by J. A. Tiscareno

July 13, 2025

A reliable portable water purifier is one of the most important items a backpacker can carry. Whether you’re hiking through remote wilderness, camping off the grid, or preparing for emergencies, access to safe, clean drinking water can mean the difference between comfort and catastrophe. Fortunately, the Sagan Life AquaBrick® Component Kit offers an all-in-one water filtration solution that’s compact, effective, and built for rugged use.

Designed to transform any AquaBrick® Food and Water Storage Container into a powerful water purification system for camping, this kit features the advanced DuraFlo® water filter, capable of purifying up to 700 gallons of contaminated freshwater. It’s not just a smart choice for backpackers—it’s also an indispensable emergency water filter for survival situations and disaster preparedness.

Let’s explore how the AquaBrick Component Kit supports ultralight travel, outdoor resilience, and peace of mind on and off the trail.

Why Backpackers Need a Reliable Water Purification System

No matter how carefully you plan a trip, access to fresh, safe water is never guaranteed in the wild. Streams and lakes may look pristine but often contain dangerous pathogens such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, and viruses. These can cause severe gastrointestinal distress or worse, especially when hydration is critical.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all outdoor travelers treat water before drinking. Boiling is effective but time consuming and fuel intensive. Chemical treatments can be harsh and leave unpleasant tastes. Gravity-fed or pump systems often require extra components and bulk.

This is where the AquaBrick Component Kit truly excels: it’s engineered for simplicity, efficiency, and maximum portability. It’s lightweight, rugged, and transforms your AquaBrick container into a high-output camping water filter with minimal effort.

What’s in the AquaBrick Component Kit?

Available at SaganLife.com, the AquaBrick Component Kit includes:

• (1) DuraFlo® Filter (purifies up to 700 gallons)
• (1) Spigot
• (1) Hand Pump
• (1) Tube and Cap Assembly
• Easy Instructions

These components instantly convert any Sagan Life AquaBrick® Container into a full-scale survival water purifier. Whether you already own a single AquaBrick or several, this kit turns each one into a multipurpose tool for both hydration and storage.

Let’s take a closer look at how each component functions and why it’s a perfect match for outdoor adventurers.

The Power of the DuraFlo® Filter

At the heart of the AquaBrick Component Kit is the DuraFlo® water filter—a proprietary technology by Sagan Life. This replaceable filter is tested to remove harmful bacteria, viruses, and protozoa from non-saltwater sources. It also reduces harmful heavy metals like lead and arsenic, as well as chemicals like chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The filter works by forcing contaminated water through a dense matrix of hollow fiber membranes, each engineered to trap microscopic pathogens and particles. It does this without the use of chemicals or electricity, making it the perfect emergency water filter or everyday camping solution.

Key Features of the DuraFlo® Filter:

• Removes 99.9999% of Bacteria (e.g., E. coli)
• Removes 99.99% of Viruses (e.g., Hepatitis A)
• Removes 99.99% of Protozoan Cysts (e.g., Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
• Reduces Heavy Metals & VOCs
• Filters up to 700 gallons per unit
• No chemicals or electricity required

This exceptional performance rivals or exceeds filters used by major humanitarian organizations worldwide, making the DuraFlo® filter an ideal backbone for any portable water purifier.

From Storage to Filtration: The AquaBrick Advantage

AquaBrick containers are known for their crush-proof, stackable, and interlocking design, which makes them perfect for long-term storage and transport. With the Component Kit, they serve a dual function: water storage and on-demand water purification.

Once connected, the DuraFlo® filter draws water through the system either via gravity or with the included hand pump. You can pour purified water directly into a bottle, cookpot, or hydration bladder.

Why this system works so well for backpackers:

• Modular Design: Take only what you need. Use a single AquaBrick and Component Kit for a solo hike or bring multiple bricks for group treks.
• Lightweight Setup: Compared to bulky ceramic filters or electric purifiers, this setup weighs less and provides more volume over time.
• No Fuel or Power Needed: Just fill, pump, and pour.
• Rapid Flow Rate: The hand pump ensures fast filtration on demand.

In short, the AquaBrick Component Kit simplifies your hydration needs without compromising safety—a critical factor for any camping water filter.

Safe Drinking Water from Any Non-Saltwater Source

One of the most compelling features of the AquaBrick Component Kit is its compatibility with virtually any non-saltwater source. Whether you’re filling up from a freshwater stream, alpine lake, river, or even rain barrel, the system will remove contaminants without requiring pre-filtration.

