One thing to keep in mind when using a carbon filter of that type is that they lack in amount of media and adequate dwell time. Therefore, they only remove small amounts of heavy metals, pesticides, etc. So, it's still important to choose your water source carefully.
Bob Holzman Is it a bad a bad idea to just use the sawyer mini, without the carbon filter? I mean what does the carbon filter do for you that helps that the sawyer mini isn't already doing?
Your video is very helpful along with your other modification video. Your modification is a great filtration system. Very quick and easy setup. I already had a couple of camelbak bladders. Just had to buy the quicklinks and adapters and carbon filter. It was fun setting up. Thanks for posting. Will come in handy when I go hiking this summer.
Hello, can you do a video on how to care for the kit, how to keep the filters bag and piping clean after use, and perhaps how to clean it all safely before storage too? Thanks.
I really like the Camelbak Fresh Reservoir filter but has been discontinue so I settled on the Geigerrig in-line virus filter which does the same thing just a little bigger...
Really great idea, Simon. I've got several old Camelbak bladders and hoses I'm going to use to create this (or something like it). I just recently discovered the inexpensive Sawyer filter (I know....where have I been?) so I'm looking forward to a less expensive more user friendly and modular system than what I've been using. Thanks for sharing! Oh, and thanks for a succinct video presentation as well.
Bryan Eaton I appreciate the compliments very much... and you won't be disappointed with a setup like this one. Must admit though, the update I did with the Geigerrig pressurized bladder makes this setup absolutely perfect :)
ordered the bits to mod my Camelbak today going to add an old manual blood pressure cuff around the Camelbak and pump it up to squeeze and pressurise the bag so it self flows see how that works
Suggest you run the carbon BEFORE the Sawyer. It's easier to clean the denser particles (which form a sludge) from the carbon filter than it is to remove them from the Sawyer...Downside is you won't be able to then use that same carbon filter on your clean water bladder... but I've found it makes such a significant difference both to flow rate AND interval between backflushes... it's worth letting the carbon take the front line.Oh and I just invented an inline Fluoride Filter for this setup too (video to come soon)
Thanks Simon, i was only chatting to a fellow YT'er on thursday about where to get a carbon type filter from, so this link is very welcome indeed, even tho it is only about 120L that should be more than enough for at least a weeks walk while backpacking many thanks for the tips all the very best Barry
Hi Barry, If you do a quick search on Amazon for "Camelbak Fresh Filter" you will also be able to buy additional replacement carbon cartridges for the filter. They're sold in twos, and work out about £9 each + shipping.
What connection did you use from the quick-connect end of the carbon filter? I'm thinking piece from Camelbak HydroLink Filter Adapter Kit but not sure. Thank you for the vid. Very cool.
Nice setup! If you're ever looking into a replacement for those rubber bands, a ranger band (or two) might be a better alternative. It'll keep your kit elements from twisting and turning so much.
+Maxime Boileau yeah, I've got an unwanted Inner Tube I'm using to make my own "ranger bands" these days. My setup has changed a lot since this video was made.
Hello Simon, Great mods and updates! I'm not sure if it's been asked..How long would this carbon filter last, if you were using a fairly clean (fast-moving) water source? How would that lifespan differ if you were to use it pre-sawyer or post-sawyer? Thank you Simon! Cheers mate!
Thumbs up on the sawyer mini which truly does make the difference. However, let's make no mistake about it. The capabilities of the camelbak active carbon filter with respect to mitigate heavy metals and pesticides are at best anecdotal. it will minimize impact of bad taste and improve flavour slightly. But nothing more than that.
+menemme that's all it's there for. Activated Carbon filters are all down to "immersion time". The more time the water spends travelling through the carbon block, the less heavy metal and agricultural chemicals there will be in the output water. Obviously the time it takes for water to pass under pressure through a ~4" long Carbon block is never going to remove even 75% of the stuff we don't want, but every little helps... and it does serve very nicely as a "prefilter" to remove the largest of the visible debris. This is because the Carbon filter can be fully disassembled, physically cleaned, and reassembled in a minute or so. It reduces the frequency with which you need to backflush the Sawyer Mini, and backflushing is a more effort- and time-consuming task, so better to reduce the need to do it as much as possible.
Coorect. it reduces the frequency of maintenance of the SM. The amount of activated carbon filter material to substianlly remove pesticides and heavy m. would have to be far greater. A touch of my own, if i may: i have dropped inside the bladder itself in full contact with inherent liquid 2 silver discs which have been shown to greatly reduce bacteria proliferation.
@Packed To Live did the sawyer mini filter produce water that tastes bad? I am asking because I see you added a carbon filter. I just received my sawyer mini and the water it filters tastes like well water but a lot stronger. I am skeptical that it is working because of this.
+Nick Carroll no... the water tastes fine if the source isn't filled with agricultural chemicals etc. then the water will taste lovely. Problem in my area is that virtually all water sources are filled with agricultural chemicals and heavy metals, which the Sawyer Mini on its own cannot remove (they are soluble and have a smaller particle size than the filter can catch). The Carbon filter reacts with those chemicals and they chemically bond to it, removing them from the water entirely.
