I have used Sawyer filters for a number of years, and this year, I would like to experiment with the possibility of gravity feed through the filters I usually use as 'squeeze'?

Any thoughts?

This is our standard setup. Attach a Sawyer filter to a bag of water, run filtered water into storage container, sit back and relax. Refill bag of water after each cocktail until done.

bobbernumber3: "This is our standard setup. Attach a Sawyer filter to a bag of water, run filtered water into storage container, sit back and relax. Refill bag of water after each cocktail until done."

+1. I put together a couple of these. Wouldn't trip without them.

Yes, the Squeeze makes a good gravity filter. Lots of videos on YouTube. You just need to connect it between two bags. You can use the squeeze bags, but it's hard to fill the dirty water one. Make sure you mark the dirty water bag and keep separate to avoid cross-contamination. Keep air out the system or it will run slowly or stop. Let water run through the tubing before attaching to clean bag. squeeze air out of clean bag before attaching. Rig up a way to hang the dirty bag from tree branch.

You can even just use the sawyer squeeze bags for the gravity setup if you want to play around with it before purchasing anything new. We started by doing that but the capacity is very low if you have more than 1 or 2 people to hydrate. We then upgraded to 1 gal collapsible containers and now for this year we have a big 15L roll top dirty water bag that flows into a 10L MSR dromedary. Both were big improvements from the prior setups.

Lots of folks have posted about MYO gravity filter systems they have made. A search of the site will result in pages of examples. Just combine a dirty water container to the filter with tubing, then connect the filter to a clean water container.

butthead

Sawyer Squeeze is my go to filter but this year I am trying the Hydroblue. I have a Sawyer Squeeze set up as a gravity filter too.

I use a sawyer filter set up as a gravity filter, and love it.

I modified an old Katadyn Base camp bag (cut out filter) and attached the sawyer in line. Works like a charm. I also saw, in Walleyworld, that they have a new Sawyer setup that includes a 3L bag for $34. May be worth it for a backup or primary system. One thing, we lost an o-ring on our main filter last year, we were sure happy we had a little mini as backup.

same as scottim. Works great.

I bought a wide top water bladder (like a CamelBak) disconnected the bite valve and attached the filter. Another piece of silicone hose on the discharge side and a clamp to squeeze the hose closed

We use on of the bigger Sawyer filters as a gravity filter with MSR bags and some fittings and hose from the hardware store.

I used my old Katadyn bag and made a filter set up with a Sawyer filter. Works great for our group of 8 guys. Just remember to bring the flush syringe for the filter. You need to give it a backflush about every few gallons.

scotttimm: "I also saw, in Walleyworld, that they have a new Sawyer setup that includes a 3L bag for $34. May be worth it for a backup or primary system. One thing, we lost an o-ring on our main filter last year, we were sure happy we had a little mini as backup."

I use the Sawyer gravity system mentioned. I also use a Sawyer mini that I keep handy when we're moving and the gravity system is in the pack. It is nice to have commonality between the two.


Gravity filter hanging from the left end of my hammock.

One year on Cherry Lake I lost the gasket on the bag end of my Sawyer....made for leaky filtering. Once home, I bought a 10 pack of garden hose gaskets and keep them with the filter so that doesn't happen again.

My system:

mschi772: "I wasn't happy with any premade gravity system, so I built my own using:


Kent Systems Acrolene tubing and quick couplings (1/4")
Sawyer filter from the purifier bucket kit (0.02 micron)
Katadyn activated carbon filter (bottle adapter)
MSR dromedary bags for filtered water (10 liter)
12 liter collapsible bucket for dirty water



I did not cut a hole in the bucket; I just run the line over the edge of the bucket and use my syringe (or, honestly, my mouth) to suck on the CLEAN side of the filter to start the flow. It takes no time to filter 10 liters. The bucket fills quickly compared to systems that use enclosed bags for dirty water, and it can be used for so much more; I store the whole system in the bucket (after rinsing the bucket with clean water) when packed. The whole thing disassembles into pieces quickly due to the quick couplings, and I even have some coupling plugs to put on each end of the filter to keep it from leaking when I pack it up between sites. The adapter cap that attaches the hose directly to the dromedary bag is your standard "Nalgene thread," so this system will attach to just about anything.


Obviously it could be whatever capacity you prefer, and you could choose a lighter bucket/bag and use a Sawyer mini instead, but for my larger basecamping group I love the large capacity and durability of this. I LOVE these dromedary bags; they're so bombproof! Shout-out to Kent's tubing for its insane durability, too--this Acrolene stuff is crazy tough.


It's plenty light for me, and if I need to shave weight, I use my Sawyer mini, leave the charcoal part at home, and switch to a smaller silnylon bucket and a smaller clean bag or just no clean bag and tap the system for water as needed.


The charcoal filter is unnecessary, but the girlfriend is very picky about water, so I added it so that any strange colors or tastes would not have to be an issue for her, and I have to admit that water from this system is amazing, and that charcoal filter does deserve some of the credit.


I am considering cutting a hole in a bucket and adding one of Kent's shut-off bulkheads (only flows when connected to another coupling) to it so that it can still function as a bucket but siphon-starting would be a thing of the past.


The photo below is the best I've got of the system in action, but it was taken when a friend attached their camelback to fill it instead.



Kent Systems
MSR Adapter for tubing to the bag
MSR Dromedary bag
Sawyer filter
Katadyn carbon cartridge
Bucket
"

We use a sawyer, with two of those collapsible jugs -not sure of the capacity, but they are the larger ones. One hangs off the tree, the clean one sits on the ground. When full, put spigot on and set on a rock for clean water. Found the farther down the line to the clean jug your filter is, the faster it flows. I suppose more head pressure pushing against it. Our favorite line after getting it set up is "I'm making water" when someone asks for your help haha

We use a Sawyer Squeeze inline between 2 3-liter Cnoc bags. An orange for dirty water and blue for clean. Works slick and packs small.