The best way to keep your filter working in the field, particularly if the water is filled with sediment, is to bring a collapsible water bucket with you. Fill the bucket with water, wait five minutes, then pour into your bladder. The water to be filtered will be much cleaner, with no visible floaters. It also can be easier to fill those bladders by pouring water into them from a bucket.
In the Everglades, one has to tie a long cord to a collapsible bucket, and cast it into the water without leaning over the water. If the gators see your shadow across the water, they spring up from the bottom, grab you, and roll you under the water. I haven't seen it, but I have traveled in the Everglades with people who have seen it done. They say the gators are explosively fast, despite their weight and short legs. There are some crocodiles in the Everglades, too, but I have never heard of them doing this. The water itself is all kinds of brackish in some places, but one can find some potable water. I boiled it, though, I didn't want to take any chances about getting sick on those trips.
I have a Grayl and like that it also filters micro plastics, which is in our water now, even pristine rocky mountain snow-fed streams. The one downside to the Grayl for me is it takes more effort to fit it in my Fanny pack day hike water bottle compartment than compressing the unit to filter. Thank you for this video - super helpful!
Good morning Wade.... great video mate 👍👍. Some great info and demo mate. I tend to use the Sawyers, but like you say the standard bags can be slow to fill at times. Thanks for taking the time Wade, all the best, Mark :)
Re post-trip Sawyer cleaning - use distilled water to back-flush the filter, especially if you add softeners to your water system at home. After back-flushing several times, I let the filter sit submerged for one hour in a mixture of four cups water (heated until it’s hot to the touch) to one cup white vinegar - this breaks down the particles that are in the filter. Then I back-flush with a mix of 1/2 liter distilled water to five drops bleach, to get out the vinegar taste and particulates that broke down, and also to sterilize the filter from any contaminates that may want to take root in the filter when in storage. Make sure to shake dry and then let sit dry in the open for a day before putting into longer term storage. When bringing a filter out of long-term storage, don’t go straight into the field. I’ve seen filters seize up on a few trips I’ve guided. They really should be reconditioned by soaking in warm water and performing a couple of back-flushes. This also removes any residual bleach taste from the above. For the Katadyn, follow the above but, rather than back-flushing, shake the filter in a bowl of water. I’ve gotten the above from working with Sawyer customer service reps.
Hey brother. Nice input on these products. I have been using sawyer mini for a few years now. I also bought some 2 liter bags for mine and an inline adapter kit. This allowed me to connect a bottle on each end using a length of tubing. This way I can carry 4 liters 2 l dirty and 2 l clean. The dirty bag drains into the clean with gravity while I'm doing other chores. Then once the first bag is filtered I can fill the dirty bag and filter it once the first bag is used. The other great advantage is back flushing is super easy. Jp plust squeeze the clean bag so that some of the water goes back into the dirty bag. 00pp
Great info, thank you! On my first backpacking trip back in the 90's we boiled our water. It was so tedious and we would find the occasional noodle floating in the water bottle because we only had one pot for everything!
Great content Wade, you know your stuff really well, there's a significant difference indeed and i always prefer a purification above a filter, i did use a steripen in combination with a filter before i got the Grayl, didn't like the sawyer at all despite the weight but love the MSR hyperflow a lot, the katadyn befree is very convenient to use as I understand, thanks for sharing👍🏻
Excellent comment on the Steripen, it's something I've wanted to try for a while now. Most of our city water and some well water is purified with UV so it makes sense!👍👍 Take care brother✌️
Many Thanks For The Different Filters, Wade ! We Use The Sawyer Had It 3 Years Now & Haven't Had Any Deal Breakers Yet, Other Than As Stated, Slow Fill Time Of The Bag. Hope You & Yours Had A Swell Canuck Day Up Yonder Friend ! Happy Trails From Down On The East Coast ! ATB T God Bless
Thanks for the video. It was great and informative. Most of my adventures are backpacking so I go to the Sawyer mini. You can always buy extra bags that work better than the factory bag from the Sawyer. You can carry extra smart water bottles in your backpack and just screw it on. If the soya mini added heavy metal and virus filtration, it would be the best filter around in my opinion.
Hi and thank you for your informative review! I have used two Grayl filtration bottles in the backcountry and I really like them. Another of their downsides besides what you mention is that they don't like freezing - I think they can make it through one or two freeze-unfreeze cycles and then it's time to replace the filter. Hence, I paid attention to always keep them somewhat filled before getting to sleep to avoid problems if the temp drops below freezing. In winter time it's simply a no-go, so then I need to just spend more time & gas boiling snow until the big bubbles start to come up. I guess the Katadyn (at least the expensive heavy-duty Katadyn Pocket I saw on the market) shouldn't really have that limitation.
Great video Wade. I like my Woods water straw, I picked it up at CTC. It is light weight and can be attached to a Smartwater bottle. I picked up a Seychelle water bottle that came with their Extreme filter that removes everything including viruses and heavy metals etc. They are pricey to replace the filter (they have different quality filters depending on what you need), but only take it when I'm traveling outside of Canada. Cheers brother.
