What do you do for water when your out ?

[David.s]

hi guys, just wondering what you do for water when your away camping etc.
last time i went away i took 2 2l bottles of water(which was daft because i didnt even finish 1 !) i think next time ill just take my 1l canteen. and get water as needed.

also what purification methods do you use ?

i was always told to get water from a fast flowing stream/small waterfall, then boil it.
but i was given one of the survival boxes with purification tablets in it, do any of you guys use them ?

cheers
david

 

[Carcajou Garou]

Where I trek there is water most everywhere, but I still carry 2-1.5lt water containers along with a ceramic/mechanical water purifyier.

 

[kb31]

i use a milbank fliter and then boil
or a per mac fliter and vitamen c tablets (takes the taste away)
if on the move-
or am being lazy
the survival kits ones are like drinking the swimming baths

 

[Gwhtbushcraft]

I prefer to filter then boil, as purification tablets taste foul.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Carry 2ltrs and a couple of Lucozade flat sports drink, easy to dilute into water. That's a days walking water.

Hillwalking for the above. But camping I tend to be near a stream anyway. Never use filters etc. As I'm always high camping with clean water.

Nick

 

[Greg]

I like to filter then boil aswell, but I do also carry an Iodine filter straw which is good for about 40lts according to the info/instructions, although I like to just keep it at 30lts per straw to be on the safe side!

But I only use that if I can find a nice clear and bright water source.

For base camps I have a couple of different sized water containers, I have a 25lt solid plastic jerrycan, I have a collapseable 5lt container, I have a 10lt solar shower which I sometimes use and I also carry two 1lt British Army water bottles on my belt kit!

Obviously I don't use all of these together

 

[spamel]

A jerryan can be a goodthingif you can find a place to stash it safely. Under a big holly bush tends to keep prying fingers away!

 

[Tor helge]

I carry my wooden cup (kuksa). Thats it.
Never needed to purify water or carry it with me. Except in winter time. Then I usually carry a thermos.

Tor Helge

 

[David.s]

thanks guys, but ....


What kinda filter are you guys using ?.

 

[kb31]

pre mac water fliter there's one in the swap shop but it's gone
that the one i have

 

[Greg]

I use a millbank bag, tried and tested bit of kit that is simple but effective!

 

[Broke]

i've made a solar still before. the water tasted very pure, and the best part is I SURVIVED THE EXPERIMENT!lol

 

[8thsinner]

If I am in an area I know I would take it directly from the stream, if I am high and dry then probably do the same depending on how it looked. If I had just a little doubt I would use the SODIS method.
If theres more doubt I would use a mill bag then boil.

Although I would like to get into the habit of soaking up dew.

Edited to add, I am probably too much of a risk taker.

 

[longshot]

i usually carry what i need from home and if its a weekend thing we car camp so i can carry plenty of stuff.


dean

 

[Mike Ameling]

Most every stream, river, or spring here in North America is contaminated by some sort of bacteria or "bugs". It doesn't matter how pure the stream looks, how far away from civilization you are, or how high up in the mountains, the bad "bugs" are in the water. Even the springs bubbling up out of the ground have stuff in them. Giardia is one of the nasty ones, and it is spread by animals - like beaver, muskrat, mink, racoon, etc. It takes months to recover from.

Growing up I drank from whatever creek/river was handy, and always from the spring by the house, but not any more. I either bring along all the water I need, or use a filter - the hand pump type. Katydine (not quite sure of my spelling) is a pretty good one, and available at most of the sporting goods stores around here. Wrapping the feeder tube in one of those disposable coffee filters helps extend the life of the internal filter components. And this type of water filter removes most everything, so you don't have to add anything to the filtered water or boil it before you drink it.

Unfortunately, the "bugs" are out there. So it's always a matter of "chance" if you decide to risk drinking un-filtered/boiled/treated water. In a life-or-death situation, you drink the water - so that you will survive, and then deal with any ... after effects.

Just my humble thoughts to share.

Mike Ameling

 

[Ogri the trog]

Excuse me diving in on your thread David.
I'm guessing that this thread will answer what the most popular system is ( but popular might not be the latest or best), are there any recommendations for a good water filter system. Reasonably priced and the ability to service it at home with ease would be helpful.
I was tending towards a Milbank and boiling, but if theres something out there that would take care of most eventualities, you never know.....

Cheers all

Ogri the trog

 

[Voivode]

Most every stream, river, or spring here in North America is contaminated by some sort of bacteria or "bugs". It doesn't matter how pure the stream looks, how far away from civilization you are, or how high up in the mountains, the bad "bugs" are in the water. Even the springs bubbling up out of the ground have stuff in them. Giardia is one of the nasty ones, and it is spread by animals - like beaver, muskrat, mink, racoon, etc. It takes months to recover from.

Growing up I drank from whatever creek/river was handy, and always from the spring by the house, but not any more. I either bring along all the water I need, or use a filter - the hand pump type. Katydine (not quite sure of my spelling) is a pretty good one, and available at most of the sporting goods stores around here. Wrapping the feeder tube in one of those disposable coffee filters helps extend the life of the internal filter components. And this type of water filter removes most everything, so you don't have to add anything to the filtered water or boil it before you drink it.

Unfortunately, the "bugs" are out there. So it's always a matter of "chance" if you decide to risk drinking un-filtered/boiled/treated water. In a life-or-death situation, you drink the water - so that you will survive, and then deal with any ... after effects.

Just my humble thoughts to share.

Mike Ameling

I'm with you 100%. My parents still drink from the mountain streams, but I think they're crazy. You can never, ever, ever tell me that you know for 100% certain that there isn't a carcass upstream from you, or some jackass washing his dishes or whatever. It may be different elsewhere, but our remote places are remote and if you end up with the trots (or worse) you could be in for a world of hurt. Why take the risk of having to try to get SAR out there just because you were trying to be an old-school mountain man?

Katadyn makes good units and I see lots of them out there. I use an MSR MIOX, and my friends a MiniWorks. Pretty much any unit by MSR will do the trick for you, it's just a matter of how much water you want to pump; smaller units move less water and are better for smaller groups.

 

[Woodcutter]

I have a Pre Mac up for swaps if anyone is after one. The details say 50 litres but have read they have been tested effective at twice this amount (on the pre mac web site) anyway, its up for swaps if anyone is interested. here is the link.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=20470

 

[Woods Wanderer]

maybe im silly but i hardly ever do anything to my water at night i might make tea but mostly just drink it iv never got ill and i do this all the time

 

[pierre girard]

hi guys, just wondering what you do for water when your away camping etc.

If I'm concerned about the water from the lake or river I'm on, I look for a spring or use a filter.

PG