For years, I've just used a MSR pump for my trips, only bringing with the Katadyn Gravity Filter on family trips, which meant sometimes the filter would sit for a few years between uses.

This last trip, there were four of us and I set up the Katadyn and went to drink the water - it has the strongest chemical taste, that like literally burned my lips and tongue. I don't know if the filter just degraded and was breaking down or what happened to it, but it was BAD.

So - I need a replacement. What does everybody like today?

Cnoc bags. Versa Flow filters.

Rented a Platypus GravityWorks from Rockwood last year, and it worked great. Slowed down a few times, but they showed us how to backflush it out, so all was good!
You maybe want to just replace the cartridge on yours, I usually do so with my Katadyn Hiker.

Platypus works great, have been using mine for many years now. On bigger group trips we bring two. Would never go back to a pump system.

I had 2 sons matriculate through Boy Scouts separated in age by just enough that I spent 12 years as a driver for weekend and summer camping trips. I have had the opportunity to use just about every water filter available including: my own MSR Waterworks, Sawyer squeeze and Sawyer squeeze mini filters.

By far the easiest and fastest filter I found was the Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 liter. I use this for groups as big as 12 or as small as just me traveling solo. It is light, has no moving parts and basically self cleaning in the field.

Good Luck

Have to jump on the Platy 4L bandwagon. I back flush at the end of every session and the filter seems to be as quick as it was when I bought it. A fairly painless solution if you need filtered water.

I use the Platypus 4L system and it works flawlessly with only minimal maintenance.

Yep, get yourself a Platypus 4L or 6L water filter and a Platy Water Tank and you will be good to go.

We like the lifestraw mission. Its a purifier too so it can filter out viruses unlike regular filters.

Another testimonial for Platypus here--we've been using a 4L for years and no issues. Backflush after each use, disassemble and completely dry before storage at season's end, and it seems to work forever.

TZ

Pick up a Sawyer filter at Wal=Mart for $20-25 and fab-up a system that meets your needs.

kenpark23: "Cnoc bags. Versa Flow filters. "

+1

TrailZen: "Another testimonial for Platypus here--we've been using a 4L for years and no issues. Backflush after each use, disassemble and completely dry before storage at season's end, and it seems to work forever.


TZ"

No science for this opinion, however, I believe taking my Sawyer filter and soaking it overnight in water before taking our trip helps its efficiency and effectiveness. Use filtered water if desired.

I'm one of the dissatisfied Katadyn owners that took a hack saw to the filter and did some other tinkering, bought 2 Sawyer in-line filters and have been satisfied with results. I like the toughness of the bag and ease of filling it. Filters backflush easy.

Sawyer squeeze as an in-line filter. Love the company mission and love the simplicity of the filters. They just simply work at a reasonable cost.

Go Flow Water Gravity Bag with Versa Flow Water Filter

I use the Platy bags with a Sawyer filter. Some backflushing is usually needed, but that’s simple. Also have Nalgene collapsible 96oz containers.

My platypus 6 liter system came today. Seems like a good piece of gear. Although it is a bit wonky to get back in the bag.

sueb2b: "I use the Platy bags with a Sawyer filter. Some backflushing is usually needed, but that’s simple. Also have Nalgene collapsible 96oz containers. "

The threads on my platy do not match the threads on my Sawyer filter.

MossBack: "My platypus 6 liter system came today. Seems like a good piece of gear. Although it is a bit wonky to get back in the bag."

I pack the filter line and clean bag in the Platy bag. I put the dirty bag in a small stuff sack and stash it in the zipper pocket of my small pack. Pull it out at the end of the last portage and fill it in the center of the lake before landing at camp.

My only criticism of the Platy is how difficult and unreliable the closure is on the dirty bag- I strap it around my leg for the paddle into camp so it doesn't spill into the bilge. The carbon filter addition is money well spent- removes the vegetative after taste; water becomes exceptional for drinking.

cowdoc: "I'm one of the dissatisfied Katadyn owners that took a hack saw to the filter and did some other tinkering, bought 2 Sawyer in-line filters and have been satisfied with results. I like the toughness of the bag and ease of filling it. Filters backflush easy.
"

Our crew has done the exact same with our Katadyn and we have been using the same Sawyer in-line filter for years now.

Thanks for the tip

I put together my own gravity system about four years ago. Used a Sawyer Double Threaded Mini water filter. The Double Threaded version (I got from amazon) includes extra hardware needed to make a hanging system. I needed to also buy bladders (I used Evernew) and hoses I bought at the hardware store. The Double Threaded Mini is threaded on both ends of the filter.

If you use a hose that hangs below the filter to use suction to pull water through it, use a small enough hose so that you do not have an air filled hose with a rivulet of water flowing down, larger diameter does not develop suction. I think mine is 0.170 inch inside diameter if my memory is correct.

The little filters like the Sawyer, Platypus, etc., work best if you frequently backflush. The Sawyer ones can be held against a Smartwater brand bottle with a flip top lid (only some of their bottles have that lid) to quickly give it a quick backflush. I use that to backflush mine every time I use the filter with an ounce or two of water. The more you use it without a backflush, the more compacted any particulates will get that can clog it.

I also back flush mine before and after every trip in the kitchen sink with tap water with the syringe, if you get air in the filter that can slow water flow through it so a robust backflush can help.

Buying a complete package makes sense, but I am a retired engineer so I chose to put together my own parts instead.

ADDENDUM:
I figured out how to add a photo. Using a paddle to hold the upper bladder up above the lower bladder.

Another vote for Platypus Gravityworks. Have tried a few and I like it best. It is like having a faucet in camp and the filter will last a long time if maintained properly.

Speckled: "This last trip, there were four of us and I set up the Katadyn and went to drink the water - it has the strongest chemical taste, that like literally burned my lips and tongue. I don't know if the filter just degraded and was breaking down or what happened to it, but it was BAD."

I was just reading on the MSR website that tannins can react with disinfectants and cause a bad taste in subsequently treated water. If that's true then it might behoove a person to thoroughly flush/backflush with plain water before disinfecting after a trip where high-tannin water was run through the filter.

(click here and scroll to the question about how will tannins affect my filter)

Sawyer Squeeze under a Cnoc 3L & over a 1L smartwater bottle. I also use a 2L Evernew bottle below in place of the smartwater.

For 3 or fewer folks, this works great. More people and I'd ether do two of these (nice redundancy) or a bigger system.

9 ounces for the whole thing - including both clean-side bottles.

Also serves as a 5-minute shower.

CNOC bags and versa filters also.

I use a Sawyer filter and put together my own setup. For untreated water I use an inflation bag that came with my air mattress, I found a pex fitting that worked perfectly to go from the bag to the filter hose. Then on the clean side it drains into a 5 gallon blue water jug. That setup is great for larger groups and higher temps when we're going through a lot of water, and I travel with the water jug empty.

I find myself back flushing the filter once per day, and give it an extra good rinse when I get home.

Platypus, but buy two for a second "dirty" water bag. Work great, best we've found thus far.