hike by skipping water treatment. If you don’t like using a filter, use a chemical treatment. A little Clorox bleach in an eyedropper (3-4 drops per liter) also works.
There can be worse things than Giardia lurking in that water source…
bugleboy
Aren’t we risking a lot more than an upset stomach every time we grab the gas pump handle, shake hands with a stranger, or eat anything served up by a minimum wage, germ-colonized teen-ager? I’m still a water-treatment fanatic. But the more I think about it, aren’t bacteria, viruses, etc. everywhere around us in the “real world”? Does backcountry water really pose that much more of a threat than our daily lives? Have the pump manufacturers just scared us beyond rationality? I’m starting to wonder.
Matt
MAtt, I kind of feel the same way. The hype really helps to sell those products that are over a hundred dollars easy. I bought a steripen and it stopped working in the first week so in defiance I just raw dogged it. I don’t know anyone that got sick last year from the water but I do know that a crap ton of people got Lyme disease which is a bigger problem.
Jesse
Read the entire post, guys. Note that I mentioned Clorox bleach added drop-wise to your water, the CHEAPEST solution I have found for absolute safe water. Yes, there are obviously other sources of bacteria (did you wash your hands after using the outhouse?), but ALL bacteria need moisture to survive. A bounce-box with a 2oz bottle of bleach in it will ensure that the hike doesn’t end in misery due to a $2.00 omission from your gear list. Happy hiking!
bugleboy
Not putting your water through a filt or an aqua mira type is just stupid. Why would you take such a risk to “avoid corporate kool aid”? Personally, I’d rather pay the 10 bucks for aqua mira and drink knowing that I’m not risking my health. Futhermore, not cleaning your water makes you MY problem. Who do you think is gonna help you when your bent over in a shelter with the ****s? We are.(meaning your fellow hikers)Be responsible, be smart.
superscout
Another vote for good old-fashion bleach treatment for questionable water and nothing at all for most water. Personally, I don’t treat spring water at all and rarely treat water in the mountains where no farming or civilization is above the source. Maybe I have developed immunities to some things, but I’ve been hiking for decades and never been really sick from tainted water. YMMV.
Frolicking She-Dino
Superscout, be careful. Aquamira is not very effective against cryptosporidium! But if you fall ill, don’t worry. I’ll gladly help you out.
Matt
i too have given up the filter.ive been drinking water sraight from the source for over 10 years with no problems.like someone else said your more likely to get sick from dirty hands.i do carry a little bleach just in case but have not used it in several years.
jigsaw