New Water Filter Needed...Suggestions??

Parma said:
Remember my backpacking philosophy...Your way is stupid, my way is the best.
So, you are doing it perfectly!
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I was thinking about the same idea : )
Ever one finds what works for them.
 
Parma said:
I'm still a Katadyn Hiker pump filter fan. I've tried the Sawyer squeeze filters, but I'm too impatient to squeeeeeeze.
It's worth the extra 9 oz. in weight to me.
And whenever i'm on a trip with someone that has a Sawyer squeeze filter...they always end up asking to use my pump filter. :D
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Cool, I was starting to fill lame because I actually like using my Katadyn pump.
I get excited whenever I get to use it haha
 
This is the one I've used last few years. I have noticed that when I filter
desert water it is slow. Almost painfully so.

Once you've gone gravity, you never go back.
 
Just a follow up on my OP. My Platypus GravityWorks 2.0L showed up on Friday. Super easy set-up. Filled it with tap water to give it a test run. Very impressed with the flow rate. Super lightweight as well. Definitely going to like this system.
 
Have any of you guys had problems with the larger Sawyer filter O-ring getting stuck in the bladder? When I unscrew the bladder from the filter it usually get stuck in the opening of the bladder. Could I be putting it on to tight or has this happened to others as well?
 
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Does anyone here use the Iron Stomach Method? Over the past several years I've tried to avoid treating in low-stakes situations whenever the water looks OK, in the hopes of building my resistance to pathogens. It's apparently worked so far, as I've never gotten sick, but I also only do it part of the time. Anyone else give it a go, successfully or otherwise?
 
LarryBoy said:
Does anyone here use the Iron Stomach Method? Over the past several years I've tried to avoid treating in low-stakes situations whenever the water looks OK, in the hopes of building my resistance to pathogens. It's apparently worked so far, as I've never gotten sick, but I also only do it part of the time. Anyone else give it a go, successfully or otherwise?
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No but I have used the "filter contamination" method. It's rolling the dice and not knowing you did it until later.
 
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Outdoors24 said:
Have any of you guys had problems with the larger Sawyer filter O-ring getting stuck in the bladder? When I unscrew the bladder from the filter it usually get stuck in the opening of the bladder. Could I be putting it on to tight or has this happened to others as well?
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i have that happen relatively often, but i don't really classify it as a problem. just an additional step. putting the ring back in the filter. may be some super glue would make a permanent solution.
 
LarryBoy said:
Does anyone here use the Iron Stomach Method? Over the past several years I've tried to avoid treating in low-stakes situations whenever the water looks OK, in the hopes of building my resistance to pathogens. It's apparently worked so far, as I've never gotten sick, but I also only do it part of the time. Anyone else give it a go, successfully or otherwise?
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i've known some one who has used that method, and has gotten giardia a couple times.
the times that he hasn't gotten giardia he's been fine : )
 
LarryBoy said:
Does anyone here use the Iron Stomach Method? Over the past several years I've tried to avoid treating in low-stakes situations whenever the water looks OK, in the hopes of building my resistance to pathogens. It's apparently worked so far, as I've never gotten sick, but I also only do it part of the time. Anyone else give it a go, successfully or otherwise?
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My dad was looking at my stuff and saw my filter, and said "You know what my filter was when I was younger...a cup! We didn't filter anything. We would just dip our cup in the stream and drink, and we were fine."
 
LarryBoy said:
Does anyone here use the Iron Stomach Method? Over the past several years I've tried to avoid treating in low-stakes situations whenever the water looks OK, in the hopes of building my resistance to pathogens. It's apparently worked so far, as I've never gotten sick, but I also only do it part of the time. Anyone else give it a go, successfully or otherwise?
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I think a lot of the worry over the prevalence of giardia and such is overblown, so I'm not surprised you haven't gotten sick. That said, I do filter everything because there's no building immunity against or boiling out heavy metals and pesticides.
 
Wanderlust073 said:
I think a lot of the worry over the prevalence of giardia and such is overblown, so I'm not surprised you haven't gotten sick. That said, I do filter everything because there's no building immunity against or boiling out heavy metals and pesticides.
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But most filters don't do anything for dissolved stuff like heavy metals or pesticides. Or maybe I should say the filters that are mostly commonly used by backpackers.

I suspect that a lot of sources don't need to be filtered, but it is cheap insurance (cheap in both dollars and weight) so it is silly not to do it (in my opinion).
 
I've been making my own determinations on whether to filter or not for ~35 years. No problems yet. It is not rocket science.

I feel like my biggest potential for bad stuff in water comes from the local piped-in water, whether it's the presence of arsenic in our groundwater or old, lead pipes.

But the conventional wisdom of filtering when in doubt is good advice.
 
wsp_scott said:
But most filters don't do anything for dissolved stuff like heavy metals or pesticides. Or maybe I should say the filters that are mostly commonly used by backpackers.
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Sawyer faq lists both as contaminants specifically eliminated by their filter.
 
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Wanderlust073 said:
Sawyer faq lists both as contaminants specifically eliminated by their filter.
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I just checked out Sawyer's webpage. It appears that you are talking about their new filter "Select Filter". That specifically says that the foam removes heavy metals and pesticides. But, that is a new and most people just have a Sawyer Squeeze or Sawyer Mini which the FAQ says
Taste
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The Sawyer filter removes taste that comes from bacteria, dirt, and green matter.
Chemicals
The Sawyer filter does NOT remove iron, sulfur, other chemicals, or simple compounds. Taste can be masked by using flavor additives like Gatorade or crystal light (filter needs to be cleaned immediately after using them).
Heavy Metals
The Sawyer filters are not made with charcoal. While other portable filters have charcoal, they lack in amount of media and adequate dwell time. Therefore, they only remove small amounts of heavy metals, pesticides, etc. (when used in real life applications). Try using better sources of water, if possible.
[end quote]
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I use a steriPen in the mountains quite a bit. Has anyone tried the steriPen in the desert?
 
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