What’s the best way to treat water whilst on a hike?

Gareth    Planning    

Every outdoor adventurer will have their preferred purification method – I know I do – but you do have a few options to consider:

1. Boiling
Boiling your water for three minutes will absolutely kill anything nasty that might be loitering around. Problem is, you’ll probably be left with a wood smoke taste in your mouth which isn’t too pleasant. On top of that, you’ll also have to be carrying fuel in your daypack, and keep in mind the environmental impact of burning fuel as well.

2. Iodine/Chlorine
Light, easy to carry, and available as liquid, crystal, or in tablets – Great! But there is downside – awful tasting water. The rule of thumb is the dirtier the water, the longer you wait for the iodine to work, but always check with the manufacturer’s directions to be absolutely sure about timing.

3. Water filtration systems
Want pure, good tasting water on the trail which has no environmental impact? Water filtration systems are the way to go! Of course there is a downside, which is the constant cleaning and care they demand. They are based on pore size, so look for a pore of one micron or less. If the pore is small enough, you can even filter out viruses. Hint: pre-filter your water through a cloth to speed up the purification process.

So which one is the best?

My recommendation is to try water filtration systems. Yes, it can be a bit of a hassle to deal with as you have to clean and change the tubes and filters – but worth it for the great taste and impact-free effect on the environment.

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