Fell Wanderer I can squeeze the full contents of the 50oz (1.5l) bladder out through the filters in a little over 90 seconds. So, excluding the time needed to refill the bladder (which obviously varies depending on the level of access to your water source, and how quickly you refill it) we're talking a solid average of 1l per minute (which I think is very respectable). Incidentally, it only takes me a few seconds less to squeeze out the same volume through the bite valve without the filters connected (timed that on my 3l bladder, which is identical to the one in this video only larger)
That's good performance, the hiker pro gives about 1L a minute even though its got a pump fitted but has only 0.3 micron filter, the cost of both setups once you have bought all your accessories might be about the same but your setup does seem better, I think I will invest in a Sawyer Mini, thanks for the info
Fell Wanderer no worries my friend. Don't forget that there *are* cheaper bladders on the market than the Camelbak brand. I buy Camelbak merely because experience has proven it to be "bombproof" and I personally would rather invest more for a one-time outlay, than less for something I'll have to replace all the time and could let me down when I most critically need it. The carbon filter isn't strictly necessary in most areas, though if you live (as I do) in farm country, it's well worth the outlay (nothing will make you sick quicker than farm chemicals in the water, trust me). You can get the pipes cheaper, or even cut small pieces off the one on the bladder if you can afford to sacrifice some of its length. I reckon that, all in, you could set something similar up with the Sawyer Mini, a cheaper bladder, and (if you don't care for the quick-link adapters) with just the one pipe with the filters spliced into it, for about £50-60. Whether it'd be as good or last as long, that would depend entirely on the quality of the bladder, pipe and carbon filter you choose. One significant word of advice: when connecting the fittings to the pipe, immerse it in scalding hot water for about 30 seconds to expand and soften the pipe, then quench it (once you've fitted the connector) in cold water to set the connection solid. Likewise, you can make it somewhat easier to remove the connections by immersing the pipe and connector in scalding water. Hope all this info helps you out :)
Packed To Live If I was starting from scratch I'd buy a setup similar to yours mate, the only thing that bothers me about the Hiker Pro is that it has moving parts, (the pump) this could lead to failure out in the field, the 0.3 micron filter although not as good as the Sawyer Mini covers protozoa and most bacteria, if I was suspicious of the water I'd boil anyway, I was attracted to the Hiker Pro because it included a carbon filter, your mods to the Sawyer Mini takes the filter to an all new level which is more versatile than my setup and less prone to failure. I used to work for a company who made equipment for medical research and used to throw out old tubing etc.. could have had cpc connectors and other components at a discount if I still worked there.. never mind your video has inspired me to get a Sawyer Mini, it might even become my main filter who knows?. its better to have two than one because when one breaks it means none lol, cheers for the info.. atb Damian.
Saving the water bladder for clean water ! And may have to get the Mil. Spec. water bladder... Found some Smart Water at the local food store... for the cap. Now must get to REI for the Mini... and redeem the dividend ! Thank you for the video ! tjl
Simon, if I want to use this system to (say) fill a regular water bottle or get water into a pot for boiling, what kind of end do I need instead of a bite valve?
+Albert Head if you put your bite valve on a HydroLock connector, then you can simply unclip the bite valve from the pipe and it'll act like a normal tap.
Yes. If you have the carbon before the Sawyer, you'll contaminate the Carbon, but it will remove the larger particulates before they reach the Sawyer (reducing the maintenance demands of the Sawyer because the Carbon is super easy to clean). If you have the carbon after the Sawyer, you'll not contaminate the Carbon, but any large particulates will clog in the Sawyer and it will need backflushing more regularly.
Scheinjohn You can try using some pipe insulation, but honestly the best way to prevent the Sawyer Mini from freezing is to put it in a Ziploc bag and keeping it in your pocket, particularly at night. Don't take any chances, because if it freezes, it's finished. Don't keep it close to a fire because obviously the exterior is made from plastic and would melt (as would the pipes and bladder itself). Since the Sawyer connects to the bladder using Quick Link connectors, it's trivial to disconnect it when you aren't using it in freezing weather, and reconnect it when you need it.
Where did you get the carbon filter I am in the United States I looked on the UK and I saw some kind of filter that she left a link to own one of your other videos youtube so how would I get here in United States what's the name of it or does it have a code number or something in the United States thank you Stephen
Simon - I tried this with just the Sawyer Mini (no activated carbon filter) and found it too hard to suck the water through in practice. Is there something I've missed?
+David Chirnside the only times I find it difficult to draw water from the bladder through the Sawyer is either when the bladder is very low on water, or when the Sawyer itself needs back-flushing. I don't use the Camelbak bladders for inline filtration any more. Instead, I use the Geigerrig bladders, which have a pump to pressurize them. This allows the bladder to do all the work for you. Price-wise, they're pretty-much exactly the same as Camelbak, and the best part is that all the connectors work interchangably so it was as easy as just grabbing the Geigerrig and connecting my existing inline setup immediately to it.
Camelbak Fresh Reservoir Replacement Filters are getting harder to find now, have you come across an alternative to the Camelbak Fresh Reservoir Filter?
+TheOriginalJoeBloggs You can use the Geigerrig version www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EYJNXKM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00EYJNXKM&linkCode=as2&tag=patoli-21 They use the exact same connectors :)
+TheOriginalJoeBloggs worth pointing out that Amazon still carries the Camelbak Carbon Filter (and refills)... and they're much cheaper. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00437WY32/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00437WY32&linkCode=as2&tag=patoli-21 The refills are harder to find.... I'm looking for the best vendor to reliably get these and will do a video soon as I find one since there's a lot I've changed with my system.
When you cut the tubes to add on these modifications do you have any trouble with the filter sealing really good on there to the cut tube? I want to do this to my geirrig.
The flow rate under normal suction is sufficient to drink directly... but I have since swapped out the Camelbak bladder for a Geigerrig bladder. Geigerrig bladders are pressurized using a simple bulb-pump, meaning no suction (or manual pressure if you're trying to exsanguinate water into a container) is required. Simply pump, open the valve, and squeeze on the bite valve to let the water out. No moving parts :)
TERRY BARHAM there are two links to the Carbon Filter on Amazon for you to choose from! Both are the same product, for some reason being sold on different product pages (go figure).
On amazon, the carbon filter says nothing about removing Virus's from water. Are you sure that this product does that, and can you explain your reasoning please?
Scheinjohn that's the way I now run my setup! I also have a home-made Activated Alumina filter on my setup, so my filtration order goes like this: Carbon, Alumina, Sawyer.
Packed To Live My thought was that the Sawyer should come first because it's the most robust and designed to handle large/abrasive particle contaminants. Have you tried drinking some really dirty water through the carbon to see how long it goes without clogging and requiring maintenance?
Stuart Dodson Not at all! The entire setup is _modular_. If you need to take just the Sawyer unit without the bladder, carbon block, or any of the tubing, you can simply disconnect it and carry it in its original shipped state (with its screw-on water bag). This mod does not eliminate any existing feature or functionality of the Sawyer Mini itself, but adds a virtually-infinite number of other usage options. If you already carry a hydration bladder anyway, then you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain from this mod.
Stuart Dodson Your objection doesn't seem to take into account the purpose of the Camelbak. All this does is attach the filter to the bladder out of which most of us drink our water in the field in the first place. If you insist on using the Sawyer Mini like a straw to drink straight out of a puddle then yes, the Mini is made heavier and bulkier with this mod. If you plan on having some container to carry water that you'd like to drink when you aren't within arms reach of a water source, then no bulk or weight is added.
