Japan is covered in forests and is said to be a rare country in the world, with its abundant rain and snow that has been stored throughout the year, and is always blessed with pure and abundant water resources.
Looking back at myself, having enjoyed climbing streams for over 20 years, I rarely felt reluctant to drink the water that normally flows in the source basin of streams (of course, this is a different story, and I have always boiled the water from streams to avoid the parasite echinococcus since ancient times).
However, in reality, it would be fine for a controlled water source now, but it cannot be said that it is okay to drink fresh water like the water from flowing streams or even the water from accumulated areas like ponds. Even if it has been fine up until now, it is possible that people may be contaminated by E. coli, Helicobacter pylori, etc. due to human activities, or that water can only be procured from garbage or suspicious water sources due to weather or other reasons.
A portable outdoor water purifier is a safe place to ensure you have clean water in such a situation. In overseas countries with different environments, it is common for water to be treated with a water purifier before using it, and many water purifiers are available that are portable and easy to use.
table of contents
- New Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filter, the latest tool for safely drinking water in the mountains.
- Try using a quick draw microfilter in the mountains
- A deep world of water purifiers. Choose the perfect water purifier for a variety of outdoor scenes
- Comparison of water filter functions and features by type
- Pump-type water purifier: highly reliable and recommended for a wide range of outdoor and leisure activities.
- Gravity-type water purifier: Recommended for camping where you want to produce a large amount of water in a calm place.
- Portable water filter: Easy to pack as easily as possible, recommended for hiking and backpacking to make water quickly
- Summary: You can drink water safely anywhere. Platypus Quick Draw Microfilter is the best solution for hikers at the moment
New Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filter, the latest tool for safely drinking water in the mountains.
The Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filter we will introduce today is a "useful" water purifier with many functionality and ease of use that is satisfying for mountain climbing and backpacking. I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to debut as a mobile water purifier, as I thought it was necessary up until now but still hadn't been able to lift my weight.
So this time, I would like to try out the usability of the newly introduced Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filter Water Purifier and write about how it can be used. I also took this opportunity to try out other water purifiers, so I'll try again to summarize the basics of water purifiers, how to choose and use them.
Try using a quick draw microfilter in the mountains
Lightweight and compact, not too difficult to bring
Let's start with a quick look at the exterior. Once you have it, you'll be relieved and relieved by its lightness and compactness. The filter body weighs only 61g, which is smaller than a fist, and is compact enough to accidentally get into the gaps in your backpack.
The structure is also very simple. The Quick Draw Micro Filter consists of a total of three parts, with a built-in cartridge body and two caps to protect the water outlets at both ends (photo below). It is also very packing-friendly when paired with a container (reservoir) for storing dirty water before filtration.
Remove the caps at both ends and try looking inside the filter to see that a bundle of fine hollow fiber filters are packed inside (photo below).
It's easy and quick to filter without any hassle
This time, I tried all the way through the mountain climbing course along the stream, drawing water from the stream that actually flows at a random location and drinking it.
[1] First, once you find an appropriate water source, pour water into an unfiltered reservoir from a safe location (photo below). Up until this point, it's no different to always fetching water from a stream.
[2] Attach the unfiltered water side of the cartridge to the reservoir (photo below).
[3] This is the only basic setting. All you have to do is open the cap after filtration, hold the unfiltered water container and push out the filtered water (photo below).
Hundreds of small hollow fiber filtering media make it possible to filter at a faster speed than before. Its flow rate is max 3 liters per minute, which is a fairly high filtration speed, if not the fastest, compared to its competitors (it takes some strength if you want to deliver a large amount). Roll the reservoir little by little and squeeze it out to effectively filter the water.
The filtered water coming out of the drinking pot can be placed in a bottle for fresh water or a container such as hydration (photo below).
Or you can just carry it directly to your mouth (photo below).
You can use different bottles for different purposes
Personally, my favorite thing about this filter is that it allows you to choose the container for intake from a water source relatively freely. In addition to the original reservoirs that are already included, you can also set almost all Platypus bottles, and the typical 28 mm diameter plastic bottles if the shape is right (photo below).