Hey Bruce , thanks for watching and commenting my friend. It sounds like you're well set up👍. I bought the Grayl mainly for international travel, you never know right?!
Hi Wade, hope you are keeping well. I recently upgraded from the Sawyer mini to the squeeze, which is a huge improvement in flow. Got no experience of the others, they seem great though. Thanks again Wade, take care mate 👍🙂
You can screw the Sawyer water filter on to a smart water bottle and it's fantastic. Just dip your water bottle into the water and fill it up, thread it on to the filter and squeeze for endless safe water in the Backcountry! If you're in an area where viruses are a major concern you can always boil your water.
So glad to have seen this video. I am a "newbie" and just buying my equipment. I live in South Florida where water is plentiful but most of our "wild water" contains horrible brain eating amoeba and so far, the ONLY filter I have seen advertised to eliminate the amoeba is the Grayl...... like the ultra convenience of the Sawyer , haven't heard of the Katadyn before, but really need the super filtration of the Grayl.....looks like I better up my muscle power though to push the filter through....Thanks again
Grayl says do not use their filter to filter waters containing tannin. The tannins will bind to the filter's receptors and can make it fail, possibly causing you to get sick. A lot of our Florida waters contain tannins, meaning they have that blackwater, tea-colored look.
Hello. Great comparison video. I've been using the the General Ecology water pump since the 80s and absolutely love it. However I've been looking at other options as it is rather heavy at over a pound and a bit bulky. Just purchased the Geopress and the Be Free filter. Not sure if I'd use the Geo for backpacking as it would probably take a bit of time to fill bags or bottles for cooking. I like the Be free as it's compatible with the Hydrapak collapsible bottles and the flow rate is real good so far. I've tested both in the local creeks here in Colorado Springs and haven't had any issues. Been using the Geopress at work and home to filter tap water and so far so good. Thanks again!
Sawyer vs Katadyn - the problem with the Katadyn is, if the filter seizes in the field, you can’t back-flush it. Really, you’re sort of in a pinch until you can get home and clean it properly. The Sawyer can be field serviced with the included syringe. Also, that 42mm thread on the Katadyn bladder is very unique, as you mentioned. Better to take a back-up bladder, which aren’t cheap or easy to come by. The bladder is the weak part of both systems, as the system is useless without one, so pack a backup. With the Sawyer though, the 28mm thread means a stop at the gas station and for a SmartWater or AquaFina bottle will give you a backup. Use it as an extra clean water canteen, assuming the bladder doesn’t fail. That’s a lot cheaper than buying another custom. You mentioned Sawyer bladders being hard to fill. Blow some air into the bladder before putting it into the water.
Great video! I really love comparisons like this especially when they’re based on real dirt time use. I’d go with the Sawyer for a bugout bag and the Grayl for my day hikes. I’ve heard other reviewers pronounce Katadyn more like CAT-a-dine. Cat like the animals and dine like you’re going to eat. I hope I don’t sound like I have an attitude, just passing on what I’ve heard 👍
Grayle, add a small eye in outer bottle to attach a string so it can be lowered down a bank into the water. Any water source 30 inches down a bank is out of reach. Mfg the plastic thing in what's left of Amerika and I'll pay the 3 prices. I've seen the filter work, just needs a little tweak.
Hi! Good video. Thanks for sharing. 👍I'm thinking about Grayl filter or Katadyn Befree tactical. I don't know if the tactical version is thicker material than the blue and white one. At least Katadyn is much lighter than the Grayl filter, but Katadyn does not filter viruses, as you mentioned in the video. A difficult decision.
Sometimes a combination of filters works best. I recently did a review of another filter if you would like to watch it. Thanks for the support👊 Membrane Solutions Gravity water Filter ruclips.net/video/uY9KJT3IS4c/видео.html
Outstanding show and tell brother. Great job covering all three water filters. Agreed, the Grayl is king between the three, but they're all capable. Perfect timing with the presentation too. Hydration is paramount on these warm months and people are heading out. Btw, I've been pronouncing Katadyn all wrong this whole time! lol
Hi Wade, If you get a chance check out the Lifesaver Liberty. Made in the UK and built to military grade. Will purify the foulest of water and has a 5 foot scavenger hose so water can be sourced more easily from inconvenient places. Fits water carriers like the Nalgene bottles for filling purposes. They also produce a Liberty Cube, which holds 5 litres and is bomb proof. Love your work. Cheers from Northern Ireland. Johnny.