I am going to perform this set up minus the carbon filter (maybe). Instead I want to be able to detach the bite valve. This way, I can drink while I hike, but at camp, I can remove the bladder, hang it from a tree and use the filter adapter to open and close the valve to use as a pour spout for water to use for cooking or just to walk up to it and drink. That way I can leave my my bite valve attached to my pack. I like the idea of having the carbon filter on there too, just not sure what the flow rate would be if I am also using my hydration bladder as a spigot. Since I will be hanging it from a tree or branch, perhaps a bit of squeezing the bladder against the tree will do the trick and pour the water into a pot for cooking?
Take a look at my updated video for this setup using a Geigerrig bladder. Vastly better performance, no squeezing required (the Geigerrig is pressurized using a bulb pump, and this does all the heavy lifting for you). My setup has removable bite valves using the Hydrolock Connectors. Been using my newest version of this setup for over a year now, and it's proven itself to be very efficient for me :)
You don't need to carry any additional packs in order to use a Geigerrig instead of a Camelbak. I simply slide the Geigerrig bladder into the same bladder compartments I would otherwise slide the Camelbak into. Weight-wise, the Geigerrig and Camelbak are on-par. This is because Camelbak uses a huge (rather heavy) plastic fitment for the filling port, where Geigerrig uses the much more simplistic "plastic slidelock".
I already have the CamelBak so I want to make it work with it. Don't really want to spend another $35-$40 on another bladder. I will probably only hook up the sawyer and go from there on a test hike. Thanks.
Great video Your sawyer videos are better than sawyer's own information IMHO If you have spare time , you should forward your video to camelback & sawyer because you have put two great products together & made the best , simple method for obtaining clean drinking water. Changing topic slightly.... Sawyer mini - 0.01filter catches all the viruses because they are too big to pass ???? So why does katadyn - 0.02 filter??? Love the design of katadyn but don't understand why filters wouldn't all have smallest filter size . Keep up the good work sir
I appreciate that very much, thanks. I try to provide as much information as I possibly can when shooting and editing the videos... and if I miss something (as I've done from time to time) I'll either edit the extra info in as supplemental footage, add it as a caption, or - when necessary - re-shoot the entire thing making sure I include all the important details.
You called that water “dirty” but seriously it wasn’t even cloudy. Really dirty water should actually be brown in colour so you’re unable to see through it. No doubt the Sawyer mini is a great little unit, but due to the lack of a prefilter I’m very skeptical as to how it’d perform on really dirty water.
It's dirty in the sense that it contains a lot of feces from a much higher than average bird population (it is an RSPB wildlife sanctuary, after all). You can easily pre-filter the larger particulates by using a cotton cloth over the mouth of your collecting vessel (including the use of the water bladder itself for collection).
Camelbak fresh filters have no info about removing heavy metals or viruses. They state they are just for taste, so wouldn't a different filter be better?
Paul Webster Carbon filters do not remove viruses. Chemically activated Carbon removes heavy metals and agricultural chemicals (nitrates, pesticides etc).The Sawyer Mini removes the seriously harmful stuff, but doesn't filter heavy metals or agricultural chemicals.... which is why I run the two in series, to get the benefits of both.I've also since made my own Activated Alumina filter to remove Fluoride and Arsenic (not that the latter is all that common in the water here in the UK, but the former is unfortunately added [deliberately] to the water supplies to weaken bone and cause nothing but harm to people, the motive for which I haven't a clue)Bottom line: this setup represents the best achievable in this filtration class (and a VERY fair price compared to less capable alternatives like the Katadyn ripoffs).I've yet to encounter water so rife that this filtration setup hasn't been sufficient to clean it.
The camelbak filter doesn't seem to do anything other than make water taste better. Plus all the searches I've just done say that activated isn't great at absorbing viruses and the sawyer mini doesn't filter these either. The geigerrig virus filter with ac would appear to be much better?
Paul Webster it makes the water "taste better" (which is subjective, of course) _by removing heavy metals and agricultural chemicals_. Carbon filters _do not_ filter out viruses, and indeed the Sawyer Mini does not directly remove viruses either. However, viral materials tend to reside in a host organism (viruses can't survive all that long outside a host) and the Sawyer Mini _does_ filter out those host organisms (cysts, bacterium, cryptosporidium etc). Keep in mind that it takes a _concentration_ of viral cells to successfully invade a host organism with an immune system as complex as that of a human... and in the vast majority of water sources you're likely to encounter out in the world, there would never be such a concentration of free-floating viral cells in the water. You'd know if there were, because there would be dead animals floating in the water, and all around that water source... and it would generally stink so badly you'd never even _consider_ drinking it (even boiled). The Geigerrig Virus Filter, while a great product, has a _very limited lifespan_... so unless you're planning on drinking out of a septic tank, or just down-stream of the ceremonial funeral grounds on the river Ganges... there's no real need for it. There is literally only one water source I have ever encountered in my entire life that I considered to be so horrifically contaminated that I would not trust my Sawyer Mini setup to... and that was a stagnant pool in almost tropical conditions, with a dead rat floating in it. The smell was so terrible, there was no question as to whether it would be safe or not. That's the thing people need to remember: _your nose knows!_ I drink from all manner of water sources on a near-daily basis with this Sawyer Mini rig, and I've yet to suffer so much as an unusual stomach rumble as a consequence. One thing to keep in mind, too, is "hysterical sickness", where a person is so convinced that they're going to become ill from something that they start to believe that they _are_ ill (with all the symptoms). I've witnessed this a few times before with first-timers I've taken out to teach, and I know it was nothing more than hysteria because: A) I know that the filtration system is more than adequate for the source water used B) I drank the _same_ water, with no problems what-so-ever. At some point, you just have to trust that it's going to be okay. Lakes, flowing rivers (so long as you aren't down-stream of some awful pollutant factory), creeks, streams, and even puddles... they're all absolutely fine with the Sawyer Mini. Also remember the golden rule: if you've ever a reasonable doubt, *boil the water as well.*
Packed To Live I think the point he was making is that the CamelBak carbon filter isn't sufficient to adequately filter agricultural runoff. That setup would be great in a lot of places, but in the valley where I live I wouldn't trust it, gain some elevation so you're above the huge farms and this is exactly (aside from my reservoir being a 100oz) system I use.
