MSR Miniworks micro filter
This water filter works fairly OK, We have used this to drink water straight from a river without using any form of purifying and neither of us have become ill. It is advertised as being able to filter one litre per minute but the average for in real life situations is around the three minute mark. Usually we filter water to heat boil in the bag meals which then means the water is kept at a rolling boil for a minimum of 5 minutes, killing any bacteria not taken out by the filter, this water is then used to make coffee. One problem that we do have with the filter is that one of the O ring seals keeps blowing out, the filter housing builds up so much pressure that eventually it blows the seal. This still happens even if you slow the pumping. This can be seen in the video below. The complete water filter weighs 526g.
Since doing this video the filter suddenly one day just started working perfectly. I had not changed the way it was set up or used. I will do another video soon.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
Mrs Baldy was kind enough to get this for Baldy for Christmas 2012.
After an initial test in the kitchen sink I decided it needed a modification as when I unscrewed the filter from the squeeze bag it leaked water for a couple of hours, OK it wasn't much but enough to get the contents of the rucsack wet.
I cut the top of a 'Fruit Shoot' bottle and glued a pop bottle top on the cut end, this will seal the end of the filter when screwed on as seen in the photographs.
The filter with mod weighs 100g and the 2 litre water bag weighs 30g, this will save 396g over the MSR water filter and if I include the weight of the water bladder which will no longer be needed it saves 596g!!
PLUS, when I tested it in the sink I squeezed the water bag and filtered 1 litre of tap water in 58 seconds. I also tried it again without squeezing the bag and gravity filtered 1 litre in 3 minutes. So not only does this filter give a massive weight saving it will also save me time and energy. When using the MSR I did find it to be....'troublesome' half squatting on a slippery river bank trying to pump the water I needed. This is no longer a problem as I just need to dip the bag in the water for it to fill.
I will however do a proper review in the field soon.
Click on the images below for a larger view and description.
After an initial test in the kitchen sink I decided it needed a modification as when I unscrewed the filter from the squeeze bag it leaked water for a couple of hours, OK it wasn't much but enough to get the contents of the rucsack wet.
I cut the top of a 'Fruit Shoot' bottle and glued a pop bottle top on the cut end, this will seal the end of the filter when screwed on as seen in the photographs.
The filter with mod weighs 100g and the 2 litre water bag weighs 30g, this will save 396g over the MSR water filter and if I include the weight of the water bladder which will no longer be needed it saves 596g!!
PLUS, when I tested it in the sink I squeezed the water bag and filtered 1 litre of tap water in 58 seconds. I also tried it again without squeezing the bag and gravity filtered 1 litre in 3 minutes. So not only does this filter give a massive weight saving it will also save me time and energy. When using the MSR I did find it to be....'troublesome' half squatting on a slippery river bank trying to pump the water I needed. This is no longer a problem as I just need to dip the bag in the water for it to fill.
I will however do a proper review in the field soon.
Click on the images below for a larger view and description.