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- Feb 8, 2004
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- 4,172
I cleaned up our backpacking gear from a short trip my son and I did...Mistletoe State Park backpacking trip, and I need to flush out the two gravity filters; the Katadyn Base Camp and the 4-Liter Sawyer filter (I have the larger 8-Liter two-bag system as well). Both are designed to be filled, hung from an attachment system that extends the drain tube as far as possible to provide the most gravity pressure for filling your containers. The Sawyer systems do come as a two-bag system which is nice for setting up and just forgetting about it. With the two I used, you had to periodically check on your containers so they didnt overflow. I used a Nalgene 3-quart collapsible container, 2-quart hard container and a couple of 1-quart water bottles. I did use a small piece of aluminum foil to cover the top with the tube inserted just to keep any bugs or the massive pollen dust from getting falling inside.
I didnt get to do any side-by-side comparisons while camping, but here are some things I noticed:
Katadyn Base Camp:
It holds 2+ gallons and is easier to fill while its hanging or even used to catch water from a small water fall. For both, you have to make sure you dont get your tube contaminated, so you have to remove it if youre going to submerge the whole filter. Its a little bit of a pain, but I like that it uses the same size of tubing as camelback and Katadyns other filters cheap to replace if needed.
Flow rate was pretty good and no noticeable difference from the Sawyer. Although it does take the same filter as the Hiker Pro, when attached, it makes it really difficult to pack as its a little more bulky than the Sawyer. I guess you could remove the filter, but its a pretty tight seal with the O-Ring and after having to remove it to clean (which probably isnt needed until you notice a very slow flow rate or you used very turbid water). Im not sure how stout the filter is, but I know you have to make sure you pack it so it doesnt get damaged.
Thorough cleaning of the filter is a pain, but for field cleaning, its pretty easy and you can turn the whole bag inside out to get it dry before packing.
Sawyer gravity filter/purifier:
I dont want to address the filtration system here, but Sawyer uses a hollow-fiber membrane filter that essentially never needs to be replaced; its a Sawyer guarantee, so that is a good investment in the long run. You fill the bag like a camel back. You cant fill it very well while its hanging and its easier to fill with a separate container. The membrane filter is attached on the outside, unlike the Katadyn where the filter resides in the reservoir. All connections are secure via O-rings and integrated quick connect/disconnect adapters (much like the newer Camelbak push-button tube connectors). The hose is much larger than the Katadyn, but neither showed any significant difference with flow rates. The Sawyer seems a little more sanitary when setting up, but that just because you can quickly cut off the flow, remove the filter and hose quickly and easily. I think the Sawyer packs a little better and seems a little more robust as well.
I prefer the membrane filter and connectors of the Sawyer and I prefer the bag style of the Katadyn that roll-top design is easier to fill and dry out.
I actually took both gravity bag filters along with my Katadyn Pocket filter and MSR MIOX purifier. The last two werent used at all (the MIOX is just extra insurance if my water source is really questionable). I really like the gravity bag filters such as the Sawyer and Katadyn. Ill start packing one at the top of my bag right next to my siltarp cover. I can get the water filter started as soon as I arrive at camp giving me potable water while I continue setting camp up. You can use right before you go to bed and when you get up in the AM to either get the fire and breakfast going or while youre breaking down camp. These really work well for me and I may drop my pump filter altogether if my wife is carrying hers.
Another nice gadget that I really fell in love with is the Sea to Summit folding bucket. My son and I didnt know which site would be available and although we ended up the only campers and picked the best site (nearest good running water), the other two sites have a great distance to transport water and one is a really stagnant source. I brought several containers, but the folding bucket turned out to be the primary container to get non-potable water from the small creek. It holds 10-liters and the handle showed no signs of stress when carried. Its a decently type of rubberized cordura or other fabric and didnt leak other than what looked like some condensation early in the morning. You can see the size of the bucket when folded and this will be a permanent part of my backpacking kit its just too handy!
Also, it folds inside out easily enough and dries quickly before needing to be packed back up. I like a bucket like this is if your water needs to stand and let the sediment/detritus settle before using your pump filter. A couple of thumbs up for this little gem of a folding bucket!
I didnt get to do any side-by-side comparisons while camping, but here are some things I noticed:
Katadyn Base Camp:
It holds 2+ gallons and is easier to fill while its hanging or even used to catch water from a small water fall. For both, you have to make sure you dont get your tube contaminated, so you have to remove it if youre going to submerge the whole filter. Its a little bit of a pain, but I like that it uses the same size of tubing as camelback and Katadyns other filters cheap to replace if needed.
Flow rate was pretty good and no noticeable difference from the Sawyer. Although it does take the same filter as the Hiker Pro, when attached, it makes it really difficult to pack as its a little more bulky than the Sawyer. I guess you could remove the filter, but its a pretty tight seal with the O-Ring and after having to remove it to clean (which probably isnt needed until you notice a very slow flow rate or you used very turbid water). Im not sure how stout the filter is, but I know you have to make sure you pack it so it doesnt get damaged.
Thorough cleaning of the filter is a pain, but for field cleaning, its pretty easy and you can turn the whole bag inside out to get it dry before packing.
Sawyer gravity filter/purifier:
I dont want to address the filtration system here, but Sawyer uses a hollow-fiber membrane filter that essentially never needs to be replaced; its a Sawyer guarantee, so that is a good investment in the long run. You fill the bag like a camel back. You cant fill it very well while its hanging and its easier to fill with a separate container. The membrane filter is attached on the outside, unlike the Katadyn where the filter resides in the reservoir. All connections are secure via O-rings and integrated quick connect/disconnect adapters (much like the newer Camelbak push-button tube connectors). The hose is much larger than the Katadyn, but neither showed any significant difference with flow rates. The Sawyer seems a little more sanitary when setting up, but that just because you can quickly cut off the flow, remove the filter and hose quickly and easily. I think the Sawyer packs a little better and seems a little more robust as well.
I prefer the membrane filter and connectors of the Sawyer and I prefer the bag style of the Katadyn that roll-top design is easier to fill and dry out.
I actually took both gravity bag filters along with my Katadyn Pocket filter and MSR MIOX purifier. The last two werent used at all (the MIOX is just extra insurance if my water source is really questionable). I really like the gravity bag filters such as the Sawyer and Katadyn. Ill start packing one at the top of my bag right next to my siltarp cover. I can get the water filter started as soon as I arrive at camp giving me potable water while I continue setting camp up. You can use right before you go to bed and when you get up in the AM to either get the fire and breakfast going or while youre breaking down camp. These really work well for me and I may drop my pump filter altogether if my wife is carrying hers.
Another nice gadget that I really fell in love with is the Sea to Summit folding bucket. My son and I didnt know which site would be available and although we ended up the only campers and picked the best site (nearest good running water), the other two sites have a great distance to transport water and one is a really stagnant source. I brought several containers, but the folding bucket turned out to be the primary container to get non-potable water from the small creek. It holds 10-liters and the handle showed no signs of stress when carried. Its a decently type of rubberized cordura or other fabric and didnt leak other than what looked like some condensation early in the morning. You can see the size of the bucket when folded and this will be a permanent part of my backpacking kit its just too handy!
Also, it folds inside out easily enough and dries quickly before needing to be packed back up. I like a bucket like this is if your water needs to stand and let the sediment/detritus settle before using your pump filter. A couple of thumbs up for this little gem of a folding bucket!
