I have had three - yes three - pur filters break down on me in the BWCA. The salesperson said I must be very unlucky, that they don't have "too many" complaints. Each time it was replaced by pur. That didn't do me much good when it broke on day three of a 14 day trip. Now I just use iodine drops. Either get iodine crystals specificly for purification, or just use "betadine" aka "brown soap" a few drops (wait 20+ min) and you are safe from whatever the BWCA can throw at you. For long trips it may give you mild heartburn after a while, so bring some tums also.

What about the suspended silt and other solids you ask? Bring 'em on, it helps keep me regular ;)

Max L.

Check out the Extream filter. I picked one up 2 years ago and it has worked great. I don't know how much life I will get but there is no parts to go bad on it other than the filters you will need to replace on any filter. If you are looking for a filter for only one person it works great but if you need water for more than one try the MSR, I like that one much better than the Pur. I am not much of a fan of Iodine pils at all.

You can also use the pills that take the iodine tase out of the water. The water then tastes just as good as a filter. It's also much easier.

Another option if you don't like the taste of the iodine is to use a brita water filter. We take the large (3 gallon) Ziplock bags and cut a hole in the bottom center and slip the brita filter in the hole. you can use tape or rubber bands to keep any leaks from developing (this can easily last a 6 day trip). Then you use another ziplock bag to get your water from the lake. Calculate the Iodine quantity needed wait the 1/2 hour and pour the iodine treated bag into the filter bag. Then just fill your canteens. We only really do this for one member that doesn't like the treated water taste. The rest of us treat with crystal lite to mask the taste of the iodine and or just deal with it.