Mary, I did something like you with the Katydyn filter, but I switched to the Sawyer for longer life, better filtering, and lower weight. Total filter systems and connections will affect the filter weight differently, but as for the filters themselves, my Katadyn filter weighs almost 3/4 ounce heavier when wet then the Sawyer. Since filters don't really dry out in the field, I use the "wet" weight.

The Katadyn gravity setup isn't as easily backflushed, unless I'm mistaken.

Since I integrate my hydration tube into the filter system (I don't carry an extra tube), the Sawyer still came out to a lower weight for me.

Hey Travis,

For the most part, I've found the flow rates to be pretty good in the field with the sawyer, say around 2.5 min/liter range. I'd say that's about the same or just a little slower than what I get with tap water at home. I have to condition this statement with the aknowledgement that I tend to find and filter pretty clear water sources to begin with and/or pre-filter, so this helps to keep things filtering quickly.

If you don't pre-filter or you have really turbid water, you will notice a definite degradation in the filter's performance over time. On my last overnighter, we got a bit of rain/hail/snow and the creek was running super muddy. For some reason, I wasn't thinking and filtered the water through the sawyer without pre-filtering first. It worked fine for the first two liters but when I went to filter more the next morning, it ended up being pretty clogged and slowed down to an agonizing trickle, probably on track for a 10-15 min/liter pace! Needless to say, I canned it and used some back-up chemical treatment for the walk out since I couldn't seem to sufficiently backflush it in the field. I had to do some serious backflushing at home to return the filter to its peak performance, but now it seems to be back to normal.

THREAD DRIFT WARNING...Just a FYI Travis, I posted a couple of pics of my trailstar with the pentanet 2 under it recently. Not sure if you saw those, but I think you had told me you were interested in that combo.

Cheers,

Nick

Thanks Nicholas. I'll be sure to check out that Trailstar thread!

> I had to do some serious backflushing at home to return the filter to its peak performance,
> but now it seems to be back to normal.

Now that IS interesting, that backflushing did work.

Cheers

I just picked up the Geigerrig at a Costco warehouse in American Fork, Utah. I weighed it on a triple beam balance. The bag is 96g, the pump and hose is 84g, the drink tube is 58g, and the inline filter with the connectors as shown earlier by Bob, is 46g. They were selling the hydration bladder at a 40% discount and the inline filter for $22.99.

I think it looks very interesting.