Wilderness trips. Katadyn or Steripen?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Wilderness trips. Katadyn or Steripen?

Posted: 2/25/2019 8:36:41 PM EDT

We spend a huge amount of time in the various mountain ranges here hunting, fishing, camping, and backpacking.

When we do lightweight backpacking (such as hiking in to fish alpine lakes for Golden trout), I try to not weight my wife and the kids down with water bladders. In the past, we carry a Katadyn to fill our bottles with stream or lake water. This winter I purchased a Steripen Ultra (the one with the USB recharging, so I can use my roll up solar panel to charge it if needed). I am wondering if any of you have just relied on a Steripen to purify drinking and cooking water, or should I continue to use the Katadyn.

If it matters, it will be used in Wilderness areas (foot traffic or horseback only, absolutely no vehicles) so fuel and industrial contamination isn't as much of a concern as a river or pond in a town.

Anyone have any experience or opinions on the matter?

Posted: 2/25/2019 9:21:16 PM EDT

[#1]

I would find a way to carry the filter and a couple bladders or filter into bottles. You never know.

Posted: 2/25/2019 10:11:50 PM EDT

[#2]

I’ve used the heck out of my steripen in our high country, no issues. Older model with 4 AAs. UV light is well known for purification. That said, I drank a lot of untreated water before I got this thing. I got giardiasis once, so I got this.

I’ll probably still get a good small filter next. I worry about relying on an electric device, and I’ve always wondered about contaminated water on the mouth of my “treatment” bottle.

I still drink untreated from sources like this old pipe spring.

Attached File

Posted: 2/25/2019 10:23:16 PM EDT

[#3]

Good points.

I bet giardia was awesome. Hahahaha!

My only concern was filtering particulates (bears goota poop somewhere), but liked the idea of just using a steripen. I carry iodine tablets just in case, which I am not a huge fan of, but they are there if you need them.

My thoughts were having the pen and the jet boil would keep me covered as far as drinking and cooking water were concerned, but I may rethink that.

Posted: 2/25/2019 10:53:01 PM EDT

[#4]

That giardia didn’t show till I had been back 10 days. Out of nowhere, the worst stomach kinda flu you ever had. Doc caught it and put me on flagyl, I think. Cleared it right up.

I guess the steripen works, I’m only drawing clear water. And I drank a lot of untreated in my days, only got sick once, but that was enough.

A filter would work. Probably a bit slower, but I’m rarely in a hurry anymore. Unless I hear bugles.

Posted: 2/25/2019 11:04:43 PM EDT

[#5]

I've got a Steripen but to be honest I've never used it (friend didn't want it anymore). I used to use a Katadyn but pumping fucking sucks. I do weeklong backcountry trips and swear by the Sawyer Mini for en route refills and a Platypus gravity filter for camp.

Posted: 2/25/2019 11:08:08 PM EDT

[#6]

Stick with the pocket filter.

Posted: 2/25/2019 11:12:34 PM EDT

[#7]

The gravity is the way, but it’s not lightweight at all.

Posted: 2/26/2019 5:34:30 AM EDT

[#8]

How about a Sawyer screwed onto a Smart water bottle? They're light and inexpensive...

Posted: 2/26/2019 6:29:19 AM EDT

[#9]

I use the large Sawyer filter. Works great, easy to back flush using a flip top Smart water bottle, just don't let it freeze.

I prefer filters over UV light, because I hate drinking particulates and leaf litter. I'd end up pre-filtering anyway, so I just use the filter.

Posted: 2/26/2019 1:02:58 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
The gravity is the way, but it's not lightweight at all.

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My 4L is only about 11oz. That's pretty light figuring the amount and speed at which it can filter. I think for a small family it'd be a hell of a lot easier than trying to filter all that water with a Sawyer or pen. Liters in minutes.

Posted: 2/26/2019 3:04:13 PM EDT

[#11]

If you ignore the price per liter the only light weight option for me is the Grayl. It also takes care of viruses. Its a bottle and purifier all in one. No more carrying seperate items that weigh more.

https://thegrayl.com/collections/purifier-bottles/products/ultralight-purifier-black

Their new Geopress will be even better.

https://thegrayl.com/pages/geopress-release

Posted: 2/27/2019 7:18:29 AM EDT

[#12]

If your water sources don't have a lot of particulate matter or funky smells, the Steripen is fine. For the price, weight, and performance, I would have everyone carry their own Sawyer Mini and squeeze pouch. For a family on the move, a quality pump like the Katadyn is a good solution. For base camps or hanging out at a fishing lake, a gravity setup is far more efficient.

