Anybody ever regretted using Iodine tablets for water purification?

[Macintosh]

Katadyn BeFree, 2oz. Few tabs for backup.

I use this too. Got tired of carrying a filter, and iodine makes my throat feel like crap. Been carrying the katadyne tabs as backup. So far I’ve had good luck, it’s worked well, filters very quickly, and weighs next to nothing and takes up very little space. For under 40 bucks it seemed like the best way to go for me.
Only possible issue I see with something like this is freezing weather could be an issue on a filter that has water in it.

 

[Blockcaver]

Hate the taste of iodine in the water. Only used it once then pitched the bottle of tablets.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

Two drops of bleach from an eye dropper in each quart never let me down.

 

[silvab03]

I regretted the use of iodine tabs on one hunt. I got bad diarrhea for 12-18 hours in the field. It just irritated my gut. I now use a 1 litter BeFree Katayne bottle to purify my water. I’ve used it for years and have not had any issues. Of note, I’ve only had to purify mountain spring or glacial fed water >4000’ in elevation. Your situation might require a more aggressive purification procedure.

 

[PNW bow hunter]

I used iodine tabs a long time ago on my first long backpack hunt, 12 days. Not sure if it was the iodine or MRE’s, but my stomach was definitely not feeling 100percent the last few days of the trip.

I thought it was the iodine

 

[Mike 338]

I'm not familiar with Aquamira so I went to their website. Here are what they claim it does.

• All-new glass bottles.
• Optional dropper tips for accurately measuring small doses.
• Kills odor-causing bacteria and enhances taste of stored potable water.
• Controls slime buildup in water storage containers.
• Once treated with Aquamira Water Treatment and left sealed, stored water has a five-year shelf life.
• Treatment has a four-year shelf life from manufacturing date.
• Treats up to 60 gallons of water.
• Easy to use.
• No aftertaste!
• Made in the USA.
• EPA Reg. No. 71766-1

Here is a link to the EPA Registration:

• https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/071766-00001-20150302.pdf

Note that there is no mention of cysts or crypto. I did a quick search about that and an "AI" blurb said it kills cysts and crypto but again, it appears the only claims the manufacturer and EPA makes is that it reliably kills is odor causing bacteria and controls slime buildup. I suspect the absence of other such claims is for good reason.

Getting an EPA Registration Number is a time consuming and very expensive undertaking. Lots of long term and expensive testing involved. It would be wise to consider what the Label says, and what it doesn't say.

 

[SwiftShot]

Used them a lot back in the 90s while in the military. The wait time sucks it tastes wierd ect. I run a squeeze on a smart water bottle. No real bulk.

 

[NMJM]

Another vote for Steripen here. It has worked great for me.

 

[Mike 338]

Another vote for Steripen here. It has worked great for me.

Me too.

 

[Speaks]

A sawyer mini weighs 2 oz. A half liter hydrapak to put it on weighs 1.6 oz. Whole set up is about half the size of a pack of smokes or a range finder. Water will taste much better. I like bringing two of the packs, a dirty and a clean, but 1 and drinking directly from the filer also works fine.

Iodine or tabs are fine in an emergency but zero chance I would make it my main water source to save less than 4 oz. I would buy a lighter tent, pad, bag, etc long before doing that.

 

[The_Jim]

My steripen died this year and I switched to a sawyer squeeze. It’s the only way to go.

 

[Quebec-overlander]

Hi, from my point of view, iodine tablets can be a great lightweight backup option, but I wouldn’t rely on them as a primary method given their limitations with crypto. If weight is a big concern, maybe consider AquaMira drops, they’re effective against both giardia and crypto with proper use. Always good to have a backup plan for water safety!

 

[Tod osier]

I'm not familiar with Aquamira so I went to their website. Here are what they claim it does.

• All-new glass bottles.
• Optional dropper tips for accurately measuring small doses.
• Kills odor-causing bacteria and enhances taste of stored potable water.
• Controls slime buildup in water storage containers.
• Once treated with Aquamira Water Treatment and left sealed, stored water has a five-year shelf life.
• Treatment has a four-year shelf life from manufacturing date.
• Treats up to 60 gallons of water.
• Easy to use.
• No aftertaste!
• Made in the USA.
• EPA Reg. No. 71766-1

Here is a link to the EPA Registration:

• https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/071766-00001-20150302.pdf

Note that there is no mention of cysts or crypto. I did a quick search about that and an "AI" blurb said it kills cysts and crypto but again, it appears the only claims the manufacturer and EPA makes is that it reliably kills is odor causing bacteria and controls slime buildup. I suspect the absence of other such claims is for good reason.

Getting an EPA Registration Number is a time consuming and very expensive undertaking. Lots of long term and expensive testing involved. It would be wise to consider what the Label says, and what it doesn't say.

Yes, last time I did a deep dive on the options, that was what I found, it was listed as a "water conditioner". If I remember right, there were tablets that were different than the drops.

That being said, when I'm in the mountains, I want to drink fresh mountain water cold, not wait 4 hours. I really like UV and we use the camelbak allclear that are discontinued. There is nothing better than getting mountain stream water fresh and cold. I'd investigate other UV options when the ones we have die.

 

[OMF]

I've used the iodine tabs...once. They gave me an upset stomach and they taste awful. I packed double the amount of water and kept the iodine tabs as backup on that trip.

Now is use a Sawyer mini and keep one of the chlorine based products as a backup. Right now I have the Aquamira tabs as a backup. I must be me but I think they still make the water taste like drinking pool water.