Hi Wade, Many thanks for your reply to my comment, much appreciated. Lifesaver has a great range of water purifiers designed for disaster and every day situations. Not cheap, but what price a life. All the best to you and all your kin. Until the next time, cheers Amigo ! Happy Trails, Johnny
Hi Wade, as i was traffeling sweden a few years ago i was using a sawyer mini. I soon replaced the plasticbag trough a plasticbottle. It worked out very well in this modification. Honestly i was a little worried about the system because of the potential moist inside. I asked myself how long the dryingprocess inside will take and if there could emerge mould inside. Anyways, if i would use it again after a long period of time i would try to smell the inside for sure. Thanks Wade, it was a very interesting comparison. By the way, i neeed my heavy metal every day 😁🤘
In the first world, viruses are usually only an issue if there is a lot of livestock using the same source. One approach is to carry some purification tabs to supplement your Sawyer or Katadyn, but only use them when the source is iffy. Personally I don't like the idea of using the chlorine on a regular basis - can't be good for the gut flora!
@@Woodswalker1965 Agreed! For 3rd world travel it would be ideal. I've been off-piste in countries where you can't even trust the bottled water (it's often faked and filled from the local river) so you really, really need a convenient filter that handles viruses. I've seen the results with friends who thought they could "go native" and cut corners. Not pretty. Not pretty at all!
You don’t really need to worry about viruses in Canada. Metals and pesticides could be an issue though. The sayer (?) sounds interesting though, because of the ability to use as a gravity, or just to fill a bottle on the go. I guess there are other bags that could be used as a water bottle of sorts too? And I believe those carbon fibre ones are susceptible to breakage from falls or freezing, right? I’m still using the MSR mini works. It’s terribly heavy, and labour intensive, but it’s always been reliable, and to be honest, I’ve had some health and personal issues, so I haven’t really been out except for a little hunting in years, but I’m hoping to change that soon.
It's good to use something you're comfortable with for sure. The Grayl I bought primarily for international travel where viruses may be an issue. The Sawyer and the Befree definitely require care to keep them working. Thanks for watching👍
So what I got from your video is. Pick the sawyer or the Katahdin. Once you use one of those. Put that water in the Grayl to get the heavy metals out. Now you should have perfectly clean water.
We all have our own comfort level. I would be ok with using one of them… but using 2 filters ensures perfectly clean water should one system fail on you. Not a bad idea!👍
A key question is how concerned should one be about viruses in backcountry water sources. If yes, then the Grayl is the only way to go. Otherwise, it is a more difficult comparison.
Thanks for your very informative analysis of three options. I had already bought the Katadyn BeFree and used it on various travels sourcing my water from hotel taps in foreign countries to water in a ditch when I ran out. All good - I'm alive! One question that I have not found an answer for, however, is ideal storage between trips. My Katadyn got mould on the inside that I tried cleaning up with a vinegar solution. I thought I would be the guinea pig and try using it, but before I did, I filled it with water and left it while I went on a short trip where I wouldn't need it. When I came back there was algae growing in the bottle! Now I read that you shouldn't store with water in it or algae will form. Wish I had read that before! So is the answer to my storage question, store dry with the cap off? And second question, will it be safe to use if I clean the mould and algae out of the bottle using vinegar or bleach/chlorine?
Thanks for watching and for the great question! Personally I store my filters with the cap open and unscrewed from the body if possible. Before storage I run clean tap water through it and allow it to thoroughly dry out. I would discard a mouldy filter but bleach may clean it out safely. It is your call my friend. Take care👍
@@Woodswalker1965 I love a challenge so will try to resurrect my bottle (the filter looks fine) and will let you know how I go. If you don't hear from me within 6 months, call the ambulance!
An update on my Katadyn BeFree filter - I rinsed it with bleach, let it dry and ran some water through the filter from my tap. All looked good until I took it with me to the Philippines in February. When I filled up the bottle, I couldn't get any flow! Waste of space in the pack. No matter - lots of free filtered water on offer at most hostels and hotels. Got home and decided to backwash the filter though this is not suggested by Katadyn; they just say to swish it around. It took a bit of pressure to get the water forced through the filter and in doing so, it started to dislodge the filter from the cap. So even though I was now getting flow back through the filter, I wasn't sure how much was sneaking around the loose O-ring and I didn't want to take a chance in the future so I threw the lot away and bought a Sawyer Mini instead.
don't mind the squeeze, but I tend to use a smart water bottle instead of those lousy bags...my be free is the ticket unless it's cold...can't let any of those filters freeze...
The popular water filtration systems do not purify your water so unless you have a method to do that, you cannot really be sure if your water is pure. Oh you might get by now, but what happens in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI event or a flood or emergency where your local community might discharge sewage into local waters?
Another opinion on the Grayl please: I am a 70+ female, partime outdoors person. All of the videos I watch show a male pressing the dirty water through the filtration system with what appears to be a lot of force. Is this something that should be of concern in my situation? Thanks for any additional thoughts.
