These tools will help be able to use water found in lakes, streams, and rivers in the backcountry while on hikes. Through these methods, it will be safe to drink or cook with the water.
There are many ways to clean the water, but these are some of the most proven and efficient ways. Also, these are the three methods I prefer.
If you have any other methods or products you like to use, tell me in the debate section!
Cleaning The Water
Methods
Since water in the country can contain bacteria and other microorganisms one would not want in their water, here are some tips to get rid of them.
One of the easiest and recommended by many method of cleaning water while hiking is through the country is by using an ultraviolet light. This device is not much bigger than a pen, you put it in the water you have in your bottle turn it on and almost instantly everything is killed in the water. It leaves no taste, and the pen is light weight to carry. The only problem is the device is pricey, and it requires batteries so make sure it is working before you leave on your trip.
Another way is through a filter. The problem with a filter is most only kill the bacteria, and not much else. But, a filter treats the most water by volume at the fastest rate. Some filters can cure up to three liters of water in just minutes, and leave no taste. But a disadvantage is the filters can be bulky, expensive, and not always work, leaving you thirsty on your trip.
A third way to treat the water is through boiling. Boiling is cheap, easy and it does not require much work. A good system to have is a Jet Boil product or a MSR product. These can get very expensive easily, and you will need fuel to boil the water. But most hikers already care these products.
Those are just three of the easiest, and fastest ways to cure water while on a trip through the backcountry. There are plenty of others, but through my experience, these three are the best to use.
Tell me what you think. Bad experience, or good experience. Or if I missed a way you like to clean the water. Let me know.