Anyone have problems with the Katadyn gravity filters? Ours will filter maybe three gallons of water before slowing to a drip. We clean, pre-filter, let water sit, and we get water way off shore, but not having much luck.

Yes, if you're talking about the ones that have a paper media based cartridge which sits at the bottom of the dirty bags.... they've been thoroughly panned here. You can hack the cartridge and then insert a sawyer or platypus gravity filter in-line.

Both the sawyer & platypus gravity filters use hollow membrane filtration which is field maintainable in the form of clean-to-dirty back flushing. I normally try to back flush 1/4-1/2c water every time I disconnect the clean bag from the filter. Takes 5-10 minutes to do 4L of water depending on who changed the bag, if they got any residual air out of the filter, or if Bobby forgot to back flush after the last round.

we never back flush no sure how to maybe Google it?

There are many many threads on this message board regarding failures of the Katadyn gravity filters. Steer clear and go with a Platypus GravityWorks or Sawyer. I personally love the Platypus.

unshavenman: "There are many many threads on this message board regarding failures of the Katadyn gravity filters. Steer clear and go with a Platypus GravityWorks or Sawyer. I personally love the Platypus."

+1

Only thing good about the Katadyn Base Camp filter is the easy to fill dirty water bag.

I use it for larger groups with a Platypus filter below the bag in a gravity filter set up. Easy to due with some great tutorials on this forum.

werintne: "Anyone have problems with the Katadyn gravity filters? Ours will filter maybe three gallons of water before slowing to a drip. We clean, pre-filter, let water sit, and we get water way off shore, but not having much luck."

Is it the new style with the removable prefilter?

Air in the lines can stop free flow of water even though everything is put together to allow gravity to do its thing and fill the appropriate bag/container. I make sure to allow water to run out as I hook up my filter system from top to bottom. Back flushing in the field helps in the event of a clog. Some times a blow back in the filter can flush out some of the obstruction as well.

MidwestFirecraft: "

werintne: "Anyone have problems with the Katadyn gravity filters? Ours will filter maybe three gallons of water before slowing to a drip. We clean, pre-filter, let water sit, and we get water way off shore, but not having much luck."

Is it the new style with the removable prefilter?"

No. This was an issue some had with the “Basecamp” filter which uses the same cartridge as the old Hiker. The newer BeFree bottle filters and gravity filters seem less prone to this issue and can be field serviced by shaking in clean(ish) water to dislodge sediment/particles. I never owned a basecamp but used one without issue and have had great experiences with the hiker, my bottle, and BeFree Katadyn products.

I also had one of the first basecamps and mine plugged late on the first trip as well. I was dumbfounded when I realized the filter was shot and a replacement was only a couple dollars cheaper than a new complete system. I've been a Sawyer fan ever since and use my old basecamp as storage to refill the Sawyer when it's empty.

Yes, they do clog up. Someone on this site shared a remedy/modification so they could continue to utilize the basecamp unfiltered-water bladder. Cut the filter down with a hack saw leaving just enough at the base to reinsert the bottom end of the filter. Pull off any remaining white filter paper that is glued to bottom piece. Reinsert in the bladder. Buy a Sawyer inline filter and you are good to go. Sawyer filters are much easier to backflush in the way they are designed with a housing.

I used a Katadyn gravity filter for a few years with no issues. Then when I decided to replace the old filter with a new one, is when it clogged on me the first usage. That was the second day of a 5-day trip. When I returned from my trip I discovered others were having same issue. I no longer use Katadyn filters. Once I modified the basecamp unfiltered water bag as described above, haven't had clogging issues since.

To backwash, use a large syringe and push water back thru the filter. Repeat several times.

i had one. lasted 1 day and then clogged. Thing was junk. I got the Platypus gravity filter and like it. Been on many BWCA trips with it and have been happy.

Yah this has been discussed here many times before. It’s a common known problem. To fix the problem you save the katadyn water bag and plumb in a Sawyer mini filter. It will be the last filter you will buy. Good for 100,000 gallons.

Savage Voyageur: "Yah this has been discussed here many times before. It’s a common known problem. To fix the problem you save the katadyn water bag and plumb in a Sawyer mini filter. It will be the last filter you will buy. Good for 100,000 gallons. "

Yup....hack saw off the bad filter, put a Sawyer in line, take a spare. Did this with mine years ago.

Savage Voyageur: "Yah this has been discussed here many times before. It’s a common known problem. To fix the problem you save the katadyn water bag and plumb in a Sawyer mini filter. It will be the last filter you will buy. Good for 100,000 gallons. "

I did this but used regular sawyer filter instead of mini. 20 bucks more but works well. I like the original katadyn bag. Easy to fill easy to hang.

This is great information. Our Katadyn worked great for several years, but has become a problem of late. Now I know the fix.

Mike