Liam Phoenix the problem with direct agricultural runoff is that those water sources tend to rapidly become more chemicals than actual water (especially during the heavy crop season, and more-so if there's little rain thus more reliance on artificial irrigation) When it comes to Carbon filtration, it's a matter of how long the water spends inside the Carbon block before you draw it through. A slower flow rate will provide a better result. That said, if there's a white-yellow slag floating on top of the water (or built up around the edges of the water source) you should really question whether it's a good idea to be considering drinking from that source in the first place. Hell, I get a enough ammonium nitrate in my _tap water_ to make explosives.... if I wanted to (to be honest, that doesn't appeal to me). You can _literally_ scrape it off the top of the water (once left sitting for a few minutes). This is because our tap water is actually more farm runoff than actual water at this point, and the local water authority outright denies the problem. This is why my family doesn't drink the tap water, and instead we use the rainwater collection system I've built to provide 100% of our drinking water. As with *all* filtration systems, the first and foremost consideration should always be "what's likely to _actually be in this water_ in the first place?" then "can my filter deal with that?" Keep in mind that even _boiling_ water heavily contaminated with agricultural chemicals won't remove those chemicals from the water.
Which camelbak attachments did you get? I'm trying to do this and bought the Sawyer mini, CamelBak Fresh Reservoir (carbon filter), and the HydroLink Filter Adapter (shop.camelbak.com/hydrolink-filter-adapter/d/1004_c_300_cl_123). However the HydroLink filter adapter setup won't work for this. The QuickLink piece (the longest one) won't fit snugly around the bottom of the Carbon Reservoir.
Okay... if you're just doing an inline dirty-water filtration bladder, you need one QuickLink Conversion Kit (to make the two adapter pieces for the Sawyer Mini).If you're wanting to filter water from your dirty bladder into a clean bladder, without having to remove the clean bladder from your rucksack, then you'll need TWO HydroLink adapters (one for either bladder, and the two extra pieces for the male-to-male cross connector pipe).Don't forget to grab a Camelbak PureFlow pipe as well!
Packed To Live Hey man. What do I need in order to have the same setup you have here? So far I have a Camelbak Antidote, a Quick Conversion kit, a carbon filter, and a Sawyer mini. I need to get a PureFlow pipe, but I feel like something else is missing. Can you tell me exactly what you used on your setup in the video?
Ryan Wessel you're missing the HydroLink adapter: ruclips.net/user/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FCamelbak-60046-Hydrolink-Filter-Adapter%2Fdp%2FB0019DCVYA%2Fref%3Dsr_1_4%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1392855063%26sr%3D8-4%26keywords%3DCamelbak%2Bhydrolink&redir_token=gD5F3SZbTs610gr-wtgNlCiQLFh8MTQxNzc3MzI5OUAxNDE3Njg2ODk5
The sorry bit was me correcting myself... ( sorry mate haha) My poor grammar. No offence intended . As regards sawyer I take what u say as fact. The more I read about sawyer the more it sounds like water purifier rather than just a filter. Keep up good work & I will work on my grammar
Ah I just realized that Google's Notification thing didn't show me the entirety of your original comment... I missed everything you said regarding the Katadyn etc.No worries here, buddy!
jesferher no... I carry the bladders anyway, I carry the Sawyer anyway, I have to have a Carbon filter anyway (because where I live the water sources all contain agricultural chemicals) so it takes up ZERO extra space in the pack.
Sorry I it's. 0.2 microns & 0.1 Not 0.02 &. 0.01 microns Katadyn filter would probably need backing up with steri pen Or boil , add chemicals and then wait 4hr before drinking??? Sawyer mini just seems so simple Although i understand that some of sawyer & lifesaver filters are good for 1 million gallons guarantee ... Not bad Unless you need to claim warranty post zombie apocalypse etc.
To whom are you responding here? The Sawyer Mini is 0.1 microns, I've never claimed otherwise (though in my previous video on the Sawyer Mini, I inadvertently said "1 micron" instead of "0.1 micron"... but I have since put an annotation in to correct the mistake) Katadyn filters are... pointless, really. They're extremely expensive, particularly considering that they let so damned much harmful stuff through with the water. They have moving parts which can break and could be difficult to service in the field. They're bulky, weighty (by comparison) and if you're going to have to boil or chemically treat the water before you can drink it, why would you need to filter it anyway, since boiling will achieve the same result in less time and more effectively?
yeahsure1234 The Sawyer Mini is still mini, this mod simply allows me to use it in-line on a more "comprehensive" setup. It can be disconnected in seconds at any time and used on its own exactly as it could originally. It's called "modularity", and it's a good thing.
I have no idea, but it seems like just about everything has a counterfeit on the market these days! Not heard of any specific instances of fake Sawyer filters, though.
Excellent information, I love that you are using both a carbon filter and the Sawyer - genius
Fantastic idea combining those two filters for added protection. Many thanks for sharing.
Finally got all the parts I need to put one of these together. It really does seem like the most efficient way to use the Sawyer Mini. So psyched!
Jason Lemieux Nicely done! Glad you like the concept, and hopefully you'll get as much good use out of yours as I do mine :)
One thing to keep in mind when using a carbon filter of that type is that they lack in amount of media and adequate dwell time. Therefore, they only remove small amounts of heavy metals, pesticides, etc. So, it's still important to choose your water source carefully.
Bob Holzman Is it a bad a bad idea to just use the sawyer mini, without the carbon filter? I mean what does the carbon filter do for you that helps that the sawyer mini isn't already doing?
Nice little demonstration, thanks very much
Nice mod there simon. Thanks for sharing.
Your video is very helpful along with your other modification video. Your modification is a great filtration system. Very quick and easy setup. I already had a couple of camelbak bladders. Just had to buy the quicklinks and adapters and carbon filter. It was fun setting up. Thanks for posting. Will come in handy when I go hiking this summer.
Glad you found the info helpful, and I hope you enjoy your setup as much as I enjoy mine :)
Thanks man--great video! I'll be using your mod for a trip to Thailand in a few weeks!
If you already have the Camelbak, no worries.... but if you're going to be buying the parts anew, go with the Gigerrig bladder instead :)
Neat hook up. Only extra thing I would do is put a cord loop on the bladder handle in case you fill from a swift flowing source.
Hello, can you do a video on how to care for the kit, how to keep the filters bag and piping clean after use, and perhaps how to clean it all safely before storage too? Thanks.
