[pct-l] inline Sawyer Filter

[William Canavan]

Hi Kat,
IMHO definitely go with the Sawyer filter.  I used it this spring on a hike
in the Anza-Borrego Desert leading up to Kick-off.  It was easy to use and
the water I was filtering wasn't skunked up enough that I had to backflush
the filter but I practiced at home and it was easy enough.  I carried three
of the 2 liter bags and one 1 liter bag plus 2 half liter water bottles.  I
labeled one of the 2 liter bags "Clean" and only put filtered water in it.
 On that bag I used a bite valve.  The other 2 liter bags had regular screw
on lids.  The filter has a bite valve.  So I knew anything with a bite
valve was safe to drink.

I forget the total weight exactly but I could carry the equipment for 8
liters of water for about 8 oz.  Your single EMPTY Nalgene water bottle
will weigh about 6.5 oz so you might want to ditch that.

My two concerns: The first with the Sawyer was that I had to fill the bags
somehow.  Most watering places the water flow was too low or too slow too
do what I needed.   I ended up using my camp cup to dip up water to fill
the bags, which incidentally was also the only measuring cup I had.  So
instead of spaghetti I had spaghetti soup, and instead of turkey tettrazini
I had turkey noodle soup.  I went for the wet side figuring I needed the
fluids.
The second concern:  I couldn't use my existing bladder because I didn't
buy the after market adapter hose.  I ended carrying all my water outside
the normal carrying area of packs.  Still, it worked for me.
Good Luck,
Little Brown


Message: 11
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2012 03:46:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kathryn Thompson <katzenjammer12 at yahoo.ca>
Subject: [pct-l] Sawyer inline filter
To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Message-ID: <1339757213.186.YahooMailNeo at web110613.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Hi all,

I can't figure out how to search the archives of the list - any advice
would be welcome.

In the meantime, I am interested in the Sawyer inline filter, and would
very much appreciate any feedback from those who've used it.

I'm planning a thru-hike in 2013.? I will carry a 2-litre Platypus Big Zip,
plus a 1-litre wide-mouth Nalgene, plus as many plastic Gatorade-style
bottles as are necessary for the current conditions.

1) Is the Sawyer easy and intuitive to use?? I live overseas and would
order it to arrive in the States shortly before I start in Campo, with no
possibility to field-test it in advance.? Any modifications required to the
Platy or the Sawyer in order to use them together?


2) Is the Sawyer practical for the desert sections?? Can it reliably handle
skanky water sources on a repeated basis?? Is it possible and practical and
easy to backflush it in these desert sections when necessary?? Any tips?


3) I have previous experience with filters, steripen, and chemicals - each
has pros and cons!? I am possibly open to using a combination of these (and
the Sawyer?), and changing methods throughout the hike.? For example, I
want something pretty bomb-proof for the dry sections, but am a bit more
relaxed in the Sierra.? Any general thoughts on treatment methods would be
welcomed - I know there are some hikers who don't treat water at all, but
that is not my style.? To me, it seems like the Sawyer might be the perfect
lightweight treatment for the entire trail - but maybe it is too good to be
true?


Thanks in advance!
Kat