I am debating on trying one of these this year. Has anybody had any luck with these?
I've used a Katadyhn base camp in the past ( I dont think it was the updated version) and had very little luck with it. Clogged after maybe 5 gallons of water and was unable to use the rest of the trip. I ve also used the hiker pro that has the ceramic filter and had the same crummy results with it clogging as well. Thanks for the feedback

First of all - welcome to the Board!
My suggestion is a Sawyer DIY set-up for gravity or syphon system. You might do a search of this site for water filter suggestions. I do have a Steri-pen - we use it as a back-up since it is so small.

I use a coffee filter and rubber band over the inlet as a prefilter. Helps keep out the big chunks that would clog the main filter.

quote Grandma L: "First of all - welcome to the Board!
My suggestion is a Sawyer DIY set-up for gravity or syphon system. You might do a search of this site for water filter suggestions. I do have a Steri-pen - we use it as a back-up since it is so small.
"

you wouldn't recommend using a SteriPen as a first line of defense? Like I said, I have had zero luck with a gravity and pump type systems. they both clogged within the first day or so.

I have only taken a steripen when I solo. My only issue was one time using old batteries and having it die on day 2. It's small, light and convenient and doesn't clog.

I use a katadyn basecamp bag with modification to the line with a sawyer mini filter for group trips. That works great but I did have to backflush the filter once during the week. It's just more bulk to carry that setup.

I have had good luck with it but we use it for convenience on the go, for bigger groups we use a gravity filter platypus I think has worked good for me.

I think why people are nervous to say use it as your primary is it makes many of us nervous to rely on something that has batteries or electronics can fail out there more than a filter. That being said I know people that have used them for years and like them.

T

I use a Sawyer Squeeze water filter on week long trips and have not had any issues with it clogging up. Clean at home after trip and am good to go for next trip.

quote johnnyboy82: "

quote Grandma L: "First of all - welcome to the Board!
My suggestion is a Sawyer DIY set-up for gravity or syphon system. You might do a search of this site for water filter suggestions. I do have a Steri-pen - we use it as a back-up since it is so small.
"

you wouldn't recommend using a SteriPen as a first line of defense? Like I said, I have had zero luck with a gravity and pump type systems. they both clogged within the first day or so."

The problem is that you used the wrong gravity/siphon system.Katadyn is almost nonfunctional. Playtapus and Sawyer are great - easily back flushed on the trail or in camp. We use this bottle that has an easily removable filter during the day and pull the filter in the evening to use in a DIY gravity system.

quote Grandma L: "

quote johnnyboy82: "

quote Grandma L: "First of all - welcome to the Board!
My suggestion is a Sawyer DIY set-up for gravity or syphon system. You might do a search of this site for water filter suggestions. I do have a Steri-pen - we use it as a back-up since it is so small.
"

you wouldn't recommend using a SteriPen as a first line of defense? Like I said, I have had zero luck with a gravity and pump type systems. they both clogged within the first day or so."

The problem is that you used the wrong gravity/siphon system.Katadyn is almost nonfunctional. Playtapus and Sawyer are great - easily back flushed on the trail or in camp. We use this bottle that has an easily removable filter during the day and pull the filter in the evening to use in a DIY gravity system. "

so you use a homemade gravity system in the evening with the Sawyer filter from the picture you posted? I am thinking i am going to go with the Sawyer copmlete 4L gravity system. Reading through another post on here about clogged filters that is the one he had as well. people are saying to backflush with a syringe but sawyer videos just show squeezing the bag. IDK, ive been boling water for the past 4-5 years and thatreally is alot of work all the time, not to mention the smokey taste. I just want something that will work for me.

The clog filter thread was not the norm - at all. Many of us have used Sawyer and Platypus filters - each for several seasons wioth great susccess. You just have to take care of them.
Do a search here for DIY garvity filters adn you will find tons of information.

Ok, I did some reading and watched a few videos and I am going to do a DIY gravity filter with a platypus bag and Sawyer minis. The mini I bought came with a syringe for backflushing as well. I think this should serve me quite well.

My son has one, and has used it on 3-4 joint trips with me. I use nothing, as I am a "dipper", i.e. I have never filtered or done anything to lake water since 1976, and neither of us have ever had any issues. That being said, both methods seem to work quite well.

Being older, I don't see the need. Being a millennial, my son feels much better with something electronic in his hands that will make life "better". But, like the Chicago Bears and formerly the Cubs, "wait until next year", so you take your pick. I don't think you can go wrong going naked or armed with an electronic device.

Tomster

Heavy Canoe and I have used Steripens almost exclusively for 4 or 5 years with good results. I have a strainer I place over the inlet of my bottle to keep out the chunks.

We revisited our filtration systems this year. I had a bag filter we could bring but have the same issues you do. Found a great objective review by a mom who is a research scientist. Even with water she purposefully made nasty the pen worked. It should be noted: to get 100% kill rate ALL of the time she ran the pen twice.

