When I use a kelly kettle its pointless to treat the water because it achieves a full rolling boil. I also use aqua-mira, but where I hike I think I would do just fine if I didn't treat the water at all, perhaps even better. If I hiked some place where a kelly kettle or hobbo stove was impractical I would use a small alcohol stove and aqua-mira if the water was questionable. That said, though it is less important to protect ourselves from the environment, and more important to protect the environment from our activity; personal hygene and water treatment are important components towards that end. (pardon the pun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )