Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Equipment Reviews
Equipment Reviews Post YOUR REVIEWS of ANY Motorcycle, Camping or Travel Equipment and accessories. Tell us what worked and didn't work for you!
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 3 Mar 2009
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: ...
Posts: 36
We choice to filter/purify our water in attempts of not getting sick, but reality is you are more likely to get sick due to poor hygiene/fecal contamination, etc than water. Filters are over rated and over valued IMHO. Hand sanitizer > Filter.

If you need clean water when there is no such thing on a RTW trip I would bring the following 3 things.

A pair of thin dress socks (cheap, 1$ pair at Wal Mart) or panty hose. Place this over the mouth of the water bottle and submerge the bottle. The nylon will not allow water in unless air is being pushed out, so squeeze the bottle. This acts as a “pre filter” to get rid of the “floaties”. Prefiltering is huge and can be as simple as a bandana in a Ziploc.

A “filter”: there are plenty of options in the market. For me I want a gravity filter that is self cleaning. Self cleaning means it never needs to be replaced. Best on the market is the cartridge from MSR AutoFlow Gravity Microfilter. You can buy the whole thing but all you need is the cartridge.

Last but not least is food grade hydrogen peroxide. Here in the US it’s 3% H202 and you need a prescription for it. (The stuff in the brown bottle that is sold over the counter is .03%.) This is the same as Iodine or Chlorine, all are diatomic but H202 doesn’t leave the bad taste and is the strongest oxidizer. You must be careful with this stuff because of this as well. Red Cross used this for a long time, don’t know if they still do.

…..You wouldn’t believe the water I have drank from. From stack cow paddies to catch agriculture run off to scooping dead mice for a spring box to finding leeches in my water bottle. Maybe I should post some pics

Just because you carry a filter doesn’t mean it will save you. 10,000 Guardia fit on the head of a needle and they are actually pretty big for evil things in your water. On your filter do you rap the “in” and “out” hoses together when you pack it up? Just a heads up.


Quote:
It sure beat the taste of Iodine
Any vitamin C will get rid of the taste. The “nuterizer” is just vitamin C. So Emergen-C or any powder drink mix with C is great.
Quote:
BUT after prolonged use, some people develop thyroid problems, so be aware of this potential side effect.
Been VERY VERY few cases of this and was linked to WW2 when nurses where covered in Iodine for years.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 155
Water filters

As for the necessity of water filters, I can only quote a doctor who regularly does volunteer work in Nepal. He regularly tests all the water sources for Kathmandu and they are all contaminated with fecal matter. What makes a gastro attack serious is the habit of (poor) locals who buy only a part dose of antibiotics and the bugs end up being resistant. A gastro in Nepal is always very unpeasant and you may have to walk for a week before getting medical attention in Kathmandu. It's surely best to avoid it.
__________________
Tim ('91 R100GSPD)

The only baggage you carry should be in the panniers
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia, US
Posts: 646
Guys...nobody is saying to drink the water untreated...but IMHO, I'd take the risk if the water came from a deep bore well.

The point thats important to realize is that the water filter is one method of purifying the water, as are iodine tablets, pens, bleach, etc.

How many people who have posted here have personally travelled for a month or longer and have pumped their own water for their drinking needs during that entire trip?

When bottled water has been available it makes practical sense to take advantage of it....and when its not, the filter is my last choice due to bulk, effort, etc. I'd rather bleach and mask than sit there pumping...
__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Xander's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Back Down Under (WA)
Posts: 562
Quote:
Been VERY VERY few cases of this and was linked to WW2 when nurses where covered in Iodine for years.
This is not true... for a good review article please see

H Backer and J Hollowel (2000) Use of iodine for water disinfection: iodine toxicity and maximum recommended dose. Environ Health Perspect. 108(8): 679–684. (or a host of others search pubmed or similar)



If you want to get technical it mainly effects people that already have as of yet undiagnosed thyroid problems (e.g. sub-clinical symptomatology) or people who are hypersensitive to it. But the rates are high enough that i felt it my responsibility to point out any possible problems as i was speaking in a clinical means.
for more on the use of iodine as a purifier the CDC has a great summary.


Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoEdde View Post
How many people who have posted here have personally travelled for a month or longer and have pumped their own water for their drinking needs during that entire trip?
That would be me! (>3.5 months)....

