[lanahi]

I've been googling all the water filters on the web and had a hard time deciding which one is best. I ended up getting two of them! One is a gravity fed filter that filters out most of the usual stuff, giardia et al, and has a 1500 liter capacity on one filter. It doesn't involve pumping, but rather you hang it up and let the water drip through the filter. (MSR AutoFlow Gravity Filter)
The other one has a charcoal filter that not only filters out the bacteria but also viruses and cleans up the taste of the water. Most important is that it filters out heavy metals and chemicals. One filter only lasts for 40 gallons but the replacement filters are cheap, so I bought extra for them. (PUR DS-1800Z 2-Stage Water Dispenser)
Some water I can boil or bleach, but the filters will have an important place in my survival preps.

Here's a good write-up on filters:
http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12342&referrerid=242
or here are several articles:
http://search.outdoors.org/texis/se...s=0&order=r&query=water+filters&submit=Submit

What filters, if any, do you use or have you used?

 

[AKpredator]

Katadyn Hiker

Katadyn Micro

I prefer a pump or some kind of pressure in water filter kits. Giardia is especially prevalent in high water conditions, in which the water will be muddy and it's nice to have the pressure to filter it out.

I also have a Aquamira filtered water bottle and a handful of Aquamira Frontier filtered straws which are cheap, functional and durable.

I was originally concerned using a plastic water filter with the Hiker but it's incredibly tough. They are both well suited to a BOB, Survival Pack, BOL, etc. Get another filter or two when you get around to it.

 

[Raven]

I have a Katadyn Pocket filter; built very solid. Also have an MSR Sweetwater and two MSR in-line Filters for my hydration bladders. I carry an AquaStraw and iodine tabs in my GHB as well.

 

[rolfdengler]

I recently used the MSR Miox filter for two months in Australia. Went from outback to the great barrier reef. Besides having to have some salt on hand for the functioning process. It wasn't that much to deal with after I got used to the process. Very light too. Only negatives to me were the salt to carry and batteries. Would be nice to find rechargeable in the design needed.

 

[Jerry D Young]

I have two MSR Waterworks EX models and a Katadyn Hiker Pro. Happy with them, but I worry about viruses, so I keep Katadyn MP-1 tablets to use with the filters.

Found the Sawyer Point Zero Two Absolute. Will be adding one to the kit soon as my primary purification system.

http://www.sawyer.com/viral.htm

 

[Kipper]

a bottle and a shirt sleeve + Stainless steel pot for me at the moment

Unfortunatly i dont have the $$ for anything else.

Someday maybe.

 

[TANSTAF1]

I second Jerry D Young's recommendation on the Sawyers

I just got a Sawyer .01 micron biological and viral water purifier for $65 delivered from Walmart. This will remove 5.5 log (99.9997%) of viruses, 7 log (99.99999%) of all bacteria like salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, and 6 log (99.9999%) of all Protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It is good for 3,000 gallons which is a lot. It can be backwashed.

The only thing it doesn't do is improve remove chemicals and taste but for wilderness water it is great.

I am looking for an add on or alternative with carbon to use in areas that may have chemical pollutants, but have not decided which one is best other than the LifeSaver which is too expensive.

 

[vicdotcom]

What filters, if any, do you use or have you used?

(from previous posts a while ago)

Have and use:
Katadyn Pocket Filter
MSR Miox (not technically a filter though)

Had:
First Need
Steripen
Katadyn Hiker
MSR Miniworks

The term "best" is very subjective. It all depends on what you are looking for in a filter. Make your priorities list of what you find important, then choose your filter accordingly. So if protecting against viruses is big on your list then pocket filter may not be the "best". If durability and longevity are what you are looking for welcome to Pocket Filter-ville!

I love the pocket filter. It has 3 downsides. The price, doesnt filter/kill viruses, and weight.

But I think it has a lot more pros than cons. For one thing I HATE plastic pumps. So many things can break on them it is not even funny. I have seen more than one fail in my time trailing. Pocket filter is built strong. I don't think that I have seen one break, except once when a friend disassembled it and was cleaning out the ceramic element and droped it on a rock. Cracked some chunks off the ceramic element. Still worked though!

