Which water filtration pump?

[Grunt-N-Gobble]

Ok fellas....... I'm looking into buying a filtration pump for this fall. I'm looking for one where I can pump the water into a bladder and a naglene bottle. It doesn't have to pump super fast.

What have you used and was it reliable?

 

[Bubblehide]

Katadyne Vario hands down. If you want something smaller, try their hiker. I've tried the gravity filters of 2 brands, and after one trip, they just don't flow the same. The Vario, for a hand pump is high speed, high volume, dependable and easily maintainable in the field, including replacing all the O-rings. The only issue I ever had was in below freezing weather, and the pump wanted to freeze up as I was using it; yet it kept working just a bit slower. Just keep in mind that with any pump filter, you want to pace yourself so you don't bypass the O-rings and end up with unfiltered water.

 

[Hungarydog]

Sawyer squeeze, and I carry a cutoff water bottle as a cup for filling the bag from the smallest puddle or trickle of water

 

[COlineman78]

SHTF and I are both running the Sawyer Squeeze on a Geigerrig bladder. I also carry a mosquito net that I put over the bladder when I fill it to keep the big chunks out. I make sure and backwash after every trip and have never had any problems. I have heard people complain about the set-up but they have never back washed it. I also usually fill out of high mountain lakes or streams and haven't truly tested it out of a mud hole yet. I usually don't keep a clean bladder and just filter straight into my Nalgene and/or cooking pot. I also picked up a couple lighter weight bladders to try as a gravity system this year to see which I prefer (2 platty bags weigh the same as 1 geigerrig). I think SHTF used a gravity in the past and prefers the Geigerrig system. Like all fiber based systems, they cannot be frozen so care must be taken at night to ensure they don't freeze.

 

[Grunt-N-Gobble]

I've heard that about the sawyer squeeze and that is why I'm shying away from it. Not completely ruling it out however.

 

[COlineman78]

Yeah, maybe SHTF or someone else has pushed it more and filled it out of a mud hole.

The new MSR is ridiculously expensive, but it will probably be the last you ever buy. It's a self-cleaning true purifier that was developed for the military.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/water/treatment/guardian-purifier/product

 

[5MilesBack]

I use the Katadyn Hiker Pro and pump directly into my bladder through the bite valve attachment point, or directly into my Nalgene.

 

[Tim M]

After years of filtering out of everything from tiny, silty, muddy and sandy seep springs out here in western CO (anywhere except the high mountains) I have destroyed more filters than I care to think of. As other people have said with most pumps you have to be carefull not to over pressure when clogged and bypass the filter or O rings with unfiltered water, did that a few years ago and suffered the consequenses. The system that I have been running now for the last three years is a regular Sawyer squeeze filter with a pre filter on the fill bag and MSR aqua tabs as a backup. I always backflush my filter if it is remotely slowing down and once aevery couple trips when I get back home. Filling the bladders from a small seep is fairly simple, I use a cut off arrowhead water bottle as a dipper (wich also helps let seximent settle and saves a filter).
As others have stated you do need to make sure not to let the filter freeze or it will be ineffective but this is a fairly simple thing to do, I basically keep it inside my sleeping bag at night or inside my insulation layers while hiking.

 

[tttoadman]

I have the smaller sawyer squeeze. Just got it last year, and am happy so far. For a pump I have the Katadyn mini. It is a nice tight ceramic filter. It is not fast, but I think it is a solid filter system.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Used a Hiker Pro last year and loved it. Small, light, moved water quickly, and the quick connects filled my bladders and nalgene like a dream. Can't see changing any time soon.

 

[jmez]

I quit using the pump and just have a Sawyer mini inline on my bladder. They are cheap and light so I have the one on the bladder and a spare in my daypack. This will be year 3 and I've yet to need the backup and I don't backflush until I get home. I was pretty skeptical of this system until I tried it, works great as long as you have a place you can fill a bladder by dunking it. Both of my hunting partners have also switched to this since I started.

 

[tttoadman]

I quit using the pump and just have a Sawyer mini inline on my bladder. They are cheap and light so I have the one on the bladder and a spare in my daypack. This will be year 3 and I've yet to need the backup and I don't backflush until I get home. I was pretty skeptical of this system until I tried it, works great as long as you have a place you can fill a bladder by dunking it. Both of my hunting partners have also switched to this since I started.

The first thing I did was get pissed trying to fill up a flat container in stagnant water. I cut the top off of the 16oz squeeze bag that came with the kit and use it as a water scoop to load the bigger squeeze bottle. Made a big difference in time, and keeps my hands out of the water.

 

[Bkaufmann]

Ive been liking my sawyer so far.

 

[BDice52]

I've used a pur (now Katadyn) hiker for 15 years. It isn't fast but it works well. I just picked up the sawyer this year in hopes of saving some weight on my next backpacking trip

 

[COlineman78]

The first thing I did was get pissed trying to fill up a flat container in stagnant water. I cut the top off of the 16oz squeeze bag that came with the kit and use it as a water scoop to load the bigger squeeze bottle. Made a big difference in time, and keeps my hands out of the water.

I carry a folding bucket. Sea To Summit Ultra Sil 10L claims only 1oz (haven't weighed it). Also, cuts down on trips to the lake/stream by about half.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

another vote for katadyn hiker pro

 

[xziang]

I use the Katadyn Hiker Pro and pump directly into my bladder through the bite valve attachment point, or directly into my Nalgene.

This.. Works great!!

 

[jmez]

All of the areas I hunt have good water sources. Dunking a bladder isn't an issue. If that weren't the case I probably wouldn't like the set up as much as I do.

 

[Derek0525]

Katadyn Hiker pro it even comes with fitting to splice into a water bladder so there is no need to remove it from your bag.

 

[TJ]

I use the Katadyn Hiker Pro and pump directly into my bladder through the bite valve attachment point, or directly into my Nalgene.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^