Ike,

I'd be interested to see more specifics on the 'inline fuel filter casing with activated carbon' when you get that all finished. I believe I saw on another post that you're still trying out different carbon, filters, etc. Let us know what you finally come up with. It would be great to the final weight (obviously), cost, assembly/construction as well as how it affects flow rate. I'm looking to modify my current sawyer filter-based gravity system over the winter to get ready for next season. Thanks and have a good one.

Nate

I currently use the frontier pro in conjunction with bleach drops. I went with this due to the activated carbon already being in the filter. To those of you using the sawyer, does it still make the water clear, just not improve taste? Is it really that different from a filter with carbon? I have heard the sawyer has better flow rates, but if it does not improve taste I would assume that would be a deal breaker for me.

I am still waiting for my Sawyer and my charcoal to come in. Once that comes in I will make the rig and begin the test. Although in the beginning I will not be able to use the cuben bag as the hysol takes a day or so to dry. I will sub in a Platy. I am also making an ac filter out of any energy drink mini bottle as seen on YouTube. My biggest concern is contact time. I feel likethe design of the energy drink bottle would give me more contact time and I think the downfall of the inline fuel filter casing will be contact time as well. I may try using cotton balls to slow the flow in both. I will not be doing testing at my local water supplier, I simply don't hav time. I will filter one sample with the Sawyer alone, then another with the same water with one of the filterig devices included. I will visually and by taste compare the 2 samples. If this high quality ac I got is getting enough contact time, there should be a big difference. I suspect a big difference because I will be using a poor source of water.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=paBPPdppyvg

Edited by isaac.mouser on 11/06/2010 09:53:32 MDT.

Here in the Northwest, we have many little trickles of water coming across the trails, and I generally don't carry much water because of the weight. With a Sawyer filter, I carry a "clean" straw tube in a snack-size zip-lock to plug onto the output end, and a section of a toothbrush package as a collector. I hold the collector, closed end at the bottom, under a trickle of water with the input tube in it, on the uphill side of the trail to suck through the straw (you don't even need to take your pack off). You can also turn the open end of the tooth brush package collector downhill under the trickle to channel water into a water bottle, and of course use the straw rig to drink directly from small clear pools.

Dale

My stuff came in, i'm making the system now. Will probably get to test it tommorow, i have a party to goto tonight.

Rob,

Actually, the answer is maybe.

The pore size of the plastic hollow tubes inside the Sawyer filter will strain out any large particles from the water and any organic nasties that can get you sick....just not viruses, unless you have that model designed for that.

Anything that is disolved at the molecular level will not be screen out by the filter.

The 1st time I used the Sawyer filter was in the snow at a pond filled with fallen trees and rotting vegetation. The water had a greenish brown color to it and came out that way after running thru the filter.

All of us drank about 3-4 liters of this water and none of us got sick. (Four of us on that trip).

When I was at REI the weekend from returning from that trip, a Sawyer rep told me that you can even put in electrolyte powder into dirty water and run it through the filter and you would still have the electroylte drink because it would be disolved at the molecular level and would pass through the pores in the filter, but blocking out the bacteria and nasties that can get you sick.

I have not tried that experiment, but after 3 years of using the same Sawyer filter.....my family and I have never gotten sick.

Also, the Sawyer filter does NOTHING to improve the taste of the water, which is the only potential negative that I see with the system.

Fortunately for me, I backpack mostly in the Sierras, so the water quality/taste is usually great.

If the taste of the water was bad, I would toss in a NUUN tablet or some sort of drink powder.

Hope that helps.

-Tony

I carry a 60 ml syringe (1.25 oz) when I carry my SAWYER SP125/SP135 - PURIFIER. I have placed a small 3.0 cm piece of tubing at its end so to connect with the SP125/SP135. The reply to my QUESTION(S) came from John T. Smith, SAWYER.

NOTE: SAWYER has changed their nomenclature of their products in the past two years .…. FILTER SP121 now SP161 and PURIFIER SP125 now SP135.


