BWCA Water filter setup for the soloist? Boundary Waters Group Forum: Solo Tripping
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      Water filter setup for the soloist?     

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AlexanderSupertramp
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05/10/2023 09:03AM  
Hi all,

Heading in on the 23rd for the first trip of the year, need to cut a little weight in my pack and curious what I can realistically get away with for water filter. I usually bring a single 8L Life Straw gravity bag/filter and hang it up at camp and just open the line when I need it, as well as a 32oz Sawyer squeeze filter with extra bag. For this trip, all my meals will be freeze dried needing on average 8oz of water, and I carry a single 32oz Nalgene for drinking. My dog comes with me, he usually drinks right out of the lake, though I keep his collapsible bowl full in camp which holds around 32oz which I would fill a couple times a day.

Starting to think the 8L kit is overkill for just myself, and the inconvenience of filling the 32oz bags is minor. I could fill both bags at once and cap one to keep in camp for quick access. I really like the squeeze filters for the ability to scoop/fill on the go in the canoe if I run out of water paddling, or even to just squeeze water right into my mouth rather than fill my bottle.

Doing this would cut a full pound from my bag. Not looking to buy a whole new filter setup since what I have is both nice and new(ish).

Thoughts? Anybody else bring just squeeze filters on their solo trips?

 
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05/10/2023 09:42AM  
I solo with a dog...and just carry a 3L CNOC bag (dirty side) screwed into a Sawyer Squeeze, attached to the sawyer coupler/collar which is screwed into the clean bag (I use an Evernew 2L) or a 1L Smartwater bottle.

Gravity system but can be used to drink direct from the Squeeze as well.

I think it weighs 7 oz or so.
 
05/10/2023 09:54AM  
I use what I use on all my trips: MSR XL 10L Auto Flow. It weighs 12 ounces, and I like having the ability to gather a lot of water should I spend more than one night at a site.
 
AlexanderSupertramp
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05/10/2023 10:02AM  
sns: "I solo with a dog...and just carry a 3L CNOC bag (dirty side) screwed into a Sawyer Squeeze, attached to the sawyer coupler/collar which is screwed into the clean bag (I use an Evernew 2L) or a 1L Smartwater bottle.

Gravity system but can be used to drink direct from the Squeeze as well.

I think it weighs 7 oz or so.
"


Going to check out those CNOC bags at the store this week, they look inexpensive enough to try. Certainly lighter than the Life Straw bag. That thing is a tank and I probably dont need 8L of water at any given time.
 
05/10/2023 11:26AM  
I carry a Sawyer Water Filter Bottle for drinking on the go and in camp instead of a Nalgene. I use a 2L gravity filter system in camp for meal/coffee water. Since I refill and drink out of the bottle in camp, 2L is plenty for dehydrated meals and coffee for a couple of days. I find that is pretty light but still simple and all I need.

I've tried a lot of different things before settling on that. I've carried 2 Nalgenes of water and a 10L MSR gravity system. I've used a Sawyer Squeeze and a Sawyer mini and converted them to gravity filters. I've used the CNOC/HydroBlu and Platypus gravity systems. The Platypus and CNOC bags are easier to fill and that's what I use now. I've even gone with just a squeeze, but that's more complicated than it's worth to me. I find it easier to drink out of the bottle than a squeeze and certainly easier to fill.

There are a lot of threads here on various gravity filter setups and other things here if you search.
 
YardstickAngler
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05/10/2023 05:10PM  
Following.

I’m bringing my hiker pro pump filter and Platypus 4L gravity filter on my solo, but I am tempted to leave the pump at home. I just feel like the pump would be more convenient during longer travel days, which I hope to do. But I’d still love to drop the (slight) weight and bulk of the pump filter.
 
YetiJedi
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05/10/2023 06:22PM  
Hey AST,

When I solo I bring a Platypus 3L gravity filter for camp and a Katadyn BeFree 1L for paddling/portaging. The arrangement has worked well enough for me for several years.

