WATER FILTERS REVIEW

[ninjapuppet]

Heres a review of my water system:

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Katadyn Hiker: 618g
Used happily for 10 years, until the filter clogged up and don’t know where to get replacement filters. The newer model in the shops has a similar filter but don’t fit mine. So i needed a new filter
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Next: MSR waterworks EX: 453g
Used once, and realised better alternatives existed (this is when steripens was just released)
wayyy too bulky, Maybe to be used overseas in dodgy waters
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Steripen adventurer + prefilter 105g+41g = 146g
This is awesome! The prefilter filters out debris faster than my hanky for only 40 grams.
Then steripen kills all the nasties. HOWEVER, this setup generally requires a water bottle to hold, such as:
1L nalgene: 180g
0.5L nalgene 88g
1L Kathmandu 143g
Its too hard to sterilise whilst the water in my camelback, so generally i have to add the weight of a water bottle (usually the 1L nalgene), so total weight = 146+180 = 326g

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NOW MY NEW SYSTEM
http://aquamira.com/consumer/frontier-pro-filter-system/
From Jason Klass’s recommendations: The aquamira frontier pro 45g + 7g adaptor
This is the lightest by a mile! It is a gravity fed system. I collect 2 litres of “dirty” water in my platypus, hook it to the frontier pro inlet. Then on the outlet, i hook up a hose all the way to my camelback for fresh water to go thru. This apparently kills 99.999% of nasties, but not viruses.
CONS: i found that hooking up the system was abit fiddly, i hate to wait a good half hour to fill it up, and its abit hard if theres no trees or rocks to hang the system from. Abit unsteady on the tent.
However, it works, and works flawlessly, and did i mention its light???
TOTAL weight:
platypus + hose 88g + Frontier Pro 52g = 140g
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My super-ultralight system:
Permable cloth as a filter: 10g
Aquamira treatment tablets: 10g
Total weight : 20g
Have to wait a while to use the water, unlike sucking directly from the frontier Pro
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Note that the above weights, are not inclusive of my main camelback water bladder.

The aquamira system is not field tested yet but preliminary tests appear very very promising.
I think it’ll be my system of choice if weight is a concern, since its very compact .
If I approach a water source and need water in a hurry, i can still suck water directly from the source through the filter. Its dirt cheap ($17 from the US compared with $180 for the MSR) and the US military uses it so it cant be too bad. I’m not keen on the tablet system unless water is crystal clear like NZ & Tassie.

The steripen + prefilter is a nice backup too, but i think to include the nalgene makes it 186g too heavy. Heres a pic of the setup. The frontier pro is inside the rolled up platypus.
Another PLUS is that I can also use the platypus as a pillow. I’m a physio & chiro, and know its not best for the neck, but it works for me.

[Jellybean]

Thanks for the review, the aquamira frontier pro sounds interesting.

I've also found the only real inconvenience with the Steripen and pre-filter (apart from ensuring you have adequate battery life for the trip you're making) is the need to carry a wide mouthed Nally bottle or similar. I did read somewhere that a lightweight alternative to this is to use a snap lock bag (maybe two for security) that takes approx. 1 L of water as an alternative to a Nally bottle. I haven't gotten around to trying this yet but if it works it overcomes the extra weight factor and is way more convenient (time wise) than any of the other options (I love that I can zap 1L of water in 90 secs and have no chemical aftertaste).

Cheers,

JB

[nickL]

a friend of mine has leant me ( i really must give it back to him one of these days) a 2L platypus that he cut the top off and marked on the side in black texta "500ml" and 1L. i keep it rolled up and use a rubber band to attach it onto the steripen pouch. when i get to a water source i unroll it and open it up -scoop water into it and then treat. i am also thinking of trying the flexible bucket / bag for my GSI soloist pot - the dark inner will allow me to see the steripen clearly during the day

with the aquamira system does it require gravity and can it actually filter water as you walk with it in your pack - why do we need to get rid of the viruses? what are the risks with this system?

nick

[ninjapuppet]

Your ideas have just upped the competition between the steripen + frontier pro setup.
Steripen + cut off platypus: 128g
Full Aquamira frontier pro setup: 140g
However, I just cant tolerate chunky bits floating in my water, even after its been treated with the steripen. Maybe there is a way, to attach a mozzienet or coffee filter over the opening of the platypus when collecting the water?

OK, the competiton is pretty close now. Heres my thoughts:
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Steripen:
+ obviously water in 90 seconds.
+ quite a nice setup.
+ I have more trust in this to kill nasties.
- batteries might fail
- going to have debris in water. Maybe can use a cloth somehow.
- high cost for people looking for a new filter.


Aquamira
+ if you are new to lightweight, this is the way to go, for only $US17 ($28AUD delivered to my door)
+ can just stick the aquamira directly in the river and drink filtered water straight from the source
+ filtered free of debris, and kills bacteria.
+ once i get to camp and setup the tent, i just fill up the platypus, hang the setup, and have 2L in half an hour while i go do other things. In a large group with large water bladders, you can have 10L a few hours later without doing anything. With the steripen, sterilising 10L in one go would be a real chore.
+ no moving parts and low tech so nothing can go wrong.
- fiddly.


Conclusion:
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i think i’ll continue the use of the steripen, if destination has clean clear running water like nz. Its just much less fiddly and i only usually need 2 or 3 litres of water.
for places where i definitely will be taking water from a still source like outback Australia, i’d go the frontier pro.

However i think its such a close competition between the two, that if I hadn’t got either, i would go the frontier pro simply because it is so cheap. I don’t think it can be used to filter whilst in your backpack because you need to lay out a long tube from reservoir to the filter to increase the filtration rate.

[nickL]

Nj

add chlorine tabs as back up to your steripen and one of those problems is solved
add the spare batteries to weight
talke the tube anyway for only a little weight gain - you may already be carrying the platypus - then if you want you can do both or use the tube as a prefilter

that sounds like a great set up - where exactly did you get that from

nick

[eddie the eagle]

Hi n_p

I use the MSR gravity system you referred to (MSR Autoflow??)- not the lightest, but with 16y.o. kids learning hiking, I need bulletproof. According to the website below, it's about 300g or so.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/MSR/Water ... er/product

I'd agree with simplicity of use. It also works fairly quickly when the filter's clear. Stream of water about 4mm round falling into the bottle with about 4 feet of fall from the reservoir to the bottle - does a litre or so in a minute when the filter's clear, goes back to about a litre in 5 minutes or so (trickle) when the filter's getting blocked.

Cheers,

eddie

[WarrenH]

I've a MSR Miniworks. I wanted one filter that does it all. The removal of 99.99% of everything is very good.

I like the Bicentennial National Trail so it is possible that a herd of cattle or a flock of sheep used the water hole just before I need it.

I'm also into bike touring, farm dams and road bridges are everywhere. I do not question where I get my water from ... I can get it from everywhere.

I like the float system of the MSRs because it means that I can set the intake height ... below the scum and above the sediment. The fail safe systems and the operating instructions of the MSR range make the product top of the line in my opinion. The maintenance kit is comprehensive and you are looking at 2,000lts between replacing bits.

The MSR Miniworks is used by the Australian Army ... I'm guessing they only use the best hand held stuff?

Warren.

[ninjapuppet]

Does yours say "miniworks" or "waterworks" ?

I'm pretty sure mine said waterworks
http://www.shopwiki.com.au/_MSR+Filter+WaterWorks+EX

But the msrgear website only has the miniworks.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/MSR/Water-Treatment-And-Hydration/Expedition-Water-Treatment-And-Hydration/MiniWorks-EX-Microfilter/product

not sure if its the same thing, but it looks the same and mine weighs the same as the miniworks' specs.
if it really is the same thing, seems silly from MSR's point to call it 2 different names

[ninjapuppet]

OK, this website cleared up. The miniworks and the waterworks are 2 different filters
looks like the waterworks is now no longer on the msr website.

http://www.wildasia.org/main.cfm/library/MiniWorks_EX

so the waterworks is basically a larger version of your miniworks. even tho it looks the same, weighs the same, filters the same....

[WarrenH]

G'day Ninja.

The MiniWorks replaced the WaterWorks and the other hand pumping filter that MSR has, is the MSR SweetWater. I've an MSR MiniWorks. The rrp here is $189, I ordered it through a camping store and it cost me $165. If one could keep the postage to a realistic figure if purchased OS the unit appear to be about $100AU before postage.

When the filter has been used, it takes 3-4 days to completely dry out and only then after being completely dry, is the unit at the manufacturer's specification weight of 456 grams. It is recommended that if using the filter for 7 days straight, that the filter is cleaned and sterilised for 9 minutes by boiling.

After using the filter and emptying out the excess water by pumping not by unscrewing the top cap,the weight that is carried is between 478-482 grams.

Warren.