Purchased a water filter for use during hiking or possible while hunting. I am pretty new to this market, I purchases the Katadyn Hiker Filter. Does anyone have any experience good/bad with these filters on hunt trips??
I have a MSR miniworks EX. Absolutely love it. You should find reviews for yours on the web.
Sawyer mini squeeze. Light, cheap, effective
anyone have any experience with the life straw?
I have a first need (20 years ), they are all pretty darn good these days. Always pick a reputable name for filters in the future.
Fleatrap1, I have had the Katadyn Hiker for a few years and been pretty satisfied with it.
Wife and I have hiked and used the Katadyn in a lot of backwoods locations. Always been very happy with it.
I have used the Katadyn on weeklong backpacking and canoeing trips, and never had any problems. Make sure, you follow the instructions for cleaning and storage and it'll last for years.
Although, I am contemplating buying a gravity filter simply because I'm lazy and would like to avoid pumping.
I've had the hiker for years, works great, reliable. Cons- slow, takes up space, 12oz. I also used portable auqa tabs, light, reliable, 1oz. Cons-long wait, particles in water. Frontier water filter straw I carried as a backup, lot of effort to get water, low capacity. I recently bought a 3oz Sawyer squeeze filter to try out this year.
I have a Katadyn from 1987. Still going strong. I think they're the best made withing their limitations. If I had to jump into a third world poop-hole (again), I would want it with me.
Used the same hiker model for 20 years just changing filters. great filter.
I just ordered the sawyer mini squeeze to try. I like the small size. .01 microns, and filters a ton of water before filter goes bad.
I had used a Katadyn pump filter since 2000 in Colorado and the BWCA, switched to the Sawyer 2 liter gravity system last summer and will never go back to pumping.
I have no luck with filters. I have a Katadyn and MSR and neither pump anything. I've spent about 200 bucks and got nothing
TFG, Filters need a regular cleaning. I had (note had) the MSR and on any give weeklong trip it needed cleaning with the scotchbrite pad a couple times. And pumping gets old fast on a trip.
Right now I am using an ultraviolet sterilizer pen and I don't think I will ever pump again. Love it. No pumping and more compact then most pumps.
I have the steripen classic http://www.steripen.com/
QuoteOriginally posted by TURKEYFOOTGIRL:
I have no luck with filters. I have a Katadyn and MSR and neither pump anything. I've spent about 200 bucks and got nothing
I can't imagine what would cause you to get "nothing", but something isn't right.
Sawyer's !
I have also used the Hiker for years and it is OK. I have gone the ultralight route now and just use the iodine tabs and neutralizer. But the microfilter definitely helps with muddy water flavor. If you are using clear, flowing cold streams or mountain lakes, the tabs are great. If you are using muddy streams or lakes, the microfilter is better.
I have an MSR Miniworks and Katadyn hiker. Both work fine, but I prefer the MSR. Got stuck using tablets for 2 days of heavy hiking. Tore up my stomach but cured sinus problems!
interesting stuff here - quite a selection out there these days too... nice to get feedback from you all who have used these products.
I did water treatment for a living and it made me a little more paranoid. I use a filter and then add unscented Clorox (8 drops/gal or 2 drops/qt) and let sit for 30 minutes. This is basically what 90% of the municipalities do in Colorado. I personally would not trust a steripen. Filter then a steripen would be good, the UV light works on very clear water.
Kadbow,
Do you use a pump filter or gravity? Does one provide better filtration than the other?
I bought a Katadyne before my first trip to Colorado in '06 and used it on that and my second rip 4 years later. I did buy a new filter for each trip because I worried about the 4 year delay in use. I pumped water for all of our uses for both trips. It only took a few minutes each day.
QuoteOriginally posted by kadbow:
I did water treatment for a living and it made me a little more paranoid. I use a filter and then add unscented Clorox (8 drops/gal or 2 drops/qt) and let sit for 30 minutes. This is basically what 90% of the municipalities do in Colorado. I personally would not trust a steripen. Filter then a steripen would be good, the UV light works on very clear water.
I appreciate this option and respect your background, but disagree on the steripen. Lot's of folks have used it all over the world and have had success. That is really all that matters as there is no such thing as perfect. I want ease of use, a good taste, and not get sick. Pretty simple for me.
Regarding filtering for the sake of "dirty" water. I am selective in where I pick out my water supply to start with and only use water that is visibly clear and flowing.
I used to hunt in ID over a pond that we call the zoo because so many different animals visit it. I have seen animals do stuff in water that would would make you quit drinking. So no ponds or small lakes are viable water for me. I just move on.
I use a pump filter. The steripen needs clear water to work. The UV light can't penetrate solids. They will work but not for all conditions. Like I said, working in the field made me paranoid. I am not trying to tell you what to do, I am telling you what I do. I grew up drinking straight out of streams and never got sick.
kadbow- I am no expert, and not promoting one over another (I really know very little)- however, the steripen does have amazing reviews from literally all around the world being used in awful circumstances that include muddy/filthy/waste water.
Do you know of some information warning of steripen research/failure?
I would be curious the response if this were asked on an international backpacking site.
Thanks. .
I chose the MSR mini worx. I have used it to supply many a boyscout in the field. The thing I really like about it is the fact that the threads are nalgene type. This means that you can screw the filter directly to your water bottles. No transfer needed.
I also use the USMC issue Source hydration carrier. It too has a nalgene fill port. Direct fill!
This will make perfect clean and clear non smelling water. If you fear the bacteria bug types I use the MSR Miox for this.
Check it out. Its really quite a system.
I have an MSR minworks and a Katdyn hiker. I love the hiker. It's not the fastest pump out there but it does work and I don't need to worry about bateries dying on me if I get stuck like with some of the newer pens. Spent 7 days in the woods this past fall with my Hiker and it worked like a champ. I do carry iodine tabs as backup.
I also use both the msr mini works and the katdyn hiker .One thing I do if the water is not very clear and even muddy water I wrap a rubber band around a rag at the end in the water and when it really slows down take it a swish the rag around ant start pumping again less clean up and filters last longer
My Katadyn various pro was awesome for a while. Took it on a back country hunt and it didn't work. Changed gaskets and have had several people look at it and still nothing.
I bought a MSR to replace it and last year it took 30 minutes of straight pumping to fill up a quart. Heading to Alaska this fall and need to fix one of these?
Interested to know if anyone has tried the Platypus Gravity Water filter and can provide feedback/opinion versus pump filters? Thanks.
Not the Platypus- but we did use the Katadyn gravity in AK last fall. Sure was nice compared to pump system. Fill up the bag, hang it up, let it drain out. Too easy. And good reviews! Also check out Sawyer.
Dan in KS
If u try the Sawyer gravity system, u will never pump again.
The msr gravity filter works great too.
I used the Steripen while hiking/hunting the Nepali Coast. I estimate that I treated around 30 gallons of stream water without any ill effects. I know very little about water treatment but my research indicated that there was bad stuff that could get through even the smallest of filters. When I was on my way out I treated some water for a couple that was using iodine tablets and they were very impressed with the Steripen as was I. I brought coffee filters to deal with particulate matter before treatment but never used them. I never had an instance on the trip where the first treatment did not successfully complete (according to their process of a quick stir and pressing the button for the required time). As I said though, I am a novice and consider not getting sick to be success!