Anybody who has ever ran low on water in the wilderness knows how dangerous of a situation dehydration in the backcountry can be. The average adult needs at least a liter of water for an active day of hiking, and some people have metabolisms that require a gallon or more in order to get though a rigorous day in the outdoors. However, water adds a huge amount of weight to your pack, leading many of today's hikers to consider carrying a water filter with them so that they can refill their water supply while they are on the go. Water filters have come a long way in recent years, and some water filters are better for different activities. Here is what you need to know about the most common types of water filters that are currently on the market.

Hand Pumped Water Filters

The most common portable water filtration systems come in the form of a small hand pumped device that filters fresh water through charcoal filters or reverse osmosis. It is important to note that the filters in these devices are not able to remove some of the smallest types of biological contaminants from in drinking water, especially the most common types viruses. However, hand pumped water filters effectively remove nearly all bacteria from your water, as well as many non-organic contaminants. Some outdoor enthusiasts and survivalists keep a supply of iodine or bleach on hand with these water filters so that they can kill off any remaining viruses that may be present in their water after the filtering process is complete. However, it is important to note that both iodine and bleach are harmful if ingested in high quantity, and doctors warn that regular use of water that has been treated with iodine may cause health problems.

Chemical Water Filters

The great thing about chemical water filters is that they are much more effective at removing the smaller biological contaminants that are present in water. The way that most of these filters work is that the user adds a small amount of water to the device in addition to some special salts that receive a short electrical charge from the filter. The resulting mixture is then added to a one liter container of water, shaken up and let to settle for twenty minutes. Although this process will kill off any bacteria or viruses that are in the water, non-organic contaminants like metals and certain hazardous chemicals may still be present. One of the potential hazards of chemical water filters that many survivalists do not like is that most of them require extra supplies like salts and batteries that are not easily replenished in a survival situation.

Combination Water Filters

In order to ensure that you are drinking the safest water possible during your time in the backcountry, it is worth considering making an investment in a water filtration system that uses both physical filters and chemical means of filtration. The chemical water filtration process in these devices will kill off all of the organic contaminants in your water, while the hand pumped portion of the filter will remove larger environmental hazards. These devices can be a little bit expensive, but they provide considerably more peace of mind for anyone who needs to find their own sources of fresh water in the wild.

Water Filter Straws

One of the newest forms of water filters that are on the market come in the form of simple water filter straws that allow the user to actually suck filtered water directly out of a stream or river. These water filters are based on the technology behind the LifeStraw, an affordable water filter that was designed to provide residents of third world countries with an efficient means of finding clean drinking water. Water filter straws are lightweight and easy to carry on extended backpacking trips. However, these filters are only designed to be used in emergencies, as they are not as effective at filtering water of the smallest contaminants that might be in the water. Nevertheless, they provide an affordable option for anyone who is just looking for an emergency form of safe drinking water in case they find themselves in a survival situation.