I'm also going in on the 23...here's to good trips for both of us!
 
straighthairedcurly
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05/10/2023 09:40PM  
I have 2 different setups, my typical solo where a little extra weight is okay and my ultra lightweight trips.


For typical trips: Versa Hydroblu filter with a Cnoc bag to screw onto each end. This makes a small gravity filter system for around camp. I carry 1-2 Smartwater bottles with sport caps to put the water in after filtering. BeFree 1L for during the day.



Ultralight: Just the BeFree for everything.
 
Tomcat
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05/11/2023 09:15AM  
Solo or with a group I take a Hydroblu Go Flow 10L water gravity filter system.

 
GeneH
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05/12/2023 05:12PM  
I tend to think 4 L of water on hand at any given time is plenty, and use 4 Smartwater bottles in the pockets of my pack. (2 are empty when I'm hiking or moving.) They weight about and ounce each.

If overnight temps might be freezing I leave the filters at home and use Aquamira so I don't forget and destroy a filter. I plan ahead a little for the treatment wait period. (that's part of the reason to carry 2 L) Also just found out you can pre-mix that stuff and have it ready to go all day. Might start using BeFree to fill a couple Smartwater or other light cheap bottles.

Sometimes I hike to a spot for an overnighter and just hang around all day, which really (for me at least) makes the treatment wait period a non-issue. And if boiling water for meals I don't need to filter either unless there's a lot of floating stuff.

Used to use a Hiker Pro but that's 8 oz I don't need to carry anymore.

Lose the nalgene's if you can and same some weight.
 
05/13/2023 09:24AM  
AlexanderSupertramp: "
sns: "I solo with a dog...and just carry a 3L CNOC bag (dirty side) screwed into a Sawyer Squeeze, attached to the sawyer coupler/collar which is screwed into the clean bag (I use an Evernew 2L) or a 1L Smartwater bottle.


Gravity system but can be used to drink direct from the Squeeze as well.


I think it weighs 7 oz or so.
"



Going to check out those CNOC bags at the store this week, they look inexpensive enough to try. Certainly lighter than the Life Straw bag. That thing is a tank and I probably dont need 8L of water at any given time.
"


I think I'm going to give this CNOC system a try out as well. I have an MSR gravity flow system that is indestructible, but slow. I always need a lot of water quickly when I'm on the go and this might be the thing. I usually carry at least one lightweight system as a backup as well, because 2 is 1 and 1 is none :)....
 
Tomcat
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05/13/2023 11:33AM  
I've tested a variety of water filters and water bags.

A few examples:
 
05/13/2023 12:03PM  
One of the things about carrying the water filter bottle is that the filter is a backup for the gravity sytem.
 
05/14/2023 07:28AM  
Thanks for the pics Tomcat.

I use an old katadyn bag with their shitty filter ripped out and Jerry rigged a sawyer mini with flex tubes that go into whatever container I’m bringing. I’ve never hung any bottle but the hose from the bag goes into the receptacle sitting on the ground.

I also bring a steri pen for traveling days on the go. Simple to scoop out of the lake and stir for a minute or two.
 
AlexanderSupertramp
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05/15/2023 06:55AM  
Well, I searched high and low at all the local places this weekend for the CNOC bags and couldn't find them, a couple places had them on order but had been waiting a while I guess. So I went with the 3L BeFree and I'm going to take just that, and leave the sawyer filter/bags and the LifeStraw setup at home. I'll just have to make sure to fill my Nalgene each morning and probably once mid-day, otherwise 3L is plenty sufficient for use at camp. And at under 7oz for the whole kit, tough to beat.
 
05/15/2023 08:33AM  
The BeFree should be fine for your trip.

I own the 3L and a smaller one; later in the season when there are more seds/algae in the water, I found the BeFree to really struggle (needed a filter that I could actively backflush). Works well in the clear water of early season.
 