QUESTION(S):

1. Is the SP161 filter /SP135 purifier filter fully field maintainable?
It can be serviced in the field by flowing water backwards through the filter at a 4 PSI greater pressure than the forward pressure.

2. How is back flushing accomplished without faucet adapter?
You will need a collapsible bladder like the Nalgene collapsible canteen or a bladder like a shower bag.

3. Can a syringe be used to backflush either SP161 /SP135.
60 ML syringe should work also.

.

4. If addition equipment is needed, what is required and where can I purchase?
Nalgene products are available at most camping stores and so are shower bags.

5. In the field if back flushing is needed, how much clean water do you recommend for this operation to restore flow?
Backwash until the water runs clear, usually about a quart

Please see here for an update of my setup:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=21537&startat=100

After checking out the reviews I got my sawyer zero two set up with a bomb proof pressurized Geigerrig Hydration bladder. The Geigerrig pushes the water through the filter in line so no need for gravity setups or anything else for that matter. Fist pic is setup, 2nd is steady flow pushing 1 ft up against gravity.

This is great to see this Sawyer-GEIGERRIG set up. Since GEIGERRIG won 3Ms best new product award for the 2011 Winter Outdoor Retailer show, the filtration companies have been hopping. GEIGERRIG has their own in-line filter that is designed to snap into the drink tube, but Katadyn, Sawyer and other filtration companies have been designing in-line filters for some time but with marginal results. The problem is that the hydration packs require the user to suck in order to get at the water. With the GEIGERRIG engine, the in-line filters now have a very compatible on-the-go pump. The GEIGERRIG hydration packs just push the water through the filters. And the large slide top makes them very easy to refill and to turn inside out for cleaning in the top shelf of the dishwasher or for rinsing out and hanging to dry in a tree.

Mike Atkinson, Former Navy SEAL and Owner of Trident Tactical/Technical, said “Other than ammunition, radios and weapons, water can be the heaviest thing we carry. And, it has so many necessary uses. The GEIGERRIG system finally makes it easy to access, use, and share the water while also getting the hands-free benefit of a hydration pack. The plug-and-play, on-the-go, in-line filtration unit is on the money. Greater access to water… Much easier use of water… A pressurized spray… All without additional weight or any sacrifice of capacity in your pack. It looks like a no-brainer. It was my product of choice as well--for both the Shot Show and Outdoor Retailer show.”

Edited by GEIGERRIG on 02/14/2011 22:33:14 MST.

Hey Bob Tell me more since you are obviously close to this product. Where does the pressure come from?

Weight? Filter micron rating?

In full disclosure, I work for GEIGERRIG. Thanks for your interest. I know that it can sometimes be unpalatable for companies to post on blog sites. I hope that I am not overstepping my bounds. I just thought it was cool to see the Sawyer - GEIGERRIG configuration. That said, I would be happy to answer your question about the pressure. Again, thanks for the interest.

[There is a good video on Youtube: "Geigerrig Hydration Pack: Constant Pressure". It demonstrates much of what is discussed below.]

GEIGERRIG has a patent pend. pressurization system that is very simple and provides a very reliable, consistent and powerful spray.

Instead of 2 outer walls of polyurethane, the GEIGERRIG has one additional sheet of polyurethane welded right down the middle. This creates two separate compartments, separated by a flexible wall. One compartment is filled with water while the second compartment is pressurized with air using a small pressurization bulb similar to the one that is used with a blood pressure cuff.

By separating the air chamber from the water chamber, you get a uniform application of pressure over a very large surface area of the water, thus stabilizing the water mass even as the water is depleted from the pack. Also, because the pressurizing air is inserted into a second chamber, this prevents the pressurizing air from ever engaging the drink tube and subsequently depressurizing the system. When air is inserted directly into the water chamber, it creates a scenario similar to what you would experience if you filled a balloon half with water and half with air - The water mass slams around inside the balloon. Also, it is nice to keep the pressurizing gas or air separate from the water - its cleaner. Kind of disgusting when people blow air back into their hydration pack and then offer you a drink.