I really like the Camelbak Fresh Reservoir filter but has been discontinue so I settled on the Geigerrig in-line virus filter which does the same thing just a little bigger...
just ordered the stuff to mod my kit. awesome job.
Really great idea, Simon. I've got several old Camelbak bladders and hoses I'm going to use to create this (or something like it). I just recently discovered the inexpensive Sawyer filter (I know....where have I been?) so I'm looking forward to a less expensive more user friendly and modular system than what I've been using. Thanks for sharing! Oh, and thanks for a succinct video presentation as well.
Bryan Eaton I appreciate the compliments very much... and you won't be disappointed with a setup like this one. Must admit though, the update I did with the Geigerrig pressurized bladder makes this setup absolutely perfect :)
Great video!
ordered the bits to mod my Camelbak today going to add an old manual blood pressure cuff around the Camelbak and pump it up to squeeze and pressurise the bag so it self flows see how that works
great video. subscribed!
Excellent upgrade. I am definitely going to look into adding a carbon filter.
Suggest you run the carbon BEFORE the Sawyer. It's easier to clean the denser particles (which form a sludge) from the carbon filter than it is to remove them from the Sawyer...Downside is you won't be able to then use that same carbon filter on your clean water bladder... but I've found it makes such a significant difference both to flow rate AND interval between backflushes... it's worth letting the carbon take the front line.Oh and I just invented an inline Fluoride Filter for this setup too (video to come soon)
Thanks for all the info, its a great setup.
Thanks Simon, i was only chatting to a fellow YT'er on thursday about where to get a carbon type filter from, so this link is very welcome indeed, even tho it is only about 120L that should be more than enough for at least a weeks walk while backpacking
many thanks for the tips
all the very best
Barry
Hi Barry,
If you do a quick search on Amazon for "Camelbak Fresh Filter" you will also be able to buy additional replacement carbon cartridges for the filter.
They're sold in twos, and work out about £9 each + shipping.
all ready added to my wishlist lol
What connection did you use from the quick-connect end of the carbon filter? I'm thinking piece from Camelbak HydroLink Filter Adapter Kit but not sure. Thank you for the vid. Very cool.
Nice setup!
If you're ever looking into a replacement for those rubber bands, a ranger band (or two) might be a better alternative. It'll keep your kit elements from twisting and turning so much.
+Maxime Boileau yeah, I've got an unwanted Inner Tube I'm using to make my own "ranger bands" these days.
My setup has changed a lot since this video was made.
Hello Simon,
Great mods and updates! I'm not sure if it's been asked..How long would this carbon filter last, if you were using a fairly clean (fast-moving) water source? How would that lifespan differ if you were to use it pre-sawyer or post-sawyer? Thank you Simon! Cheers mate!
Brilliant idea! 😏
Thumbs up on the sawyer mini which truly does make the difference. However, let's make no mistake about it. The capabilities of the camelbak active carbon filter with respect to mitigate heavy metals and pesticides are at best anecdotal. it will minimize impact of bad taste and improve flavour slightly. But nothing more than that.
+menemme that's all it's there for. Activated Carbon filters are all down to "immersion time". The more time the water spends travelling through the carbon block, the less heavy metal and agricultural chemicals there will be in the output water.
Obviously the time it takes for water to pass under pressure through a ~4" long Carbon block is never going to remove even 75% of the stuff we don't want, but every little helps... and it does serve very nicely as a "prefilter" to remove the largest of the visible debris.
This is because the Carbon filter can be fully disassembled, physically cleaned, and reassembled in a minute or so. It reduces the frequency with which you need to backflush the Sawyer Mini, and backflushing is a more effort- and time-consuming task, so better to reduce the need to do it as much as possible.
Coorect. it reduces the frequency of maintenance of the SM. The amount of activated carbon filter material to substianlly remove pesticides and heavy m. would have to be far greater. A touch of my own, if i may: i have dropped inside the bladder itself in full contact with inherent liquid 2 silver discs which have been shown to greatly reduce bacteria proliferation.
+menemme got a link? I'd like to give them a look :)
Nice one thanks for sharing atb
Great. Thanks.
@Packed To Live did the sawyer mini filter produce water that tastes bad? I am asking because I see you added a carbon filter. I just received my sawyer mini and the water it filters tastes like well water but a lot stronger. I am skeptical that it is working because of this.
+Nick Carroll no... the water tastes fine if the source isn't filled with agricultural chemicals etc. then the water will taste lovely. Problem in my area is that virtually all water sources are filled with agricultural chemicals and heavy metals, which the Sawyer Mini on its own cannot remove (they are soluble and have a smaller particle size than the filter can catch).
The Carbon filter reacts with those chemicals and they chemically bond to it, removing them from the water entirely.
Good informative video thanks for sharing, what is the flow rate like for filling up your 3L reservoir?.
Fell Wanderer I can squeeze the full contents of the 50oz (1.5l) bladder out through the filters in a little over 90 seconds. So, excluding the time needed to refill the bladder (which obviously varies depending on the level of access to your water source, and how quickly you refill it) we're talking a solid average of 1l per minute (which I think is very respectable).
Incidentally, it only takes me a few seconds less to squeeze out the same volume through the bite valve without the filters connected (timed that on my 3l bladder, which is identical to the one in this video only larger)
That's good performance, the hiker pro gives about 1L a minute even though its got a pump fitted but has only 0.3 micron filter, the cost of both setups once you have bought all your accessories might be about the same but your setup does seem better, I think I will invest in a Sawyer Mini, thanks for the info
Fell Wanderer no worries my friend.
Don't forget that there *are* cheaper bladders on the market than the Camelbak brand. I buy Camelbak merely because experience has proven it to be "bombproof" and I personally would rather invest more for a one-time outlay, than less for something I'll have to replace all the time and could let me down when I most critically need it.
The carbon filter isn't strictly necessary in most areas, though if you live (as I do) in farm country, it's well worth the outlay (nothing will make you sick quicker than farm chemicals in the water, trust me).
You can get the pipes cheaper, or even cut small pieces off the one on the bladder if you can afford to sacrifice some of its length.
I reckon that, all in, you could set something similar up with the Sawyer Mini, a cheaper bladder, and (if you don't care for the quick-link adapters) with just the one pipe with the filters spliced into it, for about £50-60.
Whether it'd be as good or last as long, that would depend entirely on the quality of the bladder, pipe and carbon filter you choose.
