How often do you replace your water filter?

[119bowhunter]

I have had a platypus gravityworks filter for a couple of years now and it’s been great, used it for 4 guys for a week on Kodiak last year, filtered tons of water for my whole neighborhood after hurricane Helene this year while everyone was out of power.

Fast forward to a recent backpack hunt, had below freezing temperatures every night and for a good part of the day as well, again the filter worked great and I kept it in my jacket during the day and sleeping bag at night to guard against freezing…save for one afternoon when I thought it would not have time to freeze before I returned. When I got back there was ice in the silicone lines and starting to form in the bags. Is that enough to have compromised the integrity of the filter? How often do most of you guys replace in general, I’m sure these have a lifespan but just wondering if I need to go ahead and replace. Leaning towards I need to go ahead and replace as I don’t want to ruin any future trips with giardia but thought I’d ask here first.
Thanks

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I replace every year, better safe than sorry. Especially if there was a chance it froze, sounds like it did

 

[skipper907]

I trash mine at the end of the season and get a new one every year. I have cleaned and dried them and found them to have mold after storage in the past. It somewhat comes down how much you want to chance probably getting sick.

Sent from my SM-A156U using Tapatalk

 

[Maverick1]

I change out the filter every year. But when I am hunting I carry two.
Primary (which gets used that year).
Secondary/backup (which serves as the backup for the current year and gets used as the primary in the next year).

I have used my secondary/backup a couple of times. It has saved me from having to hike several hours/miles out to get a backup from the vehicle. Worth the small weight penalty.

 

[119bowhunter]

Sounds like I was overdue even without the freezing issue, is there a more economical option that you guys are using over the gravityworks? Looks like a replacement is $75ish…don’t want to be cheap but at that price I would’ve thought I’d get more than a season out of one…Im normally only using mine for a week or two every year

 

[Maverick1]

Sounds like I was overdue even without the freezing issue, is there a more economical option that you guys are using over the gravityworks? Looks like a replacement is $75ish…don’t want to be cheap but at that price I would’ve thought I’d get more than a season out of one…Im normally only using mine for a week or two every year

I use the Sawyer Squeeze. About 1/3 of the price you are paying.

 

[Kurts86]

Every year for water filters. I’ve just been burned too many times trying to get 2-3 seasons out of a sawyer squeeze or similar. No amount of backflushing or maintenance seems to changes their behavior.

 

[119bowhunter]

Thanks guys, guess I’ll quit being cheap and order a new one or two

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I'm opposite of maverick. New one is for the current year, last years is backup. Trash after that.

 

[2-Stix]

Ran mine for 15 years backpacking and never changed it. Rated for 750L of water.