Water filter

[Jburke]

Some good suggestions here.  Think I'll skip the original posted and maybe pick up one of the sawyer ones.  Looks like a pretty easy set up.

[JackOfAllTrades]

i will be switching to a sawyer inline this year, seems to be a better setup than anything else ive seen

Sucking on a water tube is bad enough... Sucking through a filter SuX!   Pre- filtering via a pump or gravity system makes more sense to me. There are times when I'd like a steri-pen, but I also like that a filter makes all the floaties go away. I need clear water for visual satisfaction in order to drink it. I've been using a Katadyn hiker pro for a few years now and like it a lot.  Getting water out of a slow running spring with the Sawyer inline wouldn't look to be fun at all.
 
-Steve

[Branden]

While in Alaska a few guys used a pump. After watching them pump to fill up there water containers while I just dipped and drank I decided I would never use a pump. Seemed like it took awhile. Its a lot easier to pack in minimal water and refill at every water source then fill up enough for a 10-15 mile hike. Saves a lot of weight in the pack. And pumping at every water source would take way to long.

Hopefully its easy to use the squeeze filter otherwise I will still be dipping without a filter 

[JM]

I'm usually just a reader on this site, but I decided to chime in on this. I have used a Katadyn pump filter since 2007 and It has never done me wrong. Just be sure to pump all of the excess water out if you are in the backcountry and it's cold out cause it will freeze solid, and have a sturdy enough bottle that won't break easily. That Sawyer looks nice but some of the basins that I pack into in Idaho and Washington have an abundance of water in the bottoms, but only have trickle springs above the treeline and I sure as hell would hate to have to hike down 1000' to find a deep enough spot to fill a bag for the Sawyer system or a bottle to use a Steri Pen. The water only has to be a couple inches deep for the Katadyn. I know that it is heavier, but I think that it is worth it for the versatility.

[fillthefreezer]

i will be switching to a sawyer inline this year, seems to be a better setup than anything else ive seen

Sucking on a water tube is bad enough... Sucking through a filter SuX!   Pre- filtering via a pump or gravity system makes more sense to me. There are times when I'd like a steri-pen, but I also like that a filter makes all the floaties go away. I need clear water for visual satisfaction in order to drink it. I've been using a Katadyn hiker pro for a few years now and like it a lot.  Getting water out of a slow running spring with the Sawyer inline wouldn't look to be fun at all.
 
-Steve

with the sawyer, a a platy bigzip and a dromlite res you can gravity filter, fill a bladder from a tiny seep, drink on the go, store the tiny little filter in your bag in cold weather, etc

[coyote_out]

I ran a sawyer squeeze this yr too.  loved it.  quick, easy, light,.   the bags that come with it are cheap, need to find a better one.  But you don't have to screw around with pumps etc..   

[raydog]

Man so of the prices of those. almost worth risking getting sick but then again that sucks too

[JLS]

Man so of the prices of those. almost worth risking getting sick but then again that sucks too

Anyone that has ever had giardia will tell you that the money for a filter is money well spent.

[7mag.]

Man so of the prices of those. almost worth risking getting sick but then again that sucks too

Anyone that has ever had giardia will tell you that the money for a filter is money well spent.

   If you ever get beaver fever, you'll do what ever it takes to not get it again.

[hunting4sanity]

I've been treated for giardia 3 times, it can be a very effective weight lose tool, but it is brutal!!!  I'll be watching this thread as I need a new filter also.

[JLS]

I've been treated for giardia 3 times, it can be a very effective weight lose tool, but it is brutal!!!  I'll be watching this thread as I need a new filter also.

Slow learner?  I'd rather drink iodine water than be treated for giardia again.

[Mudman]

Katadyn hiker pro!   70$ lightweight and works in almost any/every situation you might be in.  Durable, bladder compatible and gets water clear clean and it taste good.  I think you could filter urine safely in the desert, but Im not testing that out.  Plrenty of water for everyone if they need help.  The pump does not take long at all.  A few minutes and moving again.

[Jburke]

Man so of the prices of those. almost worth risking getting sick but then again that sucks too

I thought of this at one point but I decided that the for the money this could easily turn into the best money spent on the entire trip. 

[Tim in Wa.]

I had a Sawyer and didn't like it.It went back to REI.Sure I could have bought the extra stuff to make it work but it makes more sense to just buy a Platypus so start with ,it works great and comes with everything you need.It's very compact as well
Tim

[danderson]

  I do a lot of wilderness backpacking,  you don't have water in  many areas so you have to drink some pretty nasty stuff sometime, we use the Platypus for its ease of use, when there over 5 or 6 people ya go through a lot of water on extended trips, plus its almost weighs nothing, and for every two people we carry the sweet water pump filter, Google discount water  filters