Last entry into the BWCA I had issues with my filtering system, had to boil most of my water for drinking, any suggestions on nice efficient filtering systems?

There are hundreds of posts here about water filters to read. I will suggest you get a dirty water bag at least 1 gallon to hang on a branch. Then plumb an inline Sawyer filter to a clean water bag on the ground. Be sure to bring the clean out syringe because you will need it.

Savage Voyageur: "There are hundreds of posts here about water filters to read. I will suggest you get a dirty water bag at least 1 gallon to hang on a branch. Then plumb an inline Sawyer filter to a clean water bag on the ground. Be sure to bring the clean out syringe because you will need it. "

+1

I have been using a Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System for years and have had zero issues.

Just backflush the filter after each use (very easy with a gravity system) and follow the instructions for filter cleaning prior to long term storage.

Platypus gravity system is way out in front of all the rest. I use the 6 litre bags and bring three per camp for a group of eight men.

This channel does some really deep dives:

Water filter comparisons

You didn't say what kind of filter you had. Basically you need a filter that is field maintainable. That generally means a hollow fiber filter that you can backflush with a syringe or other methods so it does not clog. Many filters fall in this category - Sawyer, Platypus, MSR, HydroBlu Vecto, and others. All of these companies have information on their websites about use and maintenance. There are many YouTube videos about it, and as mentioned innumerable posts here on the topic. They all have gravity filter systems and you can convert about any to a gravity system with some tubing and a dirty and clean bag.

I always test mine before I leave home to wet it out and make sure it works, and also follow all protocols for cleaning and storage after.

You didn't have your email or I'd have sent you some links and info.

Any gravity feed system and learning how to backslash it and your good to go for the rest for your paddling days.

ockycamper: "Platypus gravity system is way out in front of all the rest. I use the 6 litre bags and bring three per camp for a group of eight men."

That seems like a lot. I was one of the adults with several Boy Scout backpacking trips. On most of those, a single 4 liter GravityWorks met all the water needs for each group of 12 hikers. If camping lake-side, a single Platypus filter should be enough.

Basketcase: "

Savage Voyageur: "There are hundreds of posts here about water filters to read. I will suggest you get a dirty water bag at least 1 gallon to hang on a branch. Then plumb an inline Sawyer filter to a clean water bag on the ground. Be sure to bring the clean out syringe because you will need it. "

+1"

+1.5 :)

Agree with all of this but not a plus "2" because we don't bring a clean bag. we just filter directly into our water bottles or thermos jugs.

As a back-up in case the gravity system fails, I bring purification tablets. They used to be iodine but there are now some better tablet options available.

I have been on a trip every year since 2005. I have never filtered my water. We follow clear rules on where to obtain water...but noone has ever gotten sick...in 20 years. My groups have been between 4 and 8 people. Never filtered, never took the time, never had an issue with dehydration. Just dip down to your elbow, where you can't see the bottom or rocks or weeds, away from streams or inflows. Never even close to beaver lodges/dams. We take a water bag or pot out with us each time and then come back to camp with it filled.
Just my experience.

OCDave: "

ockycamper: "Platypus gravity system is way out in front of all the rest. I use the 6 litre bags and bring three per camp for a group of eight men."

That seems like a lot. I was one of the adults with several Boy Scout backpacking trips. On most of those, a single 4 liter GravityWorks met all the water needs for each group of 12 hikers. If camping lake-side, a single Platypus filter should be enough."

I used to bring 4 litre bags and we were constantly filling them up for the guys coffee, water, washing dishes. We also cook breakfast and day and have fish frys at lunch.

Everyone got tired of filling up the bags multiple times a day. So when Platypus put the 6 litre systems on sale for $60 a few years ago I bought 3 of them. Now we can go 2 days without having to refill. And they don't really take up more pack room then the 4 litre bags.

I realize that there are many who just dip their water. Isn't that like saying I don't wear a seatbelt and have never had an accident?

ockycamper: "

OCDave: "

ockycamper: "Platypus gravity system is way out in front of all the rest. I use the 6 litre bags and bring three per camp for a group of eight men."

That seems like a lot. I was one of the adults with several Boy Scout backpacking trips. On most of those, a single 4 liter GravityWorks met all the water needs for each group of 12 hikers. If camping lake-side, a single Platypus filter should be enough."

I used to bring 4 litre bags and we were constantly filling them up for the guys coffee, water, washing dishes. We also cook breakfast and day and have fish frys at lunch.

Everyone got tired of filling up the bags multiple times a day, so when Platypus put the 6 litre systems on sale for $60 a few years ago, I bought three of them. Now we can go two days without having to refill. And they don't really take up more pack room then the 4 litre bags."

Considering the distance to the water source can be measured in single digit strides from most BWCA campsites, going two days without needing to refill may be unnecessary for the OP looking for "efficient filtering systems".

Hiking or portaging, which I understand some eschew in favor of a single base camp, is far more efficient when duplication of gear is minimized or eliminated. Different strokes... (personally, I favor the "Canadian" with a long straight cherry wood paddle). ;)

ockycamper: "I used to bring 4 litre bags and we were constantly filling them up for the guys coffee, water, washing dishes"

You filter your dish water? If so, that seems unnecessary. It has never even occurred to me to do that.

