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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Converting Katadyn Base Camp
 
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electbc
03/06/2016 10:30AM
 
The Basecamp does get clogged quickly, but I like it.It filters fast, and water tasts pretty good.
I would like to know if there is any screen to use as a pre-filter so the media does not clog as quickly. I was thinking of possibly using a 3M face dust mask. I was also thinking that if you would fill a pot and let it sit for an hour to let the bigger particles settle, then fill the Basecamp, would that allow the media to last longer?
 
OldFingers57
03/06/2016 11:00AM
 
I think they just clog rather easily as I was reading on Facebook someone complaining about their Katadyn gravity filter that clogged twice while out on the Jon Muir trail. They ended up having to replace both filters. Plus that is some pretty clean clear water out there. Not much in the way of tannins in it. Plus on a JMT hiker survey they did of gear failures the Katadyn Hiker and Hiker Pro pump style filters failed a lot too as they use the same filter element as the Gravity filter. Plus the handles broke quite often due to it getting harder and harder to pump. Again this was due to the filter element getting clogged.
 
LuvMyBell
02/09/2014 07:41PM
 
quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "


In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:


Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter




Katadyn Carbon Filter





Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.


I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer
 
halvorsonchristopher1
02/09/2014 11:38PM
 
Jb, I like that set-up.


Here is my conversion.



 
Scout64
02/09/2014 07:00PM
 
My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well.
 
LuvMyBell
02/08/2014 04:48PM
 
quote drnatus: "quote LuvMyBell



You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:




"




What am I missing here? Seems like that carbon filter is after the Sawyer? Purpose?



Thanks."



Strictly for water taste. Carbon/charcoal filters remove some chemicals that the filters/purifiers do not and are known (from what I've read) to improve the taste of the water.

I suppose they can also remove some larger particles of stuff if they were installed in front of the filter/purifier, but that's not what I have one in my setup for.
 
jb in the wild
02/08/2014 02:18PM
 

Sawyer filter



JB
 
GSP
02/08/2014 11:51AM
 
There is a small screen in the base of the kayadyn filter that needs cleaning occasionally. It does help catch some of the big stuff.
 
Scout64
02/08/2014 11:59AM
 
quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.



The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.


Instead of this:





You are left with this:


"




I was trying to keep the carbon middle in tact for extra pre-filtration. Tried it, and that fixed the problem. Thank you! I love this site.
 
SaganagaJoe
07/16/2016 04:59PM
 
quote SaganagaJoe: "OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back. "


Update: I installed the replacement kit on my Basecamp bag and it fit perfectly and flowed well for the test. We'll see how she likes a little water from Saganaga in August. A tad expensive for my liking but I didn't feel comfortable enough doing the conversion.
 
TomT
02/18/2016 06:45AM
 
I have a basecamp that clogged so did the conversion using the Sawyer Mini last summer. It worked GREAT on our august trip. About day 6 the flow got very slow so I decided to backflush the mini like we are supposed to.


I blasted water into the filter and watched a big green stream come shooting out of the inlet hole. Worked like new after that. I'm sold on the mini.



 
Ardwich
02/18/2016 10:23AM
 



Just make your own from scratch. It was a really fun project.
 
crumpman
02/18/2016 11:47AM
 

Here is my rig. I got tired of trying to find flat rocks to build a rise for my Nalgene bottle. I bought a Nalgene canteen for my solo trip and rigged it to hang from a branch down to the spout. Problem solved.
 
mc2mens
02/18/2016 12:23PM
 
I have a Katadyn Basecamp gravity filter and also have the Katadyn Hiker Pro filter (pump). I bring both when tripping in the BWCA. A few times I've had a slow filtering Basecamp. When that's happened, I remove the filter from the Base camp and place it into the Hiker Pro pump and have been able to pump water just fine through the Hiker Pro for a couple more days.
 
Mad_Angler
07/08/2020 12:57PM
 
I used the same modification for my Katadyn Hiker...


