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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Converting Katadyn Base Camp |
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02/08/2014 11:22AM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I saw a while back that some of you have converted your Katadyn Base Camp water filters by removing the paper part of the Katadyn filter and attaching a sawyer filter to the hose. I did that and the water barely comes through the old Katadyn filter. Do I need to remove something else? I had to leave the part of the filter that was glued to the bottom. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit."
02/08/2014 11:39AM
I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/08/2014 11:59AM
quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
"
I was trying to keep the carbon middle in tact for extra pre-filtration. Tried it, and that fixed the problem. Thank you! I love this site.
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit."
02/08/2014 12:18PM
quote Scout64: "quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
"
I was trying to keep the carbon middle in tact for extra pre-filtration. Tried it, and that fixed the problem. Thank you! I love this site."
You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/08/2014 04:43PM
quote LuvMyBell
You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:
"
What am I missing here? Seems like that carbon filter is after the Sawyer? Purpose?
Thanks.
Never criticize someone until you walk a mile in their shoes....by then you'll be a mile away and they will be shoeless!
02/08/2014 04:48PM
quote drnatus: "quote LuvMyBell
You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:
"
What am I missing here? Seems like that carbon filter is after the Sawyer? Purpose?
Thanks."
Strictly for water taste. Carbon/charcoal filters remove some chemicals that the filters/purifiers do not and are known (from what I've read) to improve the taste of the water.
I suppose they can also remove some larger particles of stuff if they were installed in front of the filter/purifier, but that's not what I have one in my setup for.
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/09/2014 07:41PM
quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "
In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:
Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter
Katadyn Carbon Filter
Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.
I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/10/2014 11:14AM
I use an inline Platypus carbon element after my Sawyer filter. It should be used more for taste and odors vs. a filtering media as it will more easily clog.
You can get all sorts of fittings and adapters at your local Ace Hardware too!
You can get all sorts of fittings and adapters at your local Ace Hardware too!
02/10/2014 11:39AM
quote LuvMyBell: "quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "
In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:
Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter
Katadyn Carbon Filter
Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.
I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer "
I just ordered an MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter to test with my modified gravity-fed Katadyn/Sawyer unit. If it needs pressure from a pump unit like my Katadyn Pro-Hiker I'll use it in that application. My fingers are crossed that it will work with my gravity-fed setup.
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/11/2014 04:12PM
quote LuvMyBell: "quote LuvMyBell: "quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "
In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:
Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter
Katadyn Carbon Filter
Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.
I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer "
I just ordered an MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter to test with my modified gravity-fed Katadyn/Sawyer unit. If it needs pressure from a pump unit like my Katadyn Pro-Hiker I'll use it in that application. My fingers are crossed that it will work with my gravity-fed setup."
I tried the MSR siltstopper on my setup 2 years ago and could not get the water to flow through it without pressure. I had the same hopes as you did.
02/11/2014 04:32PM
Craig K, after ordering I looked at the MSR sweetwater filter that this siltstopper goes with. I realized too late that it was designed for a pump unit and probably wouldn't work with a gravity-fed unit.
Thanks for the confirmation. Since I also own and use a pump unit I will be able to use the siltstopper so its not a total waste of money.
Thanks for the confirmation. Since I also own and use a pump unit I will be able to use the siltstopper so its not a total waste of money.
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
08/15/2014 09:12PM
quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
"
I have a problem...
I was very disappointed and called Katydyn. They are replacing both of my bad filter cartridges. I can use them in Alaska or maybe the BW in the spring.
But...
Now, I don't have a used filter to cut up to convert my basecamp.
Does anyone have a used filter? I'd be happy to by it from you.
Fish where the fish are...
08/16/2014 06:02AM
Just go and buy an MSR, Sawyer or Platypus gravity filter instead and not have to mess with all of the conversion stuff. Those brandss don't have the problems like the Katadyn does.
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne
08/16/2014 07:06AM
quote OldFingers57: "Just go and buy an MSR, Sawyer or Platypus gravity filter instead and not have to mess with all of the conversion stuff. Those brandss don't have the problems like the Katadyn does. "
I don't know much about the other filters. But their bags look much smaller. It also looks like their bags are hard to fill. The base camp has a huge bag that is very easy to fill.
Am I misunderstanding that?
Fish where the fish are...
