Bug Out Bag Water Filtration Options

Final Up to date on March 6, 2021

A vital prep that you must plan for together with in your bug out bag is water. When deciding which possibility would be the finest bug out bag water filtration technique for you it pays to have a look at loads of completely different options. Fortuitously for preppers, there are a number of survival water filtration strategies that work nice and we’ll talk about them right here.

Once I first bought into prepping, I had folks saying that they’d carry the entire water they wanted of their bug out baggage. For those who determine 3 gallons (1 gallon per particular person per day), that might merely not be sensible or doable for most individuals for very lengthy. Then I began seeing folks say they’d pack 3 liters of water. That’s higher, however 3 huge plastic bottles is sort of 7 kilos, to not point out you should have house for them. Not the top of the world, however not insignificant both.

One of many concepts I attempt to promote is to look at the burden in your bug out baggage and never overload them. I like to recommend this for lots of actually easy causes. In case your Bug Out Bag is simply too heavy, it can damage finally. It may not damage if you first take off strolling, however it can finally. Along with rubbing you uncooked and doubtlessly inflicting harm, you’ll be extra off-balance and fewer in a position to shortly transfer. For those who can’t transfer out of hazard shortly sufficient, that bug out bag may get you killed. The higher thought is to pack your bug out bag in a approach that’s as mild as doable whereas nonetheless sustaining the necessities it’s essential to survive for as much as 72 hours. Don’t go minimalistic for the sake of creating the scales proud, however you need to look fastidiously on the general weight.

Water, Meals and ammo, probably a tent are all nice locations to shed kilos out of your bug out bag and as we speak we’re specializing in water. I’ve personally tried just a few completely different water filtration strategies and needed to focus on the pluses and minuses for you as we speak on the Prepper Journal as I see them. Hopefully this data you’ll be sure that the bug out bag water filtration choices you select will work nicely for you in case you ever want to make use of them.

Along with being much less heavy than merely carrying your water on you always, these bug out bag water filtration choices will provide you with elevated vary and capabilities. As an alternative of being restricted to solely the water you’ll be able to carry, it’s straightforward to filter an additional liter or extra from sources alongside your route. All of the whereas, guaranteeing that the water you’re consuming isn’t going to make you sick.

MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter

This primary filter I examined is one I’ve owned for years and up till not too long ago used on my backpacking journeys. The MSR MiniWorks EX is a good water filter that’s activated by a handbook pump. You merely join the hose, stick that into the water and screw your Nalgene bottle or dromedary bag onto the underside of the filter and begin pumping. In only a few minutes the water out of your  supply shall be pressed via the filtration system and with somewhat time, you should have a full bottle of unpolluted water to drink. Filtering a normal Nalgene bottle like under most likely took 3-4 minutes.

I’d take these right down to the river and replenish everybody’s water bottle in addition to two 48 ounce bladders we had after we stopped. The bladders had been to refill bottles and went towards espresso and reconstituting our freeze-dried meals.

So, for the great and dangerous about this filter. First off, I like the truth that that is fairly easy to make use of and also you don’t should get down into the water to gather something. The water tastes nice and the pump has stood the check of time for probably the most half. I did have one pump cease engaged on my spouse after we had been on a backpacking journey. Fortuitously, I had two filters so we had some redundancy built-in. Pumping does take you a short time and the pump isn’t the lightest or most cost-effective possibility. As soon as you come back out of your journey it’s essential to clear the filter factor, often with a scrubbing pad to get the gunk off of it and let all the pieces dry fully for just a few days earlier than you set it away.

MSR MiniWorks Options

• Ceramic/carbon Marathon™ EX factor successfully removes micro organism and protozoa together with giardia and cryptosporidia
• Additionally removes disagreeable tastes and odors brought on by natural compounds, similar to iodine, chlorine and pesticides
• Filter might be cleaned again and again for max discipline life with no instruments required
• Backside screws onto an MSR Dromedary® Bag or Nalgene® water bottle for straightforward operation (each bought individually)
• Straightforward dis-assembly enables you to troubleshoot and keep the MSR MiniWorks EX filter within the discipline

Weight: 14.6 ounces

I additionally discovered this glorious evaluation of the MSR MiniWorks EX from Black Owl Outside for individuals who like to look at movies.

Sawyer Mini

Once I first tried out the Sawyer Mini I assumed this was one of the best invention on the planet not less than from the standpoint of water filtration choices for preppers. The filter was extraordinarily light-weight, compact and will filter a whole bunch of hundreds of gallons. The Sawyer Mini may very well be used as a straw to drink from a water bottle just like the life straw or from the included squeeze bag that comes with it.