Thanks for watching and that’s a great question. It does take some strength to force the filter through the water. My wife has some difficulty using this filter actually so perhaps this may not be the best option for you. It works best if you use your body weight instead of arm strength when using this filter. Any other questions please feel free to contact me. Take care👍
You say each of these filters remove X% this and takes out that, but nowhere in your video do you cite independent evidence backing any of those claims. You're just repeating marketing claims you found on the box, and we all know what they're worth. It's better to say "the company claim X" rather than suggesting it as a an undemonstrated definitive.
I guess all those years of hikers and campers and outdoorsman alike who've used sawyer and not gotten sick are just full of it i guess sawyer doesn't know what their doing cause i mean they've only been around since 1984 and their first water filters were made in 2001 their hollowfiber filters being released in 2005 and the sawyer mini coming out in 2013. Well fuck they've had alot of lawsuits if they didn't actually have their epa certification either but hey you keep being a clown and not knowing that certifications and testing is required for this kind of equipment which in order to get epa certifications you need to 4 stages of testing to get your filters to be legal...you know...just information. Then again reading must be hard for you with how big of a fucking clown nose you must wear every day of your life....
@@Horde334 argumentum ad populum is a logical fallacy, as is a hasty generalisation. Anecdote is not evidence. You have not met every hiker who has used a sewyer filter since 1984. You have not studied hospital admissions. You have no real or actual data. It is easy to locate people on RUclips, the internet at large and in general hiking circles who have gotten sick after using a sewyer filter, so we know from the outset that your claim otherwise is erroneous. Furthermore, one needs to have sufficient load of a pathogen to show symptoms. However one can show no symptoms (asymptomatic) and still be sick. It's almost as if there's a difference between claims for marketing purposes and truth. And that to know which is which we need genuine data. It's almost as if when doing a review video and making claims about what a product can do, you need to be able to back up those claims or you become legally liable if those marketing claims turn out to not be true.
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The best way to keep your filter working in the field, particularly if the water is filled with sediment, is to bring a collapsible water bucket with you.
Fill the bucket with water, wait five minutes, then pour into your bladder.
The water to be filtered will be much cleaner, with no visible floaters. It also can be easier to fill those bladders by pouring water into them from a bucket.
In the Everglades, one has to tie a long cord to a collapsible bucket, and cast it into the water without leaning over the water. If the gators see your shadow across the water, they spring up from the bottom, grab you, and roll you under the water. I haven't seen it, but I have traveled in the Everglades with people who have seen it done. They say the gators are explosively fast, despite their weight and short legs. There are some crocodiles in the Everglades, too, but I have never heard of them doing this. The water itself is all kinds of brackish in some places, but one can find some potable water. I boiled it, though, I didn't want to take any chances about getting sick on those trips.
You can also filter the water through multiple layers of folded bandanna or other tightly woven cloth. Some people carry coffee filters.
The sawyer and the Grayl. I feel they are the best options
👍Find a system that works for you and have fun. Thanks for watching!
I have a Grayl and like that it also filters micro plastics, which is in our water now, even pristine rocky mountain snow-fed streams. The one downside to the Grayl for me is it takes more effort to fit it in my Fanny pack day hike water bottle compartment than compressing the unit to filter. Thank you for this video - super helpful!
Very good point, those micro plastics are a real concern!
I always take water with me on a hike so what I do with the Greyl is just fill it up with clean water and use it as my water bottle.
@rannxerox3970 Such a great piece of kit!
Micro plastics aren't difficult to filter, any filter does those. It's viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals that you need the Grayl for.
Katadyn is my go to and has been for the last few years Wade but I do have a Sawyer Squeeze as a back up. Thanks brother!
That's a good choice brother. Take care🤙
Thanks so much for the water filtration comparisons Wade! We appreciate you,!! Happy Travels 👍👍
Thanks Alice , so nice of you to say😁👍
Good morning Wade.... great video mate 👍👍. Some great info and demo mate. I tend to use the Sawyers, but like you say the standard bags can be slow to fill at times. Thanks for taking the time Wade, all the best, Mark :)
Good morning Mark hope you're doing well buddy! Ya the Sawyer bags take time to fill but who's in a rush out there anyway lol !?😁 Take care Mate!
thanks for video. I bought katadyn black version. but was strongly considering Grayl.
Thanks for the comment, I'll look into the black version myself👍
@@Woodswalker1965 I never knew the Grayl can filter out viruses.i was on their website and missed it. Many thanks!
I actually bought it more for international travel but keep it in my boat all the time now...you never know👍
Re post-trip Sawyer cleaning - use distilled water to back-flush the filter, especially if you add softeners to your water system at home. After back-flushing several times, I let the filter sit submerged for one hour in a mixture of four cups water (heated until it’s hot to the touch) to one cup white vinegar - this breaks down the particles that are in the filter. Then I back-flush with a mix of 1/2 liter distilled water to five drops bleach, to get out the vinegar taste and particulates that broke down, and also to sterilize the filter from any contaminates that may want to take root in the filter when in storage. Make sure to shake dry and then let sit dry in the open for a day before putting into longer term storage.
