Water Treatment

I have been using the Katydyn Hiker pro for years and really like it for dependability. It is a little heavier than I would like though. I used to drink out of springs without purification to until eight years ago when I got Giardia. I don't want to go into the details, but trust me it is something that you never want to experience. A lot of times springs actually come from creeks and lakes sometimes miles away. It may look like its a clean pure spring, but it could be coming from somewhere else. I second using a filter also around any area that has or does contain livestock . The cattle can spread some pretty nasty things into areas that look pristine but have been compromised. The biggest thing I don't like about the Katydyn hiker is the price of the replacement filters. They are very proud of them.

I used to drink out of the streams here in CA when I was a kid. That all stopped when two of my friends got Giardia when we were in high school. Both guys got it in two totally different places the same summer. After watching those guys I will never take the chance again.

Do you guys like a pump or a bag better? Trying to decide which one to go for.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NorthT

Do you guys like a pump or a bag better? Trying to decide which one to go for.

---

I don't have experience with both but the pump filters seem to be alot more popular at the shop I work at.

I just ordered a Sawyer 4L gravity system (SP183), I'll report back on how it works after I get back next month.

I recently picked up the Sawyer Squeeze system. It is ultra light and I like that it can thread onto a water bottle. All you have to do is fill the water bladder that comes with it and squeeze the water through the filter. I like that the filter doesn't have to be replaced, just backwashed when there is too much resistance. It does take some effort to squeeze the water out and won't do the volume as quickly as some models but for the weight and price I think it is a winner.

Just got back from a week hunting. We used the MSR Mini works but took two new items to test out. I took a filter from a Sawyer water bottle and put it on a MSR gravity bag which I got from Cabelas Bargain Cave thinking it had a filter included, it didn't. It work great, just fill it up and let it drip. We were able to make 5 gallons of camp water in about 30 minutes. Also used the Steri Pen for the first time. I only used it to clean up our dipping bottle that we used to filled the MSR bag. I have a lot more confidence in it now. Where we hunt, there are a lot of cattle all summer so we are pretty careful. If I was in an area with no cattle I would use the steri pen especially on the trail. Does a quart in about 1 minute, no wait, no bad taste.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chippy Hacky

I recently picked up the Sawyer Squeeze system. It is ultra light and I like that it can thread onto a water bottle. All you have to do is fill the water bladder that comes with it and squeeze the water through the filter. I like that the filter doesn't have to be replaced, just backwashed when there is too much resistance. It does take some effort to squeeze the water out and won't do the volume as quickly as some models but for the weight and price I think it is a winner.

---

I have the same system, I love the almost nothing wieght of the sawyer.

I tried the "oh that water looks fine" trick in the mountains of Nevada.
Never really thought much about good looking drinking water having bugs. Never again!!!
I was sick for weeks. Everything I drink in the woods is filtered. I wouldnt care if the filter weighed 5 pounds, I'm not drinking anything that's not filtered.
I just bought the MSR lightweight filter, weighs 7 ounces or so. I have the Katadyn also but it's pretty heavy. Any of the filters are effective and don't give the water the taste of the tablets.

I took my 4L Sawyer out hunting with me this past September. I only got the gray bag and I made up an adapter with a Camelback quick disconnect so I can hook it directly up to my Camelbacks, instead of using Sawyer's blue bag.

I got to use it once, got water out of a spring with it. Getting it filled without getting junk in it is the hardest part (I forgot to get some cheesecloth for it before I left).

After that, you hang it and it does it's thing, really simple.

I definitely recommend getting the 4L bag, it doesn't take up that much more room and it will save you an extra trip to your water source.