Customer Reviews

Mcnett Aquamira Water Treatment

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've used Aqua Mira on 2 backpacking trips thus far and it has been better than iodine. The only problem is spilling it when you mix both parts together and also keeping track of the time. Eventually, if you use this for over 2 weeks, you'll begin to taste it because it will build up in your bottle, however if you rinse your bottle out well, your water will barely have any Aqua Mira taste, if any.

In 2004 during my hike of the Appalachian Trail, my water filter was nothing but headaches, clogging and maintence. I replaced the filter 2 weeks into my hike with Aqua Mira and used it extensively for the rest of the trip. I found only a slight chlorine taste, no worse than some city water I've had. The only issue was I couldn't drink my newly gathered water immediately, as one could with a filter. Water management had to be planned. I would take my breaks at or near a water source so I had the aloted time for parts A & B to mix properly. Then once at camp, first thing I would do is get and prepare my water, then move onto setting up camp. By the time I was done, I had water.

During my hike (and afterward) I used it without any problems and without contracting any sicknesses.

I liked the product so much, I'm back to purchase some more for an up coming hike I'm planning on the Ouachita Trail, in AR and OK.

I first used these drops when I spent two weeks with the American Red Cross post-Katrina in Southern Mississippi. Since then I've taken multiple back-packing trips and used these drops.

I've never gotten sick.

These drops are lightweight and have none of the headaches (or price) associated with mechanical water filters.

The only downside is that you have to wait a bit for the chemicals to mix with each other, and then with the water. The only time this was a problem was when I got off to a late start from a trailhead in the mountains of West Virgina, and ended up setting up a dry camp in the dark. (But that's just me being a bonehead.) I was pretty dry the next morning, but quickly found a stream and went to work. (Water never tasted so good! ;-)

I'll gladly plan my water stops out a bit in exchange for not having to deal with the expense and headaches of mechanical filters.

I'm taking my 11-year-old daughter on her first backpacking trip this spring, and I'm using this product.

Highly recommended.

The difference in wait time is minor compared to the hassle of pumping, which also takes a few minutes and a lot more effort. I pre-mix the drops in the cap before heading to the lake or stream for raw water. The five minutes of pre-mix time is often over by the time I get back to my pack. I then mix it into the hydration bag and head down the trail. Fifteen minutes later I'm drinking great tasting cold water from a tube as I'm hiking down the trail. For me, conserving energy by keeping it simple and light is more important than a few minutes without water. When you get tired of digging into a pack and getting a pump going while hunched over a shoreline and then repacking the pump and then cleaning the filter and then changing the prefilter - try the drops. Keep it simple. Keep it light.

Used it during back-country trips in the USA and has worked wonderful. No odd tastes.
Once you do it twice, it just becomes an easy repetition.
It's small, packs light and you don't risk not having it like you do with water filters due to breakage. Highly recommended!

I bought this product as an alternative to clunky water filters after a bunch of backpacking friends recommended it. I don't use iodine because I can't stand the taste, and I was told this was tasteless. Well, I can definitely taste the chlorine, and the indoor pool smell while it's working could probably smoke bees out of a hive, it's so strong! I am really sensitive to smells and tastes, and I simply can't stand this - obviously you have to get it close to your nose to drink it, and I don't really relish having to hold my breath while I drink. I'm relegating this to my earthquake kit.

That said, this would be a great backup for your water pump, and obviously from the reviews most people aren't as bothered by the smell/taste as I am, so if you're super concerned about weight or you aren't that picky about your water's taste/smell, you might like this product. It's not for me.

I've been using Aquamira drops since 2001 over hundreds of miles of hiking and backpack trips. So far, I've never been sick. Most of the water I've treated comes from high mountain streams and I suspect most of that water is pretty clean. In those cases, I have lowered the dosage from 7 drops per quart down to 3-6 drops, depending on my "gut feeling". Not very scientific, I know, but so far, so good. I have a very sensitive nose and palate, so yes, I DO notice a slight chlorine smell to the water (hence my desire to lower the dosage). I do prefer the pure taste of filtered water, but like others have said, this stuff is just so light, much lighter than a filter and unlike (from experience) filters, it doesn't break down. It does have an expiration date on it, but over the 10 years I've used the stuff, I've spent less on it than I ever spent on filter systems.

I did use Aquamira once on Kauai'i, in an area known to harbor Leptosporosis, which has similar symptoms as Cryptosporidium. In that case, I did use the drops at full strength, but never got sick.

And do note, CHLORINE (as in bleach) and CHLORINE DIOXIDE (Aquamira) are not the same thing. The latter is what is used in most municipal water supplies for purification.

The only time I used a filter over chemical treatment was in an agricultural area. Besides the masses of cow p**p and urine being washed into the lake, the lake was chock full of fish, algae and probably lots of nasty chemicals as well.

The wait time (20-30 minutes, depending on temperature) of purifying is something I just got used to. I don't even notice it now. What I do now is when I come to a fill up spot, I mix my chemicals, have a snack and then go fill my bottle(s). That'll be about 5 minutes for the chemicals to be ready to dump into the water.

If you want to read a technical paper on how well this stuff works, google for "Efficacy of Water Treatment Technologies" by the Ryan Jordan of Backpacking Light Magazine.

A tip: When you buy a second package of Aquamira after your first one has run out, be sure to save the mixing cup from the first one, then you'll have two handy mixing cups. Plastic water bottle caps also work well for mixing, just be sure to let the two chemicals mix well if there is any sort of ridge inside the cap.

Another tip: These are concentrated toxic chemicals, no doubt about that. When you've dumped your chemicals into your water, cap your water bottle and shake a few times. Then remove the cap and pour a tiny bit into the mixing cup, swirl around and dump back into the bottle. Pour, swirl and dump again. This way you will be getting all of the chemicals into your water, out of the mixing cup and less chance of the chemicals ending up in the waterways or environment.

Aquamira water drops are the golden standard for simple lightweight water treatment. Combined with a prefiler(to get out the big pieces) of some sort this is the lightest alternative available today. I wish it was less expensive.

Used it several times to treat water! Its small, light and works very well. I haven't been sick yet...=P Only down side is the wait time. But I rather carry the light solution then a pump. That is just my preference.

They have really pulled a great marketing job with this 3rd rate product. I can't imagine subjecting children to this or rolling the dice with my own trip.

1. It's no fun waiting around a half hour for warm chemical water when you're thirsty.

2. This product won't touch cryptosporidium or prevent the two weeks of blast diarrhea it causes. Not in 30 minutes. Not in 4 hours. Look it up. Crypto is everywhere in the backcountry. Shame on McNett for burying that critical piece of safety information. It develops only half the chlorine dioxide concentration of real potable water disinfectants. And whatever is in those floaters--good luck with that.

3. I love to have fresh, cold, filtered spring water hit the back of my throat on a hot mountain climb. Sorry, not for you. This gives you the lukewarm essence of Brooklyn without the actual disinfection.

4. At 50+ cents/gallon, it is among the most expensive water treatment options available. Filters are so much faster and actually clean a gallon of water more effectively for a nickel. And without adding poison to your drink.

I can't imagine why anyone would choose to treat water this way, unless they can't see beyond the 1st cost of the product or just don't care. I'm worth more than that.