10-16-2013, 08:24
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: 18 yrs upstate NY, 30 yrs South Florida, 20 yrs Conch Republic, now chasing G-Kids in NOVA & UK
Posts: 11,901
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Water Filters??
I got a trash email from one of the sports venders I like. Front page was an add for a Life Straw.
http://www.rtba.co/life-straw/
Looks like it might be a handy item for my car first aide kit.
Any pros or cons or alternate brands.
Thanks
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JJ_BPK is offline
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10-16-2013, 08:53
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#2
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RIP Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: The Ozarks
Posts: 10,072
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I've got the Sawyer system. Not as easy as a straw, but the volume is pretty good. I've gotta get water for three people.
Supposedly, you can filter water no matter how germy or filthy it is...
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Dusty is offline
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10-16-2013, 09:07
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#3
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 680
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They work for most bugs excepting viruses, but like any filter, they clog fast if you don't pre-strain. They don't last long if you drink straight from the water source, like in the photos. Pretty good deal for the money though.
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Last edited by Barbarian; 10-16-2013 at 09:10.
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Barbarian is offline
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10-16-2013, 09:11
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#4
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 4,792
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FWIW, I throw a Lifestraw in pack as backup to MSR filter - light and seems like cheap insurance. I also keep one in the truck.
Have not used one yet - but Googled write ups before purchase - seemed worth the $20.
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tonyz is offline
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10-16-2013, 09:58
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#5
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Area Commander
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cochise Co., AZ
Posts: 6,199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty
I've got the Sawyer system. Not as easy as a straw, but the volume is pretty good. I've gotta get water for three people.
Supposedly, you can filter water no matter how germy or filthy it is...
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This is what I use, too. Supposedly the filter part (not much bigger than the straws) can be attached to a regular store-bought water bottle, but I have not found one that it fits. I've read that they fit on the Platypus bottles, though.
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...7&postcount=11
Pat
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"Hector Lives!"
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass
"The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." -- Dennis Prager
"The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule it." --H.L. Mencken
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PSM is offline
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10-17-2013, 09:14
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#6
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Area Commander
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Carolina in the rainforest,4000' along the Eastern Cont. Div.
Posts: 1,427
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MSR
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonyz
FWIW, I throw a Lifestraw in pack as backup to MSR filter - light and seems like cheap insurance. I also keep one in the truck.
Have not used one yet - but Googled write ups before purchase - seemed worth the $20.
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I am big on the MSR systems as well. While not as compact as a straw the pump filter is fairly compact and light compared with others, it screws directly to a dromedary bag or other large mouth opening eliminating concerns at that end when using, a 10 liter D Bag and shower kit gives a user nearly 5 minutes of shower which can be solar heated or pour hot water in ( probably better to pour boiling water into some cold ), it also can be used as a bladder, and can be used as a warming device in a small shelter or sleeping system. The water bags do come in different sizes and weights. This is great for kayaking as the bags placed in the bottom of the boat adds stability and weight. A coffee filter can be wrapped around the intake as a pre filter.
As a side note: it is my understanding that there are no filtration devices YET that can effectively filter hormones and medicines, keep that in mind if you at the bottom of a water shed.
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Essayons
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Golf1echo is offline
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10-17-2013, 10:58
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#7
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: KEYSTONE STATE, Bucks County
Posts: 252
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Shelf Life
Anyone have any comments about shelf life or storage concerns for any of the mentioned systems? I have a pump system kept in my personal truck, never used, approaching ten years old.
At the price of the Straws, it makes good insurance sense.
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Flag Day NCO
"Fundamental truths are our most powerful weapon and chief among those truths is the sanctity of the individual right to self-determination." Trapper John
The Cold War didn't end, communism still lives and has come to America.
The Insurgency is going well, especially with the enemy at the table of every branch of our Federal, State, and Local Government.
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FlagDayNCO is offline
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10-17-2013, 11:04
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 4,068
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlagDayNCO
Anyone have any comments about shelf life or storage concerns for any of the mentioned systems? I have a pump system kept in my personal truck, never used, approaching ten years old.
At the price of the Straws, it makes good insurance sense.
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Might want to inspect the seals for disintegration/degradation. May need to replace the O-rings or lube w silicone. Check MFG. site first.