The fee, low-weight and talent to filter a lot water is an unimaginable benefit, however utilizing both the squeeze bag or a normal water bottle has some drawbacks for my part. You’re nonetheless solely filtering on demand except you squeeze the water into one other container and that isn’t all the time probably the most sensible. One of many causes I don’t assume the LifeStraw is the best choice for me in all instances.

Sawyer Mini Options

• Hole-fiber membrane presents a excessive circulation charge; sip on the Mini like a straw and it filters the water whereas it’s on the best way to your mouth
• Filter can even match the threads on the included Sawyer 16 fl. oz. reusable pouch you could fill at a lake or stream after which use to squeeze water via the filter
• 0.1-micron filter bodily removes 99.99999% of all micro organism, similar to salmonella, cholera and E.coli; removes 99.9999% of all protozoa, similar to giardia and cryptosporidium
• Filter can even match the threads on most bottles of water that you simply purchase at a grocery retailer; can be used as an inline filter (adapters and hoses not included)

Weight: 2 ounces

I additionally discovered this evaluation for perspective from Preparedmind 101

Polar Pure – Crystal Iodine Water Remedy

The third possibility I attempted is Polar Pure. Polar Pure is a Crystal Iodine water remedy, not a filter. The bottle holds precise iodine crystals you may be capable of see within the photograph under. The method is so that you can fill the bottle with water and let this sit for 1 hour. On the finish of an hour you might have one thing like concentrated iodine brine that you should use make nearly any water secure to drink. There are easy to observe directions on the bottle and even a hand-dandy gauge to let you know what number of capfuls of the answer your water will have to be secure. The quantity relies upon upon the temperature of the water.

You pour the really helpful capfuls into your 1 liter water bottle and let it stand for 20 minutes earlier than consuming. When you find yourself accomplished, simply fill the bottle up with water once more and it will likely be prepared in your subsequent remedy in one other hour. This comparatively small bottle will final for as much as 2,000 liters of water, though I don’t know who would depend them. When the iodine crystals are gone, so is your skill to make use of this to make your water secure.

Iodine, in contrast to the micron water filters above can kill viruses. Giardia, talked about above is caught by the water filters, however when you’ve got one thing like hepatitis or polio within the water, the straightforward filtration technique above gained’t work. Now, the query turns into, do you must fear about viruses within the water you’re consuming or simply organisms that may make you violently ailing?

The Polar Pure bottle is one which I’d carry with me as an excessive again up for extremely questionable water. The science is nice on making your water secure. Iodine has been used for a really very long time, however the bottle is glass. You may be in bother if that is all you might have and it’s damaged. Moreover, iodine will make your water secure, but it surely gained’t filter it out so in case you pour your self an enormous cup of barely brown pond water and deal with it with iodine, it will likely be completely secure for consuming – brown pond water. Filtering your water first via a handkerchief or one thing like espresso filters at a minimal could be higher. Some folks use Polar Pure plus one other filter for the last word in secure water.

Weight: 5 ounces

Price: $20 on Amazon.com

For many who wish to see the polar pure in motion, there’s a good video from Provident-Dwelling-At the moment.com

Platypus 2L GravityWorks Filter

The final merchandise I attempted out for my bug out bag water filtration choice course of was a comparatively new buy. I had heard in regards to the Platypus GravityWorks Filter system from one of many readers on the Prepper Journal after I was initially wanting on the Sawyer reply to the identical performance. The Platypus was nearly half the value so I made a decision to present this a strive as a result of it seemed like the proper answer to me.

The Platypus 2L GravityWorks Filter is a two bag system. You have got one bag for water assortment and it is extremely merely labeled “Soiled”. Your soiled water goes in right here and it has a large opening on the high which works similar to a zipper loc bag. This vast opening allowed me to gather 2 liters of water from the creek in a short time and simply. You possibly can see my check water isn’t a crystal clear glacier spring so the bag’s label was very applicable.

One other good characteristic had been the connectors. The Platypus GravityWorks has a fast join so you’ll be able to gather your soiled water and both pack it out for filtration later or carry it again to camp. The filter factor snaps in and you’re able to filter.

As soon as the filter is snapped in, the water will circulation nearly instantly. The tube working from the filter has a stopper that you should use to shortly pinch off the circulation whilst you hook up the clear bag. So long as the bag of soiled water is larger than the clear bag, the appropriately named GravityWorks filter will handle all of your heavy lifting whereas stunning clear water flows into your empty bladder.