When bringing a filter out of long-term storage, don’t go straight into the field. I’ve seen filters seize up on a few trips I’ve guided. They really should be reconditioned by soaking in warm water and performing a couple of back-flushes. This also removes any residual bleach taste from the above.
For the Katadyn, follow the above but, rather than back-flushing, shake the filter in a bowl of water.
I’ve gotten the above from working with Sawyer customer service reps.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, it's much appreciated!!👍
I'm pretty happy with my Sawyer Mini. Filling the bag takes some patience, as you point out, but otherwise fine.
Thanks for the comment, I agree about the Sawyer bags!👍
Once again Wade, very informative presentation!
I have all three filters as well and agree with all you assessments. Happy travels and be safe!!
Hi Russ, that's too funny we have the same filter systems✌️
Well, two of those were filters. Grayl is not a filter, it purificates. Really different thing ;)
Well different, but also the same😁 it just does it slightly better lol
I have both sawyer and Katadyn. Like each. Great in depth review.
Thanks for sharing my friend!👍
Hey brother. Nice input on these products. I have been using sawyer mini for a few years now. I also bought some 2 liter bags for mine and an inline adapter kit. This allowed me to connect a bottle on each end using a length of tubing. This way I can carry 4 liters 2 l dirty and 2 l clean. The dirty bag drains into the clean with gravity while I'm doing other chores. Then once the first bag is filtered I can fill the dirty bag and filter it once the first bag is used.
The other great advantage is back flushing is super easy. Jp plust squeeze the clean bag so that some of the water goes back into the dirty bag. 00pp
Hi Buck nice to hear from you. That's a great system you have there, really convenient! Take care brother👍
Great info, thank you! On my first backpacking trip back in the 90's we boiled our water. It was so tedious and we would find the occasional noodle floating in the water bottle because we only had one pot for everything!
Haha that's hardcore!👍👍👍👍
Great content Wade, you know your stuff really well, there's a significant difference indeed and i always prefer a purification above a filter, i did use a steripen in combination with a filter before i got the Grayl, didn't like the sawyer at all despite the weight but love the MSR hyperflow a lot, the katadyn befree is very convenient to use as I understand, thanks for sharing👍🏻
Excellent comment on the Steripen, it's something I've wanted to try for a while now.
Most of our city water and some well water is purified with UV so it makes sense!👍👍 Take care brother✌️
thanks again Wade, good to see ya take care
Take care Bob, I appreciate you!👍
Many Thanks For The Different Filters, Wade ! We Use The Sawyer Had It 3 Years Now & Haven't Had Any Deal Breakers Yet, Other Than As Stated, Slow Fill Time Of The Bag. Hope You & Yours Had A Swell Canuck Day Up Yonder Friend ! Happy Trails From Down On The East Coast ! ATB T God Bless
Thanks Terry, it's a great filter, I like it for backpacking! Take care brother👍
Thanks for the video. It was great and informative. Most of my adventures are backpacking so I go to the Sawyer mini. You can always buy extra bags that work better than the factory bag from the Sawyer. You can carry extra smart water bottles in your backpack and just screw it on. If the soya mini added heavy metal and virus filtration, it would be the best filter around in my opinion.
It’s a very good filter probably the most popular of the three. Thanks for watching and for the great comment 👍
Outstanding Wade!! A very informative video on them filtration systems!! Thank you!! Have a great weekend!! Atb
Thanks buddy, you too!👍
Hi and thank you for your informative review! I have used two Grayl filtration bottles in the backcountry and I really like them. Another of their downsides besides what you mention is that they don't like freezing - I think they can make it through one or two freeze-unfreeze cycles and then it's time to replace the filter. Hence, I paid attention to always keep them somewhat filled before getting to sleep to avoid problems if the temp drops below freezing. In winter time it's simply a no-go, so then I need to just spend more time & gas boiling snow until the big bubbles start to come up. I guess the Katadyn (at least the expensive heavy-duty Katadyn Pocket I saw on the market) shouldn't really have that limitation.
Thanks for watching and for the great comment, you make an important point my friend👍
Great video Wade. I like my Woods water straw, I picked it up at CTC. It is light weight and can be attached to a Smartwater bottle. I picked up a Seychelle water bottle that came with their Extreme filter that removes everything including viruses and heavy metals etc. They are pricey to replace the filter (they have different quality filters depending on what you need), but only take it when I'm traveling outside of Canada. Cheers brother.
Hey Bruce , thanks for watching and commenting my friend. It sounds like you're well set up👍. I bought the Grayl mainly for international travel, you never know right?!
Thanks Wade for another informative review.
You answered a few questions about water filtration systems that I had.
Cheers brother.
👍
Thanks Paul, take care brother👍
I use the grayl
Great water purifier!👍
Great information Wade as I’ve not taken the plunge yet. But I do have a mill bag and can boil that water.
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻
That should work just fine. Boiling kills everything and the millbanK takes care of the debris! Enjoy!
