Tim wrote:Has refilling from natural water sources caused issues with your blasters in the past? If you do need to filter these natural sources, how fine does the filtration really need to be? Products like the Life Straw employ nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, or fine microfiltration. However, wouldn't fine particulate filtration be adequate? I only ask because (given the same filtration area) a particulate filter would pass a greater flow rate and would not clog as fast as other separation technologies.
Fine particulate filtration would work just fine. I was only thinking that it would be useful for purchase since it would have dual uses. E.g. you could drink during the fight, or while camping or whatever, and also use it for refilling. Natural sources haven't been that much of an issue, but I do tend to get leaves, and all other stuff in my tank from time to time, or at least I have to fight that while refilling. I figured this might be safer, especially for older blasters.
Perhaps we should make some moderate sized dual way pump with a filter on it. Shouldn't be too difficult. I know some people carry around canteens or water bottles.
At MOAB I ditched the dual canteens I used to carry in favor of a knife, a cell phone, and extra socks. I didn't use the extra socks, even though my feet were wet, but I used them to keep my phone dry, and we actually used our phones a bit. The knife came in handy. The canteen pouch was useful for putting my action camera in (along with the phone, etc.) when I didn't want to record/have it on my head. I also carried waterballoons in my shoulder pocket, which came in handy to extend my range and force people back from time to time. I have been modding my light blasters to have a waterballoon filler over the nozzle. I carried an XP 70 with a larger PC and waterbaloon filler as a sidearm and my modded 600 was also able to fill balloons. That worked out actually better than carrying around canteens. Rather clunky if you ask me. I've also looked into collapsable waterbottles.
The more water I have the more I will shoot my blaster. Even if I'm not as likely to make hits, it at least keeps the enemy moving. I like to be aggressive, but you have to play according to the blasters that you carry. It was interesting using the modded 600 + waterballoons + XP 70. The combo was not nearly as bulky as you'd imagine, and I actually fared quite well.
Tangent -
I really am interested in water purification and clarity. This includes stormwater systems as well as natural water sources. My cousin Drew, which some of you met at Hydropoc, is looking at going to UNC for a Masters in Environmental Engineering for this kind of work. One day I would love to purchase the land surrounding Little Creek, by the dam where we played. I want to clean up the water and revamp the ecosystem there. It is beautiful and has lots of potential.
If you didn't come to the war you should look forward to Chief's video that he is making on it. We have some really good footage. You will also see the kind of water sources we were using where a life straw or an even more functional pump would come in handy. We had one really long round that lasted from 11:30 to 3, and then another from 3:30 to 4:15. We ate and drank on the fly. I'm not saying that drinking from the stream with a life straw would be my first choice. But if you really wanted to be hardcore about it, or ran out of the potable water you packed, or if you didn't want to bring any potable water in it could definitely be useful for that as well.