08/26/2014 08:40AM
I am with Mad_Angler on the size of the bag. We have a group of four and the other bags just seem too small for us. I have spent plenty on converting the Base Camp just to keep the capacity for the the group. Instead of using the cut off filter this year I ordered an MSR universal cap to attach the the bottom of the Katadyn Base Camp. I use a commercial grade prefilter that is supposed to take out stuff down to 1 micron so I am not worried about the sand screen missing from the rig.
08/26/2014 03:10PM
quote Mad_Angler: "quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.
The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.
Instead of this:
You are left with this:
"
I have a problem...
I was very disappointed and called Katydyn. They are replacing both of my bad filter cartridges. I can use them in Alaska or maybe the BW in the spring.
But...
Now, I don't have a used filter to cut up to convert my basecamp.
Does anyone have a used filter? I'd be happy to by it from you."
If you already have put out the $ for the Katadyn Base Camp and don't want to trash the entire system and start over with something entirely new, you have to do the Katadyn filter mod pictured above, to continue using the bag.
The bag on the Katadyn Base Camp will only work if you have a Katadyn filter or modified filter. It is the largest and easiest to fill of any gravity system bags that I've seen. Well worth the trouble to do the mod. You only have to do it once with an old used filter.
After the mod, you only have to do maintenance on whatever brand of inline filter you add to the modified system. I like the Sawyer Point Zero Two Purifier, but there are others. I also add an inline charcoal filter to improve the taste.
Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
02/17/2016 08:55AM
This is a great old thread. I have had my base camp filter die on at least two different trips. I will never take it to the BW again.
But i will use the bag and convert the filter as others describe in this thread. The idea of a base camp bag filter is great. The actual filter on the Katydyn filter is the problem...
But i will use the bag and convert the filter as others describe in this thread. The idea of a base camp bag filter is great. The actual filter on the Katydyn filter is the problem...
Fish where the fish are...
02/17/2016 09:17AM
I talked with a Katadyn sales rep at Midwest Moutaineerings Spring Expo last year and he said the new ones won't clog but failed to explain to me what they changed to prevent it.
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne
02/17/2016 09:33AM
quote OldFingers57: "I talked with a Katadyn sales rep at Midwest Moutaineerings Spring Expo last year and he said the new ones won't clog but failed to explain to me what they changed to prevent it. "
I'm happy to hear that but skeptical.
I did have good service from Katydyn. I made them replace several of the failed filters. I explained that is was completely unacceptable for a piece of survival equipment to fail this way. I was filtering very clear, clean water. But the filters still failed after a day or so. If it truly was a survival situation, I would have been in trouble.
Katydyn did relent and did replace the filters. But they were very adamant that they were just replacing out of the goodness of their hearts. They were clear to note that it was NOT a warrantee issue. I'm not sure of the significance of that but they wanted to be very clear.
I still have Katydyn Hiker that I like. I would love to have more reliable filters for it.
Fish where the fish are...
02/17/2016 10:18AM
Wow. It does seem that Katadyn did change their filter. It looks like they changed their filter to work in the Boundary Water.
Here is a link for the 10L filter. The description at Rutabaga has this interesting comment: "One-Year AntiClog™ Guarantee on the filter element. Katadyn warrants your Ultra Flow Filter™ Element to be free from defects that cause the filter to clog. "
They also sell a kit to convert the old style 6L basecamp filters to the new filter.
Filter
Here is a link for the 10L filter. The description at Rutabaga has this interesting comment: "One-Year AntiClog™ Guarantee on the filter element. Katadyn warrants your Ultra Flow Filter™ Element to be free from defects that cause the filter to clog. "
They also sell a kit to convert the old style 6L basecamp filters to the new filter.
Filter
Fish where the fish are...
02/17/2016 11:41AM
The shower nozzle on the Seattle Sports solar shower will pull off, and the Sawyer mini will plug right into the tubing. Gives you five gallons of dirty water capacity, and a dual purpose piece of gear. Shower is $30 at REI, weighs 16 oz.
02/17/2016 11:43AM
The shower nozzle on the Seattle Sports solar shower will pull off, and the Sawyer mini will plug right into the tubing. Gives you five gallons of dirty water capacity, and a dual purpose piece of gear. Shower is $30 at REI, weighs 16 oz.
Dixiepaddler
Dixiepaddler
02/17/2016 01:03PM
I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?
aka HermitThrush "Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them." -Eric Sevareid
02/17/2016 01:41PM
quote SaganagaJoe: "I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?"
REI has them for $59.
rei
They will probably have them at Canoecopia too
Fish where the fish are...
02/17/2016 05:36PM
quote Mad_Angler: "quote SaganagaJoe: "I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?"