So what did we decide? One complaint for Steripens is the small batches. So Heavy Canoe invested in the new bigger system. I invested in 2 of the blue filter bottles you see above to supplement the Steripens. Problems with the filter bottles...1 you can't flavor the water (big deal for my daughter) 2 people talk about using them as regular water bottles and take the filter out...how can you do that?!? If you have used the bottle with unfiltered water how are you sterilizing it as you go back and forth between filtered and dirty water?

So Steripens for camp water. Filter bottles for water on the fly whilst paddling.

Here is the article mentioned above. Steripens

Only time I got sick was with a Steripen. That's doing all the precautions listed.
And you're not actually 'filtering' with the pen.

A well maintained Sawyer filter is my recommendation. Reading what filters are filtering seals the deal for me. Even if a pen kills the tapeworm eggs, I'd rather not drink them.

quote nctry: "Only time I got sick was with a steri pen. That's doing all the precautions listed.
And your not filtering with the pen.
A well maintained sawyer filter is my recommend. Reading what filters are filtering seals the deal for me. Even if a pen kills the tapeworm eggs, I'd rather not drink them."

nctry, sorry you got sick. What did you test positive for? Giardia or something else? I'm interested because I sometimes use a Steripen, particularly when it's cold and I need to worry about a filter or Aqua Mira freezing. Given your bad experience makes me think that maybe I should rethink what I'm doing.

thanks to all of you for the responses. So, like I stated above I am going to go with a Platypus 3L reservoir bag and put a sawyer mini filter in line from that and have a sort of 'homemade' gravity filter.

One question that i still have in doing this is I see the pictures on the sawyer mini package and it shows the filter as a straw, on top of a water bottle and in line on a camel back showing me that some sort of suction is used on all 3 of these methods. Has anybody used the sawyer mini filter as just a gravity filter? I know GrandmaL mentioned something but how well did it work for you?

Never used a Steripen due to reliance on batteries and possible breakage. Like the FirstNeed Purifier and used a long time. Used to like my Sawyer Mini for size convenience, versatility, and packing. But I tried the new MSR TrailShot this year and it is replacing the Mini and FirstNeed. Smaller package, can use on trail and on water easily, pump works great, single hand pumping, can be used as gravity filter, and can be field backflushed. Have carried it on several long hikes, filling a Camelback and drawing right from small streams for drinking direct from the filter/pump.
It even pumps faster than my FirstNeed which supprised me a bunch!

butthead

quote johnnyboy82: "thanks to all of you for the responses. So, like I stated above I am going to go with a Platypus 3L reservoir bag and put a sawyer mini filter in line from that and have a sort of 'homemade' gravity filter.


One question that i still have in doing this is I see the pictures on the sawyer mini package and it shows the filter as a straw, on top of a water bottle and in line on a camel back showing me that some sort of suction is used on all 3 of these methods. Has anybody used the sawyer mini filter as just a gravity filter? I know GrandmaL mentioned something but how well did it work for you?"

The Mini setups I used most were gravity and as an in bottle draw thru. The Mini when clean flow well as a gravity filter. Now that I changed to the MSR TrailShot it plugs into the gravity system the same way with the bonus of including a pump to purge air and start flow.


butthead

I have a steri pen that has never been used along with a solar charger that you can have for 30 bucks. I use a gravity filter system that I keep clean with a syringe. Even with heavy use and when the pollen is thick I have never had an issue with it. Like anything, maintainence is everything. You get out of it what you put into it. Let me know if you want the steri pen.

I had success with hiker pro after I started pumping out if a collapsible bucket and letting it settle for 15 minutes. The platypus 4l system works great - 4-5 trips - just detach from "dirty" bag or invert clean and dirty and let half a litre back flow. Works great time after time for me.

I had a steripen for my first trip. I had several days of constant rain, and water seeped into the battery compartment and corroded the terminals overnight. I switched to a platypus gravity filter after absolutely prefer

Something to keep in mind with the steripen: keep it dry!

I have posted before of my love affair with the Camel back All Clear UV light system. I had envisioned using it as my hydration source on travel days but it quickly grew into my primary option. It is just so easy and convenient.

One charge lasts a surpringly long time. For a two week trip one charge is sufficient for one person.

As others have pointed out UV lights are not filters. You might inadvertently snack on some sediment or minuscule bugs ;-)

Certainly pricier than a Steri Pen but seems to me vastly superior as I am able to agitate the water completely.

I will likely get another one just in case they stop making them.

I've said it before here a few times, so I imagine a few people are saying, "Here he goes again!" in their heads.

I use the First Needs XL purifier, and I love it. I don't trust just a filter without some other form of purification, and I don't like iodine tablet flavored water (plus waiting 35 minutes for it to be drinkable.)

The $100 is well worth the money for truly clean water with no waiting and no weird flavors.

I also have a steripen which I haven't used yet, but it is in my kit for the next trip, as a backup. I like that it's also instant use. That'd be good for a day hike, I think.

I've used a Steri pen for years, based on the recommendations of Ranger Rick. He was checking me out on a solo trip years ago. He had a friend who took his to Mexico and drank the tap water with no ill effects after Steri pen treatment.