Grayl water purifier. Real world filter longevity???

[KentuckyTJ]

Just got a Grayl Geopress for my annual 10-14 day western backpack hunts. After watching some youtube vids I am worried about how many presses I'll get out of it before cartridge needs changing. I like the fact that it collects alot and needs to be changed because if a filter doesn't need to be changed often what is it really doing? Question is for you guys that have used it often enough to know. If you haven't used it very long or just used it with tap water please don't chime in.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Longest trip have taken my platypus on was 7 nights filtering water for 3 guys. We weren’t great about back flushing and it was noticably slower but still worked at the end of the trip but still worked. Mine is not great at “on demand” filtration but With my platypus you can squeeze the dirty bag to increase flow or just hang it and go do camp chores.

I think with some back flushing and some care about how dirty your starting water is, you can manage the clogging.

pro tip, if I had to collect from a dirt source I would gather it in a pot or cup and pour into the dirty bag through a bandana or shirt To filter dirt and crud.

 

[JaredJ]

Just got a Grayl Geopress for my annual 10-14 day western backpack hunts. After watching some youtube vids I am worried about how many presses I'll get out of it before cartridge needs changing. I like the fact that it collects alot and needs to be changed because if a filter doesn't need to be changed often what is it really doing? Question is for you guys that have used it often enough to know. If you haven't used it very long or just used it with tap water please don't chime in.

I have a Grayl Geopress, I took it to the South Pacific to filter all my drinking water. I was using clear water and it work fine. However I have used filters a lot, even though it’s not directly dealing with Grayl this is universal filter info. Your source will dictate more the longevity of the filter the most. Cloudy water will plug up filters, I filter from water the runs out of a big meadow (only place to get it). I am plugged up on a gravity filter in 5 trips (20 liter per trip) back flushing helps bit I just know where I get water filter life is short. Make sure you bring a back up ( like MSR tab or aquamera drop that way if you plug up you can still get water. I really want to here about your experience with the Grayl, I hope you share.
good luck

Jared

 

[cumminsbassguy]

I used my grail on my bou' hunt and a sheet scout trip this year and going to use it again on the upcoming moose hunt. The 4 day bou hunt was close to 2 gal per day and water source was a clear mountain stream. The moose hunt will be 10 days of tundra water. The bottle worked wonders on the bou hunt, just takes some time to get your bottles filled up due to the 16oz grayl bottle. But nothing to bad time wise

 

[Hunter33]

I took a Geopress to boundary waters and the first filter only lasted about 30-40 pushes. I used only on really clean lake water. The second filter lasted a lot longer and is still good. I have about 75 pushes on it. Just makes me nervous to take it out now on backpacking trip without an extra filter in the pack.

 

[SHTF]

Preface: If your set on using the Grail then you can skip reading the rest. But if you want a tried and true alternative that has worked for many hunters and backpackers then read on. My intention is not to veer the topic but give you another alternative route.

I have never been fond of the push type contraptions like the Grail. just because it would take a while to fill up a 3 liter bag. When I know I have descent water source I always take sawyer gravity system that has worked for years for me. You can pair the Sawyer with Smart water bottles as well which if you get the ones with the quick close spout you can use that to backflush the filter if needed so you dont have to pack that stupid syringe thing. I set mine up with quick connects and have 3 liter dirty back and 3 liter clean so all I have to do is click connect my bladder to the the filter or add my little blue bottle adapter for Smart water bottles. Something to be said for being able to have 6 liters of water that I can setup and just let it do its things. all that pumping or pushing I will pass on. Like Desk Jock said if you do go this route having a small cup to scoop water when its not a big source helps a ton. I also use a prefilter thats in my kit for really dirty water to prefilter it before I send it into the dirty bag. This helps a ton.


Here are some posts from past that I have also posted on that if your interested in gravity feed then these should help you learn more.


http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...ct-Source-for-Inline-Filters&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?2402-Sawyer-Squeeze-filter&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?25936-Sawyers-Mini&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?17945-sawyer-mini-and-platypus&highlight=Sawyer

 

[Warren]

Preface: If your set on using the Grail then you can skip reading the rest. But if you want a tried and true alternative that has worked for many hunters and backpackers then read on. My intention is not to veer the topic but give you another alternative route.

I have never been fond of the push type contraptions like the Grail. just because it would take a while to fill up a 3 liter bag. When I know I have descent water source I always take sawyer gravity system that has worked for years for me. You can pair the Sawyer with Smart water bottles as well which if you get the ones with the quick close spout you can use that to backflush the filter if needed so you dont have to pack that stupid syringe thing. I set mine up with quick connects and have 3 liter dirty back and 3 liter clean so all I have to do is click connect my bladder to the the filter or add my little blue bottle adapter for Smart water bottles. Something to be said for being able to have 6 liters of water that I can setup and just let it do its things. all that pumping or pushing I will pass on. Like Desk Jock said if you do go this route having a small cup to scoop water when its not a big source helps a ton. I also use a prefilter thats in my kit for really dirty water to prefilter it before I send it into the dirty bag. This helps a ton.

View attachment 598197
Here are some posts from past that I have also posted on that if your interested in gravity feed then these should help you learn more.


http://www.rokslide.com/forums/show...ct-Source-for-Inline-Filters&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?2402-Sawyer-Squeeze-filter&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?25936-Sawyers-Mini&highlight=Sawyer

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?17945-sawyer-mini-and-platypus&highlight=Sawyer

Hey what pre-filter are you using? That seem interesting

 

[Dos Perros]

My buddy brought a Grayl on a fishing trip and holy crap that was the cat's pajamas. I think it's ideal for day trips when you're always going to be in or close to clear water. I was packing around my backpacking filter but after a couple days just started asking my buddy to do me up some water. I'm going to buy one.

 

[Drenalin]

My buddy brought a Grayl on a fishing trip and holy crap that was the cat's pajamas. I think it's ideal for day trips when you're always going to be in or close to clear water. I was packing around my backpacking filter but after a couple days just started asking my buddy to do me up some water. I'm going to buy one.

Two things:

1. It is the cat's pajamas.
2. You have a buddy?

 

[Primal-Understanding]

On the Grayl website they allege that you get the filter are designed to last 350 cycles. While I havent counted how many cycles I have used mine for, I am sure its pushing that. I primarily used mine in Idaho out of an assortment of rivers and creeks. As other have stated, it does get harden to push and filter the longer you use the filter, but I find that I don't actually have to push that much when I lean my body weight into it. My wife used her filter along side me, and while she didn't use hers as much, she had no problem cycling the water even as we approached the end of the filter's life.

I will note that I never actively tested the water that I was filtering to see how effective the filter was - I just figured as long as I stay under that 350 number and can still push it down, the filter is very likely doing what it needs to do.

Long story short, the geopress is great. Sure, its a bit heavier than other options, but you can also mix drinks in it, dont have to wait for the filtering to happen, and the construction is much more durable than some options out there.