But it is 100% correct that water purification is only 1 step of many to avoid gastointestial problems.. there is no point in cleaning your water if you then stick the pathogens directly in your mouth via unclean hands or food or a million other things... (but that was not what this post was about).
__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia, US
Posts: 646
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xander View Post
<SNIP>

That would be me! (>3.5 months)....

But it is 100% correct that water purification is only 1 step of many to avoid gastointestial problems.. there is no point in cleaning your water if you then stick the pathogens directly in your mouth via unclean hands or food or a million other things... (but that was not what this post was about).
AND Did you pump water daily for your drinking needs during the entire 3.5 months?

I went for a year long trip...through some pretty remote parts and if there's something more prevalent than petrol in these far enough places, its bottled water.
__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 5 Mar 2009
Xander's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Back Down Under (WA)
Posts: 562
Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoEdde View Post
AND Did you pump water daily for your drinking needs during the entire 3.5 months?

I went for a year long trip...through some pretty remote parts and if there's something more prevalent than petrol in these far enough places, its bottled water.
Yeah several times a day too..Drink and hand/face washing.. even pumped the Bottle water when in India because it was a well known scam: that the bottled water was from the tap and just sealed correctly...

The two or three minutes in pumping the water was better then the 4-5 days of the gastro.. the only time i got really sick was when i did not wash my hands before dahl-bat (which you eat with your hands).
__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 9 Mar 2009
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: ...
Posts: 36
more BS

Quote:
This is not true... for a good review article please see
I apologize, I should have said. “Been VERY few cases of this and one of the first know was linked to WW2 when nurses where covered in Iodine for years.”

But like your H Backer and J Hollowel article says, “Despite the extensive use of iodine for both pharmacologic preparations and water disinfection over the past 50 years, they are remarkably few reports of resulting clinical thyroid disorders” It also says, “By using appropriate disinfection techniques and monitoring thyroid function, most people can use iodine for water treatment over a prolonged period of time

Like anything with prolonged use is not always a good thing. I have a better chance of punishing my liver than my thyroid gland on a long trip.

Xander is correct though, if we are getting technical, Iodine should not be used by persons with allergy to iodine, persons with active thyroid disease, or pregnant women.

And since we are getting technical, Iodine will not kill cyclospora/cyclosporiasis. This is the parasite you where mentioning Tim Wood. But due to the size it is easily removed by filtering.

IMHO carrying a pre filter, filter and a chemical treatment is your best bet. Like many other have said, you have a better chance of getting something bad due to poor hygiene.

Quote:
How many people who have posted here have personally traveled for a month or longer and have pumped their own water for their drinking needs during that entire trip?
Outside the US I find myself buying water and drinking a lot more hot beverages and . The lady and I road mountain bikes up from Panama City back home to the States on back roads as much as possible and “water” was never a problem for us. I attempted to walk from the China/Laos border following the Mekong to the South China Sea. Dumbest thing I have ever done in my life. This was called off shortly after I started due to UXO’s. I still spent 6 months in SE Asia with no “water” problems. I did treat/filter at times for the first week or so. These are the only 2 trips I have had “third world” where water wasn’t readily available and neither was a problem. The rest of the time I have been on roads and in towns.


Here in the US I have walked from GA to ME twice and Mexico to Canada twice. With over 10k miles hiked I have drank plenty of water that doesn’t come from a tap or bottle. Even though I carried them I treated/filtered very little of this water while others did every drop. I have a total BS saying, I filter with knowledge. If it is an area of poor water sources I will carry more on my back and limit my sources. I try not to drink out of things I cannot step over. I try to drink from springs or sources with flow.

I personally believe it comes down to what your body can handle and your hygiene.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 9 Mar 2009
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,898
I've traveled for as long as a full year, filtering virtually all my water by hand. It''s not that difficult, really--not compared to maintaining a motorcycle under trying conditions.

Filters are not the only answer, of course, but they're quite workable. Buying water is also workable, though in some areas re-sealed tap water is common. I don't care for the mess of plastic bottles, and I don't care for the expense. Still, I buy water on short trips like the one I'm on now, when neither expense nor waste stream issues predominate.

enjoy,

Mark (from Guerrero Negro)
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 5 Apr 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 14
A filter removes funk (poop), larger bugs and some bacteria. Chlorine Dioxide or a steripen should kill everything in water and is all you need if you don't mind drinking a little sterile poop.


