Portable Water Filtration Made Easy

Navigating the mighty Manasquan River in the great northeast.

I'm currently on vacation now through September 17th but just wanted to share this from our trip so far:  When you're traveling, on vacation or using your local parks and campgrounds, there is one thing you might not want to do.  That is drink the water.  I've used the public water fountains in the campsites where we've stayed and it wasn't too pleasant.  We ended up buying bottled water which was a waste of both time and money.  Still it beats getting sick and dehydrated as you just don't know who used the spigot before you. 

What if you could transform that park water fountain swill into fresh, pure, bacteria free water?  It can be done.  We were canoeing on vacation this week and decided not to carry in a lot of water.  Instead we simply packed two ice filled 12oz Insulated Polar Bottles with a Purificup Portable Water Purifier, and an Adventure Medical Kit Marine 250 and put everything in a Snap Sac Cooler Tote on the deck of the canoe.

That was about all we needed for the time out on the water but once we came ashore, we had access to the public drinking fountains and were able to re-fill our bottles.  This actually worked out great because we didn't have to board with excessive amounts of water.  Heavy coolers and rolling bottles are not what you want with you in a canoe!  

So the re-fill was quite simple.  Since this was water fountain water, it is potable or safe for drinking.  We used the Purificup for Tap Water but could have just as well used the Purificup for Natural Water to filter water directly from the Manasquan River we were navigating.

Purificup filtering into a Klean Kanteen

As you can see here, we just dumped the water we collected into the top of the Purificup container. It comes with a separate collection cup but I thought, "Oh, what the heck!"  We filled the Purificup to the "Fill Line" and let it go.  The flow rate is pretty fast and before you know it, our public water fountain sample tasted like store brought bottled water.  I had peace of mind knowing that the bacteria most often present at public drinking sources had been killed along with any other pathogens and heavy metals.



I can't underscore how liberating using a portable water filter like this is.  Due to the flotation vests, we can't use cool lumbar packs like The Dart or hydration packs like the CamelBak Antidote. To be able to carry the bare minimum amount of water aboard our watercraft made such a difference.  Everything stowed neatly in our cooler tote under the bow's bench.  After canoeing, we even took a 4 mile hike through the woods on the nature trail.

We weren't concerned about running out of water because there was plenty available for filtration: both via natural river water and public drinking fountain sources. 


So if you are concerned about having to pack a lot of water, running out or having to purchase bottled water, (may not be available in the outback), consider bringing along a way to filter water on the fly.  The type of water filter you use will depend on where you're going and what sort of water you'll have access to.  Either way, a portable water filter like Purificup can be a major player in being prepared, eco-friendly and staying hydrated outdoors.

The NEW 12oz Insulated Polar Bottle is the perfect travel size.  Refilled it with a Purificup!

Canoeing & Kayaking Trip Prep

Water sports like canoeing and kayaking can be a fantastic day out with a little preparation.

I've always loved the water!  I spent many vacations at resorts like Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey or the Hamptons and Sag Harbor on Long Island.  While I enjoy being in the water, I especially like being on the water.  I've sailed larger vessels like the Clearwater Sloop but really enjoy people powered watercraft like canoes and kayaks.

Take a Class

Magda is using a feathered kayak paddle

I had been canoeing for years but enrolled in a class through my local county park system.  They gave us great pointers on choosing the proper oar for your height and how to choose/adjust your flotation vest for the best fit.  You can also read Sea Kayaking - Basic Skills, Paddling Techniques and Trip Planning by Dan Henderson of The Mountaineers Books.  Dan is a former National Athlete and team coach and his book is a wealth of information on all types of kayaking.

How to Paddle & Steer
According to our instructor, the canoe oar handle should come to just below your chin when held vertically.  Kayak paddles come in feathered and un-feathered so you'll have to experiment with which is more comfortable. Feathered kayak paddles go with the natural roll and allow you to keep your wrists straight throughout the paddle stroke. They do not need to be adjusted much between strokes and the healthiest position for your wrists is straight. Check out this short video instruction on how to stroke and steer your kayak using a feathered paddle:

Sperry Topsider Boating Shoes

Getting a Grip
You'll want to wear water repellent slip proof shoes for canoeing and sit on top kayaking.  Really any grippy soled athletic shoe will work.  Magda is wearing a pair of Sperry Topsider Sandals in the lead photo.  These sandals and Sperry's athletic shoes have ridged soles that act like little water squeegees to keep you from slipping when boarding watercraft. Most accidents happen while boarding and disembarking.  Needless to say decks and boat interiors are often wet & slippery me hearty. 

What to Bring On Board?
Well, stuff that floats of course!  If something isn't waterproof, it might be best to leave it on shore.  Here's my packing essentials for a day out on the water, canoeing, kayaking or on board a recreational craft.
 

 
Packing List
Everything pictured above, including the Adventure Medical Kit fits in The Mountainsmith Sixer Travel Cooler.  

The Sixer Travel Cooler for easy boarding

Going from left to right:

UV Protective Eyewear - These are Rudy Project Demi-turtle sunglasses.  Very important because water reflects up to 90% of the sun's rays. Wrap around design best protects eyes.

Sunblock - We like Mission Athletecare's Sun Defeated Continuous Spray, SPF/UPF 30.  You don't want to risk dropping an oar or paddle so an easy to spray sunblock like this works great.

Kestrel 4500 Weather Tracker - GPS of Wi-Fi might not be available off shore.  The Kestrel 4500 tracks weather conditions on the water and measures wind speed and direction.  Barometer charts upcoming storms and squalls so you can get to shore safely while the unit itself floats / measures water temps.

Water & Water Filtration - I find Insulated Klean Kanteens work best. You can even clip the caribiner top to your flotation vest or a rail & water stays cool for up to 24 hrs.  Need more water?  You can carry less and simply filter additional water in case of an emergency with a Purificup.

Food & Snacks - Think of packing things you can eat with one hand.  Meal bars, gel packs can both be held and eaten while paddling.  I keep cut sandwiches and raw vegetables cold in The Sixer & a Lunch 2 Go.

Marine Specific Medical Kit - I like Adventure Medical Kits Marine 250.  Very complete and you can even snap it on or install it permanently in your watercraft.  Doing this makes it easy to remove items with one hand while the kit is mounted.  The Marine 250 first aid supplies are packaged in waterproof inner bags and is well organized according to emergency. Perfect for fishing, recreational and day trips on inland waterways we always add a few packs of Natrapel Insect Repellent towelettes to our medical kits.

Sailing to Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts.