Best backpacking water filter

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packetstormin

packetstormin

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So what does everyone suggest? I would prefer a filter that is .01 micron.

I will be using it for an overnight trip to the bottom of the grand canyon.
 
Your biggest problem with the grand canyon is going to be silt. If you can bring a collapsible bucket or the like to let the river water settle prior to filtering.

As for a filter I have been very happy with my Sawyer gravity filter. I do believe there is a 0.1 micron variant.
 
If you don't have to have the .01 Micron, MSR makes a solid filter called the MiniWorks EX Microfilter. It is .2 Microns, which from my understanding is the smallest size that you will see the majority of bacteria, so it will handle 99.999%. I've had mine for about 8 years now and it has been very reliable and filtered some seriously crappy water.

MSR® MiniWorks™ EX Microfilter.
 
Katadyn pocket filter, silver impregnated ceramic filter good for 10,000 gallons on one filter. Expensive but worth it very robust construction.Add a charcoal filter at the end of the hose and you have the best water in the backcountry. Or you could just lug in a case of beer .
 
Biscuit said:
Your biggest problem with the grand canyon is going to be silt. If you can bring a collapsible bucket or the like to let the river water settle prior to filtering.

As for a filter I have been very happy with my Sawyer gravity filter. I do believe there is a 0.1 micron variant.
Click to expand...


In the GC my preferred method is to let the water sit over night in a bucket and use Polar Pure Water Disinfectant. I take alum to use a flocculating agent too.
 
FMKV said:
Katadyn pocket filter, silver impregnated ceramic filter good for 10,000 gallons on one filter. Expensive but worth it very robust construction.Add a charcoal filter at the end of the hose and you have the best water in the backcountry. Or you could just lug in a case of beer .
Click to expand...

X1

Once you get to 10,000 you can buy another ceramic filter. Yes they are expensive but well worth the money.

As a teenager I worked at an outdoors outfitters joint and Katadyn was by far the popular by backpackers and campers.

Have fun!!
 
If you can afford it, the Katadyn Pocket is the best you can get, bar none.

For 1/3 the price though - the MSR MiniWorks EX is plenty good, and that's what I bought. It works great, is easy to disassemble and clean, and is plenty robust enough considering the plastic construction. Plus, it screws on top of Nalgene wide mouth bottles making filling them incredibly easy. :cheers:
 
I am a firm believer in field serviceable water filters such as the MSR above. My brother-in-law went to the Boundary Waters with the boy scouts this summer. He said all the membrane-style filters clogged and they were left with just his MSR ceramic cartridge

0.1 micron and virus filters probably are not needed in back country destinations where reasonable quantities of flowing water are available. 0.2 micron is considered "sterilizing grade" and will remove over 99% of the bacteria. If your destination is a third world country with suspect water sources, then the tighter filters would be a better choice. But otherwise, the 0.1 micron is going to clog up that much faster than 0.2 micron.
 
Every time I did the Grand canyon, We just boiled water. I 'think' Phantom Ranch has potable water as well.
 
I have used the MSR filter for years and it's served me well. For the price/performance I think it's right up there.
 
i have a katadyne vario,,, its a bit on the big side compared, but IMO its worth it. i chose it for a few reasons, it screws onto the top of most big mouth bottles, it pumps alot of water fast and easy, and it has a ceramic pre filter disc that you can choose to use or bypass with a twist of the knob depending on water quality, and it pops out easily to be cleaned at camp whenever needed, bring on the silt.
 
Thanks for all the reply's guys. So a .02 micron should get rid of amoebas and worms and such correct? From what I have read a .02 micron would not be the best against viruses but I would think there would be not that great of chance of getting a virus from a river in the US right? Most of that happens in foreign countries I believe.
 
One word: Giardia

A helpful link: http://www.lightandmatter.com/article/hiking_water.html

Biscuit said:
Your biggest problem with the grand canyon is going to be silt. If you can bring a collapsible bucket or the like to let the river water settle prior to filtering.

As for a filter, I've been very happy with my Sawyer gravity filter. I do believe there is a 0.1 micron variant.
Click to expand...

^ This, if your looking for a lightweight option.

I pre-filter with a piece of diesel filter fabric into a Nalgene collapsable canteen. I always have an OPsack with me so that gets used as the water scoop. Then throw in a couple Katadyn MicroPur tablets and thats it. Weighs about 1 oz for a few days worth of filtration.....

Any outing longer than 3 days - I bring along the Steripen.

Remember - washing your hands is just as important as filtering your water! Hand sanitizers are always a good idea to bring along.

Have an awesome trip!
 
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Just looked up information on parasitic worm eggs and it seems like most are in the 40 to 60 micron range so a filter that filters to .02 micron should work for most applications.
 
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