Water purifier vs filter: Camping and hiking

Before you buy. Water purifier vs filter for camping or hiking? What should I get? That is the main question that everyone asks. There are differences in each kind and you should know what these are. Let's take a look at them separately and that should help you make a decision. Take a deep breath and here we go.

Water Filter:

A water filter is a device that passes water through a fine mesh barrier that catches the impurities that are in the water. A filter will also use a chemical or microbiological process to filter out any impurities that are in the water. A water filter will remove bacteria and protozoan cysts from the water but not viruses

10% Off Coupon at theJaw.com! Save 10% on all regular priced items and 5% off all sale priced items. Use code MOOSE at checkout. Coupon Code: MOOSE

Water Purifier:

A water purifier is also a device that passes water through a mesh barrier, just like a water filter. The major difference is that a water purifier will stop viruses. There is also a new type of water purifier on the market that you may want to take a look at, the UV water purifier, but we'll take a look at that a little later.

Now we'll get into the real meat of purifier vs filter. The reason you will need one or the other is because no matter where you get your water from, a mountain stream or out of a field well there is a risk of contamination. Feces from animals and dead matter can infect the waters just from soaking into the ground. You need to get rid of these so you yourself don't get these into your system. One of the most common infections that people get is Gardia and that is not a fun time. Kathy got this on a recent trip out of the country, although it wasn't while hiking, just the same it was definitely not as much fun as going to Cedar point. Some of the infections that people can get are:

Gardia: Probably the most common and as I said above, not fun. Symptom: nausea, gas, diarrhea and cramps. These usually don't start until 1-2 wks after you ingest it and can last from 4-6 wks. Doctors can treat this with prescriptions drugs.

Crypto: Very similar to Gardia. Symptoms: diarrhea, cramps, upset stomach and a slight fever. These usually show up 2-10 days after ingesting and last about 2 wks. There are no prescriptions as of right now for this and it is also very resistant to chlorine and iodine.

Bacteria: Some of these are- E. coli, Salmonella, Cholera and a lot more. If you get one of these see your doctor ASAP.

Viruses: Just some of these are- Hepatitis A, Rotavirus, Norwalk virus and Polio. Even though these are the least likely that you will come across, they are not something to mess around with. Again see your doc. ASAP. Viruses don't last long in the water since they reproduce better in warm conditions. They can slip through filters but you can get rid of them by boiling your water, by UV light or treating them with some chemical i.e. Iodine tabs.

When it comes to purifier vs filter you should to take a look at the UV Purifier

Within the past few years they have come out with a portable UV purifier for hikers and campers. Although they look real promising upfront there are a few things you need to consider before you buy one of these. They do offer near 100% protection but some of the drawbacks are they run on batteries, again batteries die, and they don't filter out any dirt. You could filter the water through a coffee filter or some other method but what do you do if the batteries die and you don't have any extras, or the purifier just quits working? Make sure you carry Iodine Tabs just in case, these work very well and can be used for a backup plan. These should be a standard part of your gear anyway. These are just some things to consider.

All that said, you need to have one of the systems in your pack at all times, unless you're a man's man and you're tough enough to deal with these on your own. I personally wouldn't do without one but that is just me ( I must not be a man's man). I would much rather be able to hit the trail again in healthy condition. I hope all the info above on water purifier vs filter helps you make a decision on which system will suit you the best. Stay safe and see you one the trail!

Also See:

Free Moosejaw Long Sleeve Tee with the Purchase of Any Backpack. Add the backpack and the tee and enter code 485.Click here to Shop!

Back to the top of Purifier vs Filter