MSR Miox?

[llawhsoj]

Honestly I can already guess many of everyone's opinions on the product, but I'm curious... Here's the problem for formalities sake. I'm thinking about buying the MSR Miox, the pruifer that works based on creating an oxidant that treats the water. I could go with other filters, which get it clean with no work, but everytime I use them I curse whoever made them and think fondly of the ease of my iodine tablets (forgetting of course the flavor they come with)... So I've been pondering buying on pretty seriously. I like its lazy factor (which I always am after a long day of hiking) its weight and size. I'm a little concerned about it because I don't know what would happen if it broke, its not like I can fix it.
So, what do you think of it? Those of you that have it, how do you feel about it, is it easy to use? What's it reliability like? Just curious on your opinions.... go!

-llawhsoj

[llawhsoj]

more justification

I also like to travel (as well as hike) and I could bring a purifer along with me as I travel, another tempting option...

[RonandJon]

Aqua Mira

A friend of mine suggested this. 2 bottles - mix 7 drops from each in a cap and let react for 5 minutes. Pour into a liter of water, shake and drink after 30 minutes. I can't stand the taste of iodine and my stomach won't tolerate it. The pump is good, but heavier. Tried these the last two times out and found I could drink the water just fine.

Can't tell you what all it is supposed to kill. I would have to do some more research. I think it is chlorine based, and one of the components is to kill the chlorine taste, which it does very well.

[kurtteej]

I've got a pump [Katadyn I think]. I used it up around Lake Colden this past weekend. The weight wasnt bad, I think it weighs less than a pound. It's a pump with 2 hoses. It worked like a charm. It's designed to kill everything but giardia, which I conquered with boiling. [i did the water right before I went to sleep and put the sealed bottles in the stream to cool over night -- i had 4 bottles of cold water in the morning.]

I've had a bacterial problem [from a lousy chinese restaurant] - trust me, you don't want to take the chance on that happening to you. I won't go into the juicy details, but i will NEVER go thru that again.

[jareth6]

How about the Katadyn Micropur chlorine dioxide tablets? I've used them on 2 trips this past year. I love the ease of use and light weight. Yes, you should wait 4 hours (I don't always wait) for them to be completely effective, but if you plan ahead it's not a big deal.

http://www.rei.com/product/47575360.htm?vcat=REI_ALL_CATEGORIES

I also own a MSR MiniWorks and I would curse that thing as I scrubbed the ceramic filter clean every 4 or 5 uses. Thought about the Miox, but couldn't justify the cost.

[redhawk]

I've got a pump [Katadyn I think]. I used it up around Lake Colden this past weekend. The weight wasnt bad, I think it weighs less than a pound. It's a pump with 2 hoses. It worked like a charm. It's designed to kill everything but giardia, which I conquered with boiling. [i did the water right before I went to sleep and put the sealed bottles in the stream to cool over night -- i had 4 bottles of cold water in the morning.]

I've had a bacterial problem [from a lousy chinese restaurant] - trust me, you don't want to take the chance on that happening to you. I won't go into the juicy details, but i will NEVER go thru that again.

Kurt, are you sure about the Katadyn model you have not killing the giardia? Every filter I have seen advertised takes care of the giardia as wel as most other bacteria.

I'd recheck if I were you. Look up their specs for your model on their website.

[percious]

I've been using a Steripen all summer. This treatement is based on ultraviolet light. It works well, and only weighs 8oz with the batteries. It takes 90 seconds to do about 1 liter of water, and I find that I can treat 7 liters before my bud can pump 6. All those extra calories I save by not pumping go to climbing. I am very happy with my purchase.

-percious

[wbwells]

Trust something other than a good old mechanical pump with a hard filter????

Not for me!!!! Had those nasty bugs in the past!!!

Bad bat...cold solder joint or broken trace..in the PCB....

IMO

WBW

[percious]

This is why I bring backup iodine tabs.

Mechanical pumps are just as prone to failure, and unlike my electronic counter part, they don't inform you when the filter (batteries) must be replaced.

-percious