REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Super packable
Lightweight
Cheap in comparison to other filters
REASONS TO AVOID
More expensive then other chemical treatment
Chlorinated taste
Does not kill Crypto
MSR Aquatabs Review
This is the lightest chemical treatment option out there
Credit: MSR
Our Verdict
The MSR Aquatabs stand out as an ultra lightweight purification method that offers protection from bacteria, viruses, and Giardia cysts (but not Cryptosporidium). The small prepacked tablets fit nicely into a first kit and are perfect if you're a fast packer or a trail runner looking for a reliable purification source. While this seems swell, water quality is questionable and it will come out with a chlorinated taste. So much for fresh, delicious alpine lake water! While they are light and packable, there are other options that offer better value, water quality and protection.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
MSR Aquatabs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck | ||||
| Price | $9.99 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $14.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $8.97 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $20.00 List $14.99 at Amazon | $11.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Lightweight and reliable, this chemical treatment is perfect for lightweight travel or emergency use | The best chemical treatment option that will kill all pathogens when given enough time | Lightweight and easy to use, these tablets can be used as an emergency backup to regular treatment | An on-the-go filtration system that is simple and inexpensive | Stash these tablets in your backpack and hope you never have to use them |
| Rating Categories | MSR Aquatabs | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... | LifeStraw | Katadyn Micropur Pu... |
| Water Quality (20%) | |||||
| Durability & Maintenance (20%) | |||||
| Treatment Time (15%) | |||||
| Weight & Packability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Set Up (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Filtration (15%) | |||||
| Specs | MSR Aquatabs | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... | LifeStraw | Katadyn Micropur Pu... |
| Measured Weight (entire kit) | 0.1 oz | 3.0 oz | 2.3 oz | 1.75 oz | 0.45 oz |
| Removes Particulates (sediment, microplastics)? | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Effective Against Viruses? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Effective Against Chemicals? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Heavy Metals? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Bacteria? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Effective Against Protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium)? | Yes (Giardia = yes; Crypto = no) | Yes | Yes (Giardia = yes; Crypto = no) | Yes | Yes |
| Type of Filter/Purifier | Chemical treatment | Chemical treatment | Chemical treatment | Straw filter | Chemical treatment |
| Filter Media or Active Ingredient | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate | Chlorine dioxide | Iodine and Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide | Hollow Fiber | Chlorine dioxide |
| Filter Pore Size (Advertised) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.2 microns | N/A |
| Number of Liters/Gallons per Lifetime (Advertised) | 60 L / 16 gal (30 tabs) | 114 L / 30 gal (per package) | 25 L / 6.6 gal | 4,000 L / 1,000 gal | 20 L / 5.3 gal (20 tabs) |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
These treatment tabs are ultra lightweight and relatively inexpensive. While they do have their place purifying against bacteria, viruses, and giardia cysts (but not crypto), they taste like a chlorine pool after treatment, but, if you are okay with the taste and want the lightest and most packable purification option, the MSR Aquatabs is our recommendation.
Performance Comparison
Fastpacking on the remote Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in Iceland is a perfect utility of the ultralightweight MSR Aquatabs that weigh next to nothing.
Credit: Amber King
Water Quality
These super lightweight tabs are sufficient for treating bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. The active ingredient, Sodium dichloroisocyanurate kills these organisms. We are sad to say that it does not treat Cryptosporidium, a protozoan known to be present in backcountry water sources in North America. Most filters will not get rid of viruses, which are so small that they pass through many filter elements; for this reason, chemical filtration is often appropriate for viruses.
Here we see some turbid water with some particulate matter. While these tabs can destroy most protozoa (except Crypto), bacteria, and viruses, it can get rid of chemicals or particulates.
Credit: Amber King
Also, because you are just adding a tablet to the water, this type of treatment does not filter out particulates. If you find yourself in areas with lots of silt or sediment, be sure to bring along a buff or handkerchief to filter out these stuff out of your water.
The reason this treatment system gets such a low score in this category is simply because of the taste. Unlike filtration systems and some of the chemical treatments out there, the flavor is pretty awful. In a blind taste test, our testers concluded that water treated with the Aquatabs is the worst, offering a gross chlorinated taste, synonymous with drinking pool water — not our first option when it comes to chemical treatment, simply because of the taste. However, if lightweight is what you're after, this will do it.
Durability & Maintenance
Aquatabs come pre-packed individually. Just make sure they don't get wet as they can dissolve if the packaging gets saturated. Toss them in a mini plastic bag, and they'll be just fine. Super reliable. An entire package can treat up to 60L.
Treatment Time
These tablets take 30 minutes to purify your water effectively. Other chemical treatments are similar. On the spectrum of water filtration and treatment systems in general, this is relatively slow considering you can filter a liter of water in roughly a minute using a gravity filter.
Counting down the time to purify water with the Aquatabs.
Credit: Amber King
Weight & Packability
Aquatabs are the lightest method of purification in this entire review. Their weight is a negligible 0.2 ounces for all 60 tablets. The weight of an individual packet didn't even register on our scale. If you're looking for a lightweight and reliable method of water treatment, or need a back-up emergency system, it's a great option.
Ease of Set Up
These tabs are one of the easiest methods to use; rip open the package and drop them in. Simply, easy peasy. Our only caveat to the tabs is the number of tabs per package. These come individually packaged, and each package contains two tabs. One tab can treat 2 liters of water. Since many carry a Nalgene, this means breaking a tablet in half to treat just 1 liter of water. If you use the whole tablet, the chlorinated taste is strong. For situations where just 1 liter of water needs to be treated, its a bit of a pain. Though, if you often carry more than 1 liter, it's pretty nice. Overall, easy to use!
All you have to carry with you is a water storage container. The water sources you can access depends on the container.
Since each tab is designed to treat 2L of water each, it can get tricky if your storage container holds an uneven number, like 1 or 3 liters.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Ease of Filtration
The package of 30 tablets will treat up to 60 liters meaning that one packet (that contains two tablets) can treat 4L total. Filtration is painless, drop it in, mix, and wait. The only bummer is you might need to pre-filter your water of particulates which might take some time.
Carry a buff or handkerchief with you. If you come across a murky source of water and are in a pinch, scoop the water in one collection container (if you've got it). Then put the handkerchief over the opening of the “clean water” container. Then pour the water through to filter out silt and dirt. Then add your tablet.
The AquaTabs is a simple and easy backup purification solution. Use it the backcountry as a back-up emergency method or for ultralightweight travel.
Credit: Jessica haist
Value
As a backup that you can store in your first aid kit for a long time before using them, the Aquatabs is a decent value - which works out to under 20 cents per liter. You can also buy in bulk if you're looking to treat ample water for a base camp or water purification program.
Conclusion
The best and primary purpose for MSR's Aquatabs is as a backup or super lightweight travel purification method. They are do not eliminate cryptosporidium, which limits their functionality, but they do treat viruses, unlike many filtration systems. While we don't like the chlorinated taste that they leave in your mouth, we do appreciate that each packet is seemingly weightless, making it a great option for those who need a super light purification method or an emergency back-up on long trails.
—Amber King
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