Touring - Water filter necessary?

I'm doing the Lewis and Clark this summermand was wondering if I needed to
Bring along one or not?
I didn't use one for last years Southern tour.
I am trying to drop my gear weight down.
Thanks

If you consume non-boiled water from anywhere other than a municipal treated system or a purpose-built well you are taking a chance on contracting Giardia, which will keep you off your bike for at least 10 days. If ACA supplies water filters for their L&C, I'd follow suit. L&C uses more "primitive" campgrounds than does the Southern Tier. I will bring a filter this summer for a 8 week loop trip I will be taking this summer in the Rockies.

I didn't bring one but would have used it like 3 times had I brought one. As a 'just in case' you can bring a small bottle of iodine tablets which should purify the water, but not filter it. I also saw a really rad UV light filter which was incredibly small and does the same thing as the iodine but without the taste.

I consider a water filter part of my basic equipment. I use the MSR miniworks. On a couple of trips it never got used, on another it was used every other day.

Aaron:)

I carried one on the western third of the TA before sending it home. We used it about three times. I would say it was possibly worth the weight since three of us were sharing it. I don't think I would carry one on the TA if traveling alone, but would probably just treat water if in a bind. I don't know if the differences of the L&C would make it more worthwhile.

I've never done the L & C, but we never used our water filter last year on our 9300-mile trek around the USA and Mexico. We just stocked with plenty of water whenever we had a chance. We eventually sent it home.

On the western end, from Missoula to Astoria, it's not necessary as well as on the eastern end from Vermillion, SD to St. Louis. Haven't done the middle yet but glancing at the maps, there seems to be only a couple of places that would be iffy. For those, I'd just boil water if the source is questionable.

Why not carry some Micro Pur tablets for just in case?

Thanks for all the info.
I think i'll take some micro pur tabs. For a just in case scenario.
Tried the other stuff and it tasted icky as ^$%$!

Why not carry some Micro Pur tablets for just in case?

This (http://www.outdooroutlet.com/shopping.php?pg=product-detail&id=869) is a much better value, and doesn't taste quite as "off".

Although I have used Katahdin Pocket Filter with great results in some awful places for over twenty years I found the MicroPur tablets quite useful as a substitute on the Divide Ride. They should handle the L&C easily. You just need to plan for the delay factor of up to 4 hours for complete disinfection of Cryptosporidium. I just rotated water containers regularly.

Microwaves ;)

What about a Bota Bottle (http://www.survivalequipment.net/botaoutback.html)? I picked one up online for $10US. Fits in a standard bike water bottle cage. The filter can be easily removed if you're getting your water from a clean source... Sierra Trading Post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=99592&cdf=TopSeller) has them for $12.95US right now.

I use water purification tables and I carry them on every trip. I've only used them once.