#283367 - 01/16/17 01:55 PM
AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 11/13/06
Posts: 2954
Loc: Nacogdoches, Texas
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I'm looking for water prep solutions. Has anyone used the AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS? What are your thoughts on this kit? http://survivalresources.com/Products/Aqua_Pouch_Plus.htmlJeanette Isabelle
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#283370 - 01/16/17 02:27 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
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It is a good, pocket sized system for filtering and purifying your water. I highly recommend it for pocket kits.
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#283371 - 01/16/17 02:34 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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I would not recommend it. Save your money, although it isn't all that expensive.
Boiling is more effective, cheaper, and quicker (Note that they state a four hour processing time). I keep varieties of the various chemical treatments around, because you never know. But for years, boiled water has worked for me, and during that time I have imbibed some pretty nasty stuff, in a couple of cases,for prolonged periods.
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#283373 - 01/16/17 02:59 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
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As Hikermor says, boiling is better, but it is difficult to fit a pot in your pocket. The advantage of this is the form factor, it has a pre-filter to get out the larger solids, and it has a sturdy pouch to carry the water, and it has grommets to tie cord to that helps you carry it, and also has a flat bottom to help it stand. It is not the best method for purifying, nor is the container the best thing out there. It is the best option I have found that fits in your pocket.
Regardless of what equipment you use, straining or filtering helps ensure cleaner water (certainly more palatable) and removes obstacles to the effectiveness to the chemical treatments.
Boiling always works, but requires a container to cook in and a fire or stove.
Chemical methods work but you need to filter and carry the water.
One thing that is lacking from most commercially available, pocket survival kits, is a water container. This is a good size one that folds up and fits in your pocket, and comes with a complete kit. The cost is not high. I will include this in pocket or backpack kits. The good equipment you have with you is better than the perfect stuff that you don't have with you.
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#283374 - 01/16/17 03:22 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: gonewiththewind]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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Nothing like a good heated conversation on a cool brisk morning. Since we are talking about this kit for inclusion in a survival kit, I would assume that the kit has the ability to produce flame, pretty much a fundamental prerequisite for survival situations.
I handle the "pot" situation by carrying a cup (GSI or Olicamp) that fits on the base of a Nalgene or energy drink container which is also fundamental to a survival kit (mine, anyway). ultralight titaniium cups are available if you wish to spend the money for very marginal weight savings.
The deal breaker for me is the four hour processing time. That would not be a problem is some situations, but if you come upon a water source in an arid situation, you are not going to wait that long - trust me.
Nor should you. The consequences of dehydration can be, and have been, quite deadly. Just go ahead and drink up. When you make it back to town, medical science is your friend and can get you straight again.
Back in the old days, I drank routinely from untreated sources, typically mountain streams and springs, never suffering any ill consequences. I would not do that today, if I have options.
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#283375 - 01/16/17 04:12 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
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I also ALWAYS carry at the very least a metal cup that fits over a Nalgene bottle. Yes, my kits ALWAYS carry fire starting supplies. All chemical purification methods have a wait time before the chemicals have had time to work against the impurities. If you have a pot and a fire, I would recommend boiling, after pre-filtering the water if you can.
The Aqua Pouch Plus just gives an option, and a backup, for a survival situation. Not everyone carries a metal cup or pot, and this kit fits very well in a pocket. Easy to carry and more likely to be with you when something bad happens.
I would also recommend a good filter pump or one of those gravity fed systems with a good filter. These are much more effective and quicker than a chemical method. They weigh more and take up more room, but if I am carrying a backpack, I have one. But I still have the Aqua pouch in my pocket.
I am prejudiced by my experiences, and I have been in some bad situations in the past. I have found that a reasonable redundancy in a critical system/need is a wise thing to have. Water is a critical need, and I have multiple methods for procurement and purification (boiling, filter, chemical). I do not recommend the Aqua Pouch as a primary method for water procurement and purification. It provides an additional option at little cost in money, space or weight.
I also carry redundancies in fire making, shelter and signaling. Knowledge combined with some new materials and devices allows for a light load in spite of redundancies. A minimum capability is kept on my body, my pack will carry more. One problem I have is that I am always with other people for whom I am responsible, so I carry more to ensure safety. While I do teach and prepare them for emergency situations, I am accustomed to relying on myself alone to ensure their safety.
This discussion of pros and cons of different methods is good, and can benefit anyone who reads these forums. That is how we learn.
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#283376 - 01/16/17 04:57 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: gonewiththewind]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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I heartily agree with redundancies in critical survival gear, especially fire. This thread drift, so i am going to start a new thread, just to keep things organized around here.
