About Water Filter
There are few opportunities to use it at camp, but about the precautions and water purification capacity of water filter that are often used at Bushcraft.
Overview
A very convenient portable water filter that filters natural water on the go. Even if you say it as a water filter, the type and filter are different one by one, a portable water filter with unique personality.
A portable water filter that has the image of being closer to survival, but has the advantage of being able to eliminate heavy and bulky water even in an ordinary camp.
I am writing about how to choose, but I think that it is an article that has a strong personal opinion, so please read it as much as you hear it rather than as a reference ..
There is also a page that summarizes the water quality class of the river, so take a look.
How to choose a portable water filter
There are various types of portable water filters, and the amount of filtration, the life of the filter, and the speed of filtration will vary depending on the item, so what you buy is very important.
I think there are three criteria below when choosing a portable water filter.
- purpose
- size/price
- filtration capacity
Purpose of use
Is the purpose of the mobile water filter the most important purpose? What it is used for, such as the amount used once and the frequency of use.
If you want to use it with a large number of people, you can easily filter a large amount, and if you want to carry water with you, a bottle-type water filter is good.
If you only think about "beverages and food at camping," then you can choose the size and price. Then, if you actually start using it and you know how to use it, you can buy a new one.
Size/Price
Are they the same size and price? I thought I was going to put two together.
Portability is very important as a portable device, and the high-priced water filter is not always compatible with the low-priced water filter.
I personally think that even if it is a special cheap water filter, it will be fine unless you use water like muddy water. Because most people will use one mouthful of water that they can't drink to purify. I don't know if it would be possible to live in the mountains for a month with a cheap water filter, but I personally think that it would be okay if it was a night and two days. Personal impressions.
Filtration capacity
Because it is for filtering, of course the filtering ability is important. However, the impression that most water filters have similar filtration capabilities. Either "0.1 micron or 0.01 micron". I don't know.
If you get lost
When I chose which water filter to buy, my personal thought was If you are at a loss, buy this I wonder if there are no products.
There is no santoku knives called knives, so it's like choosing from a specialized type such as a fruit knife or a Chinese knife.
When I read reviews of various products (I don't believe all of them), they all have advantages and disadvantages. The water is leaking, the quality of the accessories is poor, and the filters need to be replaced. Please love me including the disadvantages.
Types of portable water filters
There are so many kinds of filters, but there are many kinds of water filters. The following three types are available.
- bottle type
- straw type
- pumping type
In addition to these three, there are also those that fall naturally (those that are hung), but is that a straw type?
The purpose of use is determined by the shape of this water filter, so it is better to carefully consider this.
Bottle type
The bottle-type portable water filter is shaped like a drink bottle and has a filter attached to the outlet of water.
Advantage
The advantage of this bottle type is that you can carry it around with water. Is it suitable for mountaineering?
The straw or pump type requires a separate container, but the bottle type is a container-integrated type, so I don't need extra luggage.
Disadvantages
Of course, the bottle type itself is big because it does not need extra luggage as well as disadvantages. The front and back are one.
Straw type
Because it sucks and purifies water like a straw, it is a straw type. It is a versatile type with a variety of extraction methods other than sucking while saying
Benefits
Unlike the bottle type, the straw type does not have a container, so it is small and convenient to carry.
Although various sites introduce "sucking type", it is becoming common to use pouches that can be connected or to hang them upside down and let them fall naturally to purify water. Of course, there are types that you can only smoke.
Disadvantages
The disadvantages are that the amount of purified water is small and that there is a pushing force to purify water.
It is impossible to put purified water in a separate container because you can only drink if you can only suck.
The “impression” that has a lower filtration capacity than other types.
This is the free fall type. The one that falls by the force of gravity.
Pumping type
A pumping formula that pumps water from a well. King of water filter?
Benefits
The advantage of the pumping type is that the amount of purified water cannot be compared to the other two types. Both the bottle type and the straw type require water to be purified before they are put in a separate container, whereas the pumping type has a hose-shaped mouthpiece that puts water into a river or lake and then pumps. Just do. Light pumping is also rated above the K point.
Still, it's attractive that it's compact enough to fit in a bottle. Also "impression" with high filtration capacity.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage is that it's expensive... or if there are no cheap products if you focus only on reliable manufacturers?
I just said that it's attractive, but the bulkiest one is the pumping type.
It needs a container to connect to it and the water outlet (where filtered water comes out), so it is as expensive as the main body. You can use it even if you don't buy it... Hmm.
