Choosing a Method
Scandinavian mountain streams look pristine but can carry giardia from livestock and wildlife upstream. Always treat water on multi-day trips unless drawing from a marked safe source.
Gear
- Squeeze filters: fast, reliable, good for solo hikers.
- Chemical tablets: ultralight backup; wait time required.
- UV pens: effective in clear water; carry spare batteries.
- Boiling: foolproof if you have stove fuel to spare.
- Pre-filter with a bandana if water is silty.
Trail Tips
- Collect from fast-moving water, not stagnant pools.
- Avoid downstream of farms or heavy trail traffic.
- In winter, melting snow costs fuel — plan water stops at streams.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.