Good discussion. Again +1 to this is how we learn...
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#283395 - 01/17/17 03:58 AM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 358
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J-I, I've been making this same packet of AquaPouch, coffee filters , filter holder, and water purification tablets for many years. However, I add a Seychelles Abvanced Water Straw as my final step to obtain pure water. My area of activity is very urban , so the straw gives me some protection against chemical contaminants in water I'm processing. How much protection, I cannot say for sure. But its compact, light and inexpensive. I can take it in places where a big filter unit might generate unwanted questions/ attention.
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#283398 - 01/17/17 07:03 AM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/28/10
Posts: 3152
Loc: Big Sky Country
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I have several of those; aside from testing them I haven't used them. But I like them. They're pretty sturdy and extremely compact. I agree they're not the best way to transport and sanitize water but one of them on your person beats a steel bottle left at home or back at base camp.
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#283419 - 01/18/17 04:35 AM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Stranger
Registered: 12/27/14
Posts: 19
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I have used the Aqua-Pouch for a few years now, and my opinion of it mirrors Montanero's. It is light, compact, reliable, and cheap. It is great when you have no other option, and it is a valuable adjunct when you do have a primary rigid container. I tie a piece of 550 cord through the grommets to make a hand loop for easy carry or attachment.
Uses: - primary water container when you simply don't have space for anything else - store extra water beyond your primary container's capacity - treat suspect water with chemicals as you drink good water from your primary container; this is a real time saver - inflate with air and use it in a backpack or clothing for buoyancy during a water crossing - cut in half at an angle, then use the bottom half as a collapsible water scoop for dipping out of shallow creeks, ponds, and drips. Works far better than a ziploc bag for this, with minimal disruption of silt at the bottom of the water source
Since it can be opened very wide, it is much easier to dry an Aqua-Pouch for storage than a Platypus bottle.
One time I had a well-used Aqua-Pouch develop a leak; I think it bumped up against a sharp object. I emptied it, dried the area around the leak, and patched it with duct tape. Worked fine for the rest of the trip.
Mors Kochanski teaches that your survival gear should do 2 things for you: help you sleep, and meet your water needs. Clothing, fire, and clean water will do this for you. A knife, ferro rod, Aqua-Pouch, and CLO2 tablets make a very powerful little minimalist kit.
Of course anything extra is gravy and I'll take it when I can get it.
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#283431 - 01/19/17 01:57 AM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Addict
Registered: 08/14/05
Posts: 601
Loc: FL, USA
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My 2c..... I took some time awhile ago to do a 'test' with filtering water. I have a B.S. in Marine Bio so i didn't expect a coffee filter to actually do much of anything. I was completely right. I used some known 'dirty' water and checked it with the microscope. Down to 100x. Many organisms in it. Filtered it through coffee filters.... didn't filter out a single thing. Do NOT rely on the coffee filters to do much more that strain out the big stuff.
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#283435 - 01/19/17 12:31 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
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The coffee filter are only intended to get out the large chunks so the chemicals can work more effectively. Large objects provide a place for bacteria and other bad stuff to hide from the chemicals.
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#283436 - 01/19/17 03:08 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: gonewiththewind]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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If I am packing a coffee filter, there is a fair probability that it will not only strain out the chunks, but actually make coffee (unless I am packing my French press).
Of course,harking back to my cowboy coffee days, who needs a filter....
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#283438 - 01/19/17 04:14 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: Jeanette_Isabelle]
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Veteran
Registered: 10/14/08
Posts: 1517
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Going back to my days in Latin America, just throw the grounds in the pot and boil, then dip out the coffee.
As for straining of water, T-shirts, bandanas, sand (run some water through to clear out the dust) all work. The coffee filter is convenient and packs small.
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#283442 - 01/19/17 05:40 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: gonewiththewind]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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Going back to my days in Latin America, just throw the grounds in the pot and boil, then dip out the coffee. Takes me back to my first outdoor job, fire crew in Arizona. I worked for a real cowboy who put the coffee on to boil. One cup was all you needed to accomplish an early morning, four mile patrol. As I recall, the typical cup of coffee had about a 1/4" (6mm) of sediment remaining in the bottom......
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Geezer in Chief
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#283443 - 01/19/17 07:14 PM
Re: AQUA-POUCH™ PLUS
[Re: hikermor]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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Boiling coffee increases the acidity a lot. If you don't have a filter, just put the grounds into the pot of water just off a boil -- no longer in the fire. Best water temps are between 195-205şF. The grounds themselves should mostly settle out as the grounds in my cold brew coffee does (then I pass the concentrate through a filter to get the small stuff, but maybe not really necessary).
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