LOSE OVER HALF A STONE (or 8.1lbs or 3.69Kg) IMMEDIATELY

09.30     Our postman knocked the door.  There it was, a smart plain brown jiffy bag looking suitably stuffed.  THIS was what I had been hoping for today.

The package was from Bob Cartwright at http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/ and inside…..a brand new product…the Aquagear water filter as discussed by Bob in a recent podcast and shown here. http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product353.asp

I heard the podcast a couple of days ago and read the facts on the website.  This was something I wanted.  Not a simple ‘it would be nice to have’, but, ‘I want this and I want it now.’

In more than 40 years backpacking and longer day walking, I have NEVER used ‘wild’ water.  My pack has always bulged with at least enough ‘fresh’ water to last until the next treated water source.  Thus I have laboured under the weight of 2, 3, 4 and sometimes 5 to 6 litres of water.

In future things will be different.  The Aquagear Survivor delivers INSTANT potable water from, by all appearances, the murkiest sources.

How do I arrive at my calculations of weight loss? 

Simple, read on.

My standard for a full day, overnight and sufficient water to get me to the next treated potable water is 2 x 2 litre Nalgene flasks plus 4 litres of water = total weight 4.14Kg (or 9.1 lbs), I can reduce this to a maximum of 460grms (1 lb) saving 3.69Kg (8.1 lbs) - see below.

My standard for a long day walk (either winter or summer) is 2 x 2 litre Nalgene flasks plus 3 litres of water = total weight 3.14Kg (or 6.9 lbs).  I can reduce this to a maximum of 460grms (1 lb) saving 2.68Kg (5.8 lbs) - see below

My standard of a short/medium day walk is 1 x 2 litre Nalgene flask plus 2 litres of water = total weight 2.07Kg (or 4.55 lbs).  I can reduce this to a maximum of 460grms (1 lb) saving 1.61 (3.54 lbs) - see below

Reasoning….

The Aquagear Survivor weighs in at 180grms, add to that a 1 litre Platypus flask at 30grms and 250grms (250ml) of water as a ‘starter’ and the total is 460grms (or 1.01 lbs).  Plus I never need to worry about running out of water.

My reasons for the ’starter’ are simple.  I like to drink plenty right from the off and I don’t want to have to start filtering immediately.  I could simply fill the Aquagear Survivor from the home tap and work straight from it, but I also like to have a supply of more than 500ml for breaks when I may brew-up soup or, on a backpacking trip cook some food.  The 500ml ‘Survivor’ would be adequate and acceptable but a small reserve is, in my opinion useful and now so simple to obtain - just top up a platypus from the ‘Survivor’ top the ‘Survivor’ up from somewhere, and carry on.  I really don’t mind 280grms extra load….not with the weight savings I will be making nor after some of the water loads I’ve packed!!!!!!

Following the manufacturers instructions I have flushed 3 x 500ml of treated tap water through the appliance and each flushing took about 1 minute.  The fourth fill I drank and I have to say the improvement was noticeable even on our tap water.  It had lost its chemical tang and ‘bleach’ smell.

In the little use I’ve made of the bottle I can find no fault.  It fills quickly, it filters quickly and it produces ‘spring’ water.  Oh, where has it been all my life?

This unit should surely be a ‘must’ for serious lightweighters as well as or including TGOC competitors even for this year.  

Perhaps I should,  finally,  mention the price…..£29.99….for at least 400+gallons(1600+ltrs).

‘Get ‘em in Bob!’