On a long-distance hiking trip, practical water treatment options come in two varieties: filtration, and chemical treatment. Some hikers even choose not to treat their water at all, though they are in the great minority. The topic of treating water can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. If you are interested in the science of water treatment you can check out the links in the ‘More Information’ section at the bottom of this page. Otherwise we’ll keep it simple.
There are two kinds of contaminants that can make water unsafe to drink: chemical contaminants and biological contaminants. Chemical contaminants include gasoline, chemical herbicides, oil, etc. Biological contaminants include E. Coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, etc.
A good filter will filter out both chemical and biological contaminants. Filters don’t alter the taste of the water like some chemical treatment options do. However, filters are slow, laborsome, and you must replace the filters on time for them to continue being effective.
Good chemical treatments (like Aqua Mira) will neutralize biological contaminants, but not chemical contaminants. They are generally easier to use: you just add the chemical to the water, toss the bottle in your pack, and continue hiking down the trail as your water treats. Chemical treatments are also lighter in weight.
Since chemical contaminants are uncommon along most of the PCT (Southern California has some exceptions) most PCT thru-hikers use some kind of chemical water treatment.
Chemical treatments are always lighter than filter options. Chlorine-based crystals or tablets are the lightest. One example is Potable Aqua. Chemical treatments that come in a liquid state, like Aqua Mira, are only slightly heavier.
You can carry your water in water bags/bladders, water bottles, or canteens. Water bags and bottles are the most common. Most water bladders have sipping tube attachments available, and many hikers find them convenient. Bladders take up very little space when empty. That’s a nice feature – especially for the dessert where you’ll need a couple of two liter containers to carry enough water. Plastic soda bottles are also nice because they can be replaced cheaply and often. That means you never have to deal with water mold building up inside them. Heavy plastic water bottles (such as Nalgene bottles) are unnecessarily heavy for long distance hikers.
A 2.4L Platypus Bag weighs just 1.2 oz (that’s 60% less than an empty 2L soda bottle). A 1L bag weighs even less. To learn more about Platypus Bags, click here.
If you want to delve a little deeper into the subject of water purification, here are some places you mght start:
See our selection of the best backpacks to use on the Pacific Crest Trail and how to choose the one that's right for you.
Read MoreCut the cost of your hike, bring in more money at home, and cut your at-home costs so you can save up for the hike you've been dreaming of.
Read MoreWe’ll take a look at some of your resupply options, talk about the pros and cons of each, and help you decide which resupply option is right for you.
Read MoreHas the information above changed? Know something other hikers should know? Leave a comment below.
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