One significant word of advice: when connecting the fittings to the pipe, immerse it in scalding hot water for about 30 seconds to expand and soften the pipe, then quench it (once you've fitted the connector) in cold water to set the connection solid.
Likewise, you can make it somewhat easier to remove the connections by immersing the pipe and connector in scalding water.
Hope all this info helps you out :)
Packed To Live
If I was starting from scratch I'd buy a setup similar to yours mate, the only thing that bothers me about the Hiker Pro is that it has moving parts, (the pump) this could lead to failure out in the field, the 0.3 micron filter although not as good as the Sawyer Mini covers protozoa and most bacteria, if I was suspicious of the water I'd boil anyway, I was attracted to the Hiker Pro because it included a carbon filter, your mods to the Sawyer Mini takes the filter to an all new level which is more versatile than my setup and less prone to failure. I used to work for a company who made equipment for medical research and used to throw out old tubing etc.. could have had cpc connectors and other components at a discount if I still worked there.. never mind your video has inspired me to get a Sawyer Mini, it might even become my main filter who knows?. its better to have two than one because when one breaks it means none lol, cheers for the info.. atb Damian.
Saving the water bladder for clean water ! And may have to get the Mil. Spec. water bladder... Found some Smart Water at the local food store... for the cap. Now must get to REI for the Mini... and redeem the dividend ! Thank you for the video ! tjl
Simon, if I want to use this system to (say) fill a regular water bottle or get water into a pot for boiling, what kind of end do I need instead of a bite valve?
+Albert Head if you put your bite valve on a HydroLock connector, then you can simply unclip the bite valve from the pipe and it'll act like a normal tap.
Awesome. Thanks very much!
thanks for the hack! one question concerning the carbon filter....does it make a difference if its upstream vs downstream from the sawyer?
Yes.
If you have the carbon before the Sawyer, you'll contaminate the Carbon, but it will remove the larger particulates before they reach the Sawyer (reducing the maintenance demands of the Sawyer because the Carbon is super easy to clean).
If you have the carbon after the Sawyer, you'll not contaminate the Carbon, but any large particulates will clog in the Sawyer and it will need backflushing more regularly.
I just picked up the same setup, is there a way to keep the sawyer from freezing? I want to be able to keep mine in my pack year round.
Scheinjohn You can try using some pipe insulation, but honestly the best way to prevent the Sawyer Mini from freezing is to put it in a Ziploc bag and keeping it in your pocket, particularly at night. Don't take any chances, because if it freezes, it's finished. Don't keep it close to a fire because obviously the exterior is made from plastic and would melt (as would the pipes and bladder itself). Since the Sawyer connects to the bladder using Quick Link connectors, it's trivial to disconnect it when you aren't using it in freezing weather, and reconnect it when you need it.
Where did you get the carbon filter I am in the United States I looked on the UK and I saw some kind of filter that she left a link to own one of your other videos youtube so how would I get here in United States what's the name of it or does it have a code number or something in the United States thank you Stephen
Stephen Webb You can get it on Amazon.com!Search "Camelbak Unisex Fresh Reservoir Filter" (strange name, but that's where you'll find it)
Simon - I tried this with just the Sawyer Mini (no activated carbon filter) and found it too hard to suck the water through in practice. Is there something I've missed?
+David Chirnside the only times I find it difficult to draw water from the bladder through the Sawyer is either when the bladder is very low on water, or when the Sawyer itself needs back-flushing.
I don't use the Camelbak bladders for inline filtration any more. Instead, I use the Geigerrig bladders, which have a pump to pressurize them. This allows the bladder to do all the work for you. Price-wise, they're pretty-much exactly the same as Camelbak, and the best part is that all the connectors work interchangably so it was as easy as just grabbing the Geigerrig and connecting my existing inline setup immediately to it.
Camelbak Fresh Reservoir Replacement Filters are getting harder to find now, have you come across an alternative to the Camelbak Fresh Reservoir Filter?
+TheOriginalJoeBloggs You can use the Geigerrig version
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EYJNXKM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00EYJNXKM&linkCode=as2&tag=patoli-21
They use the exact same connectors :)
+TheOriginalJoeBloggs worth pointing out that Amazon still carries the Camelbak Carbon Filter (and refills)... and they're much cheaper.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00437WY32/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00437WY32&linkCode=as2&tag=patoli-21
The refills are harder to find.... I'm looking for the best vendor to reliably get these and will do a video soon as I find one since there's a lot I've changed with my system.
+TheOriginalJoeBloggs Found a retailer selling the replacement carbon filters: www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=11770
When you cut the tubes to add on these modifications do you have any trouble with the filter sealing really good on there to the cut tube? I want to do this to my geirrig.
Not had any issues at all sealing the filter onto the pipe. Just give it a good push and twist over the filter's plastic node and it'll seal nicely :)
Packed To Live Thank u I will try that.
Hows the flow rate on that? I would think its hard to suck water from the hose.
The flow rate under normal suction is sufficient to drink directly... but I have since swapped out the Camelbak bladder for a Geigerrig bladder. Geigerrig bladders are pressurized using a simple bulb-pump, meaning no suction (or manual pressure if you're trying to exsanguinate water into a container) is required.
Simply pump, open the valve, and squeeze on the bite valve to let the water out. No moving parts :)
+Packed To Live Brilliant idea
hi where can i get the carbon filter thank a good vid
TERRY BARHAM there are two links to the Carbon Filter on Amazon for you to choose from! Both are the same product, for some reason being sold on different product pages (go figure).
On amazon, the carbon filter says nothing about removing Virus's from water. Are you sure that this product does that, and can you explain your reasoning please?
I did not at any point claim that a carbon filter removes viruses.
Where do you get the carbon filter
+David McNeil Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Camelbak-90766-Fresh-Reservoir-Filter/dp/B00437WY32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393615415&sr=8-1&keywords=Camelbak+Fresh+Filter
Do you think it's okay to run the Camelbak filter before the sawyer mini?
Scheinjohn that's the way I now run my setup! I also have a home-made Activated Alumina filter on my setup, so my filtration order goes like this: Carbon, Alumina, Sawyer.
Packed To Live My thought was that the Sawyer should come first because it's the most robust and designed to handle large/abrasive particle contaminants. Have you tried drinking some really dirty water through the carbon to see how long it goes without clogging and requiring maintenance?
