So what do you use and do you like it?
Camping water filter
- Thread starter McDowra
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and I've used a Katadyn Hiker Pro for about 11 years. I'm on my second filter. The first filter lasted around 8-9 years, probable over 100 refills of my 70 oz bladder and then several other gallons. I kept it as a back up. It still pumps through but had silt embedded and had gotten slow. I broke one of the hose tabs and they sent me a complete unit less filter for free, just a phone call.
I'd buy another. It takes about 3 minutes to fill 70 oz.
I've been considering a Sawyer micro as a backpack filter as the hiker pro is bulky in comparison
I'd buy another. It takes about 3 minutes to fill 70 oz.
I've been considering a Sawyer micro as a backpack filter as the hiker pro is bulky in comparison
Katadyn makes great products. I have their pocket microfilter. Name is a little misleading as it is neither micro or pocket sized but very well built, designed to be easily cleaned/serviced in the field and lasts for thousands of gallons. Only downside is slightly larger size and price. I would definitely buy another if needed.
YUP
Not sure if you want a stand-alone manual unit or a plumbed in system for your truck. If it is the latter then I use a General Ecology Seagull IV with a 50psi pump. You can drink from the muddiest flea ridden water without problem. Not cheap and not portable. If you want a portable system then Livesaver water systems are as good as it gets.
http://www.rei.com/product/695265/msr-miniworks-ex-water-filter
works great and attaches to a Nalgene bottle
works great and attaches to a Nalgene bottle
Are you guys filtering whatever water you can find, or is the filter just for an emergency situation?
I have some extra berkey ceramic filters, thinking about throwing those in my camp box with a bucket so I can have a backup in case we run out of water.
I have some extra berkey ceramic filters, thinking about throwing those in my camp box with a bucket so I can have a backup in case we run out of water.
I have 2 filters I use.
In camp I have a gravity camp filter. Basically a drom bag with a filter on the bottom.
In my pack is a sweet water filter. It is light and has made it through @ 12 elk seasons.
I definitely use the filters as the water often tastes far better than anything I can carry in.
In camp I have a gravity camp filter. Basically a drom bag with a filter on the bottom.
In my pack is a sweet water filter. It is light and has made it through @ 12 elk seasons.
I definitely use the filters as the water often tastes far better than anything I can carry in.
I have a LifeSaver jerrycan, but the last time I used it IIRC it wouldn't maintain any pressure and I would have to pump it up again. I thought it would be nice somehow to use my OBA system to pressurize the container.
For hiking, I just bought a sawyer. Very light and compact, it takes some effort to push the water through the filter, but the filtration is great...no crypto to worry about. Light weight stuff makes a huge difference above 10,000'
http://www.rei.com/product/890900/sawyer-mini-water-filter
http://www.rei.com/product/890900/sawyer-mini-water-filter
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In the US I have a first need pump, but given most outings are only 1 week max here, a 26L water container lasts just fine. There's always a flat of bottled water in the back of our 80 so that's another 12L or thereabouts if needed.
In camp most water usage is cleaning things up versus cooking/drinking etc. We are generally quite frugal since I have instilled in my kids water conservation due to my oz camping background.
In oz where the trips are longer and water sources are very scarce in the inland desert areas, I take more water and have a filter for the occasions where we do find water. In some places the water is VERY putrid and I can't even imagine attempting to use a filter. Here's a particular bad water hole with dead emus in it (eek):
For years I'd used a Pur pump though producing enough water for a group became somewhat tedious even with shifts of people pumping. Just takes too long.
A few years ago I tried a Sawyer gravity filter (I purchased just the element):
The Sawyer has proven to be a great product (at least for vehicle based use). Here's a picture of it in use. I just made up some hose connections to interface the Sawyer to a charcoal filter (improves taste and also acts as a prefilter) and used with a solar shower bag. More info -> http://www.george4wd.taskled.com/h2ofilter.html. Water transfers directly to plastic water containers in the vehicle:
On my last trip I went to a custom water bladder (about 70L) that sits under a wood 'box' on the cargo floor of the vehicle. That keeps weight low and I have hoses to go in/out of the bladder and taps on both. I can now just use gravity to take water out of the bladder via the outlet hose - too easy
I've also used a small pump to push water through the two filters to take water directly from clean waterholes etc - speeds things up considerably.
Here's an example of using a Whale submersible pump to get water from a covered gnamma hole (nearly 10000L in this one, it's a beauty). We're filling buckets up (obviously not filtered) so we can have some nice showers once we've set up camp:
Anyhow this is what works for my vehicle based camping use.
cheers,
george.
In camp most water usage is cleaning things up versus cooking/drinking etc. We are generally quite frugal since I have instilled in my kids water conservation due to my oz camping background.
In oz where the trips are longer and water sources are very scarce in the inland desert areas, I take more water and have a filter for the occasions where we do find water. In some places the water is VERY putrid and I can't even imagine attempting to use a filter. Here's a particular bad water hole with dead emus in it (eek):
For years I'd used a Pur pump though producing enough water for a group became somewhat tedious even with shifts of people pumping. Just takes too long.
A few years ago I tried a Sawyer gravity filter (I purchased just the element):
The Sawyer has proven to be a great product (at least for vehicle based use). Here's a picture of it in use. I just made up some hose connections to interface the Sawyer to a charcoal filter (improves taste and also acts as a prefilter) and used with a solar shower bag. More info -> http://www.george4wd.taskled.com/h2ofilter.html. Water transfers directly to plastic water containers in the vehicle:
On my last trip I went to a custom water bladder (about 70L) that sits under a wood 'box' on the cargo floor of the vehicle. That keeps weight low and I have hoses to go in/out of the bladder and taps on both. I can now just use gravity to take water out of the bladder via the outlet hose - too easy
I've also used a small pump to push water through the two filters to take water directly from clean waterholes etc - speeds things up considerably.
Here's an example of using a Whale submersible pump to get water from a covered gnamma hole (nearly 10000L in this one, it's a beauty). We're filling buckets up (obviously not filtered) so we can have some nice showers once we've set up camp:
Anyhow this is what works for my vehicle based camping use.
cheers,
george.