REI has them for $59.
rei
They will probably have them at Canoecopia too"
Thanks!
aka HermitThrush "Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them." -Eric Sevareid
02/18/2016 06:45AM
I have a basecamp that clogged so did the conversion using the Sawyer Mini last summer. It worked GREAT on our august trip. About day 6 the flow got very slow so I decided to backflush the mini like we are supposed to.
I blasted water into the filter and watched a big green stream come shooting out of the inlet hole. Worked like new after that. I'm sold on the mini.
I blasted water into the filter and watched a big green stream come shooting out of the inlet hole. Worked like new after that. I'm sold on the mini.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
02/18/2016 12:23PM
I have a Katadyn Basecamp gravity filter and also have the Katadyn Hiker Pro filter (pump). I bring both when tripping in the BWCA. A few times I've had a slow filtering Basecamp. When that's happened, I remove the filter from the Base camp and place it into the Hiker Pro pump and have been able to pump water just fine through the Hiker Pro for a couple more days.
03/06/2016 10:30AM
The Basecamp does get clogged quickly, but I like it.It filters fast, and water tasts pretty good.
I would like to know if there is any screen to use as a pre-filter so the media does not clog as quickly. I was thinking of possibly using a 3M face dust mask. I was also thinking that if you would fill a pot and let it sit for an hour to let the bigger particles settle, then fill the Basecamp, would that allow the media to last longer?
I would like to know if there is any screen to use as a pre-filter so the media does not clog as quickly. I was thinking of possibly using a 3M face dust mask. I was also thinking that if you would fill a pot and let it sit for an hour to let the bigger particles settle, then fill the Basecamp, would that allow the media to last longer?
03/06/2016 11:00AM
I think they just clog rather easily as I was reading on Facebook someone complaining about their Katadyn gravity filter that clogged twice while out on the Jon Muir trail. They ended up having to replace both filters. Plus that is some pretty clean clear water out there. Not much in the way of tannins in it. Plus on a JMT hiker survey they did of gear failures the Katadyn Hiker and Hiker Pro pump style filters failed a lot too as they use the same filter element as the Gravity filter. Plus the handles broke quite often due to it getting harder and harder to pump. Again this was due to the filter element getting clogged.
"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ~A.A. Milne
06/15/2016 11:48AM
OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back.
aka HermitThrush "Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them." -Eric Sevareid
06/15/2016 01:59PM
Quote OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back.
Which kit do they offer? Is it just the same as a replacement filter?
I see that the new Base Camps have a quick disconnect at the discharge of the filter.
I have a couple replacement filters on hand now so I am set for a couple trips, or am I? Thanks and keep us Katadyn users poster.
Which kit do they offer? Is it just the same as a replacement filter?
I see that the new Base Camps have a quick disconnect at the discharge of the filter.
I have a couple replacement filters on hand now so I am set for a couple trips, or am I? Thanks and keep us Katadyn users poster.
Real men travel by canoe.
07/16/2016 04:59PM
quote SaganagaJoe: "OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back. "
Update: I installed the replacement kit on my Basecamp bag and it fit perfectly and flowed well for the test. We'll see how she likes a little water from Saganaga in August. A tad expensive for my liking but I didn't feel comfortable enough doing the conversion.
aka HermitThrush "Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them." -Eric Sevareid
07/03/2017 01:19PM
I bought a Sawyer a while ago. I had a basecamp and two new Katydyn filters. I didn't want to cut up a brand new filter.
I used it this spring and the Katydyn worked well.
I took it again last week. I brought my Sawyer along just in case. Sure enough. After about a few days, the katydyn slowed to a drip. I did a field conversion to the katydyn bag with the Sawyer filter. System worked great for the rest of the trip.
I used it this spring and the Katydyn worked well.
I took it again last week. I brought my Sawyer along just in case. Sure enough. After about a few days, the katydyn slowed to a drip. I did a field conversion to the katydyn bag with the Sawyer filter. System worked great for the rest of the trip.
Fish where the fish are...
07/08/2020 12:57PM
I used the same modification for my Katadyn Hiker...
Sometimes, I want the ability to pump the water rather than wait for gravity. I know there are bags that you can squeeze. But I already owned the hiker and the hiker will provide unlimited water without having to refill a bag...
Sometimes, I want the ability to pump the water rather than wait for gravity. I know there are bags that you can squeeze. But I already owned the hiker and the hiker will provide unlimited water without having to refill a bag...
Fish where the fish are...
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