Jason Lemieux Never mind, you answered my question below.
very cool mod
Thanks. Made it even better since then (see the video with the Geigerrig Hydration Engine) :)
Packed To Live
It is a good mod but it takes the mini away from its lightweight attribute and becomes heavier and bulkier,
Stuart Dodson Not at all! The entire setup is _modular_. If you need to take just the Sawyer unit without the bladder, carbon block, or any of the tubing, you can simply disconnect it and carry it in its original shipped state (with its screw-on water bag).
This mod does not eliminate any existing feature or functionality of the Sawyer Mini itself, but adds a virtually-infinite number of other usage options.
If you already carry a hydration bladder anyway, then you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain from this mod.
Stuart Dodson Your objection doesn't seem to take into account the purpose of the Camelbak. All this does is attach the filter to the bladder out of which most of us drink our water in the field in the first place. If you insist on using the Sawyer Mini like a straw to drink straight out of a puddle then yes, the Mini is made heavier and bulkier with this mod. If you plan on having some container to carry water that you'd like to drink when you aren't within arms reach of a water source, then no bulk or weight is added.
I am going to perform this set up minus the carbon filter (maybe). Instead I want to be able to detach the bite valve. This way, I can drink while I hike, but at camp, I can remove the bladder, hang it from a tree and use the filter adapter to open and close the valve to use as a pour spout for water to use for cooking or just to walk up to it and drink. That way I can leave my my bite valve attached to my pack.
I like the idea of having the carbon filter on there too, just not sure what the flow rate would be if I am also using my hydration bladder as a spigot. Since I will be hanging it from a tree or branch, perhaps a bit of squeezing the bladder against the tree will do the trick and pour the water into a pot for cooking?
Take a look at my updated video for this setup using a Geigerrig bladder. Vastly better performance, no squeezing required (the Geigerrig is pressurized using a bulb pump, and this does all the heavy lifting for you).
My setup has removable bite valves using the Hydrolock Connectors.
Been using my newest version of this setup for over a year now, and it's proven itself to be very efficient for me :)
Thanks. My only issue is that I want to simply use one bag for everything. I am also worried about weight being a hiker.
You don't need to carry any additional packs in order to use a Geigerrig instead of a Camelbak. I simply slide the Geigerrig bladder into the same bladder compartments I would otherwise slide the Camelbak into.
Weight-wise, the Geigerrig and Camelbak are on-par. This is because Camelbak uses a huge (rather heavy) plastic fitment for the filling port, where Geigerrig uses the much more simplistic "plastic slidelock".
I already have the CamelBak so I want to make it work with it. Don't really want to spend another $35-$40 on another bladder. I will probably only hook up the sawyer and go from there on a test hike. Thanks.
Great video
Your sawyer videos are better than sawyer's own information IMHO
If you have spare time , you should forward your video to camelback & sawyer because you have put two great products together & made the best , simple method for obtaining clean drinking water.
Changing topic slightly....
Sawyer mini - 0.01filter catches all the viruses because they are too big to pass ????
So why does katadyn - 0.02 filter???
Love the design of katadyn but don't understand why filters wouldn't all have smallest filter size .
Keep up the good work sir
I appreciate that very much, thanks.
I try to provide as much information as I possibly can when shooting and editing the videos... and if I miss something (as I've done from time to time) I'll either edit the extra info in as supplemental footage, add it as a caption, or - when necessary - re-shoot the entire thing making sure I include all the important details.
You called that water “dirty” but seriously it wasn’t even cloudy. Really dirty water should actually be brown in colour so you’re unable to see through it. No doubt the Sawyer mini is a great little unit, but due to the lack of a prefilter I’m very skeptical as to how it’d perform on really dirty water.
It's dirty in the sense that it contains a lot of feces from a much higher than average bird population (it is an RSPB wildlife sanctuary, after all).
You can easily pre-filter the larger particulates by using a cotton cloth over the mouth of your collecting vessel (including the use of the water bladder itself for collection).
Cool
grass my ass , that's a swimmer , nice mod thou , thanks for sharing !
Camelbak fresh filters have no info about removing heavy metals or viruses. They state they are just for taste, so wouldn't a different filter be better?
Paul Webster Carbon filters do not remove viruses. Chemically activated Carbon removes heavy metals and agricultural chemicals (nitrates, pesticides etc).The Sawyer Mini removes the seriously harmful stuff, but doesn't filter heavy metals or agricultural chemicals.... which is why I run the two in series, to get the benefits of both.I've also since made my own Activated Alumina filter to remove Fluoride and Arsenic (not that the latter is all that common in the water here in the UK, but the former is unfortunately added [deliberately] to the water supplies to weaken bone and cause nothing but harm to people, the motive for which I haven't a clue)Bottom line: this setup represents the best achievable in this filtration class (and a VERY fair price compared to less capable alternatives like the Katadyn ripoffs).I've yet to encounter water so rife that this filtration setup hasn't been sufficient to clean it.
The camelbak filter doesn't seem to do anything other than make water taste better. Plus all the searches I've just done say that activated isn't great at absorbing viruses and the sawyer mini doesn't filter these either. The geigerrig virus filter with ac would appear to be much better?
Paul Webster it makes the water "taste better" (which is subjective, of course) _by removing heavy metals and agricultural chemicals_.
Carbon filters _do not_ filter out viruses, and indeed the Sawyer Mini does not directly remove viruses either.
However, viral materials tend to reside in a host organism (viruses can't survive all that long outside a host) and the Sawyer Mini _does_ filter out those host organisms (cysts, bacterium, cryptosporidium etc).
Keep in mind that it takes a _concentration_ of viral cells to successfully invade a host organism with an immune system as complex as that of a human... and in the vast majority of water sources you're likely to encounter out in the world, there would never be such a concentration of free-floating viral cells in the water.
You'd know if there were, because there would be dead animals floating in the water, and all around that water source... and it would generally stink so badly you'd never even _consider_ drinking it (even boiled).
The Geigerrig Virus Filter, while a great product, has a _very limited lifespan_... so unless you're planning on drinking out of a septic tank, or just down-stream of the ceremonial funeral grounds on the river Ganges... there's no real need for it.
There is literally only one water source I have ever encountered in my entire life that I considered to be so horrifically contaminated that I would not trust my Sawyer Mini setup to... and that was a stagnant pool in almost tropical conditions, with a dead rat floating in it. The smell was so terrible, there was no question as to whether it would be safe or not.