@@Woodswalker1965
Will get something else too I think, leaning towards Katadyn 👍🏻
Thanks Wade. Very informative.
Hey buddy, thanks!🤙
Sawyer is great , excellent information as always buddy.
Thanks for stopping by Rob👍
Hi Wade, hope you are keeping well. I recently upgraded from the Sawyer mini to the squeeze, which is a huge improvement in flow. Got no experience of the others, they seem great though. Thanks again Wade, take care mate 👍🙂
Hi Mike, good call on the upgrade, it is much better isn't it!👍
@@Woodswalker1965 sure is 👌
You can screw the Sawyer water filter on to a smart water bottle and it's fantastic.
Just dip your water bottle into the water and fill it up, thread it on to the filter and squeeze for endless safe water in the Backcountry!
If you're in an area where viruses are a major concern you can always boil your water.
Good tips buddy, Thank you!
I still use my MSR microfilter (pump kind) as it fits onto wide mouth water bottles and thermos flasks. Boiling is still the best.
Glad your happy withe the MSR system!👍👍
Really enjoyed this one Wade. Great job!
Hey buddy, nice to hear from you!🤙
So glad to have seen this video. I am a "newbie" and just buying my equipment. I live in South Florida where water is plentiful but most of our "wild water" contains horrible brain eating amoeba and so far, the ONLY filter I have seen advertised to eliminate the amoeba is the Grayl...... like the ultra convenience of the Sawyer , haven't heard of the Katadyn before, but really need the super filtration of the Grayl.....looks like I better up my muscle power though to push the filter through....Thanks again
Thanks for watching! It sounds like The Grayl is the safest option for you. Take care👍
Grayl says do not use their filter to filter waters containing tannin. The tannins will bind to the filter's receptors and can make it fail, possibly causing you to get sick. A lot of our Florida waters contain tannins, meaning they have that blackwater, tea-colored look.
Thanks for the info, many areas including my area have high tannin content. I’m sure it will greatly reduce the lifespan of any filter👍
Nice video! I was looking at the grayl but it’s not cheap in Canada
Happy Canada day by the way
🇨🇦
No it's a bit pricey you're right, I bought mine on sale so it helped a bit.👍
Im a fan of the Grayl, but I LOVE HEAVY METAL 🤟
Right on brother🤟
Hello. Great comparison video. I've been using the the General Ecology water pump since the 80s and absolutely love it. However I've been looking at other options as it is rather heavy at over a pound and a bit bulky. Just purchased the Geopress and the Be Free filter. Not sure if I'd use the Geo for backpacking as it would probably take a bit of time to fill bags or bottles for cooking. I like the Be free as it's compatible with the Hydrapak collapsible bottles and the flow rate is real good so far. I've tested both in the local creeks here in Colorado Springs and haven't had any issues. Been using the Geopress at work and home to filter tap water and so far so good. Thanks again!
Thanks for the great comment, I appreciate your insight and totally agree with you. 👍
Sawyer vs Katadyn - the problem with the Katadyn is, if the filter seizes in the field, you can’t back-flush it. Really, you’re sort of in a pinch until you can get home and clean it properly.
The Sawyer can be field serviced with the included syringe.
Also, that 42mm thread on the Katadyn bladder is very unique, as you mentioned. Better to take a back-up bladder, which aren’t cheap or easy to come by.
The bladder is the weak part of both systems, as the system is useless without one, so pack a backup.
With the Sawyer though, the 28mm thread means a stop at the gas station and for a SmartWater or AquaFina bottle will give you a backup. Use it as an extra clean water canteen, assuming the bladder doesn’t fail. That’s a lot cheaper than buying another custom.
You mentioned Sawyer bladders being hard to fill. Blow some air into the bladder before putting it into the water.
Thank you!👍
my katadyn still going strong,it was expensive but still works
Good to hear buddy!👍
The grayl gets everything and is easy to use. You never know what’s up stream
Very true, thanks for the comment!👍
Great video! I really love comparisons like this especially when they’re based on real dirt time use.
I’d go with the Sawyer for a bugout bag and the Grayl for my day hikes.
I’ve heard other reviewers pronounce Katadyn more like CAT-a-dine. Cat like the animals and dine like you’re going to eat. I hope I don’t sound like I have an attitude, just passing on what I’ve heard 👍
Thanks for watching my friend, and for the input, take care👍
Great video, excellent info!
Thanks Kevin👍
I dont know bout the Grail for the price .and not much capasity.. I like my Sawyer and a store bought water bottel ?
That works very well, no need to change👍
Grayle, add a small eye in outer bottle to attach a string so it can be lowered down a bank into the water. Any water source 30 inches down a bank is out of reach. Mfg the plastic thing in what's left of Amerika and I'll pay the 3 prices. I've seen the filter work, just needs a little tweak.
