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A Proven Water Purifier for Hiking, Emergencies, etc: MSR Guardian
If you are anywhere where the water supply could be cut off (eg SF Bay Area, served largely by a few huge pipes from the Sierra), have you thought about fresh water in a major earthquake or other disaster?
Have some gallons of potable water on hand, but at one gallon per day per person (minimum just for drinking), you'd better have a big garage. Or you can wait for the incompetent government to bring your ration*.
Or maybe you like to hike as I do, and carrying half a gallon or more of water for a long day is not your think. Why not carry a one-pound water purifier and an empty bottle to start? It lightens the load by 4-5 pounds and you can have water anytime you are near a water source.
* Don’t count on boiling water, extremely fuel intensive, and with the government trying to ban natural gas everything and discourage propane—with the electricity out, you and your family are f*cked with an all-electric home and car. A dsytopian future that sooner or later will kill lots of people.
Water for a month or more for a family
Enough for a few friends and neighbors too, who will surely appreciate it.
See my review of the MSR Guardian, which I have used extensively in the backcountry for many years now. Fantastic product that lightens my load anywhere I have a water source; I start my hikes with an empty 1L bottle.
Recently I have stopped buying water on trips, since Sierra water is fantastic for drinking, better than what I can buy. At about $1.49 a gallon at the supermarket, I saved about $20 just the last trip alone. And I don’t have to drive to the store. I refill the 1-gallon Crystal Geyser and Evian bottles, etc. Where this does not work is areas with no water source of any kind.
The MSR Guardian can filter 10000 liters (2640 gallons!) of fluid (stream water, pond water, mule piss, whatever) into safe water, then you replace the cartridge. It is a water purifier that takes out even viruses (WAY better than a water filter).
What it cannot do is take out bad tastes. That’s where the 'gravity' version comes in with an activated charcoal filter in addition to the purification. Note that neither can turn salt water into fresh water, or remove dissolved metals and some chemicals/toxins.
A water filter is unsafe with some sources eg viruses; a water purifier is safe.
MSR Guardian Water Purifier @AMAZON
MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier @AMAZON
The MSR Guardian is terrific for its ease of use and portability.
The 'gravity' version adds an activated charcoal filter, which takes the nasty out of unsavory water sources—exactly what you might need in an emergency. Presumably that’s why it is rated at only 3000 liters (792 gallons). If that’s a concern, have spare filters on hand.
But for an emergency or group supply (larger volumes), have the MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier @AMAZON on hand (yes, before the disaster), which lets you fill up a bag and let gravity do the rest—designed for the military and the only purifier that passes the milspec.
