Outside Buyer's Guide 2003

>> Tents

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>> Optics

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>> The Essential
Traveler

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>> Gear Trends

>> Knives and Tools




	>>Intro >>Short Course >>Purifiers >>Bottle Filters & Microfilters >>Die, Bugs, Die!

The plop of a drop or tablet sounds easy, but wait. Chemical water treatments zap only viruses; your filter cleans up everything else. Iodine, chlorine bleach, and chlorine dioxide are effective viricides, but all are less effective in cold or murky water. Also, chlorine and iodine are ineffective against crypto cysts. And remember that this stuff is poison; you must know the required procedures by heart. Another alternative is ultraviolet light. In ordinary conditions, it kills everything, and you can't beat the push-button convenience.

Iodine Tablets
Such As: Potable Aqua ($5 for 50 tablets)

Cool: Two tiny tabs in a quart kills bacteria, giardia, and viruses. Not So Cool: Ineffective against cryptosporidia. Have to wait 30 minutes. Brief shelf life (up to one year) once opened. Not for prolonged use (more than six weeks) or for anyone with thyroid problems. Strong odor affects taste. Only treats 25 quarts. Hint: Buy a combo package of Potable Aqua with PA Plus ($7). Add the Plus (ascorbic acid) after 30 minutes to neutralize iodine taste.

Iodine Crystals
Such As: Polar Pure ($10)

Cool: Adding water to crystals in dispenser bottle creates iodine solution that can disinfect 500 gallons of water. Not So Cool: Same as iodine tablets, except that shelf life is unlimited—as long as you don't break the bottle.

Chlorine
Such As: SweetWater ViralStop ($9), household bleach

Cool: Five drops in a quart of water kills viruses and bacteria within five minutes. Cheap. Not So Cool: The brief shelf life—only a few months for bleach. Makes water taste like wash day. No good against crypto.

Chlorine Dioxide
Such As: Katadyn Micropur MP 1 ($14), Pristine ($14), AquaMira ($13)

Cool: The only chemical treatment that kills all the culprits: bacteria, viruses, and those notoriously hard-shell critters, cryptosporidia. New Micropur tablets are EPA-certified and easier to deal with than Pristine and Aquamira. Long shelf life (three years). No noticeable taste. No known negative health effects. Not So Cool: Pristine and Aquamira require mixing of two liquids. Worst-case scenario (cold, turbid water) requires four-hour wait to kill crypto.

Ultraviolet Light
Such As: Steri-Pen $199

Cool: Ultraviolet light from an eight-ounce gizmo a bit larger than a digital body thermometer takes just a few seconds in 16 ounces of water to zap viruses, bacteria, and cysts; a second dose will disinfect 32 ounces. No aftertaste, no chemicals to ingest, and oh so cosmic. New version eliminates annoying childproof feature; just turn it on and stir. Not So Cool: Needs batteries. Quartz tip and electronic circuitry require care to protect; new sturdy case is a big help here.