Ultralight Gravity Pro Water Filter

[thegreatestchallenge]

there's no system lighter than steripen, which allows instant purification thus removing the need to carry extra water which needs time to be purified by the tablets. Plus you can drink as much as you want at the water source without needing to wait for 1/2 hour.

[lafemmejoli1]

Have you used the SteriPEN or another brand of UV purifier and if so, what are your pro/con opinions? I am thinking about adding one to my pack in an effort to cut down on weight but I am still on the fence about their usefulness. Your videos are very helpful! Its nice to see gear vids that don't sound like a product advertisement or an attempt to show. Keep up the good work!

[econnofoot]

I read somewhere that the Aquamira leaks on the caps of the platy bottles, not sure if he was talking about the newer drinking bottles or not though. Any leakage?

[leatherboyz4life]

Jason, This system is absolutely genius!! Thank you for sharing. The one I made works beautifully! Very light weight and easy to use. For your followers having trouble finding the Frontier filter and bladders,.. I found the filter at Campmor.com for $20.00 and the bladders at Walmart for $10.00 each. I also made your Tin Can wood stove. I tweaked it a bit to better serve my needs, I fashioned it with small aluminium tent spikes that that I can place small pots on. Happy trails and Thanks!

[Dedzig]

nice sitar.

[TheTonyjara]

I went to R.E.I....,wal-mart,dicks sporting goods,Ax-surplus, Miltary surplus and could not find what i needed and rei wanted me to spend over 90 bucks for 3 bags......i 'll probably find it when i'm not looking...can you offer some suggestions?.........online/ which site?...cost?

[jasonklass]

@TheTonyjara

You couldn't find Platypus bags at REI? Order the Fronteir pro filer online. It will be cheaper. Try eBay too.

[lucasmorter]

so whats up with that sitar thing in the background? do you actually play it, i would like to see a video of that

[kbrowne10]

Jason, why do you use the tablets. Don't you think that will shorten the life of the carbon? Do the tablets add taste to the water? Acording to Aquamira, you should be able to drink directly from the stream with the Frontier Pro.

[jeepcachr]

The katadyn basecamp holds 2.6 gallons of water. It's excellent for a large group. I easily filtered water for 15 people on a 4 day trip. It also filters much smaller particles so the tablets are not necessary in most places. 13 oz is right. I recently replaced the filter bag on mine with a smaller lighter one and shaved 5oz. It holds about a gallon now. Still heavier than your setup but worth the weight to me. I have never hiked alone so the added capacity is nice.

[az49buick]

Jason, many thanks for this excellent idea. I just made one of these and it works great (here at home). I'll be testing it in a few weeks but I'm sure it will work just fine. I'm in the Southwest and a lot of water in the backcountry is cloudy or outright muddy. I settle several liters overnight in an ultralight "bucket". In the morning all the debris has settled and I have clear water to filter. I'll use Aquamira drops in the dirty bag followed by filtering thru the gravity pro. Cheers!

[rmojo23]

Not XXX, Mr. Yuk stickers!

[jimbum6]

Good job light and compact perfect.

[rizzno1]

just curious i used the amigo pro on the pct and it worked great a little heavy still in opinion , but still using it and loving but want to try your set up but before i switch , was wondering the flow rate,, liters per min,, 4 urs, i get around a liter per 3.5 min with the amigo,

[MikeSkiera]

seemed like a great idea and then i saw the part about th tablets

[perritohiker]

Jason,

I've been using this method for over a year now and have a question. In order to get the water filtered quicker, I squeeze or sit on the dirty bag. At some point I have to let air out of the clean bag to ease the back pressure. This has worked well for me it seems. Do you see anything wrong with this?

[RobutMike]

Hi Jason,

I recently ordered all the parts for this, and the drinking tube from Platypus is just barely too small to fit/seal snugly into the aquamira filter. Can you recommend a specific brand of drinking tube that fits snugly? Or is there some trick to getting the platypus drinking tube to fit?

Thanks very much for the videos, quite informative!

[jasonklass]

@RobutMike

By "snug" do you mean it's not really tight but will still fit in or that it won't even stay in? Mine isn't tight per se but it stays in fine and doesn't leak. Does yours leak?

[Phree0ne]

@jasonklass Jason, I've had the same problem. I believe what Robutmike is saying is that the platypus tube is too small to fit tightly into the filter. It wont form a seal at all - please advise on any suggestions you might have.