Sometimes, I want the ability to pump the water rather than wait for gravity. I know there are bags that you can squeeze. But I already owned the hiker and the hiker will provide unlimited water without having to refill a bag...



 
schweady
02/18/2016 03:24PM
 
quote Ardwich: "



Just make your own from scratch. It was a really fun project."

What bag is that, Ardwich?

 
Craig K
02/11/2014 04:12PM
 
quote LuvMyBell: "quote LuvMyBell: "quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "




In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:




Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter






Katadyn Carbon Filter







Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.




I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer "




I just ordered an MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter to test with my modified gravity-fed Katadyn/Sawyer unit. If it needs pressure from a pump unit like my Katadyn Pro-Hiker I'll use it in that application. My fingers are crossed that it will work with my gravity-fed setup."



I tried the MSR siltstopper on my setup 2 years ago and could not get the water to flow through it without pressure. I had the same hopes as you did.
 
LuvMyBell
02/11/2014 04:32PM
 
Craig K, after ordering I looked at the MSR sweetwater filter that this siltstopper goes with. I realized too late that it was designed for a pump unit and probably wouldn't work with a gravity-fed unit.


Thanks for the confirmation. Since I also own and use a pump unit I will be able to use the siltstopper so its not a total waste of money.
 
LuvMyBell
02/08/2014 11:39AM
 
I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.


The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.

Instead of this:



You are left with this:


 
Scout64
02/08/2014 11:22AM
 
I saw a while back that some of you have converted your Katadyn Base Camp water filters by removing the paper part of the Katadyn filter and attaching a sawyer filter to the hose. I did that and the water barely comes through the old Katadyn filter. Do I need to remove something else? I had to leave the part of the filter that was glued to the bottom. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Scout64
02/08/2014 12:01PM
 
Does anyone know where to buy a hose reducer coupling? I guess my Katadyn hose is smaller than my sawyer filter.
 
LuvMyBell
02/08/2014 12:18PM
 
quote Scout64: "quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.




The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.



Instead of this:







You are left with this:



"





I was trying to keep the carbon middle in tact for extra pre-filtration. Tried it, and that fixed the problem. Thank you! I love this site."



You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:



 
LuvMyBell
02/08/2014 02:34PM
 
quote jb in the wild: "
Sawyer filter




JB"



Much cheaper alternative and just as effective....IF.....you don't already have a Katadyn Base Camp that you are tired of being clogged.
 
drnatus
02/08/2014 04:43PM
 
quote LuvMyBell


You can purchase an inline carbon pre-filter like this:



"



What am I missing here? Seems like that carbon filter is after the Sawyer? Purpose?


Thanks.
 
OldFingers57
02/17/2016 09:17AM
 
I talked with a Katadyn sales rep at Midwest Moutaineerings Spring Expo last year and he said the new ones won't clog but failed to explain to me what they changed to prevent it.
 
Mad_Angler
02/17/2016 09:33AM
 
quote OldFingers57: "I talked with a Katadyn sales rep at Midwest Moutaineerings Spring Expo last year and he said the new ones won't clog but failed to explain to me what they changed to prevent it. "


I'm happy to hear that but skeptical.


I did have good service from Katydyn. I made them replace several of the failed filters. I explained that is was completely unacceptable for a piece of survival equipment to fail this way. I was filtering very clear, clean water. But the filters still failed after a day or so. If it truly was a survival situation, I would have been in trouble.


Katydyn did relent and did replace the filters. But they were very adamant that they were just replacing out of the goodness of their hearts. They were clear to note that it was NOT a warrantee issue. I'm not sure of the significance of that but they wanted to be very clear.



I still have Katydyn Hiker that I like. I would love to have more reliable filters for it.
 
LuvMyBell
08/26/2014 03:10PM
 
quote Mad_Angler: "quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.




The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.



