filter failures?

“I've been thinking about investing in a filter this year (probably msr at this point),but was wondering how do you know when the filter media fails,, I've seen a few posts about freezing cracking the ceramic, but not much more. Mostly, I was concerned about unfiltered water bypassing the cartrige and I was wondering if this is detectable, or a common problem?”

“When the filter becomes really hard to pump water through it, it's time to change the cartridge.”

“If you go backpacking in winter, you need always keep it warm. Gets to be a hassle.
Pur Hiker has given me endless pumps of trouble free water. Slower than the First Need though.
Heard 50/50 about the MSR. Met a guy on the trail who said his broke the first day he used it on a 10 day trip. Had to use pills the whole time.”

“I'm sure that I wouldn't be the first person to say - STAY AWAY FROM THE SWEETWATER GUARDIAN - P.O.S. from what I've heard and read on this board....”

“I know about the clogging, but was more concerned about possible bypass of non filtered water either through bad seals or cracked element,, wouldn't want to find out the hard way!”

“I have the msr miniworks. The filer is not failing if it is hard to pump. For example in mine, if it becomes hard to pump - there is usually a vacum issue. I take it apart - clean the filter, make sure the rings are lubed, check the valve up top for dirt put it all back together. Alot of times the kids will really screw it back together hard - that will effect it also. On the bottom of the MSR is a cap - on the cap it a crecent moon looking thing that will measure for you when you need to change the filter. Its all in the instructions. Just be sure to clean the filter gently.”

“Pur Hiker!
nuf sed.”

“How would you know if you were getting internal cross contamination? You want to visually inspect the O rings and gaskets for cracks but how would you know if there was some internal failure?”

“I guess the only way to know for sure would be to have a sample tested.
Frequent visual inspections of the filter and proper storage keeps me from losing sleep about this matter. I guess I am a trusting sort. And, like was stated earlier, don't let your filter freeze!
Hey, everybody! Do you run chlorinated water through your filter when you get back from your trip?”

“If I get sick during or after a trip I'll change the filter.”

“You are a scientist, aren't you, walkindude?”

“Naw, I'm jest a reglar dude.”

“Note to self: if walkindude offers to filter water for me, politely refuse.”

“Yeah, I only change my cartridge if it makes my friends sick. LOL”

“Before you go on a trip test your filter by filtering some water with a few drops of food coloring. If the water is clear after filtering, your filter is safe.”

“On nights when the temp gets below freezing,I disassemble my filter and let it drain and dry it off before I turn in.I have'nt had a problem yet.[knock on wood.]”

“Dude is not a scientist -

He's RUDE Dude!

(you had to be there)

Pur Hiker is a great filter system.”

“I'm heading down to the creek.
Yall need any water?”

“Ummmm....no thank you. Sweet of you to offer, tho. I'm good. Really.”

“"I'm heading down to the creek.
Yall need any water?"
walkindude
01:01:46 PM
03/03/02



Hey, is that a crack at me?

Those dudes were RUDE!”

“I have the MSR filter and I have not had a problem with it at all. Liek they say it is very easy to clean. The only two times I would worry about the ceramic filter is 1) if it is out of the housing it could crack if it hits the floor 2) freezing temps. But a little care when it is out of the housing and draining your filter when it is freezing (very easy) is all you really have to do. I really like mine because of the easy maintenance, easy to take a part in the field if needed, and it is reliable. Now the draw backs are that it is heavier than the pur and it pumps a little less liters per minute than the pur.

If you are looking at buying one go to your outfitter and ask to see how one works and have them take it apart for you. I am sure they would be more than happy to do that for you.

Sparky”

“Real simple, carry a very small bottle of bright (red/blue) food coloring. Periodically put some into the water to be filtered (at home is best) then pump away. If the filtered water is colored...time to GEAR SHOP!

Sweetwaters suck BUT they do have a little piss valve that soaks you when the filtered is clogged.”

“I got the msr mini because my hiking buddy has the same one - double the expierence, same maint stuff on long trips (weight) and one of the kids in our group is alergic to iodine. I've used the pur hiker before - and it puts out more water than the msr hands down.”

“Me? Rude?
Naw, not me.”

“Your ass feels like it's on fire when you #&%!$. This is sometimes accompanied by violent vomiting! Takes 1/2 hour to 1 week usually to confirm the filter failure.”

“How much water do you have to pump to become over-hydrated? LOL”

“I use the pur guide.But the pur hiker is also good too.

Stay away from SWEETWATER and I don't like Msr anymore.

8)”

“Sweetwater Walkabout is crappy!”

“The MSR filter has a predictable feel to it. You can see the water coming into it as well. It is easy to tell when the filter needs cleaning. I suppose it would be just as easy to tell when something breaks and contamination occurs. Air bubbles, a change in pressure or some odd feel would occur. Freezing water in the pump is my primary fear. I gave my PUR away and have not regretted it.”

“I'll admit the sweetwater could be constructed tougher, but mine has worked well for almost 5 years. I dont man-handle it, or take advantage of it's easy action to force 2 liter/min. out of it. My friend has one too, and he's had no problems. When it does fail I do not think I will replace it with another sweetwater though. My priorities have changed; I've been thinking about the Katadyne Pocket Filter. I am unsure about the Katadyne's cold temp. performance???”

“MSR is what I carry. Water filters are subject to that engineering paradigm. You can have light weight, high volume, excellent filtration, but you can't have all three at once, only a compromise. MSR strikes a good balance.

What I like most about it is that it breaks down COMPLETELY for drying and storage. You can even take the pump handle off. What that means to me is that I can probably rig a fix if it breaks. Think about getting under the hood of a Katadyn, and you'll see what I mean. Its filter is renewable in the field and the hose is long. It will screw onto a widemouth Nalgene and any MSR water bag, like a dromedary bag. Sheez, it even has a handy net bag for hanging it out to dry in camp. Nope, I've used them all, and this be the one.”

“He is right you can't have all 3 at the same time.

I use the pur guide.

8|”

“I wouldn't use a filter due to the amount of weight, work, and failure that you have to take into consideration. Iodine works on almost all the bugs and it takes no work to use. Also it has no bad taste with the neutralizer. It only weighs a couple of ounces too.

I can't imagine sitting by a stream getting eaten up by mosquitos with your arms busy puming and ballancing containers. With iodine you only have to dip and wait a few minutes while you dig for lunch, or set up camp. SOOOOOOOOO EASY!!!!!!”

“To each there own I guess.

8)”

“I've been using iodine too, but it doesn't get everything, particularly crypto,,but everything you research gets contradictory too,, I tried the aquamira last year, but so far haven't gotten any independent reviews as far as effectiveness,, I'm still leaning toward the msr,, but first need looks pretty good too,, decisions!”

“You need 3 hands to use the first need.Get the pur hiker or pur guide.

8)”

“I like the looks of the UV water purifier in the current Backpacker Mag.”

“Last summer after 3 of 8 days on the PCT our filter broke so we reverted to using our emergency supply of iodine. I used to believe that the water would taste bad, but I was supprized how little taste I detected. It also made getting water much less of an ordeal. None of us got sick either.

I don't mean to like say useing a filter is a bad idea, do what ever you perfer, I was just real supprized at how easy the tablets were. There so cheap and light weight too. Try em I'd swear by em.”

“Hey pathman that thing looks cool as he!!.

I might buy one when the price goes down a little.

$200 Yuck!

8)”