Wilderness Survival Filters

These are small, compact filters designed to filter water from streams, rivers, and lakes. They can be invaluable in a survival situation! They can also be a litte pricey, ranging anywhere from $10 to a few hundred dollars--so its a good thing to know a little before you jump in a buy one. They are a must have for anyone who loves camping or hiking, or for just about anyone who wants to be prepared.

First of all, few filters are 100% effective. While they can filter out many organic contaminents, rarely can they filter out most waterborne viruses. For that you need a more expensive water purifier, which uses chemicals or some kind of electrostatic process in addition to traditional mechanical filters.

So just because you have a filter doesn't necesarily make your water safe. Unless your sure about the water you're drinking, in most cases its best to boil the water and then filter it. Also make sure to keep the filter clean, especially if you are going to be using it for several consecutive days.

Another thing to consider is replacements. How often will you need to purchase a new filter? How much are replacement filters? These are important questions, as in the long run if you're going to be using it regularly, the price of replacement filters will soon overtake the original price of the entire system.

For more information about portable filters take a look at REI's article on water filters and purifiers.