Hey there. You may have noticed that we changed the name of the channel to The Ultralight Mindset. You’ll still find tons of videos related to ultralight backpacking, hiking, and outdoor content, but also tips on living with less (ultralight) in your day to day life.
Thanks for watching!
Finding a decent water source while backpacking isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have no choice but to use water sources that are shallow, stagnant, muddy, or much, much worse. In this video I share some of my experiences with various filters, chemical treatments, collecting water, as well as the filter system I prefer. I also threw in a few extra tips and things that I use to make dealing with water easier on my hikes. Please make sure to comment on anything I may have missed, your own system for water treatment, and any questions about the video. As always I’ll do my best to answer any and all questions as best I can.
Happy Hiking!
Gear in this video:
Sawyer “Squeeze” water filter:
2Liter Evernew Water Bag:
TentLab Deuce of Spades Trowel:
MSR Aquatabs:
Bread Bags: Well….you know.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more!
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Follow on Instagram: @motivatedbymountains
Email: mbmhikes@gmail.com
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GEAR that I use and recommend:
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BACKPACKS
LiteAF Curve 35 UL backpack:
LiteAF Fanny Pack:
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SHELTER SYSTEM
Zpacks Duplex Dyneema Tent:
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo:
Paria Sanctuary Tarp:
Polycryo Ground Sheet:
Vargo Titanium Tent Stake:
MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes:
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SLEEP SYSTEM
Katabatic Gear Alsek 22 Quilt:
Paria 15 Degree Backpacking Quilt:
Thermarest Uberlite Sleeping Pad:
Klymit Static V Ultralite SL Sleeping Pad:
Thermarest Zlite CCF Sleeping Pad:
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad:
Thermarest Xtherm Sleeping Pad:
SeatoSummit Pillow:
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RAIN GEAR
3F UL Gear Rain Skirt:
Frogg Toggs UL2 Rain Jacket:
Mountain Warehouse Rainpants:
Six Moon Designs Umbrella:
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KITCHEN
BRS-3000T Ultralight titanium Stove:
MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Stove:
TOAKS Titanium 750ml Pot:
EVERNEW 900ml Titanium Pot:
GSI Outdoors Infinity Mug:
TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon:
Anthony’s Organic Instant Coffee:
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Clothing
Altra Lone Peak 4 Trailrunners:
Columbia Silver Ridge Lite Shirt:
Darn Tough Crew Light Sock:
ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go Boxer Brief
Buff Original:
Mountain Hardwear 1/2 Zip Fleece:
Appalachian Gear Co Hoodie:
32 DEG UL Down Hooded Jacket:
MH Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket:
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Ultralight is all about hiking with only the things you really need and nothing else. Approach your gear choices the same way.
Don’t just lighten your pack, lighten your footprint!
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I do not except money for positive reviews. I give my honest opinions good or bad for all pieces of gear with no exception. Occasionally I may do a “First Look” review of a NEW piece of gear, but I will always state that in the video.
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Disclaimer:
This video and/or description may contain affiliate links, which means that when you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue backpacking and making videos just like this one. Your support is much appreciated!
#backpacking #hiking #waterfilters
I know you guys and gals have some great stories. What was your worst water source ever? And how did you deal with it?Also, I post a lot of photos from my hikes, gear, trail runs, and everyday shenanigans on Instagram. Check it out @motivatedbymountains
Must try the bread bags! The deuce is so much better than hunting for the right leaf,lol. I cut the bottom off one of the useless, small Sawyer bags to use as a scoop and a pouch for my rolled up CNOC vecto. I carry 1/2 oz dropper bottle of bleach as backup.
Thanks learned a lot. Question: what if you have to filter your own pee? Asking for a friend
I’m curious as to why your filter has a hole in the center of the filter on the side with the washer. The one I just bought doesn’t have that. It’s solid white with no hole. I was able to do a 360 view on sawyers website and that one doesn’t either….maybe something they changed along the way?
For Sawyer water filters – #35 Top Bibb Gasket @ Ace Hardware; Stock #35319B for $1.20 which is a neoprene gasket. Perfect tight fit.
For Sawyer Water Filters – to stop the filter from leaking from the nipple after using – From Home Depot, Screw Protectors 5/16″ Green, you get a pack of two for $1.85
My water filter of choice is the MSR Trailshot. Sadly MSR doesn’t include all the instructions on how to properly use it.
#1. Replace the short 1.5′ intake hose with one that is 5′ or longer.
#2. Wrap a coffee filter around the tube’s inlet filter/valve. The coffee filter will keep larger particles from even getting to & clogging up the small micro screen on the supplied inlet filter/valve.
#3. Suck water up through the long 5′ inlet tube – no need to use forearm muscles to squeeze/pump water from your water source up through the tube & out the outlet nozzle.
#4. Once you’ve sucked enough water to fill the inlet tube you’ll discover the MSR bulb is only 1/2 full of water. You need to completely fill the bulb with water 100%.
#5. To 100% completely fill the bulb, disconnect the inlet tube from the end inlet end of the MSR filter/bulb & hold it in one hand.
#6. With your other hand, turn the filter/bulb upside down, now squeeze the bulb just enough to remove the air pocket. Re-attach the inlet tube to the inlet nozzle, Now turn the filter right side up & release the squeeze bulb & it will now 100% completely fill the pump/bulb.
#7. Now that the pump/bulb is full of water you’ll have effectively doubled the filtered water output so that you can filter 1 liter of water by squeezing the bulb in a little over a minute which is just as fast as the Sawyer Squeeze
#8. I store filtered water in my Hydrapak 3L water bladder which stays in my backpack. I remove the part of the bite valve that you bite down on. I then push the outlet nozzle of my MSR water filter onto the bite valve plastic part that is still attached to the drink tube of my bladder.
#9. I now squeeze the MSR bulb & filtered water directly into & through the bite valve, drink tube & into the bladder which is still inside my backpack. ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBLE WAY TO CROSS-CONTAMINATE dirty water with filtered water.
#10 After my 3L bladder is full, I disconnect the outlet valve of my MSR filter from the plastic part of the bite valve & push the bite valve back onto the plastic I removed it from. The bite valve is now re-assembled & the 3L bladder is full & I’m ready to go.
#11 The long 5′ inlet tube of my MSR filter allows me to comfortably sit on the bank of my water source.
#12. This system has allowed me to filter water from shallow water sources like a flow of water from the side of melting snowpack or from a shallow & stagnant puddle.
I’ve tried & used the Sawyer Squeeze system, but much prefer my MSR Trailshot because I KNOW the techniques of using it efficiently. Sadly MSR doesn’t include detailed instructions on how to completely fill the MSR pump’s bulb 100% & most people give up on it because of tired forearms & slow filtered water output. When the bulb is only 50% full filtered water output is really slow.