Thanks for the input, much appreciated 👍
Hi! Good video. Thanks for sharing. 👍I'm thinking about Grayl filter or Katadyn Befree tactical. I don't know if the tactical version is thicker material than the blue and white one. At least Katadyn is much lighter than the Grayl filter, but Katadyn does not filter viruses, as you mentioned in the video. A difficult decision.
Sometimes a combination of filters works best. I recently did a review of another filter if you would like to watch it. Thanks for the support👊
Membrane Solutions Gravity water Filter
ruclips.net/video/uY9KJT3IS4c/видео.html
Outstanding show and tell brother. Great job covering all three water filters. Agreed, the Grayl is king between the three, but they're all capable. Perfect timing with the presentation too. Hydration is paramount on these warm months and people are heading out. Btw, I've been pronouncing Katadyn all wrong this whole time! lol
Thanks brother, but I've been corrected already I think I may be wrong with my pronunciation of Katadyn🥺😁 haha. Take care my friend!🤙
Great Wade. Good reviews.
Thank you my friend!🤙
Hi Wade,
If you get a chance check out the Lifesaver Liberty. Made in the UK and built to military grade. Will purify the foulest of water and has a 5 foot scavenger hose so water can be sourced more easily from inconvenient places. Fits water carriers like the Nalgene bottles for filling purposes. They also produce a Liberty Cube, which holds 5 litres and is bomb proof. Love your work. Cheers from Northern Ireland. Johnny.
Thanks Johnny, I will my friend. Thanks for the tip!👍
Hi Wade,
Many thanks for your reply to my comment, much appreciated. Lifesaver has a great range of water purifiers designed for disaster and every day situations. Not cheap, but what price a life. All the best to you and all your kin. Until the next time, cheers Amigo !
Happy Trails,
Johnny
Hi Wade, as i was traffeling sweden a few years ago i was using a sawyer mini. I soon replaced the plasticbag trough a plasticbottle. It worked out very well in this modification. Honestly i was a little worried about the system because of the potential moist inside. I asked myself how long the dryingprocess inside will take and if there could emerge mould inside. Anyways, if i would use it again after a long period of time i would try to smell the inside for sure. Thanks Wade, it was a very interesting comparison. By the way, i neeed my heavy metal every day 😁🤘
Right on brother🤘🤘🤘
If you run a litre of water through the Sawyer with a capfull of bleach it will sterilize the filter for long term storage.👍
@@Woodswalker1965 Thanx Wade, thats really good to know. Take care and enjoy the summer
In the first world, viruses are usually only an issue if there is a lot of livestock using the same source. One approach is to carry some purification tabs to supplement your Sawyer or Katadyn, but only use them when the source is iffy. Personally I don't like the idea of using the chlorine on a regular basis - can't be good for the gut flora!
Very true, I agree. I basically bought the Grayl for travel, when you might need it. Thanks for the great comment👍
@@Woodswalker1965 Agreed! For 3rd world travel it would be ideal. I've been off-piste in countries where you can't even trust the bottled water (it's often faked and filled from the local river) so you really, really need a convenient filter that handles viruses. I've seen the results with friends who thought they could "go native" and cut corners. Not pretty. Not pretty at all!
🇨🇦 I’m not too worried about the water here and where I backpack. Befree is my go-to.
Befree will handle most of what we need to worry about. It's an excellent filter👍
You don’t really need to worry about viruses in Canada. Metals and pesticides could be an issue though. The sayer (?) sounds interesting though, because of the ability to use as a gravity, or just to fill a bottle on the go. I guess there are other bags that could be used as a water bottle of sorts too?
And I believe those carbon fibre ones are susceptible to breakage from falls or freezing, right?
I’m still using the MSR mini works. It’s terribly heavy, and labour intensive, but it’s always been reliable, and to be honest, I’ve had some health and personal issues, so I haven’t really been out except for a little hunting in years, but I’m hoping to change that soon.
It's good to use something you're comfortable with for sure. The Grayl I bought primarily for international travel where viruses may be an issue.
The Sawyer and the Befree definitely require care to keep them working.
Thanks for watching👍
So what I got from your video is. Pick the sawyer or the Katahdin. Once you use one of those. Put that water in the Grayl to get the heavy metals out. Now you should have perfectly clean water.
I think I just found my system. Sawyer squeeze and a Grayl
We all have our own comfort level. I would be ok with using one of them… but using 2 filters ensures perfectly clean water should one system fail on you. Not a bad idea!👍
A key question is how concerned should one be about viruses in backcountry water sources. If yes, then the Grayl is the only way to go. Otherwise, it is a more difficult comparison.
Thanks for your very informative analysis of three options. I had already bought the Katadyn BeFree and used it on various travels sourcing my water from hotel taps in foreign countries to water in a ditch when I ran out. All good - I'm alive! One question that I have not found an answer for, however, is ideal storage between trips. My Katadyn got mould on the inside that I tried cleaning up with a vinegar solution. I thought I would be the guinea pig and try using it, but before I did, I filled it with water and left it while I went on a short trip where I wouldn't need it. When I came back there was algae growing in the bottle! Now I read that you shouldn't store with water in it or algae will form. Wish I had read that before! So is the answer to my storage question, store dry with the cap off? And second question, will it be safe to use if I clean the mould and algae out of the bottle using vinegar or bleach/chlorine?
