Potable Aqua Iodine Tablets - 2004 BCS

I’ve always used filters/purifiers, so I was enormously reluctant to just fill my bottle and add the tabs. My filter had busted the day before my trip, so I went with it. I was surprised—the water tasted just fine, not really any different than tap water in a good city. The second tabs that change the water back to clear made me feel a ton better about it, and a day after drinking that water, my stomach was still doing fine. This was ridiculously easy- I’ll have these on me for all my next outing, even for safe measure in case the filter has a problem again.

YUCK. I can’t believe anyone would actually use this stuff. I guess if you have absolutely no other choice at all, but I do it’s called Aqua Mira. Unlike these tablets it leaves no noticeable taste and makes your water just as safe. Trust me on this one...might be great for emergency preparedness because of the ease of use and shelf life but you wouldn’t want to drink it if you didn’t have to.

I've used these tablets on numerous expeditions and keep some in my day pack or camelback for day trips that carry on longer than expected. The taste has been known to truly offend some, but I've never been overwhelmed by the taste and find the Neutralizer tablets you can buy work magic. These tablets won't filter out visible matter, but that's nothing that a clean bandana can't take care of when faced with a settled cow tank or algae infested water for your only water source. Ounce for ounce, these tablets weigh in as a great method for water purification, I'd rather carry a bottle of Iodine tablets on my back over a filter any day!

We tested our filter before flying to Utah for a 3 night backpacking trip but it didn't work when we arrived at our first camp. These tablets saved our trip! The neutralizing tablets did a good job of making the water drinkable. If you bring kool-aid or sports drink mix, I don't think you could tell you hadn't used a filter. I will always keep a supply of these in my emergency kit!

With those neutralizing tablets, the water tastes better than spring water. It's light and practical- just plan ahead, so you don't have to wait the 30 minutes... Always have some with you!

I spent quite a bit of time with these on the AT and I think that's the only part of the trip I would have changed. Buy a filter. These things make water so nasty it's almost undrinkable. I never got sick, though, so I guess they're not all bad. Even so, I would never use these things again unless it was an absolute emergency.