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Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 2:26 pm
by mrpotter
Doh! http://www.highwaterfilters.com/SP129-S ... /sp129.htm

Has free shipping to Au

Is it worth getting spare bags?

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 2:27 pm
by Strider
Nice!

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 3:39 pm
by GPSGuided
Been thinking about this Sawyer and similar micro-filtration systems but have a concern.

Given that any water carrying utensil, especially one with nooks and crannies, it's almost impossible to prevent the growth of micro-organisms. As such, I can't be confident of the cleanliness/sterility over time of such a unit on its supposed "clean" end. Given its filtration technology, similar to those used in dialysis, it'd be next to impossible to dry them out once used. As much as the membranes will maintain a barrier between infused "from-the-wild" and filtered water, once there's bacterial/fungal growth on the filtered side, the objective has been lost. In the medical/health/laboratory field, these micro-filtration systems are typically one off use for a good reason.

Maybe I am too critical and the filter does not have to be up to medical grade, our body has far greater ability to resolve such contaminant. But has any of you guys considered this aspect? Has any of the longer term users carefully re-examined their unit? Yet again, I have at times found "yucks" inside my cycling water bottles and I have not suffered, yet.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 3:42 pm
by Strider
They don't need to be dried after use, just backwashed. Though it is recommended to pass a teaspoon of bleach through them if putting into storage after use.

But really what's the need to keep the inside of a filter clean? Anything that might grow in there will be filtered out anyway. There should be no growth on the filtered side as obviously everything on that side has already been filtered.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 3:53 pm
by GPSGuided
Strider wrote:They don't need to be dried after use, just backwashed. Though it is recommended to pass a teaspoon of bleach through them if putting into storage after use.

But really what's the need to keep the inside of a filter clean? Anything that might grow in there will be filtered out anyway. There should be no growth on the filtered side as obviously everything on that side has already been filtered.

Yes, teaspoon of bleach would be a good practice.

The concern on growth is on the "clean" filtered side. Once a bacterial/candida colony establishes, it'd be near impossible to remove totally. With the non-sterile environment, there's every possibility it can happen in that moist environment. Then there's growth on the "dirty" side, these growths often have the capability to damage the filtration membrane, thereby rendering them ineffective. Maybe they should be seen as a disposable item than a perceived "life-time" item.

Anyway, it's just a concern I had. Guess I've spent too much time in the lab amongst other places and became instinctive.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 4:00 pm
by mrpotter
Strider wrote:Make sure you get the SP129 as the SP131 was discontinued for reasons I'm sure Google will reveal. Highwater Filters were the cheapest I found, once postage was included.


http://www.highwaterfilters.com/SP131-S ... /sp131.htm

Seems to suggest it has the same bag design as the SP121

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Thu 01 Aug, 2013 4:16 pm
by Strider
It says reinforced binding at the neck, and they are 9-ply instead of the original 3-ply from memory. Very tough material.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 02 Aug, 2013 7:01 am
by neilmny
Strider wrote:Make sure you get the SP129 as the SP131 was discontinued for reasons I'm sure Google will reveal. Highwater Filters were the cheapest I found, once postage was included.


Well that's a relief.........when I saw discontinued I thought $#@! whats wrong with the 131.
There's not much difference really, it would appear that they just wanted to offer a cheaper product by reducing the number of
water bags to 1 instead of 3. Both filter units are exactly the same as far as performance goes, they just have some minor design changes,
minor improvements. Personally I like having a spare bag on hand. It weighs very little and if I was to damage one the spare one is insurance.
My own filter is an SP131 according to the box but having watched this video I see that I have the latest version of the actual filter unit...... woo hoo!

Regardless of which model it is essential to avoid "cross contamination" between the inlet and outlet so be mindfull in handling
and storing the filter. Don't pack it away with the caps off. After use the filter holds some water and without the caps it will drain out potentially
contaminating the outlet (drinking end).

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 02 Aug, 2013 9:59 am
by Strider
The SP131 bags are very weak and lots of failures were reported. The bag was redesigned accordingly and is now much much tougher - even tougher than Evernew bags. The filters are exactly the same between the two model numbers.

