Lightweight water systems in 2025

[BBob]

What drops or tabs are yall using that don’t taste nasty? I’ve tried some drops before, can’t remember the brand. I couldn’t get over the taste and decided to just put up with the weight of my pump. * edited to add the tabs I used. These are the only ones I’ve tried.

Aquamira drops or Katadyn tabs

 

[mtnbound]

What drops or tabs are yall using that don’t taste nasty? I’ve tried some drops before, can’t remember the brand. I couldn’t get over the taste and decided to just put up with the weight of my pump. * edited to add the tabs I used. These are the only ones I’ve tried.

Just be aware that those tabs are not effective with Crypto. You will want to use the chlorine-based ones.

 

[vladkgb]

Vargo bot HD (titanium nalgene) - replaces my 32oz nalgene and cook pot - I run this in the nalgene side pocket of my bag with a mixed drink during the day.

3L bladder with quick connect - main water source

Befree filter on 3L hydrapak with quick connect - I'll switch to the hydrapak filter next season because I heard good things.

I'll squeeze the filtered hydrapak directly into my bladder using the quick connect to refill. And have extra water in the hydrapak for cooking dinner and hot drinks.

The vargo bot is 1L, so I can boil enough water to rehydrate my meal and make coffee or apple cider. During the day I can use it for supplements like electrolyte powders.

In freezing temps I'm carrying the vargo bot with a warm beverage in the side pocket, and a lightweight nalgene in an insulated cozy inside my bag.

 

[longrangelead]

I have 2, 3 and 4L Hydrapaks and a Katadyn filter. The size I take depends on how much water I need to carry and how far from the source I'm going.
I'm buying a 10L for a camp reservoir for a potentially dry hunt if there isn't any alpine springs this year.

I prefer using Smart Water bottles in my pack. they're tough, cheap to replace and less likely to get a hole over several days.

I have the Hardside drink tube for the Smart bottle too.

I also found the little bottle connector used to make a "tornado in a bottle" school project also connects the Smart bottle and filter. I hang them up and do something else till the bottle is full.

I also carry tablets as backup.

 

[Hussar]

Either a BeFree 1 liter bottle, or the 3 liter gravity setup and then I have aquatabs as a backup in my bino harness.

If I'm going to be moving around a lot, the 1 liter stays in my pack. If we're setting up a base camp, I'm bringing the 3L. It works great to filter and fill water bottles at the source and then bring 3L back to camp to cook with or ready to top off water bottles.

 

[realunlucky]

I had Aron Snyder on the podcast and he shares why tablets are his preferred water treatment- https://www.rokslide.com/tt61-gear-and-skills-for-success-with-aron-snyder/

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[eamyrick]

Seems like the soft bottles/bladders are largely preferred, with many still carrying a hard bottle of some sort for drinks or convenience etc.

Filters definitely seem to be more commonplace than tablets or drops of any kind.

I think @eamyrick has definitely given me the confidence to just go ahead and try tabs only on my next trip. It will be October so not having to worry about freezing a filter is a plus and the water where I’ll go is mostly nice clear streams, so not much sediment to worry about filtering out anyway.

I do think the drops are easier than the tabs because cutting the tab packs open is a pain. If I remember correctly the drops also had a shorter time. I still keep tabs in my emergency kit.

 

[TCUHunter34]

I have always carried a nalgene, a 2liter platypus and an MSR pump filter.

This year I’ll be doing tabs for the platypus and replacing the nalgene with a lifestraw go for only a few ounces more. Solid weight savings and packed size as well with fully filtered water on both options.

 

[Macintosh]

For you guys not using drops/tabs, how are you dealing with freezing temps? Probably 50% of my use is well below freezing. I was careful to keep it dry, but apparently I killed my Befree last hunting season.