Skip to main content

PurTrek has a trekking pole that will help keep you hydrated on the trail

If you’re the kind of hiker who appreciates a piece of gear that is versatile enough to pull double-duty on the trail, then you’re going to want to check out PurTrek’s trekking poles. Recently launched on Kickstarter, these walking sticks not only provide all of the functionality you would expect from a traditional set of trekking poles, but they have a unique, hidden feature that could make them extremely popular with the ultralight backpacking crowd. That’s because these poles come with a built-in water filtration system that can provide clean drinking water on the go.

Made from lightweight, yet durable carbon fiber, the PurTrek trekking poles look a lot like any other trekking pole you might find in your local gear shop. When fully extended, they reach 57 inches in length, but can collapse down to as short as 35 inches for ease of storage and transportation. They feature ergonomically designed rubber handles, adjustable CAM locks, and carbide tips, all of which help to keep hikers stable and balanced out on the trail.

They are a bit heavier than other carbon fiber trekking poles, tipping the scales at about 17 ounces each. That’s because hidden away inside the PurTrek is an advanced water purification system that can reportedly eliminate 99.99 percent of all waterborne bacteria, protozoa, and micro plastics. As if that wasn’t enough, the filter is said to be two or three times faster than other purifiers on the market, allowing backpackers to fill their water bottles and hydration reservoirs at a much faster rate. The designers behind the poles say the filter can also clean up to 500 liters of water before it needs to be replaced.

PurTrek Trek Pole Water Filtration Sneak Peek Video 2

To begin using the PurTrek poles to create clean drinking water, hikers simply flip open a cap at the top of the handle and insert a small rubber hose. Next, they unclip the topmost CAM lock, which exposes a built-in pump that is used to draw water into the filter itself. The pole is then inserted into a stream, river, or lake and the hiker begins pushing down on the handle to activate the pump. As the water passes through the purification system the clean water empties out of the hose to be collected in a bottle or reservoir. The entire process looks quick, easy, and efficient, and the person using the pump doesn’t even have to get down on his or her knees to collect the water.

The designers of the PurTrek were hoping to raise $10,000 to get the device into production, but just a few days into the Kickstarter campaign, they’ve already more than tripled that amount. That means that the trekking poles should start shipping in February with a retail price of $179 for one and $358 for a set of two. Early bird supporters can order the poles now at a substantial discount, but as always, be sure you understand the risks of backing any crowdfunding campaign before pledging your money.

Kraig Becker
Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…
I turned my van into an office with a battery-powered AC and heat pump
An EcoFlow Wave 2 air conditioner and heat pump inside a Mitsubishi Delica van.

Like a lot of remote workers, I know I’m lucky to be able to work from home. I have a home office with a comfy leather chair, a skylight, and an oversized doofus of a dog, Marty, who reclines adorably on the couch behind me for Zoom meetings. But I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit I go a little stir crazy from time to time, yearning to work from somewhere other than the same place I eat, sleep, and relax.

How about a van? I bought my 1990 Mitsubishi Delica for camping, but it always seemed like it could serve as a mobile office with a view, if not for one critical shortcoming: For nine months out of the year in Portland, it’s too cold, and for the other three, it’s too hot. Without adding thousands of dollars for a battery power system, my best bet was heavy socks and gloves. But EcoFlow gave me a glimmer of hope at CES 2023 when I spotted the EcoFlow Wave 2. With an onboard battery, it promised to heat or cool anywhere, no external power system needed.

Read more
I was wrong. E-bikes are so practical, they’re a transit cheat code
An Aventon Level 2 ebike sits outside a grocery store.

Confession: Despite loving both bikes and gadgets, e-bikes never excited me. Compared to my bicycle, e-bikes seemed unfair. Compared to my motorcycle, they seemed slow. Compared to my car, they seemed impractical.

But with $1,500 federal e-bike rebates potentially on the horizon at part of E-Bike Act, I decided it was past time to reconsider. Not just because 30% off would make them way more accessible, but because the entire idea that e-bikes could be worthy of a rebate changed the way I looked at them: less as toys, more as transit. Had I written off an entire way of getting around because I was looking at it the wrong way?

Read more
Upway launches one of the best marketplaces for certified e-bikes, new or not
Man holding ebike from Upway in a field, lifestyle image.

This content was produced in partnership with Upway.
It wasn't too long ago that e-bikes were a rare sight, but all of that has changed, and rightfully so. Electric bikes are all over the road these days, and there are many brands either venturing into the technology, to launch their own versions of the sustainable transportation option or reiterating existing and traditional designs. From Aventon to Schwinn, or RadPower to Momentum, with so many opportunities, the prevailing question is, where do you go to find the best deals and the best information about these brands and their e-bike models? The answer is Upway, the number one certified electric bike provider and an official partner to many of the aforementioned brands.

What is Upway, exactly? It's a marketplace, specializing in e-bikes, featuring an inventory that's sourced from some of the best brands in the world. There are American brands -- like Specialized, Cannondale, and RadPower -- and European brands -- like Riese, Muller, and VanMoof. The best part is the discounts, offering up to 60% off retail, for a plethora of brands. Upway is on a mission to make sustainable mobility affordable for everyone. It's also one of the best places to go for a new or pre-owned e-bike, and here's why:

Read more