Simplicity of design. It has the least amount of moving parts that can fail. All parts vital to function are made of metal (except for O ring).

Filter life. And to stop the problem of muddy water mucking up the ceramic filter, use a pre-filter on the intake hose. Coffee filter or bandanna wrapped around the intake will pre-filter muddy water and helps prevents clogs.


There are many good filters out there. The First need is actually a purifier also. The reason I chose the Katadyn Pocket Filter and stuck with it is because I like metal parts. Most other filters are made of many plastic parts including handles and valves. I have seen a few plastic filters break in use. The Pocket filter (besides filter element) is almost all metal except for the casing, o rings and hose. It is heavier than other filters and harder to pump though. I purchased it when it was under 200$. I cant believe the price jumped so much.

What I look for is simplicity. I havent tried many more than the ones I stated, but some that do "look" good are the Sawyer inline filter (not purifier), MSR hyperflow, Katadyn Mini-works or Combi. But again I havent tried these and probably wont in the near future.

I also like the MSR Miox. But it isn't a filter. It is electric and uses special salt tabs to make a brine solution that you pour into water to kill anything in it. Pretty neat and "fun" to use. But I wouldnt rely on it long-term.

Also some filters last longer than others before needing to replace the filter "guts". And some filters can catch smaller organisms than other ones (measured in microns).

But if I had to pick another filter that I have tried besides the pocket filter, I would get the Katadyn Hiker again. Reason being it is simpler and has fewer parts to fail.

(Filters clean water, debris, and bacteria. Purifiers can get rid of Viruses but may or may not filter the water)

 

[lanahi]

a bottle and a shirt sleeve + Stainless steel pot for me at the moment

Unfortunatly i dont have the $$ for anything else.

Someday maybe.

Money is definitely a limiting factor!
Wonder if you can trust any of the cheap ones, or if boiling or bleach better to trust?

Around here, gold mining and panning put much mercury in some of the water. The filters say they will take out some lead and chlorine but don't mention mercury. Any ideas about that?

 

[BOBtheBUTCHER]

so after reading a ton of sites im still undecided.

If I did the following processes

1/collect water- ----2/filter water- ---3/chemical treat water with aqua tabs(which I have) ---4/boil water -----then this gives me a safe potable water?

Now the filter part------ I see I would want a filter that filters at 0.2 microns? is this correct. So can someone give me maybe 3 filters that are suitable and Ill research them from there.
Wow pass the bottled water please.......................
Also why is the Katadyn pocket water filter so expensive? what are you getting for $280?

 

[Survivalist12]

Hands down. The Katadyn Pocket. pumps 15,000 gallons.

 

[Raven]

I love the pocket filter. It has 3 downsides. The price, doesnt filter/kill viruses, and weight.

Do you find it harder to pump because of the design?

 

[vicdotcom]

Do you find it harder to pump because of the design?

It takes more pressure to pump than other filters, but I dont think it is "harder" because of the design but the filter. The design of the handle and pum actually make it a little easier to pump since it is a straight up and down directly over the filter. Pretend you are doing CPR type motion. Since it is all metal, I am not worried about applying to much pressure. Use your body weight to help you instead of just your arm muscles.

The filter does get harder to pump as the filter gunks up. So I use a coffee filter or a piece of cloth over the intake as a pre-filter and it helps that a lot.

 

[TANSTAF1]

If you are getting a filter and the price is about the same, why not get the .01 micron ones, rather than .2 microns? Those will filter viruses as well as bacteria. Is it because the .01 micron ones clog up more easily? However some of these say they can be back washed. Does this not work? Some of the filters for bacteria and viruses seems to be able to handle large quantities (measured in thousands of gallons/liters).

I guess to remove chemicals and improve taste, you need either an activated carbon type or reverse osmosis type. I that correct? Do activated carbon ones need a pump/pressure to work to work? (The bacteria/virus filters seem to be able to work by gravity or just sucking.) Also, it seems that activated carbon ones can only purify small 50 (+/-) gallons/liters. Are there other systems that work to remove chemicals that can handle larger quantities, or that can be rejuvenated rather than just replaced?

