panatomicx
Trail Wise!
Less noise and more green
Posts: 496
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Post by panatomicx on Nov 7, 2017 7:13:40 GMT -8
I also used a MSR miniworks for years, but there's no question that it has to be maintained. I used a Sawyer Squeeze this year in the Beartooths, and it was great. A lot lighter and no moving parts. If you have get water from holes or muddy spots it may be different though.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2017 7:22:13 GMT -8
I use my cooking pot to scoop up water from those barest of trickles and then pour into my squeeze bag.
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Post by joevogel on Nov 7, 2017 8:31:55 GMT -8
If you are concerned with filling a bag from a slow stream I sometimes bring this Platypus Big Zip LP Reservoir. I have my Sawyer filter set up as an in-line filter for it. The big zipper top makes it really easy to get water from almost any source. and you don't have to worry about sitting there and filtering the water because you just filter it as you drink. This also allows you to use it as a gravity filter for making you meals at camp. I cant say enough good about the sawyer filters. If you are worried about field maintenance it is extremely easy to back-flow in the field. I use a smart water cap and it fits perfectly over the "out" end of the filter. Just squeeze some water through that end and you are good to go.
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jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059
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Post by jazzmom on Nov 7, 2017 8:42:54 GMT -8
Yeah, I'm a dinosaur... not only do I have (and use) the MSR Sweetwater, I have a Miniworks, too.
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 8, 2017 12:15:15 GMT -8
I still have my 10+ year old Hiker Pro but stopped using about 7/8 years ago in favor of the SteriPen. I haven't had it fail me yet. In February when I did 5/6 day hike in the Superstitions I took a Sawyer Squeeze. It worked fine but I got so tired of filling bags and then squeezing them. I'm not sure what is worse squeezing the bags or pumping the old Hiker Pro. I'll stick with my SteriPen for now. If I get paranoid about batteries failing or the thing breaking I might take aquamire drops as a backup. Yes, I know the steripen won't work everywhere but it works just fine here in the midwest.
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texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,223
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Post by texasbb on Nov 8, 2017 12:46:30 GMT -8
...I got so tired of filling bags and then squeezing them. That's the main reason I'm still using the BeFree despite hearing several clogging horror stories. Squeezing that bag is faster and easier than pumping, whereas the Sawyer Mini was much slower and harder. My biggest gripe with the bag-type filters is the difficulty of pulling from still and/or shallow sources. Pulling from things like this spring is just not practical without a pump:
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 8, 2017 13:06:10 GMT -8
You're correct about shallow sources. However, even the hiker pro would have a rough time pulling from that stream unless you dug some kind of hole in the middle of the stream. Like everything there are pros and cons. If in dire need it doesn't take much to bring a pot of water to a boil. I'll have to check out the BeFree system again. I remember when it first came out there was something I didn't like about it but I can't remember what that was now.
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Post by johntpenca on Nov 8, 2017 13:06:19 GMT -8
Kind of off topic, but I tried a steripen opti about 10 years ago; it failed miserably and had to terminate my trip. Anyone have any recent experience with them?
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 8, 2017 13:08:55 GMT -8
Kind of off topic, but I tried a steripen about 10 years ago; it failed miserably and had to termoniate my trip. Anyone have any recent experience with them? Been using one now for 7 years without any problems and I'm still using the first one I bought. I love being able to scoop up water and just keep going and then later at my convenience give it a dosage of uv light.
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Post by johntpenca on Nov 8, 2017 13:13:41 GMT -8
Thanks Coolkat, maybe I'll give them another try.
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talus
Trail Wise!
Posts: 560
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Post by talus on Nov 8, 2017 13:22:28 GMT -8
A scoop made from a cut pop (ok, soda) bottle works for trickles.
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 8, 2017 13:55:34 GMT -8
Thanks Coolkat, maybe I'll give them another try. I could be wrong but I think trinity is also a Steripen user. He may or may not be as enthusiastic as I am. Ok.. I must admit I thought that was funny.
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Post by trinity on Nov 8, 2017 14:08:59 GMT -8
I could be wrong but I think trinity is also a Steripen user. He may or may not be as enthusiastic as I am. I am actually in the very boat as you, I have an old Hiker Pro that almost never gets used anymore, because I almost exclusively use my Steripen Adventurer Opti. I bought it used on these forums about 5 years ago, and it is still going strong. It has never failed me, and has been perfect for my needs (solo use in mountains with clear streams and lakes). No treatment is foolproof, but for the weight, effectiveness, and ease of use, I have found this to be the best solution for me. I always carry extra batteries and chemical tabs as a backup. I bought a Katadyn Be Free this past summer, and it had great potential, but the flask failed after several days of use, so I returned it. I may give it another try if I feel confident that they have fixed the durability issues.
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talus
Trail Wise!
Posts: 560
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Post by talus on Nov 8, 2017 14:41:30 GMT -8
I could be wrong but I think trinity is also a Steripen user. He may or may not be as enthusiastic as I am. Steripens need a clear source, and the battery life is tricky. Seems like the batteries die quickly if you leave them in the unit. Ok.. I must admit I thought that was funny. That's because you're a "pop" guy, right?
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Post by Coolkat on Nov 8, 2017 18:29:40 GMT -8
Steripens need a clear source, and the battery life is tricky. Seems like the batteries die quickly if you leave them in the unit. This is true but 95% of my hiking is done in upper Michigan and western PA and I've never had to draw water out of anything murky just yet. I suppose if I was in a situation where I had to draw water out of a swamp I might think twice. I've never had a problem with batteries thought. I make sure I buy the energizer lithium and I've gone 2 or 3 hiking seasons on the same set. What is nice is that the lithium batteries weight about 1/2 of traditional. That's because you're a "pop" guy, right? You got that right...lol
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