Is anyone using the First Need water PURIFIER? Twenty years ago, when our Boy Scout troop was getting more into high adventure stuff, we did a lot of research on water filters/purifiers and ended up buying three of them. We used them on Isle Royale, in Quetico and at Philmont and had good success with them. Cleaning them was a bit of a pain, but workable. Lots of changes in technology have happened since then.

The First Needs have gotten crazy expensive so one would need to pop almost $200 per unit nowadays. But, if one needs a PURIFIER, not just a filter, it's still a great choice.

I've been using the Platypus 6L for three years and it has worked well, except I did learn that I need to flush it with distilled water instead of tap water before storage, because even good quality tap water has minerals in it that can clog it. Filters are ridiculously expensive but that's the only real complaint I have. I bought a syringe to backflush more quickly and thoroughly than what gravity alone can do. I bring tablets along as a backup but haven't had to use them.

Some people use Chinese knockoffs but whether or not you trust the filtering claims of temporary fly by night companies is up to you.

ockycamper: "I realize that there are many who just dip their water. Isn't that like saying I don't wear a seatbelt and have never had an accident?"

Yeah. I used to be that person - I'd dip well below the surface, middle of the lake, away from turbulent water, away from any beaver sign. At camp I'd use a Platypus filter, but on long travel days I'd just refill from the lake as I went. It worked just fine for over two dozen trips .... until the first time it didn't.

Pretty unpleasant experience, noodle?

I started with a platypus gravity system and over the years I've replaced it's components individually. Today it is a Waterdrop dirty bag going to a Sawyer filter and then a Mazama designs clean bag. When I replace the clean bag I like to buy one that's set up for hydration so it comes with new hose, bite valves, etc and a way to pour. Most of the time the fittings are compatible but you can just clean and reuse fittings from your old setup on the new hose if it's not. 100% of the time I bring a clean bag, even though most of the time I'm filtering directly into water bottles I've found that the bag is invaluable for backflushing, I'm not a fan of using the syringe. I am a huge fan of the roll-top dirty bag. I'll bring 2 for bigger groups. I've used the sawyer filters for a decade now with no issues. They're cheap.

The best piece of advice I've been given on using them is to backflush onto the ground. After pulling a bag or two, leave your clean bag mostly full, hang it in the tree, disconnect the hose from the dirty bag and just let it buck on the ground. Before it's all gone, reconnect it to the dirty bag and use the last of it to prime the system back to the dirty bag. It goes much faster when you've gotten the air bubbles out.

boonie: "Pretty unpleasant experience, noodle?"

Oh, everything was fine until two weeks after the trip, and then I lost about ten pounds in the next two weeks, so there was a silver lining to it all. ;)

noodle: "

boonie: "Pretty unpleasant experience, noodle?"

Oh, everything was fine until two weeks after the trip, and then I lost about ten pounds in the next two weeks, so there was a silver lining to it all. ;) "

Yeah, I lost considerable weight too and had like zero energy.

ockycamper: "I realize that there are many who just dip their water. Isn't that like saying I don't wear a seatbelt and have never had an accident?"

To me it is similar to taking five camp stoves. There is a chance your first four will break, but it is extra work to take them and carry them so I choose not to worry about it. I'll take the extra care to take two stoves just like extra care where I collect my water. Could both break, sure. Could we get sick...sure.

I have thought about getting a filter for at camp just to reduce the chance by 50% or so...still dip while moving around the lakes fishing or on moving days...

Years ago, we had more trouble with people getting dehydrated because they didn't want to take the time to filter so they were just weren't drinking enough. Once we switched to just dipping, never had another issue with dehydration. That is why we switched and never had a reason to switch back to filtering.

With filtered water bottles being available at $25, there is no more effort to dipping the bottle with the filter in the water vs the one without. No more effort, no more gear, and certainty of clean water.

MarshallPrime: "

ockycamper: "I realize that there are many who just dip their water. Isn't that like saying I don't wear a seatbelt and have never had an accident?"

To me it is similar to taking five camp stoves. There is a chance your first four will break, but it is extra work to take them and carry them so I choose not to worry about it. I'll take the extra care to take two stoves just like extra care where I collect my water. Could both break, sure. Could we get sick...sure.

I have thought about getting a filter for at camp just to reduce the chance by 50% or so...still dip while moving around the lakes fishing or on moving days...

Years ago, we had more trouble with people getting dehydrated because they didn't want to take the time to filter so they were just weren't drinking enough. Once we switched to just dipping, never had another issue with dehydration. That is why we switched and never had a reason to switch back to filtering.


"

I guess it just comes down to your personal level of risk tolerance. Even if the risk of giardia is low or very low utilizing the previously mentioned practices, gravity filters or in bottle filters are just too quick and efficient for me to risk 10 days chained to the porcelain throne and multiple days of lost income from work. But if my filter got lost or broke halfway through a trip, I'd dip...