[TheTonyjara]

@jasonklass

Hi.. jason i'm going to begin my backpacking adventures this spring as soon as the snow breaks here in minnesota. and was wondering in order to replcate the exact system that your usuing how much should i realisticly spend to make it reality? And are you critical of what water you put in your "dirty" bag? i got the feeling that this system keeps thing simple.....how is the taste(with various water sorces)?can i improve the quality by adding another step by boiling it?

[WorldClimb]

@TheTonyjara Tony if you're going to boil it you only need to remove the debris with a bandanna. Problem is boiling is slow and uses fuel that you need to backpack so you either carry enough fuel to boil 10 liters or a system like this which is expandable with more tablets. It's a much more efficient system and your drinking water isn't hot, which is unpleasant on a hot hiking day. If you're boiling to cook you don't need to purify the water. Add a drop per quart od lemon juice to improve flavor

[monkybit]

@RobutMike I learned a trick from an auto parts store clerk. she told me to leave the tubing in the sun on my dash for a few hrs. it expands and flexes easily then shrinks tight when it cools. basically just heat it up but not with a flame..

[Tancrad]

wow. that is a smart idea.

i like to use wide mouth bottles and hydration packs. i dont know if it would work out for me ill check some prices.

[FixedByDoc]

Hey Jason have you seen the Katadyn Base Camp Gravity Water Filter system yet? I just got it. It uses the same filter as the Katadyn Hiker Pro pump style filter. So I can use it as a pump while on the trail then at camp attach the filter to the bag and use it as a gravity filter. It is super light as well. It uses a dry sack plus a small plastic adapter for the filter everything else is already carried with the pump. Thought you might like it. 5/5 Yours is nice too.

[jasonklass]

@FixedByDoc

Looks nice but I don't consider 13 oz. light for this type of filter.  Is that weight correct?

[FixedByDoc]

Im not sure but sounds about right. However you get a pump for while on the trail (quick and easy) and a gravity bag that you swap the filter and hose over to while at camp. They use all the same parts so you only carry what you are using and no duplicate. Plus if the gravity bag gets messed up or the pump device breaks you still have a back up as long as the filter works. you dont necessarily need the hose in an emergency its just convient. Doesnt pack as small as yours though. :)

[jasonklass]

@FixedByDoc

Ah, I see. So it's like having 2 filters in one. I don;t see why you wouldn't just use a gravity filter on the trail too. It only takes a couple of minutes and you can easily refill while you take a short break.

[FixedByDoc]

@jasonklass A lot of the places I go you only get trickles of water or small puddles which is hard to collect for gravity filters. But when at camp you can set a pot to collect the water and then come back later to fill your gravity bag from the pot. So pump is good for on the go and bag for when you have time to set up camp and hang around.

[LaneMaddox00]

ok now i see ! thanks jason

[AI4QT]

enjoyed the video. very informative. 73 from AI4QT - Huntsville AL

[jimbob3514]

Should always use lead pipes on drinking water systems and the older the better, you should also add 1 litre of zinc oxide solution per 10 litres of drinking water. I have been doing it this way for about 8 hours now and mygod do i feel ill i have been sick 4 times and have lost 9Kg in weight any ideas why?

[pilgrimandastranger]

Tried it. Ran into two unforeseen challenges.

1. My Platypus hose doesn't fit the "out" end of the FP. The O.D. of the hose is too large to squeeze into the inner fitting. Maybe the hardware store has hose that'll fit.

2. The dirty water container needs a vent to allow water to flow, like the little cap you loosen on a gas can.

Thoughts?

[pilgrimandastranger]

Follow-up:

1. My F.P. "out" end is a different color than Mr. Klass'. Maybe later productions changed the "out" fitting size? I found some (expensive) leftover silicone tubing at work that squeezed into the "out" fitting o.k.

2. My 2nd problem was due to using a coke bottle as a "dirty" container, and not a flexible hydration reservoir. Obvious, yet elusive.

Going forward, I plan to use just the F.P. and a coke bottle for solo trips.

Thanks for the DIY project, Mr. Klass. Happy Trails.

[mormanman13]

the mircopur will purify the water if is from a stream/river aka moving water in 30 min but if in a lake/puddle (yes i said puddle) aka standing water takes 4 hrs.

I like the idea but it works best with the standing water.

