I've been using a gravity filter setup for about 2 years now.
I've never used a 'clean' abag. I just fill up the bladder at a source, prefilter if necessary and screw on the cap. The end of my tubing has a camelbak on/off toggle. I now have 3 liters of 'dirty' water. When I need drinkable water I either drain a liter through the sawyer 3-way into a bottle or simply flip open the valve and suck water through my filter like a regular camelbak. This gives me the ability to carry 5L of water, all drinkable.
In camp, I just hang the bag from a tree or center hiking pole of my shelter and drain as necessary into a cup or pot.
The flow rate isn't much different than if you just let a camelbak run normally. Sucking water through it is a little more effort, but not enough for me to consider another method.
In total my setup weighs 8.5 oz- that's a 3L platypus Hoser with tubing and bite valve, a 3-way Sawyer, and a short alternate section of tube with on/off toggle.

Edited by COHiker on 05/17/2012 08:38:42 MDT.

Just splice in the filter to your platy line using the sawyer nipples and suck the water through it.

Works fine and will work as a gravity filter to fill other bladders or bottles.

Nice setup! Curious what the big zip setup weighs, is that a 2 or 3L bag?

Also, how's the flow rate with the filter on there? can you notice a difference?

Uuuum ... well, hurts to say this but it is 5.5 oz. (2L)

I use this for a two person set up because it's easy & fast to fill both platys. I fill one using it as a gravity/squeeze filter and then fill mine and go.

Nice thing about the platy zip is the valve rotates so you can hang the filter down for gravity feed or have it flat along the bag in a bladder sleeve in your pack, or on the top etc.

There is some resistance with the filter on but not a big difference.

Daniel - I just noticed your post. I like the on off switch.

Edited by ctracyverizon on 05/17/2012 09:04:32 MDT.

I just use a 3L MSR Hydromedary bag with an Sayer 0.1 inline filter. I just suck on the bite tube with a little force and get water. I use the Hydromedary because it is very durable and the opening is large on it and seals well. I also use the gravity system at my house my just pinching the end to fill a glass full of water but think I should get one of those Camelbak valves. Can you buy those anywhere?

Unfortunately, I don't know of any place to purchase the camelbak valve. The two that i have were cannibalized from Army issued camelbaks. One is on my filter pictured above and the other is employed on tubing to fill bottles in my homebrew setup.

4 L Platypus - 2.6 oz

2 L Platypus - 1.2 oz

Yeah, but I fully expect my Hydromedary to last 10 years and the fact that if I drop it on a rock from 12 feet I know it will still keep working (did that one by accident)or if I keep it out in the sun for long periods of time to heat the water up I know the UV is not breaking the bag down that fast. Plus it is also my shower if I want it to be or a 'ball' for a made up game. Of course I also use a Nalgene Ultralite Hdpe Wide Mouth bottle because the thing is pretty much indestructible for only an few ounces more. The last thing I want to compromise is my water system. And it can be used inside and outside of the house with a lot of flexibility.

Body 4.1
Sawyer 3.6
Tubes 2.4
Total 10.1 and durable

You can probably find those valves. I think they're made by CPC. The marking should be on at least one of the valves. I'd check places like US Plastics and McMaster. I found one outdoor supply shop that sold a variety of them, but unfortunately I can't remember the name.

Stephen,

Given that the Squeeze filter has a larger input and output, I was hoping that translated to a faster rate of flow from the Squeeze filter.

The inline filter has a relatively small/narrow opening that is around 1/4" and my thought was that the flow rate could be faster with a larger opening that the Squeeze filter might offer.

Roger,

Sorry to hear about the hard drive crash....very painful to have to try to reconstruct everything from memory after all the work that you put into it.

Definitely will be looking forward to your upcoming report.

I have been useing my 1st generation Sawyer inline filter as a gravity filter for maybe 4-5 yrs without fail and have seen a lot more interest in the the product over the years.

Great to see that BPL is finally going to have an article on them.

-Tony

REI has all the camelback accessories

http://www.rei.com/product/695526/camelbak-filter-adapter

Just a reminder, with the sawyer squeeze, as reported, using the 1/8" washer, the new platy threads leak very badly, at least my test did. Leak as in squirting out a lot of water when you squeeze the bottle. The evernew does not leak.

However, with a few cents, you can fix it, go to Ace Hardware, go to their section of little boxes of bolts, washers, nuts, etc, find the 1/16" neoprene washer, make sure it's the right diameter, buy it. Buy 2 since you might lose one, keep the other as a spare in your ditty bag.

Take out the 1/8 washer, put in the 1/16, attach the platy. Note that it's very very easy to cross thread the platy new type threads, so make sure it's screwing on straight. If they cross thread it will leak, if not, they don't leak, that's sort of how you can also tell you cross threaded it. However, the ease of cross threading shows that the threads are barely adequate to grab the sawyer threads in my opinion, might wear out or strip over time.