 

[vicdotcom]

If you are getting a filter and the price is about the same, why not get the .01 micron ones, rather than .2 microns? Those will filter viruses as well as bacteria. Is it because the .01 micron ones clog up more easily? However some of these say they can be back washed. Does this not work? Some of the filters for bacteria and viruses seems to be able to handle large quantities (measured in thousands of gallons/liters).

I guess to remove chemicals and improve taste, you need either an activated carbon type or reverse osmosis type. I that correct? Do activated carbon ones need a pump/pressure to work to work? (The bacteria/virus filters seem to be able to work by gravity or just sucking.) Also, it seems that activated carbon ones can only purify small 50 (+/-) gallons/liters. Are there other systems that work to remove chemicals that can handle larger quantities, or that can be rejuvenated rather than just replaced?

Here are some answers to the questions you posed:

.01 microns or .2 micron filters: The .01 will purify viruses also (it is a purifier because it wll rid viruses also). The .2 micron will only get bacteria, crypto, giardia etc. I think the one you may be referring to is the "Sawyer Inline" filters/purifiers being close in price and its ability to be backwashed. The difference is that the .01 micron Sawyer filter is a gravity feed only. The .2 micron can be attached and used as a drink hose. You can suck your brain out trying to suck water out of that .1 micron filter. But if you are comparing other companies, the differences in the .01 models and the .2 can be anything from filter element to construction to filter life.

Activated Charcoal filters: They do not necessarily need pump/pressure to work. But you need a way to flow the water through the charcoal. You can build a big gravity filter if you want with activated charcoal and it will do the same thing. The reason it is in a pump filter is for ease of use and to flow the water through the filter. As you noticed, these have a low filter life. It can not be reused either after it is used up. Activated charcoal is actually porous. This is where all the chemicals and gunk go. It gets caugt up in the pores of the activated charcoal. But it stays there. Once all the pores are filled up, it will not soak in anymore impurities and you have to replace it. There is no real way to flush it out at this time. As you metioned, reverse osmosis or a vapor distiller would also do this but it is not practical to carry these arround.

Hope that helps.
Vic

 

[BOBtheBUTCHER]

The pocket filter looks good and less parts to replace. although the filter goes for between $200 and 280 and a replacement filter is $130 ish.

time to break the piggy bank.....again.

 

[AKpredator]

The pocket filter looks good and less parts to replace. although the filter goes for between $200 and 280 and a replacement filter is $130 ish.

time to break the piggy bank.....again.

Yeah, but that's a one time purchase. Drop the beer for a couple months.

A good .22, an AR/AK, Glock 9mm, Vulture II, sleeping bag, tent, compass.. all one time purchase items.

 

[Raven]

That Sawyer Point Zero has really peaked my interest. It seems I'm buying things in trips or quads these days.

I picked up 3 more Sweetwater Guardians day before yesterday because I got em' for $20 a unit, new.

Now I want a Sawyer Point Zero Two, as well. Can't have too many I guess. Could always use them for trade/barter items.

I was thinking about that Sawyer unit. I bet you could use a *Watertainer* in place of a bucket. Could probably pop out that spigot valve and replace it with the Sawyer valve.

Transfer from one Watertainer to another.

 

[Raven]

WoW...the Sawyer Point Zero One Inline Filter. Thats on the list fer sure. Hook those puppies right up to the hydration bladders. Better than the Camelbak/MSR Inlines by far.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

I second Jerry D Young's recommendation on the Sawyers

I just got a Sawyer .01 micron biological and viral water purifier for $65 delivered from Walmart. This will remove 5.5 log (99.9997%) of viruses, 7 log (99.99999%) of all bacteria like salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, and 6 log (99.9999%) of all Protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It is good for 3,000 gallons which is a lot. It can be backwashed.

The only thing it doesn't do is improve remove chemicals and taste but for wilderness water it is great.

I am looking for an add on or alternative with carbon to use in areas that may have chemical pollutants, but have not decided which one is best other than the LifeSaver which is too expensive.

if you only filter 1 gallon a day that filter should last you over 11 years :thumb: pending on water quality