water filter recommendation

[just_john]

that looks good but too expensive. Its £70. I suppose I could just give her some money for bottled water.

After dealing with Norovirus this weekend I would have gladly paid £70 to make it go away!!!!

 

[Woody girl]

I have a water to go bottle, just fill it up and suck from the flip up mouthpiece. It's easy and pretty foolproof, especially when traveling. You can even get clear safe drinkable water from a claggy old pond, canal or puddle. I bought one after seeing it demonstrated at the wilderness gathering years ago, with the filthy lake water. No ill effects after drinking half a bottle . Cost about £30 and it also doubles as a water carrier and drinking bottle in one, so no messing about with other bottles or bags.
I recommended one to a 73 Yr old friend who travels abroad a lot, and she loves it. Never had a gyppy tum since she began using it.

 

[demented dale]

tha

I have a water to go bottle, just fill it up and suck from the flip up mouthpiece. It's easy and pretty foolproof, especially when traveling. You can even get clear safe drinkable water from a claggy old pond, canal or puddle. I bought one after seeing it demonstrated at the wilderness gathering years ago, with the filthy lake water. No ill effects after drinking half a bottle . Cost about £30 and it also doubles as a water carrier and drinking bottle in one, so no messing about with other bottles or bags.
I recommended one to a 73 Yr old friend who travels abroad a lot, and she loves it. Never had a gyppy tum since she began using it.

thanks i will check it out x

 

[birchwood]

I have the MSR miniworks. You can screw it onto a nalgene bottle.
Easy enough to pump and has a good rating on the filter.

 

[demented dale]

tha

thanks i will check it out x

I checked them out and I am going to buy my aunty one of those. Thats perfect Thank you loads.

 

[demented dale]

After dealing with Norovirus this weekend I would have gladly paid £70 to make it go away!!!!

I dont doubt that JJ but there are cheaper and equally effective products around. I just found a cracker for 30 quid,
xhttps://watertogo.eu/product/60cl-active-bottle-black/

 

[Woody girl]

I checked them out and I am going to buy my aunty one of those. Thats perfect Thank you loads.

Glad to help. Might be an idea to get a pack of extra filters at the same time. You get 3 in a pack (about £25 ) and she's set for life!

 

[Woody girl]

A Big Blue triple stage filter may be adequate for a small cabin that is used infrequently.

We are talking about something for a 70 Yr old lady to travel and have safe drinking water in a foreign country where the water is a bit suspect though. Not a log cabin!
That's a whole different thread.

 

[matarius777]

Even then I would be wary. Sometimes less scrupulous individuals will reuse old empty bottles by refilling with any old water that comes to hand. Make sure she checks the seals are intact.

Believe me, these kids who sell “bottled water” at tourist sites/archaeological places etc. are masters at recreating seals on bottles! Lived there 5 years, know most of the scams!

 

[matarius777]

Ok, but water isn't the only problem. One of the biggest causes of gastric upset is milk - as in milk in coffee or tea. Tell her to get used to drinking black tea and coffee or stick to Coke. then, of course, there's washed salad - only eat raw food you've washed yourself or freshly cooked food. Simple precautions reduce the risk dramatically.

If it’s Indian tea, it’s had the life boiled out of it, and even Western tea (or tray tea as it’s usually called) is usually served with boiled milk. You’ve really got to balance being careful with enjoying the vast array of cuisine available, you can miss out on so much. Things like lassi or mango milkshake are a problem because they’re made with ice, the ice being blended into it so you don’t know. Then there’s sugar cane juice which is delicious, but a guaranteed case of the squirts! Not least, because the canes are left lying in the dirty gutter until they’re used and in any case, have usually been fertilised with human faeces!

 

[Broch]

If it’s Indian tea, it’s had the life boiled out of it, and even Western tea (or tray tea as it’s usually called) is usually served with boiled milk. You’ve really got to balance being careful with enjoying the vast array of cuisine available, you can miss out on so much. Things like lassi or mango milkshake are a problem because they’re made with ice, the ice being blended into it so you don’t know. Then there’s sugar cane juice which is delicious, but a guaranteed case of the squirts! Not least, because the canes are left lying in the dirty gutter until they’re used and in any case, have usually been fertilised with human faeces!

Thanks for that

I agree about enjoying local cuisine 100% - the very idea of going to these countries and eating 'English' is criminal IMO. However, severe dysentery is life threatening, and I will always advise taking every reasonable steps to prevent it. There is plenty to experience and enjoy without taking unnecessary risks.

The other point to make, when travelling in a group, it only takes one person to adopt a 'laissez faire' approach to ruin everyone's journey.

 

[matarius777]

Thanks for that

I agree about enjoying local cuisine 100% - the very idea of going to these countries and eating 'English' is criminal IMO. However, severe dysentery is life threatening, and I will always advise taking every reasonable steps to prevent it. There is plenty to experience and enjoy without taking unnecessary risks.

The other point to make, when travelling in a group, it only takes one person to adopt a 'laissez faire' approach to ruin everyone's journey.

The first time I went, I wouldn’t even eat the meat, I was so careful I missed out on all sorts. The second time, I’d intended going for a years, it turned into 5 years. I even drank tap water, I figured if Indians can drink it, it’s just a matter of getting used to it, for the first 4 months I had issues, but after that I could drink it with the best of them. Giardia was probably the more frequent culprit, I’d got that the first time, suffered with it for a year until my doctor sent me to a specialist. I think she thought I was imagining I had some terrible illness because I had about 3 samples taken, none of which showed up anything, which the specialist said was very common. He gave me a 3 week dose of flagyl which cleared it. The doctor had given a weeks dose which is the guideline dose. Anyway, a marvellous country that you either hate or love, there really isn’t a “between”!

 

[bearbait]

I worked with some Indian guys in England for a couple of years. One of them mentioned to me that, after living and working in England for many months, when he went back to India for a hol. it took his digestive system a little time to get used to everything again - despite being born-and-bred there!

 

[engtorch]

I recommend Katadyn. The metal ones will obviously last longer than the plastic models but some are designed to look like sports water bottles. On top of that a puritab is a great idea with it.

 

[walker]

Hmmmmmm, there all very well but I still use the millbank bag to get the big bits out then boil or use a tablet to finnish

 

[walker]

I have used the katadyn one with a osprey bottle and the filters for them a readily available

 

[MikeLA]

I’ve always used puritab and millbank bag and still do on occasions. Couple of years ago bought a sawyer and probably your better option. Bought a Grayl with Pathfinder cup to try last month and so far it’s so simple to use.

 

[MikeLA]

After all this don’t forget to buy her or recommend plenty of diarrhoea tablets as well. Not trying to be funny but it’s worth the carry not to ruin any trip.

 

[Broch]

Only for relatively mild conditions; anti-motility drugs should only be used to limit frequency of bowel movement - it does not cure. More importantly is to use ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution). The body needs to evacuate the cause of infection.

The causes of diarrhoea and food poisoning are wide ranging and need different treatment - there is a protocol to follow if you are unsure. Severe cases of bacterial infection will require antibiotics, Ciprofloxacin plus ORS first, then Azithromycin, then Tinidazole, then evacuate; using anti-motility often hides the ongoing infection and delays the need for proper treatment - use to fly home or to take a bus journey, but not as a cure

 

[MikeLA]

Very true but will ruin a great holiday. Prevention is better than cure.