That's the thing people need to remember: _your nose knows!_
I drink from all manner of water sources on a near-daily basis with this Sawyer Mini rig, and I've yet to suffer so much as an unusual stomach rumble as a consequence.
One thing to keep in mind, too, is "hysterical sickness", where a person is so convinced that they're going to become ill from something that they start to believe that they _are_ ill (with all the symptoms). I've witnessed this a few times before with first-timers I've taken out to teach, and I know it was nothing more than hysteria because:
A) I know that the filtration system is more than adequate for the source water used
B) I drank the _same_ water, with no problems what-so-ever.
At some point, you just have to trust that it's going to be okay.
Lakes, flowing rivers (so long as you aren't down-stream of some awful pollutant factory), creeks, streams, and even puddles... they're all absolutely fine with the Sawyer Mini.
Also remember the golden rule: if you've ever a reasonable doubt, *boil the water as well.*
Packed To Live I think the point he was making is that the CamelBak carbon filter isn't sufficient to adequately filter agricultural runoff. That setup would be great in a lot of places, but in the valley where I live I wouldn't trust it, gain some elevation so you're above the huge farms and this is exactly (aside from my reservoir being a 100oz) system I use.
Liam Phoenix the problem with direct agricultural runoff is that those water sources tend to rapidly become more chemicals than actual water (especially during the heavy crop season, and more-so if there's little rain thus more reliance on artificial irrigation)
When it comes to Carbon filtration, it's a matter of how long the water spends inside the Carbon block before you draw it through. A slower flow rate will provide a better result.
That said, if there's a white-yellow slag floating on top of the water (or built up around the edges of the water source) you should really question whether it's a good idea to be considering drinking from that source in the first place.
Hell, I get a enough ammonium nitrate in my _tap water_ to make explosives.... if I wanted to (to be honest, that doesn't appeal to me). You can _literally_ scrape it off the top of the water (once left sitting for a few minutes). This is because our tap water is actually more farm runoff than actual water at this point, and the local water authority outright denies the problem.
This is why my family doesn't drink the tap water, and instead we use the rainwater collection system I've built to provide 100% of our drinking water.
As with *all* filtration systems, the first and foremost consideration should always be "what's likely to _actually be in this water_ in the first place?" then "can my filter deal with that?"
Keep in mind that even _boiling_ water heavily contaminated with agricultural chemicals won't remove those chemicals from the water.
Which camelbak attachments did you get? I'm trying to do this and bought the Sawyer mini, CamelBak Fresh Reservoir (carbon filter), and the HydroLink Filter Adapter (shop.camelbak.com/hydrolink-filter-adapter/d/1004_c_300_cl_123).
However the HydroLink filter adapter setup won't work for this. The QuickLink piece (the longest one) won't fit snugly around the bottom of the Carbon Reservoir.
guessing this is what i need?
shop.camelbak.com/quick-link-conversion-kit/d/1117_c_300_cl_885
Okay... if you're just doing an inline dirty-water filtration bladder, you need one QuickLink Conversion Kit (to make the two adapter pieces for the Sawyer Mini).If you're wanting to filter water from your dirty bladder into a clean bladder, without having to remove the clean bladder from your rucksack, then you'll need TWO HydroLink adapters (one for either bladder, and the two extra pieces for the male-to-male cross connector pipe).Don't forget to grab a Camelbak PureFlow pipe as well!
Packed To Live Hey man. What do I need in order to have the same setup you have here? So far I have a Camelbak Antidote, a Quick Conversion kit, a carbon filter, and a Sawyer mini. I need to get a PureFlow pipe, but I feel like something else is missing. Can you tell me exactly what you used on your setup in the video?
Ryan Wessel you're missing the HydroLink adapter: ruclips.net/user/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FCamelbak-60046-Hydrolink-Filter-Adapter%2Fdp%2FB0019DCVYA%2Fref%3Dsr_1_4%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1392855063%26sr%3D8-4%26keywords%3DCamelbak%2Bhydrolink&redir_token=gD5F3SZbTs610gr-wtgNlCiQLFh8MTQxNzc3MzI5OUAxNDE3Njg2ODk5
Packed To Live Do I need the PureFlow pipe as well? Or just the HydroLink adapter? Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
The sorry bit was me correcting myself... ( sorry mate haha)
My poor grammar.
No offence intended . As regards sawyer I take what u say as fact.
The more I read about sawyer the more it sounds like water purifier rather than just a filter.
Keep up good work
& I will work on my grammar
Ah I just realized that Google's Notification thing didn't show me the entirety of your original comment... I missed everything you said regarding the Katadyn etc.No worries here, buddy!
No longer a mini...now it's a biggie filter taking up more space in your bag.
jesferher no... I carry the bladders anyway, I carry the Sawyer anyway, I have to have a Carbon filter anyway (because where I live the water sources all contain agricultural chemicals) so it takes up ZERO extra space in the pack.
It was me
Christopher Coupal was i really
Sorry I it's. 0.2 microns & 0.1
Not 0.02 &. 0.01 microns
Katadyn filter would probably need backing up with steri pen
Or boil , add chemicals and then wait 4hr before drinking???
Sawyer mini just seems so simple
Although i understand that some of sawyer & lifesaver filters are good for 1 million gallons guarantee ...
Not bad
Unless you need to claim warranty post zombie apocalypse etc.
To whom are you responding here? The Sawyer Mini is 0.1 microns, I've never claimed otherwise (though in my previous video on the Sawyer Mini, I inadvertently said "1 micron" instead of "0.1 micron"... but I have since put an annotation in to correct the mistake)
Katadyn filters are... pointless, really. They're extremely expensive, particularly considering that they let so damned much harmful stuff through with the water. They have moving parts which can break and could be difficult to service in the field. They're bulky, weighty (by comparison) and if you're going to have to boil or chemically treat the water before you can drink it, why would you need to filter it anyway, since boiling will achieve the same result in less time and more effectively?
Not exactly a "mini" filter anymore. Might as well get a more purpose built filter that is just as large.
yeahsure1234 The Sawyer Mini is still mini, this mod simply allows me to use it in-line on a more "comprehensive" setup. It can be disconnected in seconds at any time and used on its own exactly as it could originally. It's called "modularity", and it's a good thing.
are sawyer sqeeze fakes out there?
I have no idea, but it seems like just about everything has a counterfeit on the market these days! Not heard of any specific instances of fake Sawyer filters, though.