Iodine Tablets
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What are iodine tablets?
Iodine tablets are a way to purify water while you're hiking or camping. They're not going to be 100% effective, and most companies recommend that you also run the water through a camping water filter. The reason is that a water filter can get stuff that iodine does not kill. Your own safety is very important if you're drinking from water that has been sitting out in the wild - even crystal-clear water can have dangerous microbes. If you don't get a water filter, I'd recommend that you boil it for a few minutes and then use the tablets.
The downsides to using iodine tablets a that there is a bad taste and smell to the water afterwards and they take about half an hour for most of them to kill off all the microbes. A filter will get rid of the taste, but you can also just mix the water into Kool-aid mix or something similar to cover it up.
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Potable Aqua Iodine Plus - Available online here for about $13. Potable Aqua Plus has both iodine tablets and a second tablet that gets rid of the taste and smell. It's a brand that has been around for awhile and is pretty well respected. |
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Polar Pure - Available online here for about $12. Polar Pure is a disinfectant based on iodine, and it is used by a lot of hikers. |
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