The Best Ways to Filter & Carry Water on Backpack Hunts - The Experience Project [EXP009]

[@MrGT3]

One tip that I use to overcome the filters clogging. I run 2 squeeze bags, one large 3-5L hydrapak or vecto, and one smaller 0.8L katadyn bottle. I fill the small one and then cover the top with a small piece of a zpacks towel and a rubber band. Then I pour that into the other bag, which I filter into my nalgene or smartwater bottle. It also provides a very lightweight backup in case something happens to my hydrapak.

[@steveclark8731]

Great tip. I'd just, maybe, say "scrunchie" instead of rubber band. Rubber bands work, right up to the time you need them to work.

[@ABQfitness]

Man this series has been amazing!

[@aaronblum219]

First, I want to say how much I appreciate these videos. I found a couple days ago and can’t stop watching. Liked the boot episode. So thank you. Hoping to be a successful elk hunter soon. I run the sawyer/bladder and agree with clogging. Get a new one every year. I’ve had issues with elevation sickness and for me a bladder and continually consuming water while hiking is really important. Just don’t consume enough with bottle. Platypus bladder has held strong and no issues with leaking to date (cross finger). Thanks again

[@ExoMtnGear]

Agreed. You do have to be diligent about drinking more frequently when using a bottle over a bladder. The bladder just lends itself to "quick sips" on a more regular basis. We've also had really great performance and longevity with Platypus bladders and bottles.

[@MrJohnsonbj]

Really appreciate the work put into these videos. And, love the rebranding and new intro and music!

[@ez7977]

I've been using the Katadyn Befree for 4 years now, literally each year other people's systems that I am hunting or camping with break down and they end up using my Katadyn Befree. I bought a back-up one, but have not needed it yet. Still using the original one I bought in 2019 or 2020.. I also tossed all my other water systems, except emergency tablets.

[@snowplow7883]

While it slows down the dirty water fill rate of the bag, a small kitchen foam and/or bandanna as a large particulate filter extends the life of water filter. The other trick is have used is to fill a separate container and allow the particulate to settle out, and then pour off the clearer water into the filter…

[@idahofishandhunt]

Outstanding! Thanks Steve for the video!

[@brockcarroll7932]

Great videos and podcasts! What do you guys use for back up filtration if a filter goes out? Bring tablets just in case or vigilance on clean water/not letting a filter freeze is sufficient?

[@nickblaylock5115]

Fantastic work

[@nhshealy]

The micro and mini sawyers do clog fast and are difficult to clean in the field. But the standard one has been reliable for several years. And sawyer seems like a great company if you look into them. Trying the katadyn this year out of curiosity. Great video.

[@ez7977]

I've been using the Katadyn Befree for 4 years now, literally each year other people's systems that I am hunting or camping with break down and they end up using my Katadyn Befree. Last year on an archery Elk Hunt some plastic ring my friends Sawyer mini broke, he had to use my Katadyn for a week.. before your trip, soak the Katadyn in water, if the filter is dry or has not been cleaned, it takes a couple hours for the hollow tubes to soak and let water flow.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

Awesome

[@carolinenagy5009]

How's it going love the content just wondering if you guys will come out with a cell phone carrying case that attaches to the K4 pack or maybe also to your bino harness tks

[@ExoMtnGear]

We have tested some prototype cases but don't have a design we're ready to release. There are obviously quite a few out there that are MOLLE compatible and could work well on the K4 pack's laser-cut MOLLE.

[@carolinenagy5009]

@@ExoMtnGear Thank you for your feed back and some suggestions much appreciated

[@leewohlgemuth4652]

Great systems.... however I still think a pump is a very viable option, its just so much more versatile. I have been in quite a few situations where those container openings are just not going to get the water flow, meaning the water is not deep enough to dunk the opening. A pump with a hose allows access to literally the smallest puddle of water or a dribbling flow of water off of a rock from a spring. I've come across springs that are just seeping from the ground creating a marshy grassy wet area that no container is going to get water, other than a pump. And if concerned about sucking up debris, I bring coffee filters with me to wrap around the inlet hose which keeps all the yucky nasties, decaying brush, algae, mud, sand, and silt from entering your filter.

