I use a solar powered water filter. The UV rays from the sun sterilize the top layer of water. If in doubt, I'll use pills.

I've been using the Platypus system since my first BW trip in 2008.  I'm on my second filter.  I knew the first one was about done when backflushing failed to restore the 6-8 min/gal filtration rate.

Bill Connor, you might want to run some bleach through the filter before putting it away.  And don't let the filter freeze.  (According to the instructions.)

For what it's worth, I use an MSR microfiliter only because I couldn't afford the platypus at the time. My system works great albeit with the limitations already noted (time to filter, backflushing, etc.). It's a much better system than the hand pumping which has been mothballed in my downstairs camping storage area  The platypus is definitely the cadillac of water systems but that's just my opinion.

Iodine tablets used to a method of choice but had to move away from iodine-treated water. Chlorine tablets are handy but can be expensive if you filter a lot of water, especially over a 5 to 10 days of a trip (depending on length). I even used to backpack a small nalgene of bleach and an eyedropper more years ago than I care to admit  That had too much of a potential for disaster inside my pack too!

Thumbs up to current technology on this one.

Re: Katahdyn pump - I thought for long time pump was fine but broken handle, not body of hiker pro is leaking at parting line - I had heard so many good things about gravity I went for it and am glad. Good change for me.

Re: tablets - backpacking. The Micropur by - interestingly - Katahdyn, at Philmont and been thinking about them for canoeing. Compared to last time - like 50 years when a Scout - these were great. No taste what so ever. Easy, but does take 30 minutes.

nctry_Ben wrote on Oct 14^th, 2014 at 2:12am:
i used the MSR 4L gravity this year first time and it was a home run. platypus looks like a real nice product though. made in usa too.

kypaddler wrote on Oct 14^th, 2014 at 2:16pm:


I did/do carry some of these.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

But I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible especially in things I consume.

I like my McGyver Sawyer mini-filter set-up with the collapsible Naglene water canteens.
I also carry one of these for times I run out of water in areas that you wouldn't want to risk drinking from the lake.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

So between the homemade gravity filter, tablets  and this and of course boiling, I have the water "issue" pretty well covered.

I also still drink from the lakes when I feel it's prudent to do so and so far have never had a problem, knock on wood.

Does anybody use tablets?

-- kypaddler

I don't know if they still make it but the Katadyn Guide model moves more water per stroke than the Hiker Pro, like 3-4x as much. It's not much bigger/heavier than the Hiker Pro, and I still can get the replacement filters. I find carrying a pump lighter than carrying extra water.

I'm just not a gravity filter fan, but it's nice to hear they're addressing the back flushing issue. In camp I'll fill a collapsing bucket with water and pump from that as needed. Works for me.

I don't know the Sawyer but the Platypys is backed flush by raising the clean bag above the dirty for a few moments. What I missed at first was that you should do it each cycle. I need to dry and clean it for the season now.

I love my Gravity Filter. It started out being a MSR, but because of availability I ended up with a Sawyer filter and the syringe is a life saver for backflushing. I quit dipping many moons ago for the most part because I had people in our group back then get the good old beaver fever and I don't care to experience that. I used a steri pen once and ended up with a mild case of Giardia in about the right timing for it to do it's thing. So filtering only seems like the smart thing to do. I've found the gravity to be pretty fast for what it is if you keep up with the back flushing and all.