This is especially useful in remote areas where water quality is unpredictable or downstream from wildlife activity. It’s also a huge benefit for urban emergency kits, where tap water may be compromised after disasters like earthquakes, floods, or wildfires.

Because the system is gravity or hand-pump powered, you can use it:

• In the field while backpacking
• At base camp
• At home during boil water advisories
• During bug-out scenarios
• At sporting events/tailgate parties

With a capacity of 700 gallons per filter, you could hydrate a family of four for nearly six months under emergency conditions, or a solo hiker for years of adventure.

How It Stands Apart from Other Camping Filters

Let’s take a moment to compare the AquaBrick Component Kit to other water purification systems for camping.

Feature	AquaBrick Component Kit	Gravity Filters	Pump Filters	UV Purifiers	Chemical Tablets
Removes Viruses	✅	❌ (some)	❌ (some)	✅	✅
Removes Heavy Metals	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
No Electricity	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
No Chemicals	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Volume Capacity	High (700 gal)	Low to Medium	Low	Very Low	Medium
Durability	Rugged Plastic	Delicate Bags	Fragile Components	Fragile	N/A
Taste	Clean, no chemical aftertaste	Depends	Varies	Neutral	Often bad

With its wide-spectrum purification, rugged housing, and high output, the AquaBrick Component Kit clearly excels in areas where most others fall short.

Emergency Preparedness: A Second Use Case

While designed with outdoor exploration in mind, the Component Kit also shines as a survival water purifier in emergency scenarios.

Following disasters, municipal water systems often fail. FEMA recommends storing a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. But bottled water is heavy, space-consuming, and subject to degradation over time.

The AquaBrick Component Kit provides:

• Long-term resilience: Filter up to 700 gallons per unit
• Quick deployment: Set up in minutes
• Compact storage: AquaBricks can be stacked or stored in closets, under beds, or in vehicles
• Reusability: Store water before an emergency and purify it only when needed

Whether you’re preparing for a grid-down event or building your go-bag, this kit is an essential emergency water filter you can count on.

Real-World Scenarios: Trail to Crisis Use Cases

Here are just a few examples of how the AquaBrick Component Kit can support both everyday adventures and high-stress emergencies:

1. Ultralight Backpacking Trip in Utah’s High Desert:
   A hiker relies on the AquaBrick kit to collect water from desert springs and rivers, using a hand pump to fill hydration bladders while avoiding chemical treatments.
2. Family Emergency Plan in Earthquake Country:
   Parents keep AquaBricks in the garage with the Component Kit ready to go. In case of infrastructure damage, they can purify water from the rain barrel or bath tub.
3. International Humanitarian Work:
   Aid workers pack the Component Kit into a suitcase and use local AquaBrick containers to create a high-capacity portable water purifier on arrival—no batteries or complicated setup needed.
4. Vanlife and Overlanding:
   The system integrates seamlessly into overlanding and campervan builds, offering water purification from streams, tanks, or campground spigots without fear of contamination.

How to Set Up and Use the AquaBrick Component Kit

1. Assemble the Filter – Attach the DuraFlo filter to the cap assembly.
2. Insert the Filter into the AquaBrick – Fit the tube through the cap and attach the hand pump or spigot depending on your needs.
3. Fill the Brick – Pour untreated water into the AquaBrick container. (It is recommended that if your water source has turbidity or any type of solid particles, you can “pre-filter” the water using a towel, or cheesecloth before pouring the water into the AquaBrick Container.
4. Pump or Pour – Use the hand pump for pressure or allow gravity to move water through the spigot.
5. Drink Safely – Pour filtered water into a bottle or container and enjoy clean hydration.

Simple. Fast. Effective.

Who Is This Kit For?

The AquaBrick Component Kit is ideal for:

• Backpackers & campers
• Preppers & survivalists
• Hunters & anglers
• Sporting event or tail gate party enthusiasts
• Families building emergency kits
• Humanitarian aid workers
• Missionaries or overseas volunteers
• Vanlifers & overlanders

Whether you’re trekking into the wilderness or preparing for the next blackout, it’s a game-changer.

Final Thoughts: Pack Light, Purify More

The AquaBrick Component Kit is more than just a camping water filter—it’s an all-terrain hydration solution that bridges adventure and emergency readiness. With its ability to transform a food-safe storage container into a powerful water purification system for camping, it redefines what a portable water purifier should be.

Backpack lighter. Drink safer. Be more prepared. The AquaBrick Component Kit ensures you’ll never be without clean water—no matter where the trail, road, or storm takes you.