Tomcat
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05/15/2023 08:46AM  
Deleted
 
straighthairedcurly
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05/15/2023 09:53PM  
AlexanderSupertramp: "Well, I searched high and low at all the local places this weekend for the CNOC bags and couldn't find them, a couple places had them on order but had been waiting a while I guess. So I went with the 3L BeFree and I'm going to take just that, and leave the sawyer filter/bags and the LifeStraw setup at home. I'll just have to make sure to fill my Nalgene each morning and probably once mid-day, otherwise 3L is plenty sufficient for use at camp. And at under 7oz for the whole kit, tough to beat."


I order them from Garage Grown Gear. They ship really fast or if you are in the Twin Cities you can order and then select to pickup in person in St. Paul. Super people who run it!

Garage Grown Gear
 
AlexanderSupertramp
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05/17/2023 08:16AM  
straighthairedcurly: "
AlexanderSupertramp: "Well, I searched high and low at all the local places this weekend for the CNOC bags and couldn't find them, a couple places had them on order but had been waiting a while I guess. So I went with the 3L BeFree and I'm going to take just that, and leave the sawyer filter/bags and the LifeStraw setup at home. I'll just have to make sure to fill my Nalgene each morning and probably once mid-day, otherwise 3L is plenty sufficient for use at camp. And at under 7oz for the whole kit, tough to beat."



I order them from Garage Grown Gear. They ship really fast or if you are in the Twin Cities you can order and then select to pickup in person in St. Paul. Super people who run it!


Garage Grown Gear "


I think for my Fall trips I'll got that route, as SNS stated, I want something that I can backflush when the water gets a bit thicker. So I'll combine one of the CNOCs with the sawyer filter. Still lightweight at least.
 
mkvnwk
member (14)member
  
05/20/2023 04:17AM  
I'm frequently solo. I use a regular sized sawyer squeeze filter and two 1-litre and one 500 ml smart water bottles. The smaller bottle is used for travel and is lashed, along with the attached filter, to the seat of my canoe with a loop of paracord with a prussic knot. The 1-litre bottles feed my water needs from the time I get to camp in the afternoon until leaving the next morning. It doesn't take me any time at all to squeeze out enough water for my dehydrated meals and the smart water bottles are nearly indestructible and very light weight.
 
Loony_canoe
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05/28/2023 09:41AM  
For solo, I only take a 1 liter Bee Free filter. I've not had any issues with it and have successfully used it on multiple 14 day trips with no issues.
I also bring one 1 Liter platypus bag for storage and a single gaiter aid bottle for flavored mixed drinks (cold coffee, juice, etc.).
I do not filter my cooking water, or water heated over the camp fire. So that lowers the gallons filtered.
I also assume if the filter does fail on a trip, I will just heat and cool water for drinking.
 
AlexanderSupertramp
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05/31/2023 09:07AM  
Loony_canoe: "For solo, I only take a 1 liter Bee Free filter. I've not had any issues with it and have successfully used it on multiple 14 day trips with no issues.
I also bring one 1 Liter platypus bag for storage and a single gaiter aid bottle for flavored mixed drinks (cold coffee, juice, etc.).
I do not filter my cooking water, or water heated over the camp fire. So that lowers the gallons filtered.
I also assume if the filter does fail on a trip, I will just heat and cool water for drinking."


Just got back and used the 3L BeFree and it was about perfect, though I think I could get away with the 1L if I needed to. With that said, there really is no weight penalty for the larger one and it was nice having it strung up at camp with water on demand all the time. I just used my 1L Nalgene for storage and that's all I brought. I'd like to remove that stupid pinch clamp though on the tube and install something in-line with dial or lever for flow. Going to rig that up before my next trip I think.
 
LaVirginienne
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07/21/2023 05:36PM  
I bring a Platypus gravity setup for camp and a GeoPress for water during the day. Flawless on solo trips as long as 10 days. The large GeoPress has a cap keeper which is reassuring. But I prefer carrying the small bottle.
 
straighthairedcurly
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07/26/2023 01:31PM  
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