Filtering viruses the only difference between a water filter and a water purifier is that purifiers remove or kill viruses and filters do not.
Virus water filter camping.
To protect against protozoa bacteria and even viruses there is a wide range of water filtration and purification systems built specifically for backpacking many options on this list are great for day hiking trail running and travel too.
Water filters work by physically straining out protozoan cysts such as cryptosporidium and giardia lamblia and bacteria such as e.
The best filtration systems can remove chemicals heavy metals and odors using activated carbon embedded in the core of the media.
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Viruses are rarely a problem in north america so most us backpackers don t worry about treating them.
On the microscopic scale viruses are far smaller than protozoa and bacteria.
They simply slip through the filter media that filters use.
Because of this they re too small for backpacking filters to catch.
A backpacking water filter not purifiers can remove particulates bacteria protozoans giardia cryptosporidium but cannot remove viruses.
Traditionally tackling viruses has been tough for water treatment devices.
Coli salmonella campylobacter and shigella.