ROCK6

Posted: 2/27/2019 8:06:16 AM EDT

[#13]

Why bother using the Steripen on cooking water? Boiling it kills the nasties.

I always use a filter. I don't have experience with the Steripen, but having to rely on a solar charger to get clean water isn't a good plan for me. I would choose Micropur tablets if I didn't want the weight of the filter. I have experience with them.

Posted: 2/27/2019 8:19:29 AM EDT

[#14]

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Quoted:
Stick with the pocket filter.

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It's heavy, but it will last forever.

I was genuinely surprised at how clean the water was when we had to use it. In particular on some silty streams.

The UV pens are nice, but I'd want a filter too.

Posted: 2/27/2019 9:26:25 AM EDT

[#15]

I'd stick with the Katadyn Pocket. I've used mine for many years from Desert Shield/Storm till now. Never had a problem with it. It's just slow and hard to pump. Oh, and heavy. I still carry it and I recently purchased a Sawyer All in One. I've got a steri-pen and MSR Miox but the filters seem to have less moving parts and stuff to break. For camping, we use a Big Berkey. Hell, at home we use the Berkey. My wife has it on the kitchen counter and swears by it. We use it every day. Enough that I now have two. I like the ceramic filters because you don't need batteries, salt or anything other than pumping or gravity. And an occasional cleaning.

Steve

Posted: 2/27/2019 10:24:21 AM EDT

[#16]

I think I'll stick with the filter.

Thanks everyone.

To answer a question, very rarely do I have to charge anything on a 3-4 day trip but carry a solar panel to charge the Spot X, GPS, or a phone for pictures if needed. That's why I went tlwith the USB chargeable Steripen Ultra.

When we set up elk camp for two weeks or longer, we always bring enough water for us and a small submersible pump that runs off of an inverter to water the horses at camp. I've never needed a gravity fed filter, and it doesn't sound like that fits the needs when hiking in 10-12 miles with the family to fish.

Posted: 2/27/2019 3:14:13 PM EDT

[#17]

I have both.... My Katadyn is an older ceramic filter unit....

When in wilderness I use the Katadyn. I like the fact that I am physically removing the little bits, pieces, junk and bugs. The filter removes all the cysts, worms, bacteria and parasites. It will not remove viruses, but apparently the viruses have a tendency to be stuck to the larger bits and pieces. And viruses aren't generally a bit issue "in the wilderness".

The Steripen I tend to take when traveling in populated areas. The water from the tap looks okay, but its often not something you want to drink in Mexico or the phillipines. Use the tap to fill the Nalgene, zap it with the pen.....

If its truly ugly (water wise), as in a mission trip to Nicaragua, I use both. The filter removes the big turds, the Steripen kills the little cooties the filter doesn't get. Some of these places still have major outbreaks of water-borne disease. Going to India? Take both.....

If I'm hiking the Adirondacks or out west in the Rockies, I feel pretty comfortable with the ceramic filter

Posted: 2/27/2019 3:27:02 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
How about a Sawyer screwed onto a Smart water bottle? They're light and inexpensive...

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LifeStraw on sale at Walmart:
Walmart
BrickSeek

At a local store it is on the shelf at $29.98 but shows $15 in the Walmart app and rings up at $15.

Posted: 2/27/2019 7:52:51 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
The gravity is the way, but it’s not lightweight at all.

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I just received my new Sawyer Micro Squeeze in the mail today. With the included 32 oz bag, the filter, cleaning adapter, and a 1 liter smartwater bottle, the entire kit weighs 4.3 oz.

I used a paper hole punch to make holes in the bag to hang it via string and clip to put around branches. The smart water bottle screws into the bottom to catch clean water. It takes 10 seconds to set up and filters a liter in a few minutes. Way easier than pumping or squeezing.

I keep a smart water sport cap on the filter so I can squeeze into my mouth also. The pop cap sucks and you have to use your dirty fingers to pop it.

Steri-pens are asking for trouble. Drinking sterilized shit is still drinking shit. A proper filter removes the particulates that could carry and protect nasty bugs.

Posted: 2/27/2019 9:46:07 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

I just received my new Sawyer Micro Squeeze in the mail today. With the included 32 oz bag, the filter, cleaning adapter, and a 1 liter smartwater bottle, the entire kit weighs 4.3 oz.

