Well I have some thoughts on the katadyn base camp since I was able to put one to use recently. Bottom line was that if you weren't in a hurry it was fine. I found it frustratingly slow when compared to the platypus clean stream which I also own and have used.

The clean stream performs quickly and efficiently but holds less than 1/2 the water the base camp does. In my mind this is the way to go with 2 or 3 trippers.

Once I lowered my expectation level and got about other business and would eventually glance over at 1.5 gallons of water ready to use I was a bit more satisfied. There are some other drawbacks however. Scooping up a couple of gallons of water and then clambering up a potentially slick bank after a long day might invite an unexpected spill (and I ain't talkin water). It might also take a bit more thought concerning where to hang 10lbs of water to initiate the process.

If I had it to do over again I would stay with the clean stream I guess and just fill a bit more often.

jjcanoeguide wrote on Apr 20^th, 2010 at 4:53pm:

If it's a model with a screw on lid for water bottles, did you screw the lid on tight?  Don't do that.  Air must be free to exit the bottle you're filling, otherwise it will chase up the tube and get caught in the filter.

Snow_Dog wrote on Apr 21^st, 2010 at 2:38pm:

I'll concur with Snow_Dog.  I just make sure that I'm filling my water containers some distance from shore, unless the dipped water is going to be boiled before use/consumption.  That said, I can think of no place in the lower-48 where I'd choose not to filter unless the water was coming directly from a spring.

I did decide to try the Katadyn Base Camp filter a couple of seasons ago (mostly because I was traveling with other "new" companions).  It was a reasonably easy "swap" since I had been using a comparably-sized dry bag for that purpose (the one I use if from Cabela's and has an air-bleed valve at one end ... or should I say a water spigot).  The Base Camp worked well at the beginning of the trip, but I did notice a slow down before the 2-week trip ended.  Being that the trip was in late May/early June, I'd guess the filter started to become clogged with pollen ... which seems to be everywhere that time of year.  

I did take the filter on 2-3 trips, but I'm now back to my former technique for "far-north" traveling.

One should also note that things like Giardia CAN BE acquired through activities other than drinking water ... like bathing and swimming.  So a bit of caution should be exercised when doing these activities (unless you swim without stirring up bottom sediments ).

dd

You're a lot more likely to get sick from poor campsite hygiene than from drinking untreated water.  Giardia originally came from people, not beavers.  People are still the source you are most likely to pick it up from, too.

Just pay attention to where you get your water and you can leave the expensive, easily compromised filtering equipment at home.  I bring a bottle of treatment tablets just in case I am unable to get water from a source which meets my minimal standards.

That said, there's no way you'll get me to drink from Lakes 1-4 and several other insanely popular lakes without treating the water.  I don't fear the beavers too much.  I fear the two-legged disease carriers much worse.

Hey all....it is better than pumping. Fill and hang. More fishing (pj) , more shots, more cooking....not pumping I have always filled mine a shore, but I am careful not to stir it up. I just bring a spar element and the tablet in the first aide kit in a pinch, dont need the fever on top of something else

No drinky out of the river, dont need another horn Riverside, that is years gone for me

I bought one last fall on way up to Quetico, Just my wife and I but I drink lots of water. I have always been thirsty and craving cold water. We took a cooler with block ice and several water bottles.  After hanging the bag to drain into a 12qt ss pot, we would fill the bottles and put them in the cooler. This is the first time in15 or so trips that I had all the cold water I wanted. It sure beats the heck out of sitting around and squeezing bottles! We of course still took our filter bottles to use if needed when out on the water. It will go again in June. I would say this was probably the best camping purchase I have made.

I just tested mine with tap water. I got 1 liter in about 3 and a half minutes. I thought the "slow flow" was caused by a vacuum, like DD talked about in the org. thread but in reverse. So I timed another liter with the top of the bag open but got 4 and a half minutes, so much for that theory! It's got to be that pre-filter, but I can't see not using that in a real life situation.

jjcanoeguide wrote on Apr 20^th, 2010 at 4:53pm:

Defective.

Katydyn Base Camp Specs
Capacity (gal)
~ 200

Capacity (L)
~ 750

Dimensions (cm)
7.6 x 16.5 x 6.1

Dimensions (in)
3 x 6.5 x 2.4

Output (gal)
~ 1 quart/min

Output (L)
~ 1 L/min

Technology
AntiClog Technology with 0.3 micron glassfiber (no cleaning needed) Activated carbon granulate

Weight (grams)
310

Weight (oz)
11

Got the Base Camp filter as a present.  If it works as slowly on the trail as it did with tap water at home fresh out of the box, I doubt I'll be much of a fan.  10 minutes for 1L of water.  Has anyone esle experienced this, or did I just get a defective filter.  It has not been used to filter anything except tap.

solotripper wrote on Apr 20^th, 2010 at 3:18pm:

Oooh!  Gonna stop by the dollar store on my way home!