Water 101: Safe Water Treatment Solutions for International Travelers

Whether you’re planning a backcountry trip or an urban adventure abroad—say, an Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal, or a cultural tour of its capital, Kathmandu—you’ll want to take extra precautions with your drinking water. In many developing countries, both municipal drinking water and backcountry water are prone to viruses in addition to bacteria and protozoa. Bringing a water purification system with you is a smart way to help protect you from viral infections that can jeopardize your health, not to mention ruin your vacation. There are a few water treatment options available to you that target different qualities of water. A general rule when treating water is to start with the clearest water possible, but sometimes your options are limited. Here’s what you should know about treating water when traveling…

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Go the Distance: The MSR Thru-Hiker Shelter System

One has to be prepared for anything on the PCT: marshy meadows and mosquitos in the Sierra Nevadas, bear encounters in Yosemite, thunderstorms in the Cascade Range, and, apparently, marriage proposals near Mount Adams. At least that’s what Erin Parsons and Mike Porzio experienced during their PCT adventure in 2014. For Erin and Mike, it was a life-changing trip across approximately 1,000 miles in 100 days. For the MSR Shelter team, which was at the time reassessing the lightweight shelter market, it was a chance to learn from Erin and Mike’s experiences to design a shelter that was missing from the industry. “We listened closely to Erin and Mike, and we feel we’ve developed the perfect shelter for thru-hikers and long-distance backpackers,” said Terry Breaux, MSR Shelter Product Manager. The…

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