>>467636>filters are not one of the good methodsseriously? you're really saying water filters are not a good method for water purification?
the basic options are boiling, purification tablets, and filtering.
boiling takes time, requires a fire (not always an option), and requires either a pot or metal water container- many people use plastic. if you have a metal water bottle, the materials, location, and time to build a fire, you're still left with whatever sediment that was in the water. also, if it's hot out, drinking hot water is pretty nasty, no matter how thirsty you are.
tablets are very lightweight, relatively easy to use, and if you have the second tablet to clean out the iodine taste, not too terrible to drink. but they take a long ass time to work, especially with the two-step tablets. also, you still have all the sediment, just like boiling.
filters are the largest/heaviest of the possibilities, but they're easy as shit to use and are ridiculously faster than the other two options. downside is not being able to kill the really small stuff, depending on pore size, and being a little more delicate-if your cartridge freezes, you're fucked. but the size and weight really isn't a big deal- sawyer minis are tiny, and weight less than the water bottle you're filling. you can even put them in-line on a hydration pack and be good to go.
