 Great ultralight one-person filter / backup unit |
| Review Date: October 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: alltheusernamesaretaken, |
Despite a lack of reviews when I purchased this unit, I decided to risk the $20 due to its novel design. After a couple of trips, I have to say I'm impressed. I'll be taking the filter with me on future trips.
If you're into ultralight backpacking or simple day hikes, this filter could save you a lot of weight. It screws onto any standard soda/pop/water bottle (think Coke, Sprite, Aquafina, etc.) and you bite/suck through the nozzle (like a CamelBak) to drink; the water is filtered between the bottle and your mouth.
I coupled the filter with a 1.5L Smart Water bottle (available at most grocery stores) due to the Smart Water's unique size/shape combination, which makes it easier to carry and squeeze. The system acted as an excellent backup unit during my trips. I just filled the bottle directly from the water source, screwed on the filter, and drank. Much easier than pumping.
The unit is also supposed to work with the included straw (for drinking directly out of water sources) or with hydration packs (in place of a regular bite valve). I have not tried either configuration, so I can't attest to their effectiveness.
Pros:
----------
+ Works like it's supposed to
+ Small and very light
+ Low-cost
+ Fits onto any standard soda/pop/water bottle
+ Stretchy silicone/rubber neck keeps cap in place while closed and safely attached while drinking
+ Entire thing floats if accidentally dropped into water
+ Comes with several replacement pre-filters
Cons:
----------
- Non-replaceable filter cartridge (you can buy a whole new one for $20, but that creates unnecessary garbage)
- Flow rate isn't terribly fast. It feels like a slower CamelBak, and you might have to start squeezing the bottle as it empties.
- Only practical for one person (unless you don't mind sharing)
Things to watch out for:
----------
* To increase filter life, make sure you use the included pre-filter
* Leaks when used with soft-bodied Platypus bladder-bottles (NOT the same thing as hydration packs; these soft "bottles" are basically small plastic bags with integrated water bottle spouts). The filter screws on, but not tightly enough to create a vacuum seal. This makes drinking very difficult and gets everything wet. I had no such problem with regular, hard-bodied bottles.
* Long-term reliability/flow rate is uncertain due to a lack of reviews.
* This unit does not filter viruses -- no pump/mechanical-action filter does except for the First Need series. You'll need chlorine tablets if this is a concern to you, though it should not be in most North American waters.
* This will not work with Nalgenes (even narrow-mouthed ones), Kleen Kanteens, or SIGGs.
Conclusion:
----------
All in all, I love this little thing and will be taking it with my as a backup filter for future trips. It's great if you're camping near a water source and don't want to have to keep pumping for drinking water. Just remember what it's designed for: solo drinking out of a dirty water bottle, not group filtration into clean bottles. |
almost perfect
|
| Review Date: September 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: dnicely, |
This is a great product for the price.
I use it as a gravity filter, filtering from a 2.5L platypus bottle into my hydration bladder (the jason klass method). Works excellent this way!
You should use a chemical treatment as well, as others have noted, but I would suggest using the chemical treatment no matter what type of filter you are using.
so its not like an extra process or something...
The only thing that would make this better would be if it had replaceable filter cartridges. It does not, but will still filter well over the 50 gallons it claims as long as you keep your pre-filter clean and replace it as often as needed.
For this price its worth it, it will probably take 2 seasons for me to go through 50 gallons of water. |
Good, Light
|
| Review Date: May 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Joe Mama, |
| If you don't need to filter a ton of water to make fancy soup out in the sticks for some reason, this is perfect. In places with decent water access all I need is this thing and a Platypus bag, which this screws onto. |
Great ultralight one-person filter / backup unit
|
| Review Date: September 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: alltheusernamesaretaken, |
Despite a lack of reviews when I purchased this unit, I decided to risk the $20 due to its novel design. After a couple of trips, I have to say I'm impressed. I'll be taking the filter with me on future trips.
If you're into ultralight backpacking or simple day hikes, this filter could save you a lot of weight. It screws onto any standard soda/pop/water bottle (think Coke, Sprite, Aquafina, etc.) and you bite/suck through the nozzle (like a CamelBak) to drink; the water is filtered between the bottle and your mouth.
I coupled the filter with a 1.5L Smart Water bottle (available at most grocery stores) due to the Smart Water's unique size/shape combination, which makes it easier to carry and squeeze. The system acted as an excellent backup unit during my trips. I just filled the bottle directly from the water source, screwed on the filter, and drank. Much easier than pumping.
The unit is also supposed to work with the included straw (for drinking directly out of water sources) or with hydration packs (in place of a regular bite valve). I have not tried either configuration, so I can't attest to their effectiveness.
Pros:
----------
+Works like it's supposed to
+Small and very light
+Low-cost
+Fits onto any standard soda/pop/water bottle
+Stretchy silicone/rubber neck keeps cap in place while closed and safely attached while drinking
+Floats if accidentally dropped into water
+Comes with several replacement pre-filters
Cons:
----------
-Non-replaceable filter cartridge (you can just buy another one for $20, but this creates unnecessary garbage)
-Flow rate isn't terribly fast. It feels like a slow CamelBak, and you might have to start squeezing the bottle as it empties.
-Only practical for one person (unless you don't mind sharing)
Things to watch out for:
----------
*To increase filter life, make sure you use the included pre-filter
*Leaks when used with handheld Platypus bladder-bottles (NOT the same thing as a hydration pack; these soft "bottles" are basically small bags with a water bottle opening). The filter screws on, but not tightly enough to create a vacuum seal. This makes drinking very difficult and gets everything wet. I had no such problem with a regular (hard-bodied) plastic bottle.
*Long-term reliability/flow rate is uncertain due to a lack of reviews.
*This unit does not filter viruses -- no pump/mechanical-action filter does except for the First Need series. You'll need chlorine tablets if this is a concern to you, though it should not be in most North American waters.
*This will not work with Nalgenes (even narrow-mouthed ones), Kleen Kanteens, or SIGGs.
Conclusion:
----------
All in all, I love this little thing and will be taking it with my as a backup filter for future trips. It's great if you're camping near a water source and don't want to have to keep pumping for drinking water. Just remember what it's designed for: solo drinking out of a dirty water bottle, not group filtration into clean bottles. |
Good one
|
| Review Date: September 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Shagui, |
This filter works in oposite way then the others do.
You have to fill the water bottle and then drinking thru the filter as a straw.
With a regular filter, you filter the wather and fill the bottle with the filtered wather
Very portable, and seem to be very reliable
You have diferent options of use , ataching it to a regular botlle, to a hidratation pack, to a bladder or using it as a straw
Ideal for carring it with the camelback as a backup during your trip, or for carring it in a survival kit.
4 stars because it's disposable, no replacements for using it forever
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