Finally Available in the United States!!!

[Papasequoia]

Currently looking at the Sawyer system.

After debating over a couple of choices for a new filter water bottle I got a Sawyer. The two downsides (for me) are that it is much fatter than other bottles I have seen/used, so it has stretched out the net on the bottle holder of my lumbar pack and is much harder to put back in after use unless I turn the pack sideways to get it in. The other drawback (again, for me) is that you need suck the water through the filter rather than squeeze. Some people might be better at this than others *cough* Bob *cough*

Actually though, I have not had a problem with that, but on a hike a couple of days ago with wife and one son I was thinking that I might have to refill their (non filter) water bottles. With a squeeze bottle I could fill it up, squeeze out filtered water and that's it. With a system where you have to suck the water through the filter you can't do that. However, other than those two drawbacks I think the Sawyer has a good filter and is a good choice.

I don't know about the straw although I have seen it advertised in Backpacker and elsewhere. I got a Steri-pen a couple of years ago that I keep for a secondary source when backpacking and for foreign travel. Other than needing a battery it seems like a very good choice, though bulkier than a straw.

Somehow, I knew that was coming from you!!!!

Hey look! I'm famous! Hey Moe, hey Larry!

[RichardCullip]

I have a Sawyer Squeeze filter that I've set up as a gravity filter system. Up top is the dirty water bag (a 4L zip top bag) with a quick connect clip for a hose. The hose runs down to the Sawyer filter and there's another hose running from the filter into a clean water bag. Makes it very nice for filtering 3-4L of water while in camp. However, it's a bit slow and awkward to use so I don't use it while on the move. It's a in camp only setup. While on the move, I use a Steripen Adventure with fresh batteries for each trip. I can do a fairly quick zap of either 0.5L to fill one of my Gatorade bottles or zap a full 1L to fill both bottles. So far I've been happy with the flexibility that both systems give me.

[DrCreek]

Steri-Pens scare me. I'd like to give every method a fair shake and try EVERY filter bottle, filter straw and any other non-chemical methods that are out there. Again, I hate Seychelle now (for their awful customer service. They've screwed me, my friends, and left me feeling that my word on their gear isn't so golden anymore), but I haven't been able to beat the fact that with their bottle, I can scoop ice cold questionable water, * on the top, and easily draw-up cold, safely-filtered water from a mountain stream by just "sucking" slightly and lightly squeezing at the same time - just to make it that much easier.

[briansII]

Speaking of sucking and squeezing.......

Huh...what?

I have one of the Katadyn filter bottles. Not sure if it's the current model, or old model. Anyway, it proclaims to filter and treat water so it's 99.99999999999999999999% safe to drink. Only problem is you have to be on a steroid regiment to be able to squeeze it hard enough to get a satisfying stream of water. Mere mortals get a dribble like the bottle has an enlarged prostrate. The iodine cartridge makes the dribble taste like.....well, you know.

I've used the Bota filter bottles and so far, no intestinal distress. Mostly used it in the Sierra streams/rivers, but have used it at my local tailwater too......not without worry though. The bottle is relatively easy to squeeze, and you get a good flow of water. They are also inexpensive. They only have a "carbon filter", so it may not be up to par with other filters.

briansII

[John Harper]

We just did a taste test on my Bota last night. A glass of tap water versus a glass of Bota filtered tap water. You could definitely tell the difference, the Bota water was much cleaner taste. All three judges agreed, then got back to our beers, fresh caught yellowtail sashimi, and the hockey game.

John

[darrin terry]

Unfortunately, taste has little or nothing to do with whether or not water is potable. Sure, it makes a difference to us when we drink it, but when needed, all that matters is that it is safe. Beers on the other hand are always safe.

[mike.s]

I might get one of these as a back up...but Im sold on my trusty MSR Sweetwater!!

[darrin terry]

I happened across this video tonight and thought I'd share:

[mike.s]

Oh my God...ok let the fun begin...

[darrin terry]

Ha! I actually used my Seychelle bottle on each of my trips to the LO with cattle everywhere, so it''s no big deal to me. Still, as often as water filtration come up in the threads here, I really get the feeling many don't really think that this is what it means. Obviously being able to pre-filter the water will extend the life of any filter. I've not used my Seychelle straw filter yet, but I hope it's a bit easier to use than the one in the video.

[NorcalBob]

That's really a dangerous thing she's doing!!! Filters do a great job on protozoal, fungal, and bacterial pathogens, but not a good job on viral pathogens!!! Wouldn't catch me doing that in a million years!!!
And it looks like my "sucking" question got answered!!!

[mike.s]

i cant believe you guys. Your still talking about Purifying water after watching that?.
What a tame group this has become....thats the last thing i would have been thinking about if i had been a jr high or high school student sitting in that class room watching that demo.