In the world of hiking and backpacking there is what is known as the "Big Three", which refers to the three largest, heaviest, and often most expensive things you carry on your hike trekking: the obvious backpack, your tent and your sleeping bag. Many articles giving opinions on the best of these choices can be found on the Internet or in magazines. While there are many hiking and backpacking products available for purchase, these “Big Three” are the most talked about. I have good quality, mid-range products for my big three, I only invested about $350 and together they weigh just over eight pounds. While I could have spent a lot more money to save ounces, this is considerable light for the price point. But the big three are not my purpose for writing today. I'd like to inform you about the next big need for hiking tickets, which isn't talked about much in hiking and backpacking forums. While your tent, sleeping bag, and backpack are important for comfort on the trail, when it comes to survival you can create a shelter to stay warm and dry from your surroundings. However, without clean water you can survive on average only three days. When you consume water that has been contaminated upstream by animals or civilizations, it may contain some nasty bugs that cause even more nasty side effects. Taking the risk by drinking potentially contaminated water is not worth the risk, as you may end up losing more fluids than you took in. This is why I consider my water filtration system one of the most important items in my backpack. The MSR Miniworks Filter System is a single direction pump with a pump force of 10.4 lbs. Once packaged, it comes in a case that measures 7.8x 3.8 inches and we… in the center of the paper… some sort of fabric attachment to cover it so it can better handle larger particles. I use a coffee filter and rubber band to filter out tannin in areas where there are large amounts of dead plant matter in the water. Knowing that the water I'm drinking while on the trail or in the field won't cause me any harm allows me to enjoy the outdoors that I love. In conclusion, while the main focus of most of the advice provided by experienced campers and hikers is to focus on lighter tents, sleeping bags and backpacks, they have missed one essential item to include in your backpack. It is worth investing in a good water filter system that is easy to use, small to carry and reliable. My $90 system will ensure my safety and the safety of others with me, allowing us to enjoy the view without worry. Next time you meet an avid hiker, ask them about their “Big Four"..”