About filters
After all, what is worrisome is a filter when it comes to water filters. Especially, it's annoying because it's often said in the words of the product.
As far as filters for water filters are concerned, it's OK to ignore the advertising phrase "It's so amazing" and just look at the filter types and numbers. I don't care where it is used.
Please see the graph below for the ones that can be removed by the size of the filter.
Then, there are three types of filters for portable water filters used outdoors.
- hollow fiber membrane
- ceramic
- activated carbon
Hollow fiber membrane
Size: 0.01 micron
Somen noodles in a water filter that is often attached to a faucet.
It seems that 99.9% or more of bacteria can be removed with the size of the filter hole called the microfiltration membrane. If the performance is higher than that of a microfiltration membrane, it is a level that transforms seawater into fresh water.
Bacteria can be removed by 99.9% or more, but dissolved heavy metals and harmful minerals pass through. (In this case, the water filter isn't at the same level).
Ceramics
Size: 0.1 micron
The performance is the same as the hollow fiber membrane, but the hollow fiber membrane is more reliable.
Ceramics that have a noticeable negative ion-like advertising phrase in household water filters. It is a filter that minerals look like, and because it affects the taste and skin feel, it is a child who is likely to have strange singing complaints.
By the way, it is more expensive than the hollow fiber membrane, but it does not have good performance, and it is simply because the cost is high or the manufacturer of the hollow fiber membrane does not drop the product into the fraudulent water filter.
has a lot of bad impressions, but it's a story about household water filters. I don't know overseas, but I don't hear such bad stories with outdoor portable water filters. If you can't catch a strange advertising phrase, you can recognize it as a hollow fiber membrane.
Activated carbon
Size: 0.1 micron
A high heat treated charcoal that is also used as a deodorant. Of course, the activated carbon in the water filter also has a deodorizing effect.
It is often said that impurities are adsorbed and removed, but since it is said that "adsorption is lost, the effect disappears," it is said that adsorption is a chemical change, not an adsorption.
The filter has a short life and needs to be replaced regularly.
Other
There are other non-woven fabrics, ion exchange membranes, reverse osmosis membranes, etc.
Nonwoven fabric is the bun. Rather than the main filter, it is a substance that physically removes impurities before filtration. Some portable water filters also have sub-filters.
Ion exchange removes components that increase the hardness of water, so it becomes soft water. I can't see it in a portable water filter.
The reverse osmosis membrane is a filter that changes seawater into fresh water, and is closer to a disaster rather than a portable one used outdoors.
By the way, the water filtered by the reverse osmosis membrane becomes pure water enough to remove the necessary minerals, but it is too pure water to absorb the minerals of the body Some people seem hungry when they drink.
Products that you tried to buy by type
Easy to introduce the product that you tried to buy by type.
Bottle type
Catadyne is a reliable maker of foldable soft materials.
The filter is a 0.1 micron hollow fiber membrane with a life of 1,000 liters.
Straw
Speaking of straw formula, this would be this. Speaking of zippers, this is the YKK type of straw.
The filter is a 0.1 micron hollow fiber membrane and has a lifespan of 380,000 liters or an astronomical figure.
For Sawyer Mini, also read this article.
Pumping formula
I really want MSR Guardian , This is a low-end product because it is quite expensive.
The filter is made of 0.2 micron ceramic and has a life of 2,000 liters.
How to make a simple filter
A piece made of charcoal or stone in a plastic bottle for survival. There are a variety of ways to make them.
When I actually make it, it is difficult to collect and wash the materials, and when I actually filter it, it is cloudy and I have to filter it many times.
It's very easy to explain how to make it.
- Cut the bottom of the PET bottle
- Make a small hole in the PET bottle cap
- Wash the ingredients separately
- Put the ingredients in the PET bottle
The left side of the figure is a method that can be filtered quickly because water can be added more and more while filtering. The number of sites I have introduced is surprisingly small.
Charcoal is written in the shape of a stick, but it's better to crush it into smaller pieces or to add large and small pieces.
Although I did not write it in the figure, I often see putting cloth or tissue at the end (on the lid).
When making it from top to bottom, it is important to make sure that it is not overfilled (not too much) because the water does not drop.
Please note that this filtration device is for removing impurities and cannot remove bacteria and microorganisms. When using filtered water, be sure to boil for 5-10 minutes. I am indebted to Shoromaru.
Finally
I talked about how to make a simple filter, but boiling is important. Bacteria will die if boiled for about 5 to 10 minutes, so if you're afraid, boil letzra. Sometimes I use a water filter and boil it later. For mental health.