If only one person uses it, a dedicated 1L reservoir would be fine, but the flexibility of using a variety of containers is great for use depending on the situation, such as using 2L in camping where you need a lot of water for cooking, or using a plastic bottle even if you accidentally forget, is great for the flexibility of using a variety of containers depending on the situation.
However, as I will explain later, I tried it myself and found out that because of the nature of "holding the container and pushing it out", it is difficult to return to normal once you hold it, so it ended up being difficult to use and I ended up using a soft bottle.
Thoroughly filter out bacteria and protozoa other than viruses and chemicals
Of course, you will also be concerned about the filter performance of a water purifier.
The manufacturers say the microfilter is tested under international guidelines for the health and safety field (EPA & NSF guidelines) before shipment, removing more than 99.9% of bacteria and protozoa such as echinococcus, giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella, cholera and Shigella.
One thing to note is that, not just this model, filter-type water purifiers, with the exception of a small number of models, do not work with chemicals, viruses, such as hepatitis A, rotavirus, norovirus, etc., and radioactive substances that flow from factories. I don't think there's much to worry about being so nervous in Japanese streams, but in overseas countries with completely different hygiene environments, or in places where the risks are clearly recognized, it is necessary to not only pass through a water purifier, but also to boil or purify it using other methods such as sodium hypochlorite.
Since protozoa and bacteria are not actually visible, we cannot quantitatively confirm their abilities, but we deliberately created fine mud, fetched water, and filtered it. Of course, there was nothing like fine trash, and no visible dirt was completely removed (photo below).
The left is the water before filtration, which was mixed with fine mud. It can be seen that the water after filtration on the right has cleanly filtered particles such as silt (mud stains).
Easy to clean after use
By the way, cleaning the filter after descending the mountain was also easy. Simply put about a quarter of clean water from the tap into the reservoir, attach it to the cartridge, and shake it all the way in and out for 30 seconds.
In cases where the dirt is severe, you can also clean it with a back flash. The method involves first filling the reservoir bottle with fresh water, inserting the drinking opening of the filter into the bottle and flipping it upside down, then pushing the water out of the bottle so that the filter flows backwards, making it the most effective way to clean the filter inside.
Incidentally, the filter can be used repeatedly up to 1,000 liters in total, so even if you use it quite frequently, it will last a few years and will last a safe life.
However, what caught my eye a little was that if there are a lot of dirt or fine particles in the water before filtration, the filter is likely to clog, and cleaning before washing them off is a bit more effort than other models. The area where the filter is stored is highly airtight and it is difficult for gravel to come out even after cleaning, so it is a little more delicate than you might think.
A deep world of water purifiers. Choose the perfect water purifier for a variety of outdoor scenes
the quick draw micro filters mentioned earlier , there are also various types and styles of water purifiers for outdoor use, and each has its advantages and disadvantages, such as the amount of water it handles, filtration methods, and weight.
So below, we've summarized the rough types of water filters, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. However, there are currently models that are not entirely divisible with multiple features in one type, so this is for reference only.
Comparison of water filter functions and features by type
| comprehensive evaluation | Exterior image | Wide water extraction area | Filtration speed | Filtration capacity | Easily care | Weight and compact | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pump type |  |
◎ | ◯ | ◯ | |||
| Gravity formula |  |
◎ | ◎ | ||||
| Mobile |  |
◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
Pump-type water purifier: highly reliable and recommended for a wide range of outdoor and leisure activities.
A pump-type water purifier is a type of water filter that filters water sucked up from a water source by a pump through a filter. The most obvious advantage of pumping is that unlike the type that directly pumps water, the pump sucks up water, so water can be easily extracted from shallow water sources that are difficult to pump.
On the other hand, the disadvantages of pump-type devices are that they are large in weight and size, and that operating the pump manually takes time and effort. Another drawback is that more maintenance after use is required than other types, and many models are expensive in terms of price range.