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MR2 is offline
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10-17-2013, 11:20
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#9
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Area Commander
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cochise Co., AZ
Posts: 6,199
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlagDayNCO
Anyone have any comments about shelf life or storage concerns for any of the mentioned systems? I have a pump system kept in my personal truck, never used, approaching ten years old.
At the price of the Straws, it makes good insurance sense.
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On the Sawyer web site they say this about my Squeeze System: "Life Expectancy: 1 Million Gallons Guaranteed." I doubt that I've put 5 gallons through it since I got it.
There's not much to the maintenance beyond back-washing and, probably, replacing the washer and squeeze bags.
http://www.sawyer.com/video-squeeze.html
Pat
__________________
"Hector Lives!"
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass
"The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." -- Dennis Prager
"The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule it." --H.L. Mencken
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PSM is offline
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10-17-2013, 15:09
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#10
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Alaska
Posts: 777
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Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, no batteries or moving parts.
Cons: A straw? You're only getting clean water as you need it, by sucking it into your mouth. No clean water stored for later use, or that can be used in other ways, such as mixing water with milk/nutrition powders.
This past summer we used a SteriPen on a camping trip in Kodiak. The device was fast and simple to use. But it takes batteries to operate - a big drawback. It has a pre-filter for water with sediment.
In past years we've used a Sawyer, some tubing, a bucket, and a water bag to filter large amounts of water by gravity. (We got that idea here at PS.Com) Works brilliantly for a family of four, though it isn't something you'd want to carry around. 
Susan
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Requiem is offline
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10-18-2013, 07:38
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#11
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 145
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SteriPen
I use one (SteriPen) as well after I filter with my Katadyn Pocket filter. I had 2 other Katadyn Hikers break on the trail, both had plastic connectors at the base, both broke right there. Decided to splurge on the Pocket filter as it is all metal. Should last me the rest of my life.
My SteriPen is the new one, the Freedom. It has an internal battery that I can charge with either my GoalZero solar system or with my Biolite Stove. It also has an LED light just in case. I also make sure I only use wide-mouth water bottles that the SteriPen will fit inside so I can treat the water much easier.
Between these two systems and a 5-gallon igloo water cooler I am pretty much set for water when I hike and camp.
I am not sure exactly how long the battery will last, but the lamp itself is rated for 8,000 uses.
Cake
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Cake_14N is offline
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10-18-2013, 08:59
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#12
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: KEYSTONE STATE, Bucks County
Posts: 252
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Nice Responses
Thanks for the replies. The pump I have in the truck is still good to go, but like everything else, I was interested to see what has been brought to market since.
Sawyer definitely has a good system and I think having a couple of options is not a bad idea. It is also compact enough to go into a go bag.
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Flag Day NCO
"Fundamental truths are our most powerful weapon and chief among those truths is the sanctity of the individual right to self-determination." Trapper John
The Cold War didn't end, communism still lives and has come to America.
The Insurgency is going well, especially with the enemy at the table of every branch of our Federal, State, and Local Government.
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FlagDayNCO is offline
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04-22-2014, 18:45
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,804
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I use the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System, and then put the drinking water into a Berkey Sport Water Bottle, if it needs a little more cleaning.
The Berkey uses activated charcoal in its filter, which will remove chemicals like chlorine, heavy metals, and improve the taste.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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04-22-2014, 19:24
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#14
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Area Commander
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,423
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We've got a Katadyn Combi for family camping/emergencies and some Katadyn Minis for BOB and my pack/ruck for in the field.
Found them to be pretty solid…no problems.
The price of Berkeys down here is pretty steep….haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I guess you only pay for quality once by the sounds of things.
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Flagg is offline
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04-22-2014, 20:09
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,804
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flagg
We've got a Katadyn Combi for family camping/emergencies and some Katadyn Minis for BOB and my pack/ruck for in the field.
Found them to be pretty solid…no problems.
The price of Berkeys down here is pretty steep….haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I guess you only pay for quality once by the sounds of things.
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I cannot believe that some one with a Katadyn is complaining about the cost of the Berkeys. 
The Sawyer Mini is around $20 and so is the Berkey Sport Bottle.
Pretty good deal, considering the tiny size, light weight, and extremely long lifespan of the Sawyer.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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