One of the gifts that are often dispensed on media familiarisation tours are water bottles. As a result, I have plenty of them in my cupboard. So, why would I need yet another one?
I purchased a Grayl GeoPress before heading up to remote Far North Queensland for a trek through its rugged hinterland. The region has a long history of mining, which means that some of its waterways are contaminated with arsenic and other heavy metals. I wanted to make sure I stayed the course!
This is a water bottle and purifier all in one, and I can recommend it to whoever hits the road – whether that’s a dingy hostel, or a five-star hotel in any country where the water is known to cause tummy upsets. I was so grateful to have it when we drew drinking water from random streams, rivers and water tanks.
It’s easy to use – even if forcing the filter cartridge down through the dodgy water you’ve scooped feels like a big effort after a day of hiking. But this little beauty reliably provided crystal clean drinking water – minus waterborne pathogens, chemicals, heavy metals and more – in about 8 to 10 seconds.
There’s good support and service too. Towards the end of the trek, I lost the lid in a fast-flowing river, and after hearing my tale of woe, the Aussie-based branch of the company replaced it free of charge.
