Purify wild water

by Thomas
(US)

Most chemicals sold to treat water will not reliably purify wild water (although they will make it safer). Except for chlorine dioxide (if used according to directions, which may require waiting up to four hours) the most wildly available chemicals for treating water (Sodium hypochlorite and iodine) are not effective against giardia or cryptosporidium according to public and private health authorities (Wilderness
Medical Society, Mayo Clinic, USEPA, UCCDC).

On the other hand, almost any commercial water filter for wild water removes the cysts of those parasites and the chemicals will reliably kill the rest.

Boil water in a lexan bottle

by Kris
(Canada)

Because water boils before plastic melts, it is possible to boil water in a lexan bottle. Mind you, it`s easy to melt plastic in an open flame so doing this runs the risk of destroying your only water vessel.

Do be careful.

Boil water in a paper cup

by Matt W.
(TX)

No joke, I've done it several times. Even a plastic dixie cup will do. Much like the tips advising survivalists that they can boil water in a plastic container, thin paper also conducts heat into the water inside fast enough to keep it from burning.

Just suspend your paper cup (hopefully not wax-coated) over the fire, or even resting on the burning materials, and it will get a boiling quickly. Of course, it's worth noting that any cup above the level of the water will char away very quickly, leaving you with no easy way to retrieve your boiling-hot liquid from the fire.

Hope you have tongs, pliers, or a multitool!