- Advantages: Water can be sourced from small shallow water sources. It is also highly durable.
- Cons: It tends to be heavy and bulky, and requires effort to filter water. Maintenance is required and the price is high.
- Suitable activities: Wide range of outdoor and leisure activities
Gravity-type water purifier: Recommended for camping where you want to produce a large amount of water in a calm place.
A gravity water purifier is a type of water purifier that first draws the water before filtration from a water source, then hangs it in a high place such as a tree branch, and uses gravity to pass the water through a filter, and stores the water filtered in a container below.
These models, represented by the Platypus GravityWorks Another major attraction is that unlike other methods, you can hang the bag and work with gravity, which means there is less force to push it out.
On the other hand, a major drawback of gravity filters is that the complete set of tools is heavier and bulkier than other methods. It is also often made up of two reservoirs, a hose, and a filter, so it is not very easy to store.
It is also important to note that it is difficult to collect water unless it is from a stream or pond of a certain size and depth, and there is a place to hang the reservoir (if you don't, you can just hold the bag while filtration), and that it is necessary to have a reasonable amount of preparation and environment in order to use it smoothly. The price is also slightly higher when viewed relatively.
- Pros: Fast and easy to use, and can filter large amounts of water. It can be filtered by gravity, making it easy to work.
- Cons: It can be heavy and bulky, and it can be difficult to collect water, and there is a place to hang the reservoir. The price is also high.
- Suitable Activities: Use in groups, base camp or auto camping
Portable water filter: Easy to pack as easily as possible, recommended for hiking and backpacking to make water quickly
There are many different types of water purifiers other than the above, but despite the differences in shape, they are generally light and easy to carry. Quick Draw Microfilters also fall into this category.
For example, there are special water bottles, soft flasks, types that attach filters directly to hydration, types that are drinkable directly from the water in streams or ponds, and types that can be attached to the mouths of various containers, such as the Quick Draw Micro Filters this time.
These are extremely useful for day trips, trail runs, mountain bike rides, or even long-term backpacking outings where you know you'll constantly encounter water sources.
It is generally lightweight and compact, and often does not require unnecessary luggage. Another feature of this type is that there are many models in a variety of shapes. In particular, the type that can be used with a wide range of containers is highly versatile and easier to use.
The weakness of portable filters is that compared to pump-type or gravity-type filters (except for models that do not choose containers), it is generally possible to filter only a small amount of water at a time. It also requires a little force to filter, and in order to store a large capacity, it is necessary to repeat the filtration process many times. For this reason, portable filters are useful for hikers who want to have less luggage or short day trips than for group use or cooking at camping.
- Advantages: Lightweight and compact, there are a wide range of options depending on the capacity and ease of water source, and is easy to maintain and often affordable.
- Cons: It is slow to filter and can only filter small amounts at once, making it unsuitable for groups or camping dishes that require large amounts of filtration.
- Suitable Activities: Convenient for use by one or two people, perfect for day trips and long-term outings where you can easily find a source of water.
Summary: You can drink water safely anywhere. Platypus Quick Draw Microfilter is the best solution for hikers at the moment
After trying out all the Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filters, I was surprised at how easy it is to store and how easy it is to use. Portable water purifiers are now easy to carry, and it's a shame that filtering doesn't take time and effort like before, and you can now get peace of mind with just a little effort.
Above all, it takes up very little packing space just by wrapping the reservoir and cartridge together, and it can be set in a variety of containers, not just special bottles. This one can be used not only for fast and light hiking, mountain climbing, trail running, but also for family camping and group trips where you need a lot of water, making it perfect for people like you who want to use it without waste with a wide range of activities.
As these are delicate items related to hygiene, one of the reasons why you can feel at ease is that they are available from agents that handle the items properly within Japan. So, even though I'm belatedly this summer, I'd like to make my debut as a water purifier with peace of mind with the Platypus Quick Draw Micro Filter
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