I used a paper hole punch to make holes in the bag to hang it via string and clip to put around branches. The smart water bottle screws into the bottom to catch clean water. It takes 10 seconds to set up and filters a liter in a few minutes. Way easier than pumping or squeezing.

I keep a smart water sport cap on the filter so I can squeeze into my mouth also. The pop cap sucks and you have to use your dirty fingers to pop it.

Steri-pens are asking for trouble. Drinking sterilized shit is still drinking shit. A proper filter removes the particulates that could carry and protect nasty bugs.

View Quote

Thanks for the mini review...I recently saw these and was curious. It shaves a couple ounces and smaller size, so it may be a future upgrade if they work as advertised.

ROCK6

Posted: 2/27/2019 10:00:12 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for the mini review...I recently saw these and was curious. It shaves a couple ounces and smaller size, so it may be a future upgrade if they work as advertised.

ROCK6

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

I just received my new Sawyer Micro Squeeze in the mail today. With the included 32 oz bag, the filter, cleaning adapter, and a 1 liter smartwater bottle, the entire kit weighs 4.3 oz.

I used a paper hole punch to make holes in the bag to hang it via string and clip to put around branches. The smart water bottle screws into the bottom to catch clean water. It takes 10 seconds to set up and filters a liter in a few minutes. Way easier than pumping or squeezing.

I keep a smart water sport cap on the filter so I can squeeze into my mouth also. The pop cap sucks and you have to use your dirty fingers to pop it.

Steri-pens are asking for trouble. Drinking sterilized shit is still drinking shit. A proper filter removes the particulates that could carry and protect nasty bugs.

Thanks for the mini review...I recently saw these and was curious. It shaves a couple ounces and smaller size, so it may be a future upgrade if they work as advertised.

ROCK6

I posted pictures on bcusa. The entire hanging gravity set up takes seconds to deploy. I put a tiny carabiner on one end of the cord so you can put it over a branch in a few seconds.

In my get home kit I have the 32 oz dirty bag, one clean smart water 1 liter bottle, and one dirty SW 1 liter bottle is always available. I drink smart water so I always have several bottles around my rental car and hotel. I can expand capacity as easy as finding an empty 2 liter pop bottle.

Posted: 2/28/2019 1:34:41 AM EDT

[#22]

@batmanacw

Is there much of a flow rate difference in the new micro? The mini seemed to be only half as efficient as the original.

Posted: 2/28/2019 5:04:51 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
@batmanacw

Is there much of a flow rate difference in the new micro? The mini seemed to be only half as efficient as the original.

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I haven't used mine yet. The micro squeeze is supposed to be nearly as good as the squeeze but better than the mini.

Posted: 2/28/2019 8:51:37 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

I haven't used mine yet. The micro squeeze is supposed to be nearly as good as the squeeze but better than the mini.

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@batmanacw, keep us updated. I'll be home in a few weeks and may consider one for a trip. I know some have had bad luck with these hollow-fiber/capillary type filters. They're not infallible and they do require attention. Back-flushing is prudent maintenance during use. Cleaning with a chlorine-based or vinegar solution after lengthy use and before storage is highly recommended; and I also wet and test-run before taking them on a trip. Despite their billion-gallon guarantee, their performance and lifespan depends much on the amount of use, quality of water, and level of maintenance applied.

ROCK6

Posted: 3/1/2019 12:20:58 AM EDT

[#25]

Katadyn may be big, heavy, and slow to pump but it’s the more proven and bombproof option. If I knew I was going to be drinking from from questionable sources and could only pick one it would be the katadyn.

Posted: 3/1/2019 12:48:14 AM EDT

[#26]

Sorry, but nothing beats a good filter. You could get your wife and kid a lifestraw and attach to a 20oz bottle as needed.

It takes a lot of exposure to get Giardia, I got it as well after drinking untreated water for a week in the 80s. I now filter everything and boil a lot, including already filtered water.

My katadyn hiker pro is very fast.

Posted: 3/2/2019 3:36:33 PM EDT

[#27]

People are welcome to use what they wish but no way in hell am I trusting a light bulb to make my drinking water safe.

I got to see a lot of different filters in the scouts. I have been most happy with my Sweetwater Guardian. Although filters are expensive and getting a little harder to find. I'm not sure what changed hands or so on from the business angle.

Might have to switch filters which would be a bummer. This thing makes water taste better than any bottled or tap water I've had. The charcoal, I think.