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Post by hangingtrekker on Jul 9, 2016 8:16:16 GMT -8
Hi All. I am looking at getting a nice water filter pump. In my ~10 years backpacking I have never had one. The trips I have gone on someone else has always had the pump, I have had my water supply with me, or there was a fresh water supply accessible in camp. I know from the other pumps I have worked that they can get real hard to pump. I see the MSR Sweetwater Micro Filter has a longer lever handle on it. That may help on the resistance. What are your thoughts? What are your experiences? The first area this would be used is southern Illinois, but will see use in the Appalachians and other places around the US and Canada perhaps.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 9, 2016 9:26:14 GMT -8
Personaly, I went through a couple of Pur pumps before changing to a gravity filter. I carry tablets (MicroPur) for most of my needs, as they are lighter, but a good gravity filter certainly makes life easier in camp. Sawyer makes a good set up.
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Post by hangingtrekker on Jul 9, 2016 9:51:41 GMT -8
Hmm. That sawyer system looks pretty slick. Do you clean out the bags much? How easy/difficult is that? Is yours the 2L or 4L set up? If 2L - how convenient is it for group outings and multiple runs to get everyone refilled?
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jul 9, 2016 10:03:07 GMT -8
I can't say that I have much experience with water filters, but I used a Sawyer Mini for about a month in South America last year. Occassional backflushing is important with that type of filter, as well as keeping the "dirty" and "clean" bags distinct and separate. It's a gravity system. It took a few minutes to filter, but I was never in a rush - in fact, it forced me to sit down and relax for a few minutes, which is somewhat difficult with the brain I have (grrr...).
For me, one of the most important things while on the trail is to NOT be in a rush, so a couple of minutes here or there isn't an issue for me.
HYOH.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2016 10:07:04 GMT -8
I have used various water treatment systems; pills, UV, pumps, and others. Early on, water was one of the issues that can easily impact a backpacking trip. With my experiences I have over-bought on my ability to obtain drinking water when it came to pump filters.
Many, many, years ago I had a Sweetwater filter that failed on the first trip out. Perhaps 'they' have worked out the issues but I am not willing to give them a 2nd chance.
My wife's Sawyer Squeeze filter has, recently, hit 6 years old of use without failuer.
The Sawyer-mini is small enough and lightweight enough to carry 2 on a trip.
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Post by hangingtrekker on Jul 9, 2016 10:19:25 GMT -8
Good info.
It looks like there are 2 filter options on the Sawyer gravity systems - .10 micron hollow fiber membrane and a .02 micron. The .02 is noticeably more expensive. Being a smaller micron filter it may take longer, but would do a better filtration job I'd think.
As to the squeeze filters - those look interesting.
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on Jul 9, 2016 10:20:17 GMT -8
I've had two Sweetwaters--both started leaking around a seal.
I've got an MSR MiniWorks, which is far and away the most reliable thing I've seen; it's the only thing I'd want if I was going where the water was yucky. I've had its ceramic filter clogged so hard I couldn't pump at all, but 30 seconds with the little brillo pad made it like new. Only problem is it's heavy--a full pound.
For the last 3 years or so I've been using the Sawyer Mini. I love the weight and especially the size. It requires backflushing now and then, but that's a minor inconvenience. As long as the water is good (mountain streams and clean lakes), I see no reason to go back. I do recommend getting a different dirty bag than comes with it. I like the Evernew bags, though they're infuriatingly hard to find.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 9, 2016 10:25:45 GMT -8
I now use a gravity filter (MSR Autoflow) wherever possible and carry a Sawyer or Sawyer Mini for backup. If the water is yucky, I put an activated charcoal filter on the outflow. I save my Miniworks and other pump filters for only the nastiest and siltiest conditions.
The gravity flow filters are all quite similar in performance, and if you backflush them often enough they're a lot faster than pumping and a lot less tiring. Plus, you can eat or do other chores while it happens, instead of wearing yourself out. Hiking solo in the desert, I usually filter two gallons from a source, sometimes three, and that's an ordeal with a pump.