[@ExoMtnGear]

I had that same concern when first starting to use these types of filters but in actual field use over the last 10+ years it has never been an issue.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

Cut the top off a plastic water bottle. You now have a cup that weighs just grams, and can be used to scoop water from puddles. 👍

[@johntibaldi9496]

How about the Grayl?

[@ExoMtnGear]

They are heavy, relatively expensive, and inefficient when filtering more than a single serving of water.

[@mxracer317]

@@ExoMtnGeari have one and it saved my bacon when we ran out of water from a bladder issue. I had no problems filtering it out of a stream with my Grayl. Sorry, going to have to disagree here.

[@Thee.flyingg.pigg24]

It’s great. You can just pour whatever you filter into your water bottle or bladder, so idk what he means by “single serving of water”. It’s also a purifier, not a filter. It will filter out viruses as well, which the others do not. It is much easier to use body weight to press the water through the filter, than squeezing or using gravity. Also, if you buy the titanium one, it can double as a pot to boil water and cook. Only thing he got right is, they are expensive.

[@joshuafowler8994]

Do these filter everything or do you still add drops or UV disinfect?

[@ExoMtnGear]

We do not use UV or drops in addition to filtering. These hollow fiber filters remove bacteria, cysts and sediment, but not viruses. Virus contamination is generally from human waste, which would be exceptionally rare for flowing wilderness water sources.

[@ulbushcrafting6592]

Some do. My Muv by Renovo. Animals clean and defecate in bodies of water. I’ve been on the top of a glacier and witnessed birds cleaning themselves in “pristine” glacier water. We found a dead moose in our towns water supply ( lake on top of our mountain here in Alaska ). For viruses , you need a NANO filter. 0.001 filtration. But some viruses are 0.0004 in size. At that size, you need to boil, use drops, UV, distill, or reverse osmosis. Muv claims : ( Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Poliovirus, Meningitis, etc) , can be removed. 👍🤘🏽

[@CodyOutback]

Any experience with the platypus filter?

[@ExoMtnGear]

Yes, we have used it a fair amount. It is just OK. Definitely not as good as the other options we talked about. (Slower, proprietary connection, etc)

[@Intermtn9736]

This is great stuff, but disagree on the sawyer micro being junk, all 5+ I’ve used will gravity filter (no pressure) 2-3 liters of water during a quick snack break for me all season long. Key is just hanging dirty bag a few feet off ground with tiny section of paracord. Now that 2-3L CNOC bags etc have befree threads, need to give befree another shot, so not saying sawyer micro is better just not complete write off you made it sound like. Also, forgot to mention backup chemical tabs weigh almost nothing and are good insurance on longer trips. Thanks crew!

[@ExoMtnGear]

The Saywer filters all start out filtering fine, but the Micro and Mini slow down (or clog) significantly quicker in our experience. Sawyer is still a legit option to consider (especially if running in a quick-disconnect), but we would suggest the standard filter over the macro/mini sizes. Or just go with the smaller sizes and understand their limitations and shorter life.

[@coltonbaker4694]

Yall intro reminds me of soap operas my mom used to watch. On another note, you failed to show your viewers the most effective and safest way to manage water. Filters are archaic, outdated systems. Steripen is the way to go. Lightweight and sterilizes your water, not just a filter that isn’t effective against everything. Steripen with backup drops or tabs, leave the bulky filters at home. They fail more often than not.

[@ExoMtnGear]

We'd agree that pump-style filters are mostly outdated (though there are some situations where they are a good choice). But compared to the filters shown in this video, a Steripen is slower, heavier, uses electronics that can fail/die, does not filter out any particulate, and are limited (as the manufacturer states) to "clear water, as cloudy, sediment-laden water hinders effectiveness." One advantage they do have over hollow-fiber filters is that they treat against viruses in the water, but that isn't a serious concern for backcountry water sources. For what we need, they are not the best choice. But glad you have a system you enjoy while you're out there.

[@nhshealy]

Glad you answered that. My first steripen quit working on its first trip in a bad spot. Had to switch to backup tablets. They sent a new one but I’m afraid to take it… Also, I like the intro.

[@user-no2ei6dp2q]

My filter works fine!

[@Freezer003]

I had a steripen. It failed me too many times, couldn't trust it.