[evilevilrick]

I like the Katadyn ceramic/silver gravity filter. Use the same way, but I have heard that a carbon filter, once used, has a limited life, all the bad things that get filtered out will grow in the carbon, so you have to replace it. The ceramic/silver can be used this year, stored, and used next year without that problem, and will filter a couple thousand gallons. At a cost of only about double the carbon filter, I'll take the Katadyn.

[evilevilrick]

I like the Katadyn gravity filter. With it and a couple 1 gal ziplock bags = same thing with one plus, the Katadyn is a silver/ceramic filter. That means unlike a carbon filter, it can be used, stored and used later without problems. A charcoal filter, once used, has a limited life, those bad things that get filtered out will grow in the carbon, making it unusable. The silver/ceramic filter doesn't, and the Katadyn will filter several hundreds of gallons before needing replacement.

[astrialkil]

U need a bag to protect the water bladder. A cinch sack would hold this stuff and weigh almost nothing and it comes with the cord and cord lock

[bd36576]

Love it.  Thanks for posting, Jason.

[mnhvide]

Go Jason Go jason Go Jason! You`r rock hard!!!

[avonturiersanne]

great system

but is it olso good without the tablets

[stanman1992]

totaly beats the pumps some of the guys brought to mount robson this year my frend had a good one that pumped fairly fast the rest had realy realy hard pumps that cloged by the end of the trip thats SOOO cool

[AndrewXAnarchy]

I don't know. I'm thinking of a Katadyn Hiker Pro, SteriPen, Nalgene Oasis x2 and a 2L Platypus Bag

Filter into the Oasis, down to 2 microns, destroy viruses with the SteriPen and move those to a Platypus bag.

That's a Gallon of water. I'm not really crazy over UL. But then again, I haven't gone backpacking.

[BrokenAeroVT]

This Platypus has been rated XXX by the Motion Picture Association of America for dirty content, lol.

[jasonklass]

Ha ha, good one!

[cdrron]

Hey Jason, this was such a cool idea that it, and a couple of other videos I have seen on you tube gave me the idea to make a carbon filter out of a small bottle. You would need to go the full four hours on the purification to kill the protozoans.

[webxsuccess]

WOW, great idea Jason! I was going to spend $80 on a pump filter but this is a much better idea. Cheaper and lighter. Thanks!

[AUGRE12345]

I would put a Mr. Yuck sticker on my Dirty bag!!!

[lucasmorter]

@AUGRE12345 ha ha ha i remember those being on everything when i was younger

[shad0h027]

Thanks Jason. I picked one of these up off Ebay, and a couple Platy bags at the EMS store (EMS actually had the filter for sale too). Appreciate your taking the time to share this with us!

[cybertiberium]

hehe...dirtybag...hehe..it kinda flops around a lot......besides that i like your vid. great tips on backpacking light. other vids are awesome too.

[SURVIVALIST101]

I found the filter online. I ordered it yesterday. I'll let you know how it works for me! Thanks again for the idea!!! You've got some really good video's!

[SURVIVALIST101]

where did you pick up the filter? Buy the way.. awsome idea!! I look forward to sharing idea's with you.

[cdrron]

Great idea! Does this filter require back flushing or any other mainenance?

[GOPSsSTOP]

Great video! Tnx you helped very much now i am sure i will win in filtration challenge ! Continue like that great !

[LorenzoTheMedici]

can u use it to recycle urine if your out somewhere far away from water?

[jasonklass]

Uhhh, I don't want to find out!

[BowlingFreak218]

no you cant. the thought of it ....uhh

[littleohah]

you been watching water world lol i think there is but it take a couple of days ii think

[coburn2]

thanks for your knowledge, jason!

[tmunts]

00000000000

[blively79]

Great video. So creative! I was wondering though why you use Micropur MP 1 tablets and not iodine? Is it the taste difference? Or is there another reason?

[jasonklass]

Thanks!  Well, I just use them becasue they have good word of mouth. The filter seems to remove any taste. Some people actually use drops of bleach because it's so much cheaper but mentally, I can't get used to the idea of drinking bleach (even though according to all reports, it seems to be safe).

[ihoppy]

Jason, would this setup be comparable to a pump filtration system? I was looking at filtration systems to get but have stumbled upon this. Obviously this system will save me a bit of weight on the pack and add some weight in the wallet. One thing though, it seems like cross contamination will occur easily when filling up the platypus.

[jasonklass]

Well, it won't save you a bit of weight, it will save you a LOT of weight. Cross contamination isn't a threat if you use it the way I outline. I wouldn't compare it to a pump filter though because those are instant whereas you have to wait for the chemicals to work for this one--two different animals. But, everything has it's specific application, right?