Zen Backpacking - Water Purification, Filtration and Treatment
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 25 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: St Louis, MO
Posts: 124
YouTube - Make it yourself water filter

The attached link shows how to make one using a Brita Water filter and some 2" plastic pipe. It's easy to use....but you still need to boil or use clorine to kill the nasties. Total price is about $8-10 US

There's are other videos as well.

daryl
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 30 Jun 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Norway
Posts: 37
Hello!

I don't have any experience with water filters, but I've been looking around for one. The one I have found is gravity fed and does not require any pumping. It's suppose to filter 1,5 liters a minute. And the best thing is it's weight and packing size! At 300grams and rolled up, it's neat.

I don't have a link but the name is MSR autoflow gravity microfilter

Tom
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 5 Jul 2009
Toyark's Avatar
-
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,341
Thumbs up

The MSR Tom refers to can be seen here

I use a combination of Katadyn's Pocket filter
then after pumping through I use Katadyn's Micropur Forte Sodium Hypochloride + Silver chloride which disinfects and protects water for up to 6 months-
IMHO, the best combination you can get for reliable, cleaned, high volumes of water (0.2 micron ceramic depth filter -cleanable) and no batteries required.
Let's face it- Katadyn give a TWENTY YEAR guarantee on this filter- which says a great deal -
Tip:
when buying the Micropure Forte Check the expiry date- many shops stock it for a long time and if often it is within a few months of its use by date.
The liquid is way cheaper than the tablets by a very long mile- Not as practical but using a diabetic syringe, you can measure up the right dose and they are tiny! 1ml per 10 litres of water
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 5 Jul 2009
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,801
Interesting, I use a KPF but don't usually bother with extra pills/liquids as the areas where I need it are are unpopulated.

Never heard of Forte pills or liquid. Looks like it's the 'Classic' using silver whatnot but with added chlorine. I also notice Kat sell 'Anti Chlor' additive to neutralise the Forte taste.

Does Forte pill or liquid taste very chlorine-y without it?

On the Kat website 100L of Forte as liquid is not that much cheaper than 100L in pills - but then I noticed 1000L of liquid Forte works out 10 x cheaper as you say.

But AFAIC google, they dont seem to sell liquid Forte the UK.

Looking for something better to easily dose 20L bags for a group. Iodine even with neutraliser was pretty awful unless you cover it with flavoured powders. The KP filter is too slow to do everyone.

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 5 Jul 2009
Toyark's Avatar
-
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,341
Hi Chris
I buy my KTD Forte (by pre-ordering) from very helpful fellow from a pharmacy in Lille, France. who ensured I had the longest sbd possible. (02-2011 on my batch bought 2 months ago) (p.m. me if you need specific info)
If you have a 4x4 ( bit large for a bike!) , I can recommend a good gravity filter from The Healthy House
The liquid Forte, especially for large groups, provided no one reacts to that chemical, is the way to go IMHO
Tablets for large amounts are very dear.
Forte liquid leaves a very very very faint chemical signature but hardly noticeable when dosed correctly- it takes such micro amounts that the temptation is to add 'just a bit more' which is a mistake and unnecessary. I do not use a neutraliser- the distant /faint taste reminds me the water is safe.
The Healthy House generously donated some of these with spare cartridges all of which I drove to and delivered to an orphanage in Socoura Mopti, Mali.

Last edited by Bertrand; 2 Oct 2009 at 22:22. Reason: added info
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 2 Oct 2009
trying59's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: surrey bc canada
Posts: 74
saw this new filter that doesn't use chemicals on the ted website

Now before anyone flames me and goes nope doesn't work etc. Just watch the video. The guy has come up with something seem to work to deal with bug and viruses. Beyond that it seem to made not just another product but something for the third world water problem. Runs between 150 to 400 for the jerry can model.
Michael Pritchard's water filter turns filthy water drinkable | Video on TED.com
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Water Filters / Purifiers apattrick Camping Equipment and all Clothing 17 17 Nov 2008 17:59
Performance Filters... JoeSheffer Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 2 17 May 2007 09:12
uni air-filters simplemind BMW Tech 0 14 Jan 2005 18:50
stoves and water filters alan hopkins Camping Equipment and all Clothing 3 14 Apr 2004 21:19
performance filters DAVSATO Yamaha Tech 2 16 Apr 2002 04:57

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:28.