Thanks for watching and for the great question! Personally I store my filters with the cap open and unscrewed from the body if possible. Before storage I run clean tap water through it and allow it to thoroughly dry out.
I would discard a mouldy filter but bleach may clean it out safely. It is your call my friend. Take care👍
@@Woodswalker1965 I love a challenge so will try to resurrect my bottle (the filter looks fine) and will let you know how I go. If you don't hear from me within 6 months, call the ambulance!
Haha ok!👍
An update on my Katadyn BeFree filter - I rinsed it with bleach, let it dry and ran some water through the filter from my tap. All looked good until I took it with me to the Philippines in February. When I filled up the bottle, I couldn't get any flow! Waste of space in the pack. No matter - lots of free filtered water on offer at most hostels and hotels. Got home and decided to backwash the filter though this is not suggested by Katadyn; they just say to swish it around. It took a bit of pressure to get the water forced through the filter and in doing so, it started to dislodge the filter from the cap. So even though I was now getting flow back through the filter, I wasn't sure how much was sneaking around the loose O-ring and I didn't want to take a chance in the future so I threw the lot away and bought a Sawyer Mini instead.
don't mind the squeeze, but I tend to use a smart water bottle instead of those lousy bags...my be free is the ticket unless it's cold...can't let any of those filters freeze...
The smart water bottles work great for sure. Hope you're having a good summer Sean👍
The popular water filtration systems do not purify your water so unless you have a method to do that, you cannot really be sure if your water is pure. Oh you might get by now, but what happens in a SHTF or TEOTWAWKI event or a flood or emergency where your local community might discharge sewage into local waters?
The Grayl purifies.
Wonder if any of these filters remove PFAS
Great question as they are nasty things you don’t want to drink. Yes they do👍
Grayl
Great piece of survival gear✌️
Another opinion on the Grayl please: I am a 70+ female, partime outdoors person. All of the videos I watch show a male pressing the dirty water through the filtration system with what appears to be a lot of force. Is this something that should be of concern in my situation? Thanks for any additional thoughts.
Thanks for watching and that’s a great question. It does take some strength to force the filter through the water. My wife has some difficulty using this filter actually so perhaps this may not be the best option for you.
It works best if you use your body weight instead of arm strength when using this filter.
Any other questions please feel free to contact me. Take care👍
Big difference between a water purifier and a water filter. Buy the grayl. Your body will thank you.
I agree it’s the most thorough option for sure!
What that is? I don't know. 😭😭😭
I'm an idiot haha😂😂😂😂😂
@@Woodswalker1965 far from it my friend.
wind noise is v distracting…
Yup, sometimes it's windy outdoors.
@@Woodswalker1965 There are devices you can put on your mic so that the wind noise goes away.
@@ericruff4726 I had one on lol. The winds were very high that day! Thanks for watching.
Good content, really poor microphone.
Super windy that day, I actually have a decent Rhode Mic with a dead cat. Thanks for watching👍
You say each of these filters remove X% this and takes out that, but nowhere in your video do you cite independent evidence backing any of those claims.
You're just repeating marketing claims you found on the box, and we all know what they're worth. It's better to say "the company claim X" rather than suggesting it as a an undemonstrated definitive.
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
I guess all those years of hikers and campers and outdoorsman alike who've used sawyer and not gotten sick are just full of it i guess sawyer doesn't know what their doing cause i mean they've only been around since 1984 and their first water filters were made in 2001 their hollowfiber filters being released in 2005 and the sawyer mini coming out in 2013. Well fuck they've had alot of lawsuits if they didn't actually have their epa certification either but hey you keep being a clown and not knowing that certifications and testing is required for this kind of equipment which in order to get epa certifications you need to 4 stages of testing to get your filters to be legal...you know...just information. Then again reading must be hard for you with how big of a fucking clown nose you must wear every day of your life....
@@Horde334 argumentum ad populum is a logical fallacy, as is a hasty generalisation. Anecdote is not evidence.
You have not met every hiker who has used a sewyer filter since 1984. You have not studied hospital admissions. You have no real or actual data.
It is easy to locate people on RUclips, the internet at large and in general hiking circles who have gotten sick after using a sewyer filter, so we know from the outset that your claim otherwise is erroneous.
Furthermore, one needs to have sufficient load of a pathogen to show symptoms. However one can show no symptoms (asymptomatic) and still be sick.
It's almost as if there's a difference between claims for marketing purposes and truth. And that to know which is which we need genuine data. It's almost as if when doing a review video and making claims about what a product can do, you need to be able to back up those claims or you become legally liable if those marketing claims turn out to not be true.
Can you prove they are false claims?