Out for a Hike

Out for a day hike our family outing?

Here are some essential items to take with you in your day pack:

Map of the area and compass

Emergency Blanket or Sleeping Bag

Rain Poncho

Flashlight

2 Liters of Water

Food bars, Granola Bars or other food

Waterproof Matches or Firestarter

Backpacking Water Filter

Small First Aid Kit

Multi-Tool or Knife

Parachute Cord or other rope

Signaling mirror or small mirror

Having these items in  your pack will help you deal with unexpected changes in the weather, with getting lost or with finding yourself out longer than expected.  Water and access to water are critical, thus having water (and the water conatiner), along with a water filter will help you stay hydrated.  A compass will do you little good for the most part without having a map.  Always tell others (who aren't on the trip with you) where you are going and when to expect you back.  If you get lost, stay put!  Lost individuals tend to head off in the wrong direction.

Katadyn Combi Water Filtration

Friday, June 26, 2009

Katadyn Water Filters

Katadyn is a Swiss company that has long been recognized as one of the premier water filter companies in the world. Katadyn filters are even listed as one of the recognized brands on http://www.providentliving.org/.

The Combi is one of Katadyn's best filters because of the amount of water that it can filter. It has a filtering capacity of up to 13,000 gallons. This is a top of the line ceramic filter that also features activated carbon to improve water taste and quality. Here is the technical information on the ceramic and activated carbon filtering capabilities:

Katadyn Ceramic filters have a micro porous structure with impregnated silver which delays the growth of bacteria. The pore size of Katadyn ceramic filters is 0.2 micron (0.0002 mm). Bacteria range in size from 0.2 to 5 micron and like protozoa (1 – 15 micron), are efficiently filtered out.

Activated Carbon is used for its ability to reduce harmful organic and inorganic substances in the water. It removes unpleasant tastes, odors, chlorine, pesticides (such as lindane, DDT) and trihalomethanes (THMs). These substances adhere to the large surface area of the activated carbon.

Katadyn has a wonderful video of their product that can be viewed at:

Katadyn Combi