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crawford
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Post by crawford on Jul 9, 2016 16:39:17 GMT -8
I use a Kadadyn Hiker Pro. It is a little larger and a little more weight than some on the market, but I like it. I use it on solo trips and with groups. It pumps easily, fills water bottles pretty quikly, and has lasted me the last few years without issue. See if you can find someone in your area who has one and check it out.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Jul 10, 2016 7:40:22 GMT -8
I think the Katadyn Hiker is the easiest and most dependable. I've come back to it after years of trying other filters.
If you must go Sawyer (they are very tempting), I recommend the regular size over the mini. The water flow is better and the tiny frail bags of the mini make it almost unusable without modification. I find trying to fill the Sawyer bags and squeeze water through them into a bottle to be slower and more of a PITA than breaking out the Hiker.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jul 10, 2016 7:42:07 GMT -8
I have a Sawyer Squeeze but rarely use it. Last week my hiking partner broke the handle on my Katadyn Hiker Pro due to blatant misuse. Upon our return to Durango I had no qualms about replacing it immediately at Backcountry Experience. All will have options and opinions, for a variety of valid reasons. I rarely pitch tents near water sources, don't like loss of trail time due to fiddle factor at water sources and simply want to get the job done in a swift and functional manner. My style is to carry the least amount of water as possible and fill up often based on waters source availability. Have spent a lot of do-re-mi on ultra light gear to shave ounces off my BPW (Base Pack Weight) and knowingly keep the Hiker Pro at 11 oz. as one of two "luxury" or what I call functionality proven, essential gear. Good Luck in your decision and future trips!
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Post by hangingtrekker on Jul 10, 2016 9:34:12 GMT -8
Good info here. There are a lot of options.
I am researching the different micron ratings. I am still a bit foggy on this but I think the designation of .2 or .1 actually means "2 micron" and "1 micron", respectively, not "2/10, or 1/5, micron" or "1/10 micron" respectively, as noted by the decimal point. That would mean that the ".02" rating on the Sawyer SP194 model 4L kit would be "2/10, or 1/5, micron", or "two tenths, or one fifth, of a micron".
From what I have found the smallest bacteria are "2 microns" = a filter rating of .2 or smaller is best to trap them.
That having been said, the Katadyn gravity systems have a .2 filter rating and are less expensive than the Sawyer system - plus there is a shower adapter. That may be more useful for me than the water bladder the Sawyer comes with.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?
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mk
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Post by mk on Jul 10, 2016 17:15:47 GMT -8
We just used the Katadyn Base Camp Pro (10 L) for our group of 6 in Colorado. It worked great. Filled it and hung it from a tree -- clean water for everyone with very little fuss. We filled it a couple of times a day and had water to refill bottles/bladders and for cooking. The hose did break where it attached to the bottom of the bag, but it was an easy fix with some duct tape to strengthen the hose. I think we just weren't careful enough with it, to tell you the truth. It's too much for just a person or two, but for our larger group is was exactly what we wanted.
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Post by hangingtrekker on Jul 10, 2016 21:00:21 GMT -8
Thanks for the info MK. Do you have pictures of the break/repair by chance?
I went ahead and ordered the Katadyn Base Camp Pro earlier this evening. For the price and what I am going in to this next trip I think it will work pretty well. It will be another piece of gear to add to my collection, there will surely be more to come.
To tell you the truth, I haven't been on a trip where I wished I had less water, or a smaller capacity to get it. The last trip I was on was 4 days in the Appalachian Mountains. For two of us we had a pump, a couple full nalgenes when we started, a full bladder, and an empty 10L MSR bag for camp water. We had enough for day one and refilled the 10L a couple times. We were dry camping - the water source we used was close to a mile down the trail.
This trip coming up is at the end of the month in sotuhern IL. I assume it will be pretty warm (hoping not...). We won't be "dry" camping this round, the area we will be in has many streams.
The hiker pro seems to get good reviews. The MSR Sweetwater is a real mix. Some seem to have problems and others not. Is that really a matter of use/misuse/not knowing how it works? Those that have found the Sweetwater reliable - are you taking exceptionally good care of it?
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Jul 11, 2016 2:57:03 GMT -8
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