Do I really need to use a filter in May? On my last trip, we had water filters and they were a pain. (Damn near collapsed my skull trying to get a drink thru a life straw). For years, always used the scoop and slurp method in open water, not near shore or by a campsite and never had a problem. Have things changed that much?

Thanks, Merlyn

I am no expert, but I don't think the time of year would make much of a difference. Prior threads seem to indicate that a very large percent of paddlers use filters. A few of us don't, relying on the dipping method in conjunction with the methods you mentioned.

You will get several perspectives in response. Most will be partial to a filter, of course. My two cents is to each his/her own----but I am very clearly in the dipping camp.

Just make sure your travel mates wash their hands after doing their business!

I bought a $20 water bottle with filter built-in from Amazon last summer. It worked well, fill and drink, good for 100 gallons per filter, straw built into the lid. I used it in the canoe on land. I just filled it and it was my cup.

You don’t need a filter until you do. I use a filter in camp but don’t hesitate to refill my bottle when I’m out on the water. I’ve drank straight from the lake on most if not all trips I’ve been on and never had a problem. Others have however, although it isn’t clear if those problems are due to drinking untreated water or other reasons.

You have to decide if it’s worth the risk, however small, to drink untreated water. If you decide to filter I highly recommend a gravity filter. Sawyer and platypus make great ones.

I'm nowhere near fanatical about it, but especially with a good gravity filter, the penalty in time, weight, and space is WAY too small not to to my way of thinking.

If a straw was my only means of filtering, I wouldn't even consider it unless I was in some real nasty looking water.

There are lots filters on the market that are easier to operate than the Life straw. Get a good gravity filter like MSR, Sawyer or Platypus. Filtering is just as easy as filling the bag and hanging it up. Yes yo could drink straight from the lake and post it have a problem if you get it from out in the middle but why risk ruining a trip.

Our group uses a sawyer gravity filter. Just fill up the top unfiltered water bag and go do something else. Then in a hour you have a gallon or two of filtered water in the bottom bag. It’s very easy this way to have filtered water for 8 people or 1. I threw my pump away years ago.

We had gone years on end just dipping but everyone seems to have come around to the no-hassle readily available supply from a gravity filter in camp. Filtered may just taste better, too. When we are on lakes with a lot of tannin and guys are drinking it unfiltered, you'll hear it said quite often, "You get thirsty drinking it."

tarnkt: "You don’t need a filter until you do. I use a filter in camp but don’t hesitate to refill my bottle when I’m out on the water. I’ve drank straight from the lake on most if not all trips I’ve been on and never had a problem. "

+1

water filters have come a long way in the past few years.most of the time I just drink out of the lake but once set up in camp I use this home made gravity filter.
a inner bag from one of those back pack water bags,plastic hose from a beer making store and the filter from a squeeze bag unit.i use the back flush gizmo every few bags and run the water into a heavy plastic bag.last year I was in a down wind dead end bay and it cleared up all my drinking water.

I think you’re the only one who can answer your question. Regarding water temperature, according to an EPA info sheet on Giardia:

“The survival of Giardia cysts in the environment is significantly affected by temperature; survivability decreases as the temperature increases. A small fraction of cysts can withstand a single freeze-thaw cycle. Cysts can survive for 2 to 3 months in water temperatures of less than 10 C, and at 21 C, cysts have remained viable for almost one month. Cysts are killed in 10 minutes at a water temperature of 54 C. Raising the water temperature to boiling immediately kills cysts.”

The entire fact sheet can be found here.

I believe most microbes that can make you sick in the BWCA can survive cold water temperatures.

That you are asking answers your inquiry.

Have things changed that much? No they haven’t. I am not aware it is any less or more safe to dip now a days than it ever was. I think what has changed is there are some very easy methods to filter or treat your water compared to 15-20 years ago.

Even if you filter/treat it doesn’t guarantee you won’t get giardia. Swimming and splashing water, washing dishes in lake water, heck water from your paddle can make you sick. Even filtering near shore might be more dangerous than someone who dips from the middle due to cross contamination from an area more likely to be affected.

With that being said, when I bring my kids I want a high volume of water available so we now use a gravity filter, we only dip if we are out on a deep lake towards the middle such as Argo Lake.

T

I still dip now and then in early May!

I almost always dip. Once, when we got laid up at an inopportune forced camp due to weather, we were on a small river with lots of beaver sign. On that one occasion, we boiled some of our water, and used iodine tablets for the rest.

But I do like the comment about drinking tannic water making you thirsty! I hadn't thought of it, but it sounds about right. I may get a gravity filter after reading this thread. Sounds too lightweight, and too easy to pass on.

I have used this for years with scout groups etc

Aquamira

So far so good...even on Malberg in late July with beaver everywhere several years ago...

dr bob