I've found Schweppes bottle lids fit best to keep the outlet clean as the cover the entire end of the filter and snug up nicely against the body.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 02 Aug, 2013 10:12 am
by Strider
Ah I do recall that change to the filter now. Though I think this happened sometime while it was still offered as the SP131.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 02 Aug, 2013 10:26 am
by neilmny
Yes I've heard of the failures, so far all is well here......touch wood!

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 10:30 pm
by simonm
The SP128 is now on sale for $22 US. I just ordered one with $9 postage to Tasmania.

http://www.highwaterfilters.com/sawyer-products-s/70.htm

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 10:39 pm
by Strider
simonm wrote:The SP128 is now on sale for $22 US. I just ordered one with $9 postage to Tasmania.

http://www.highwaterfilters.com/sawyer-products-s/70.htm

Bargain!!!

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 10:42 pm
by simonm
Yeah I think that is a pretty decent price Strider.

A few less grams for this one also, which may excite some!

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 10:45 pm
by icefest
~dammit
Just bought one.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 10:54 pm
by simonm
icefest wrote:~dammit
Just bought one.


You got the 128 already or another?

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Tue 24 Sep, 2013 11:38 pm
by icefest
Another one, second hand.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Sun 27 Apr, 2014 11:15 am
by mrpotter
I did get the sawyer thanks to advice from this thread - and its fantastic! Thanks guys!

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Wed 30 Apr, 2014 2:37 pm
by walkerchris77
You could just boil all water to be 100% safe.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Wed 30 Apr, 2014 4:50 pm
by Strider
walkerchris77 wrote:You could just boil all water to be 100% safe.
Uses a lot of fuel. If you're happy carrying extra then go for it.

Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Sun 28 Sep, 2014 8:57 pm
by davec
Has anyone used quick connects in the sawyer water bottle? I'd like to use the same filter for my bottle during the day and gravity system in camp. The quick connects should save wear and tear on the silicone tubing when switching.
I plan on using the filter from the sawyer 3 way in both cases. I know it works well with the Platypus gravity works, but I'm not sure how it'd go in the bottle and if the quick connects would let unfiltered water through.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Sun 28 Sep, 2014 9:12 pm
by icefest
I have the quick connects. They are easy to use. I don't use them. I have in the past.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Sun 28 Sep, 2014 10:03 pm
by davec
Hi icefest,

Do you think they'd work in the sawyer bottle and keep unfiltered water from sneaking through the back door?

Cheers

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Sun 28 Sep, 2014 10:44 pm
by icefest
I have the sawyer three-way myself :D I'm not too sure what you mean by "sneaking through the back door" though.

They do not leak and will easily reattach. If you make sure to have varying male and female on both ends of the sawyer filter you shouldn't accidentally connect the wrong ones.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Mon 29 Sep, 2014 7:36 pm
by davec
What I meant by the back door was water getting in through the o-rings of the connectors instead of through the filter.

I guess that water will always take the path of least resistance, so if I keep the filter clean, it should be ok. But not 100% reliable.

Maybe I'll carry the two filters and have some redundancy.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Mon 29 Sep, 2014 7:49 pm
by Strider
davec wrote:What I meant by the back door was water getting in through the o-rings of the connectors instead of through the filter.

Are you talking about rain water?

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Mon 29 Sep, 2014 9:30 pm
by icefest
If you're worried about the orings leaking don't be, I have put a considerable pressure on them and they have not burst.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 13 Oct, 2017 6:32 am
by ofuros
Just come across this & since this is biggest water filter thread I could find, I'll add it to it the list...anyone used one ?

https://www.thegrayl.com/

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 13 Oct, 2017 6:47 am
by Gadgetgeek
I have not used the grayl, but its a charged ion type filter. These are susceptible to certain water chemistries, and contaminants (like tannins) that can keep the filter from removing bacteria, so I'd say its limited to water from otherwise pretty high quality sources.

Re: Which Water filter do you use.

PostPosted: Fri 13 Oct, 2017 6:58 am
by ofuros
Thanks for your thoughts, GG...might cut down on all those plastic bottles of water you buy & discard when travelling in Asia. 8)