Hi all

Just 3 quick questions for a you all.

I have just bought a msr miniworks water filter and was wondering if i still need to add iodine and chlorine to the water?

If so can i add it before it goes in my bottle?

I bought it so i could cut down the amount of water i carry from 2l to 1l and then if i need anymore i can filter it out a stream etc.

also how do people rate the alpkit walking poles?

i have a cheap set the now and when i was looking at the alpkit ones they are just over 150 grams litter than the ones i have the now.

thanks all

I'm pretty much happy just drinking straight from streams in most parts of the country, I carry some iodine tucked in my first aid kit but only use it if I have reason to believe it's needed. Iodine, chlorine and filtering seems a bit OTT, although you could boil it as well I suppose.

From what I've read the Alpkit poles also have a greater proportion of the weight in the handles as it's in the pole itself that you save the weight by using carbon. This means that they feel even lighter because their centre of mass is closer to your hand. If I'd used my old Leki Makalus more than once in the last year I'd definitely consider it.

RyanMc

Effectively yes to chemical treatment and filtering. Depending on the model and what filter size it has you do need to treat the water after filtering to purify it. You have not mentioned which country you are using the waterfilter but depending on the threat (i.e. the common water borne diseases)and thier susceptibility you are likely to have to use chlorine or iodine to purify it - i.e. kill those microorganisms including some viruses that most filters cannot remove.

I suggest you find out the filter size (the figure in microns) for your filter - it seems MSR have all sorts of models out there now and a quick search with your model name brings up several variants.

Essentially filters remove bugs and particles that would make water unpleasant to drink or hard to treat with your chosen chemical but some diseases can remain. I am told that most nasty things will usually clump up with other water borne particles (I think this is the colloidal effect?) so in reality you will remove most of by filtering out but if you are somewhere with nasty diseases and little chance of treatment you probably will not take the chance.