Reddit reviews General Ecology 322200 First Need XLE Elite Water Filter for Camping (Emergency Water Purification - Removes Viruses, Bacteria and Cysts)
We found 3 Reddit comments about General Ecology 322200 First Need XLE Elite Water Filter for Camping (Emergency Water Purification - Removes Viruses, Bacteria and Cysts). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Water Filter for Camping - Portable water purifier with hand pump and included gravity feed bag. No batteries, electrical or chemicals. Connects easily to popular camping and hiking water containers.Emergency Water Purification - Survival water filter removes viruses, bacteria, cysts, giardia, crypto, particles, foul taste, odors, herbicides and pesticides. Bottled water quality at a fraction of the cost.Structured Matrix Technology - Independently tested to meet EPA Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers against bacteria, cysts and viruses. Removes contaminants with 0.4 micron microfiltration, chemical adsorption and electrostatic attraction.Extended Capacity & Ultra-Fast Flow - Average flow rate 3-10x faster than other emergency water purification systems (2 qt./min). Quick and easy cleanout configuration extends canister life with greater, more efficient silt and debris removal.General Ecology Water Purification Experts - Providing clean, safe and great tasting water for over 40 years to international airlines, military and emergency preparedness, residential, RV, marine and professional outfitters.
I've always loved my First Need purifier. Its not the cheapest, lightest or coolest-looking unit, but I am always impressed by how easy it is to use, how fast it pumps water, and how good the water tastes. My friends have other filters, but after seeing mine in action, they always end up borrowing it. You just screw it onto your nalgene and youre good to go. It pumps both ways too, so while you are pumping there is constantly water flowing. Also worth mentioning: it filters out viruses, which a lot of other filters won't do (which is why people are suggesting tabs).
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Pro tip: use a rubber band to hold a coffee filter around the filter pod. It makes pumping a little harder, but keeps the big stuff out and saves you from trying to clean out the little filter pod.
OP, you don't seem to be getting the best advice in this thread so I'll just remind you that if you truly want to be able to drink ANY water you find then you will need something that removes, for example, agricultural fertilizers and other chemicals as well as viruses. In this case, nothing that you ADD to the water will make it safe to drink. Not UV light, not chemicals, not heat. You must have a purifier that REMOVES all of the organic and inorganic matter from the water.
You also mentioned "heavy metals" - my understanding is that purifiers are not intended (or able) to filter out dissolved salts and minerals, including heavy metals. Activated charcoal is able to remove a bit but water that is truly contaminated long-term with fully dissolved metals is pretty much undrinkable. Are you planning on camping near areas where there is a lot of mining activity? If not then I wouldn't worry about the heavy metals specifically.
https://www.amazon.com/General-Ecology-First-Elite-Purifier/dp/B00AI91958
My girlfriend and I invested in the First Need XLE before we left. I was skeptical about carrying it but she insisted to help save the planet. It was the best choice we could have made. Boiling is not practical if you're always on the move and versus buying bottled water this has more than broken even in just a few months of travel.
When looking into water filters first be sure you have one rated as a "purifier" any labeled "filter" will normally take out larger protozoa like giardia but still let viruses and other baddies through.
Once you have the right class of protection look at the throughput. Yeah this baby is bulky, but at 2L/min it only takes us a few minutes to fill up for a day or two. Water is something you need constantly, you don't want to make it a chore.
Source: Three months into a trip through central/south america. Use this almost every day.