Water Filters...

calyth

calyth

#!/bin/sh of a man
Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
3,574
Need your recommendation for a water filter
First I want your ultimate recommendation regardless of price
Second I want a recommendation for a good filter that has a good balance of price, my requirement is that it'll block out most/all bacteria
Third, I need some help deciding out of the following selection:
Katadyn Combi Water Filter (1.2L/min, ceramic filter 50000L, carbon odor elimination element like 400L)
MSR WaterWorks II Ceramic (2/3L/min, no indication of filter life)
Sweetwater Guardian with Viralstop (1.25L/min 757L filter life (fiberglass and carbon filter) and a separate bottle that eliminates viruses too)
price is in decending order.
Hope to hear from you guys soon.
 
While you're waiting for forum members to share their personal experiences, there are a bunch of consumer reviews at this website: www.outdoorreview.com. Click on Reviews, then on Backpacking/Camping/Hiking, then on Water Filters.

Hope this helps...

Johnny
 
I have found the pumping mechanics on the MSR Waterworks to be miserable. (At least up to two years ago). In the same amount of time that a MSR can fill a 24 oz. Nalgene bottle, I can fill 2 - 3 of the same bottles with my PUR filter.

I have the model (don't remember the #), with an Iodine insert. Iodine one of the only ways to guarantee that the water is bacteria-free. Even the finest filters cannot do that. The iodine does flavor the water, so you do have to get used to it.

If you must have truly clean, best-tasting water, filter then boil.
 
Pour untreated water through a coffee filter first, then treat with "Pristine" or "Aquamira". Both release chlorine dioxide which kills it all in about 20 min. Total package weighs about 3.5 oz. not bad.
 
Well I'm aware of the chemical solutions, however I'm thinking of filters that serves much more as an emergency use at home more than I need it outside, however I would not hestitate to do so when I do go camping.
Seems that rules out the MSR stuff...
 
I have the Sweetwater walkabout and Guardian. We have used both extensively on trips up to 5 days with up to 15 people. The Guardain is GREAT. However if I am solo I just use iodine tablets.
 
i really like my MSR water filter. it screw directly on the naglene bottle tops or other containers so there is no risk of cross contamination, or the drinking hose of a hydration pack can attach to the base so you pump directly in to that. also if the mechanisms fail you can remove the ceramic filter and attach the intake hose directly to it and use it as a survival straw or as a gravity filter in a emergency . also it the filter that is issued to some of the marines, not a big point but they seem to like it.
 
I have the MSR miniworks as well and I agree... Great system. Reasonably priced and sturdily constructed. I never thought about using it as a gravity filter or survival straw though.

Very cool. Now I have a little tinkering to do.
 
Originally posted by champ 2482
. . .or the drinking hose of a hydration pack can attach to the base so you pump directly in to that.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing with my PUR hiker. It works great and shaves a few ounces off the weight of the filter. I chose the PUR Hiker because (1) it was "good enough" for my purposes (hiking in the Cascades), (2) the price was right, and (3) it is easy to pump and the flow-rate is high. If I wanted a filter for true survival purposes, I'd go with an MSR or maybe Katadyn ceramic filter.

I'll be trying out AguaMira this summer to save weight. It's EPA certification for giardia and other nastys is pending, but it's the same as the Canadian product Pristine.
 
Whatever filter you get, it is still a good idea to get the anti-viral chlorine drops and treat your water after filtering. That way you get rid of <i>everything</i>!!!

Having been on the receiving end of the waterborne Ugly McNasties, I am here to tell you that you do NOT want to mess around with it. I drank something that took over a year for my gut to get fully right again. If you go with the drops, you have a five minute wait before you can drink. The iodine pills require thirty minutes to be fully effective. One gives you a bit of a chlorinated taste to your water while the other gives an iodine taste.

Personally, I prefer the chlorinated beverage. It goes well with both meat <i>and</i> fish!:p Seriously though, I like the chlorinated taste better than that of the iodine. The time requirement for the chlorine treatment to become effective is the other factor that makes me find this particular option more appealing.