Bottom line, you get a very consistent, reliable, clean, high pressure spray this way.

Accordingly it facilitates in-line filtration, sharing water without a requirement to suck on nasty bite valves, and spraying water for field hygiene and cleaning off gear.

It is a very clean, reliable system. The extra sheet of polyurethane and the pressurizing bulb are very light weight and generate very little in the way of additional cost.

Additionally, the GEIGERRIG pressurized system is configured so that it can be turned inside out for cleaning in the top shelf of the dish washer or for field rinsing and hanging to dry in a tree.

Lots of info at www.GEIGERRIG.com.

Cool. Thanks. You are good here given full disclosure. Welcome.
The big questions here will be how much does it weigh and how much does it cost.

Thanks for the question about the GEIGERRIG filter and for indulging the comments of a person who actually works for GEIGERRIG.

The GEIGERRIG filter is essentially a reconfigured, repackaged Frontier pro that is discussed by Rob H above. (I don't know Rob H, and this is my first time posting at backpacking light.) The GEIGERRIG filter removes 99.9% of Giardia and 99.9% of Crypto and bacteria.

There are filters that use various holes to filter the water, but the GEIGERRIG filter and Frontier Pro use a coconut carbon cake that serves as a lattice through which the water flows. As the water flows through the lattice structure, the bacteria, giardia and crypto are removed. What the tests measure and watch for is the actual percentage of removal. The structure of the Frontier Pro and GEIGERRIG filter allows for a nice flow. (The comments of Rob H above are fair and a good recommendation.)

That said, we have nothing against the structures of other filters and we are proud to see the GEIGERRIG's great compatibility with all of them. We are receiving calls every day from filtration companies that are highly encouraged by what GEIGERRIG brings to the table. It is opening up a whole new world for the filtration companies.

It is great to see.

I hope that this answered your question.

If you need something much more scientific, I'll see if I can get Aquamira's engineers to post some thoughts.

Aquamira builds the Frontier Pro.

Let me know if you would like me to arrange this.

GEIGERRIG has chosen to produce high-quality packs. When compared with similar quality packs from other companies, our prices are very much the same.

As I noted, we're really only talking about an additional sheet of polyurethane and a pressure bulb. Not much cost.

We do however also include quick release, plug-and-play valves for the tubes so that they can be easily removed for cleaning and for easy access and refilling of the hydration engine. (Leave the tubes threaded through the shoulder straps, slide the slide top off, and dunk the bladder in the stream.) The quick release, plug-and-play valves, also make it so that the bladder can be turned inside out and placed in the dish washer for cleaning or rinsed out and hung in a tree for drying.

You can check out how durable the GEIGERRIG Hydration Engine is with a Youtube search of: "GEIGERRIG Uncontained Bomb Test" and "GEIGERRIG 100 mph Road Impact Test". These test show how tough the GEIGERRIG Hydration engine is and why GEIGERRIG Hydration Engines have a life-time warranty for leakage.

You can also learn alot about this at www.GEIGERRIG.com.

Again, thanks for your courtesy and genuine inquiry here.

Tomorrow I will provide a weight for the Hydration Engine with and without a filter inserted. I'll use our shipping scale at the warehouse.

3 Liter Bladder - No Tubes Attached - .24lbs
Drink Tube with Bite Valve - .14 lbs
Tube with Bulb - .20 lbs
Filter - .10 lbs

Also, a good video to watch with regard to pack capacity and pack weight, when it comes to GEIGERRIG Hydration Packs and GEIGERRIG Hydration Engines, is posted on the lower half of the GEIGERRIG Homepage under videos. Watch video called: "GEIGERRIG Pack Capacity."

(www.GEIGERRIG.com)

Edited by GEIGERRIG on 02/15/2011 14:23:04 MST.

Bob - So just to verify, is the inline filter about 20 grams? If so, that would be a lot lighter than the frontier pro.

That's pretty light for a filter. I'm still curious on how many microns it is.

I'm most interested in how this filter would work outside the Geigerrig system. Could it reasonably be used as a simple inline gravity filter?