Instead of this:







You are left with this:



"




I have a problem...
I was very disappointed and called Katydyn. They are replacing both of my bad filter cartridges. I can use them in Alaska or maybe the BW in the spring.



But...
Now, I don't have a used filter to cut up to convert my basecamp.
Does anyone have a used filter? I'd be happy to by it from you."



If you already have put out the $ for the Katadyn Base Camp and don't want to trash the entire system and start over with something entirely new, you have to do the Katadyn filter mod pictured above, to continue using the bag.


The bag on the Katadyn Base Camp will only work if you have a Katadyn filter or modified filter. It is the largest and easiest to fill of any gravity system bags that I've seen. Well worth the trouble to do the mod. You only have to do it once with an old used filter.

After the mod, you only have to do maintenance on whatever brand of inline filter you add to the modified system. I like the Sawyer Point Zero Two Purifier, but there are others. I also add an inline charcoal filter to improve the taste.
 
Saberboys
02/10/2014 11:14AM
 
I use an inline Platypus carbon element after my Sawyer filter. It should be used more for taste and odors vs. a filtering media as it will more easily clog.


You can get all sorts of fittings and adapters at your local Ace Hardware too!
 
LuvMyBell
02/10/2014 11:39AM
 
quote LuvMyBell: "quote Scout64: "My conversion is done! Thanks. Seems to work well. "



In case you are interested in installing a carbon/charcoal filter, I've been able to find two that will work on the gravity systems:



Platypus Gravity Works Carbon Filter





Katadyn Carbon Filter






Both are around $20 I think. The platypus filter gets thrown away and the Katadyn unscrews and can be recharged with new carbon media.



I also found a MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter that looks interesting. It can be backflushed like the Sawyer filters and purifiers. At $20, it might be worth installing one if it increases the life of the Sawyer "



I just ordered an MSR Sweetwater Siltstopper pre-filter to test with my modified gravity-fed Katadyn/Sawyer unit. If it needs pressure from a pump unit like my Katadyn Pro-Hiker I'll use it in that application. My fingers are crossed that it will work with my gravity-fed setup.
 
jb in the wild
02/10/2014 03:43PM
 
quote halvorsonchristopher1: "Jb, I like that set-up.



Here is my conversion.


"



Sweet set up. Now add a marine primer bulb for a gas tank, a piece of hose and you have a back flush system for in the field.


JB
 
nelsonone
08/26/2014 08:40AM
 
I am with Mad_Angler on the size of the bag. We have a group of four and the other bags just seem too small for us. I have spent plenty on converting the Base Camp just to keep the capacity for the the group. Instead of using the cut off filter this year I ordered an MSR universal cap to attach the the bottom of the Katadyn Base Camp. I use a commercial grade prefilter that is supposed to take out stuff down to 1 micron so I am not worried about the sand screen missing from the rig.
 
Mad_Angler
08/16/2014 07:06AM
 
quote OldFingers57: "Just go and buy an MSR, Sawyer or Platypus gravity filter instead and not have to mess with all of the conversion stuff. Those brandss don't have the problems like the Katadyn does. "


I don't know much about the other filters. But their bags look much smaller. It also looks like their bags are hard to fill. The base camp has a huge bag that is very easy to fill.


Am I misunderstanding that?
 
Mad_Angler
08/15/2014 09:12PM
 
quote LuvMyBell: "I had the same issue and ended up cutting the black tube off the katadyn filter, leaving just the base and o-ring to attach it to the bag.



The only water restriction you will ever have now will be the Sawyer filter itself.


Instead of this:





You are left with this:


"



I have a problem...
I was very disappointed and called Katydyn. They are replacing both of my bad filter cartridges. I can use them in Alaska or maybe the BW in the spring.


But...
Now, I don't have a used filter to cut up to convert my basecamp.
Does anyone have a used filter? I'd be happy to by it from you.
 
OldFingers57
08/16/2014 06:02AM
 
Just go and buy an MSR, Sawyer or Platypus gravity filter instead and not have to mess with all of the conversion stuff. Those brandss don't have the problems like the Katadyn does.
 