The old platys fit exactly the same as the evernews, so if you use those, or evernews, you can use the 1/8" washer, if not, try the 1/16" neoprene washer, good 50 cents or whatever it costs.

Being careful of crossthreading, all types worked in my tests with the 1/16 washer, but I think I'd suggest getting the evernews, they are nicer than the platys anyway with their attached top and included rollup mini bungie thingie. Don't know about durability of evernew vs platy though.

Edited by hhope on 05/17/2012 20:31:19 MDT.

I see what you mean about washers Harald

I just got a Sawyer Squeeze using my 20% off coupon at REI

I tried using it with my Platypus, and yes, it leaks and easily cross-threads. There isn't enough depth to capture enough of the threads.

I just removed the washer and it worked fine. You don't need a washer because both sides are plastic that's a bit soft.

And I just tipped over the Platypus enough so water went through filter so any sediment would remain on bottom of Platypus

Most of my water I heat, so I won't bother filtering it

Okay, I have to go on a backpack now to test it : )

I recently posted a review of sorts on my use of the Sawyer Squeeze over 5 trips over the last 6 months or so. You can find it in one of the parallel Sawyer Squeeze threads on the Gear Forum.

Anyway, as part of my review, I had commented on how I had successfully been using an old 2L platypus as my dirty water container both in squeeze mode and gravity mode without any of the reported leaking problems (I don't have much confidence in the sawyer bladders provided with the filter). The platy threads mated with the filter threads just fine and got a nice, tight and proper fit. No issues.

Here's a photo of it use from a trip last weekend:



But then... I did another trip this weekend. Brought the squeeze filter and the same 2L platy for dirty water (didn't bring along the clean platy for this trip). First filter stop, the dirty platy threaded fine still, but then at camp that night, I couldn't, for the life of me, get a good fit between the same dirty platy and the squeeze filter again. I tried multiple times and the platy always threaded on crooked and would leak. I tried manipulating/removing the washer, tried re-threading multiple times, no luck. Without a good seal, I was SOL, so I had to fall back on a couple of CO2 tablets to wrap up the trip. Bummer!

I'm guessing that the threading on the platy must have become worn down just enough to no longer get a good hold on the filter threads. Guess it's time to pick up an Evernew bladder instead and hope for the best. I guess the moral of the story for anyone else successfully using platypus bladders with their sawyer squeeze is to be careful. While it may work now, it might not always!

Hey guys,

So is the consensus that the platypus bigzip is superior to the sawyer hydration bags (with the dirty/clean bag set up)? In terms of speed of filling up the bag? Aside from that, any other advantages?

The sawyer setup with the clean/dirty bags (SP 162) is only $81.99 here: http://www.highwaterfilters.com/SP-162-Sawyer-Complete-2L-Water-Treatment-System-p/sp%20162.htm


The SP 162 is quite tempting especially since it comes with the clean/dirty bladders. However, I'm not sure how durable those bags are compared to a platypus. Also, I dont' know how practical it would be carrying 4L water around. Right now I only have a camelbak hydration system...


Lastly, is anyone using a charcoal filter along with the sawyer inline one?

thanks.

@ Anthony: The Sawyer gravity setup does a great job, but replacing the Sawyer bags with platys will save considerable weight. I don't remember the actual weights, but when I switched them, I remember the weight decreasing a lot.

It's the Sawyer filter that's the key to that system - the bags and hoses can come from anywhere. Walmart sells a little bottle kit that has the same Sawyer filter in a black casing for around $30. Save some money, buy the Walmart filter and use the Platy bag for a nice light weight gravity system!

I had to go through three pages of google shopping before finding someone who had Evernew water bags in stock! I just hope the firm (one I never heard of) doesn't take my money and run! (I used a credit card just in case they do.)

Is it all these posts about Platypus not being compatible with the Sawyer Squeeze Filter? Or is Evernew discontinuing their water bags? All the usual suspects (Gossamer Gear, Antigravity Gear, ProLite Sports) either have only the 600ml bag or none at all. Amazon is out of stock and doesn't know if they'll get more.

I greatly prefer the Evernew water carriers because the cap is attached to the bottle. I was forever losing Platypus caps so had to carry a couple of extra lids with me!

Edited by hikinggranny on 05/21/2012 17:03:47 MDT.

Mary,

I've been trying to find one of the larger ones too, where did you find them?

Will the Squeeze work with 2 smart water bottles? or 1 smart and 1 Evernew? would you need the tornado thing?

I ordered Evernew water carriers from greatoutdoorsdepot.com. However, I just got a call from them this morning. The 0.9 liter ones that I wanted for my dog's pack are out of stock. They do still have the 1.5 liter and the 2.0 liter bottles. Also, I didn't check their location and ordered 3-day shipping. It turns out they're located just north of me in WA state, so standard shipping is just as fast!