[pct-l] Aqua Mira v chlorine

[Rod Belshee]

While on my PCT hike, I'd say about 70-85% of other hikers used Aqua Mira and 1-2% used bleach.
While on my CDT hike, I'd say about 60-70% used Aqua Mira and 20-30% used bleach.

I used bleach, so was in the minority. 

I liked that bleach was cheap and easy. No mixing, etc. I carried the tiniest bottle I could find and it lasted months. I kept it in a pocket on my hipbelt, so I didn't even stop to take a pack off --just dip in my water bottles, drip in the chlorine and keep hiking. 30 minutes later I had water. To refill I just bought a jug of Chlorox after a couple of months, filled my tiny bottle, and left the full jug at the laundry. Simple. Do make sure you buy just regular bleach (6% hypochlorite) without anything extra added.

I did try Aqua Mira for one stretch and found that the bottles were very expensive, bulky, and since it took many more drops they didn't last nearly as long as bleach. I went back to bleach because it is smaller, lighter, easier, and much cheaper.

I cannot comment on the health issues of hypochlorite (bleach) versus chlorine dioxide (Aqua Mira). I did take large doses of vitamin C as an antioxidant, just in case that help offset the chlorine radical. I also let my bottles stand overnight uncapped, so that the chlorine could outgas.

Steady
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