PUR did come out with a filter/purifier, but it turned out that the purifier aspect did not stand up to the industry requirements. They then effected a recall. As a filter though, I haven't heard anything bad about them.
 
. . . but the PUR was a step up for me. I drank untreated water in the Cascades for 20 years without incident (due in part luck and in part reasonable prudence in selecting water sources), but there are just too many people doing too much too close to lakes, streams, etc. to risk it anymore.
 
When I went to get a filter pump, I think the only two brands the store had was MSR and PUR, several models of each. I asked for brochures on them, since I hadn't done any prior research. They sent one of the managers over to answer questions, though. I asked questions for about an hour, and she seemed to know the filter pumps inside out.

I was kind of wanting the MSR, since it had adapters to screw onto the water bags I carried, but I opted for a Pur Scout. It's been so long ago that I don't remember all the details leading up to the decision, but I think it was the iodine chamber built in to the Pur, as well as structural issues. I think the Pur looked more durable. Bear in mind, I bought it to throw in my luggage when I went overseas, so the MSR might be good enough for your purposes.

In addition to treating the water with iodine after filtering it, you can get a charcoal filter to screw onto the base of the Scout, to remove some of the iodine taste. In one hotel overseas the water came out of the faucets yellow. I pumped out a glassfull with the Pur and it cleaned all the color out, and it tasted much much better than what I get out of the faucets here in town.

The Pur Scout is configured like a bicycle pump, rather that a scissor type thing. I'm thinking I rejected one pump because I didn't like the looks of the hinge on it. The Scout is small enough that it's no bother to pack up and take with you.

The next grade up from the Scout had a button in the T handle. You hold the button in and pump it, and it backflushes the filter element for you. I passed on that one because in order for that button to do anything, there must be at least one hole running down the shaft into the pump housing, and the shaft was the same size on both models. Therefore I figured that the Scout would be less likely to break the shaft.

I skipped the bells and whistles in favor of dependability when I made the decision. Chances are that if you're just backpacking it's not going to be subject to the abuse the airlines give things. :)

I haven't been to the camping store where I bought the Scout in several years, but for several years afterwards, every time I'd enter the store, that particular manager would make a beeline into the basement. :)
 
I heard that the PUR filters are also pretty good, but the filter life is kinda short by comparison.
Thanks for all the input.
 
Looks like the PUR Scout is a winner as well. Both would probably serve you well. Another tip that I heard was to take along some coffee filters and rubber bands. Strap a filter around the end of the hose that goes into the lake/pond/river/stream. This added level of prefiltering will prolong the life of your filter and aid in ease of cleaning.

BTW... Both are comparably priced. And if you are going to be away for an extended period, bring a couple of replacement filters.
 
Well I'm tempted for the higher graded stuff because the PUR filters that I've seen runs like 60+ CDN, and for 100 I could get the sweetwater that would last like 750L instead of the usual 100L
If I'm on a longer trip I would think the cost would justify for it.
However I must say that I was tempted to buy the PUR at first.
 
Talking about the coffee filters got me curious, so I had to go check. My Pur came with a pre-filter on the hose. Some sort of foam plastic, but I guess it'd keep the mud and fish scales out. Some of it, anyway. :)

It's also true that the Pur filters don't last as long as some of them. Maybe they've got smaller holes in them. It's easy to clean them with a toothbrush, though.
 
Hands down winner. I used a MSR at the Marine Mountain Warfare School and although it is a well built and effective filter it is oh so slow. The PUR Scout has served me well from the Honduras to Wyoming.

Hope this helps.

Dave
 
Fortunately, I wan't truly pressed for time (due to luck and circumstances) while collecting my go-juice. So, while I agree that the MSR is a little on the slow side, it isn't (to me) a real detractor. THe MSR does come with a pre filter as well. I think that they all do... Irregardless of brand. The coffee filter idea is simply a field-expedient means of prolonging your gear life.

I'm happy with my MSR. I would like to try a PUR sometime. I hear nothing but good stuff from them.

GET THE DROPS, THOUGH!!!
 
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