[seahorseoysterfish]

Looks like a really good system. Re cross-contamination: is there a way to avoid handling the "clean" end right after you've been filling the dirty bag? If you had all the "clean" tube connections made before you fill the dirty bag, could your last step be the attachment of the tube to the dirty bag?

[bluebirdeater]

Jason, This is a great idea. I personally have a peev about the idea of using any filter/purifier without boiling or chemical treatment. Your mention of the MSR makes me cringe. None should ever be trusted for drinking water. They are only meant for making money. I like your system. Simple is usually best and price here does not equate to safety.

[killuminati63]

cant you just boil everything out... ?

[killuminati63]

wouldent it make more sense to have the pills in powder form already in a container then just measure it out? i dunno just a thougtt

[learningcenter4u]

Jason, I looked at the aquamira site and was wondering if there was a particular reason you use the tablets. According to the site, the filter should handle anything the water throws at you. Would you please explain.

Great vid thanx

[jasonklass]

Well, that's not exactly true. The micron size of the filter is too big to kiil everything--it only takes out larger bugs. To kill smaller ones, you really should use the chemical as well. I didn' like the idea at first but it proved to not really be that much of a hassle. Remember, I ONLY use this system when every ounce counts--it's not my filter of choice for easy overnighters, etc. Then, I just take my MSR filter.

[12GaugeMonster]

Those are all cheap materials you used, worth about 2 dollars per system. Bags?? They rip, your dead. Looks fragile, corny, and a cheap way to make money. No replacement for the filters like Hepa filters for air?? Nasty, thing looks good for a one time use, which still seems not useful. Again, BAGS! That is chep. Video setting says it all. And please dont delete my comment, an opinion is an opinion. Keep my comment and i swear i'll order your item and do a review, but i want my money back after.

[jasonklass]

First of all, I won't delete you comments because I'm confident in this system since I've actually USED it--which I'm confident you have not. Your comments are without any empirical evidence. First of all, I've used this filter on all kinds of trips from the deserts of Canyonlands National Park, to a week on Mt. Whitney without any problems.

[jasonklass]

Second of all, where did you get the idea that I'm selling these things? The purpose of the video is to show people how to make their own--I don't sell them. Before you condemn something so brazenly, you should at least try it. If you did, I think you'd find that your comments aren't valid.

[888zzz]

Steripen will soon rule the world.

[jasonklass]

NEVER! ;)

[mfd427]

Jason I just finished my own "Ultralight Gravity Pro" and I am very pleased with the result. I have found all of your videos informative and helpful, Thanks for all the great information and keep up the good work.

[5173elis]

Jason, how are you hanging the dirty bag with the cord? My 2 liter platypus doesn't seem to have grommets or loops to use for hanging.

[jasonklass]

I just used a hole punch to make 2 holes in the corner of the bag and tied some Kelty Triptease to them. Only do it on one side ofe the bag. If you do it through both sides, the bag will collapse and not hang properly.

[sharaldson]

Thank you for another fine, informative video, Jason.

[xsplosive1975]

LOL beavers347

Great video J.K. 5 stars for sure this is survival tactics at it best.

[Guaditapaga]

Awesome video! Wanna go camping together handsome? ;)

[OutdoorChef]

gravity filters are an absolute godsend, ive been on group backpacking trips with upwards of 15 people and then 9 people at the boundry waters, and all we needed to do was look up the waterfilter before bed and then when you woke up, you had 2 gallons of water. this set up would be perfect for a single person trip!!!

[Josiah531]

Now this is a Jason Klass Classic. 5 stars. Very innovative.

[redsnowsoldier]

a millbank bag may help

[ArmyRanger10]

Cool system. Cheep and effective. Only downside is waiting for the water to filter out. That would be perfect for basecamp.

[jasonklass]

It only takes a few minutes. The half hour for the tablets to work is the part that sucks but it's not that bad if you carry a larger (like 3 liter) bladder.

[ArmyRanger10]

A 3 liter bladder is a bit heavy to carry especially when I go mountain climbing. But I might be able to rig something up like that using my Msr Miniworks instead of a aquamira.

[mrbrendons]

very cool

[guns4toys]

Good idea!

[Beavers347]

that looks simple and easy. i should make one myself. instead of drawing X's on the dirty bag, put a sticker of Amy Winehouse xD

[jasonklass]

Ha, ha. That one had me ROFL!