SaganagaJoe
06/15/2016 11:48AM
 
OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back.
 
bcelect
06/15/2016 01:59PM
 
Quote OK - I bought the replacement kit Katadyn offers - $64.99. That's not that much less than I paid for the bag but I digress. I'll be trying it out and holding them to their one-year anti-clog promise. I just don't feel ambitious enough to try the conversion. We'll see how they do and I'll report back.

Which kit do they offer? Is it just the same as a replacement filter?
I see that the new Base Camps have a quick disconnect at the discharge of the filter.
I have a couple replacement filters on hand now so I am set for a couple trips, or am I? Thanks and keep us Katadyn users poster.
 
Mad_Angler
02/17/2016 10:18AM
 
Wow. It does seem that Katadyn did change their filter. It looks like they changed their filter to work in the Boundary Water.


Here is a link for the 10L filter. The description at Rutabaga has this interesting comment: "One-Year AntiClog™ Guarantee on the filter element. Katadyn warrants your Ultra Flow Filter™ Element to be free from defects that cause the filter to clog. "


They also sell a kit to convert the old style 6L basecamp filters to the new filter.





Filter
 
02/17/2016 11:41AM
 
The shower nozzle on the Seattle Sports solar shower will pull off, and the Sawyer mini will plug right into the tubing. Gives you five gallons of dirty water capacity, and a dual purpose piece of gear. Shower is $30 at REI, weighs 16 oz.
 
02/17/2016 11:43AM
 
The shower nozzle on the Seattle Sports solar shower will pull off, and the Sawyer mini will plug right into the tubing. Gives you five gallons of dirty water capacity, and a dual purpose piece of gear. Shower is $30 at REI, weighs 16 oz.


Dixiepaddler
 
SaganagaJoe
02/17/2016 01:03PM
 
I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?
 
Mad_Angler
02/17/2016 08:55AM
 
This is a great old thread. I have had my base camp filter die on at least two different trips. I will never take it to the BW again.


But i will use the bag and convert the filter as others describe in this thread. The idea of a base camp bag filter is great. The actual filter on the Katydyn filter is the problem...
 
TwoByGreenCanoe
02/17/2016 02:46PM
 
Or you could buy an MSR dromadry cap from REI for either $6 or 10 dollars. Screw it onto the bottom of the bag and attach a hose. MSR MSR
 
Mad_Angler
02/17/2016 01:41PM
 
quote SaganagaJoe: "I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?"


REI has them for $59.


rei


They will probably have them at Canoecopia too
 
SaganagaJoe
02/17/2016 05:36PM
 
quote Mad_Angler: "quote SaganagaJoe: "I'm skeptical too, but will probably try it and hold them to their promise. Where can I find that conversion kit Mad Angler?"



REI has them for $59.



rei



They will probably have them at Canoecopia too"



Thanks!
 
Ardwich
02/22/2016 09:31AM
 
Bought a dry bag at Wal-Mart on clearance. Its really heavy duty.
Got all the parts at a combo of Home Depot and Menards.
 
schweady
02/22/2016 12:30PM
 
quote Ardwich: "Bought a dry bag at Wal-Mart on clearance. Its really heavy duty.
Got all the parts at a combo of Home Depot and Menards. "

Thanks.

 
jrlatt
07/03/2017 09:48PM
 
The sawyer shut off works.

Link to amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0099SP4UU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can buy the sawyer adaptors at REI.


Happy trails
 
Mad_Angler
07/03/2017 01:19PM
 
I bought a Sawyer a while ago. I had a basecamp and two new Katydyn filters. I didn't want to cut up a brand new filter.


I used it this spring and the Katydyn worked well.


I took it again last week. I brought my Sawyer along just in case. Sure enough. After about a few days, the katydyn slowed to a drip. I did a field conversion to the katydyn bag with the Sawyer filter. System worked great for the rest of the trip.