This method will maintain 2 liters of water which I believe offers you loads of water for the common particular person. You can too simply filter two liters, then gather two extra liters of soiled water for later. You may be carrying 4 liters of water with you always. Two filtered and two that must be filtered.

Cleansing this method is so simple as lifting the clear water bag up over the soiled water bag and squeezing your clear water bag. You will notice the soiled sediment circulation again into the soiled bag and you recognize your filter is clear when that stops.

Platypus GravityWorks Filter Specs

• Excessive-capacity, gravity-fed, hollow-fiber water filter system is good for group and household tenting, out of doors adventures, and emergency preparedness
• Meets all EPA/NSF pointers for removing of 99.9999% of micro organism and 99.9% of protozoa, together with giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, salmonella, cholera
• No pumping required; reservoir fills simply and hangs from a tree to ship 4 liters of filtered water for cooking and washing in 2.5 minutes
• Consists of 4-liter soiled water reservoir, 4-liter clear water reservoir, hollow-fiber microfilter, hoses, shutoff clamp, and storage sack
• Replaceable cartridge filters as much as 1,500 gallons; produces circulation charge of 1.75 liters/minute; package weights 11.5 ounces; made within the USA

What’s the finest bug out water filtration system?

This query isn’t one thing I can reply with a definitive assertion that can stand all the time or in all conditions, however I’ll share a few of my ideas. My thought of bugging out includes residing probably for a while in forested terrain. I plan to be on the transfer and I don’t wish to decelerate greater than I’ve to for relaxation. Water is essential for all times so I don’t wish to should go to extra bother than is prudent to accumulate it. Moreover, if I’m strapping a pack on my again and strolling out the door, I’ve to plan for being by myself so to talk for doubtlessly for much longer than 72 hours.

I’ve thought of each caplets just like the Transportable Aqua Water Filter tablets and I even personal a few of them, however they final for a finite period of time. The usual bottles will provide you with I believe 25 quarts of water. With a hike for 3 days in the summertime, sufficient for meals and your bottle will shortly be cleaned out. It’s going to go quicker if you’re sharing.

The LifeStraw product is one I simply don’t assume is sensible. It’s a nice thought, don’t get me incorrect, however I for one don’t wish to be compelled to stay my head in a puddle simply to get a drink. I wish to take big gulps of water if I’m thirsty and I would like to have the ability to take water together with me. Certain you’ll be able to replenish empty bottles and drink out of them with a LifeStraw, however I believe there’s a higher possibility.

The MSR Filter pump has often been an ideal filter, however as a result of it’s mechanical, I’ve had one give me troubles. I used to be in a position to restore it will definitely, however that wasn’t signal. I ought to have back-ups anyway I do know, however I’d quite go along with a extra secure platform and the MSR is heavier than the entire different choices I’ve examined.

What about boiling water? Certain you possibly can do this, however you must construct a fireplace first after which boil your water, then let it settle down. Do you wish to do all of that within the warmth of summer time? Even in winter, that fireside is perhaps good, however to undergo all that effort for consuming water looks like a fall again plan, not the primary possibility.

Iodine crystals like Polar Pure appear to be the best choice for killing viruses, however like I stated, their bottle is glass. One slip out of your arms onto a rock will finish your water filtration choices for that bug out journey. Even in case you don’t drop it, I desire to drink water as quickly as doable and wouldn’t wish to bear in mind to maintain my iodine heat for effectiveness.  I believe Polar Pure is sensible as a again up, however not the only technique of water filtration in a bug out state of affairs. For Backpacking journeys Polar pure is a good thought. When you’ve got the time to leisurely put together your water, I believe it is a good possibility.

The Sawyer as it’s would most likely be my second alternative due to the burden and measurement. I must fill a big reservoir, one thing just like the 48 ounce Naglene Bladders and rig up some option to squeeze filter a bigger quantity of water into my bottles. Not one of the best, however it’s extremely mild and will get the job accomplished.

What about gadgets just like the SteriPEN that use UV mild to make water secure to drink? What about EMP? What if it breaks? What in case you run out of batteries?

I believe that for me the GravityWorks system from Platypus is the best and quickest option to gather water that shall be clear and contemporary tasting. With it’s quick circulation charge, I can seize a 2 liter bag of water, hook up the filter and throw them each in my bag if wanted and carry on going to a secure location. This appears to supply probably the most capability with the quickest filtration time and best system to be taught and bear in mind. I can train my children how one can use this in about 2 minutes which is about the identical period of time it takes to supply 2 liters of unpolluted water.

That’s my tackle one of the best bug out water filtration choices. What do you employ?