DIY Backpacking Ultralight Gravity Fed Water Filter

[dcox01]

I really lie this idea. I'm going to have to make one.

[wawhiker]

@dcox01 Let me know how it works out for you, and again, thank you for watching.

[CDoggsRandoms]

Ironically, I already had the materials for this awesome project. Problem: I've only used my filter on probably just a quart or two (testing the new gear) and after that it went into my first aid/ survival kit for about a year. I tested the flow...err, not so good. I took the filter out, attempted to drink a simple glass of water, about popped a vessel in my head!  Help Me!

[wawhiker]

@CDoggsRandoms Try a back flush. If you've packed it around for a while you may have shaken some of the filtering "substance" loose, or it may be spent beyond its useful life. Let me know how it works out.

[kakasibatosi]

this is pretty cool. Have you considered going with the sawyer gravity water filter? I only mention this because the sawyer line filers go down to .1 micorn, guaranteeing Giardia and other bacteria and viruses are gone. Plus, it's guaranteed for 1 million gallons! It works by osmosis instead of carbon filtration!

[wawhiker]

@kakasibatosi I've seen great reviews on the Sawyer. It will be my permanent replacement for this one since it is only good for up to 10 uses. 1 million gallons and down to .1 microns are pretty stong numbers.  Really appreciate your comment, thanks!

[kookiemoose]

Nice. Great use of stuff you already had laying around. Very cool invention. I've seen every single means of treating water being used when thru hiking. Prolonged use. Though I never treated my water, I always agreed that if I did, it seemed to me that the gravity feed technique was the way to go.

[wawhiker]

@kookiemoose So far it's been the lightest I could think of - but it's only a back up emergency - I'll stay with my Katadyn Hiker Pro for prolonged use, as you say. So you boiled your water on the AT? Again, thanks!

[blackraven1515]

neat idea ^_^

[wawhiker]

@blackraven1515 Kind of you to comment and watch - thanks!

[convert2010]

Very nice... you beat me to the punch. I just came up with this over a period of several months trying out different materials and what not and ended up with the straw in a 2 liter bag. Still weighing in at under 3oz.

Nice job on the project and on the video.

[bushcraftbartons]

Looks like an excellent system Bill...thanks for sharing...

[wawhiker]

@bushcraftbartons Always enjoy sharing - like you have done Mike, on so many great Bushcraft skills - thank you!

[leakymeaky]

gr8. some tablets and ur good to go for sure. awesome!

[wawhiker]

@leakymeaky Yes - you bring up a very good point and I'll add that as a caption - thank you for your comment and watching!

[phr1sk37]

Most excellent! Are the Aquamira Frontier filters available in the Walmart in Bellingham? As I was watching I was thinking of a plug already and well, you are one super smart man!!! Thank you for sharing! Less than 2oz vs 15oz and bulk of my MSR MiniWorks ... I think you just helped me out a lot!!! I do not mind waiting for clean dripping water.

[wawhiker]

@phr1sk37 Always happy to help you out Buddy! I'll look around B-ham for you and let you know.

[dmacken11]

Well done Bill. Another nice filter choice. I was thinking the other day I need to look through your videos to find the other one of these you did. This one is sure light. Wish I had known about these options before I bought my big pump filter. But I was a novice back then.

Good stuff Brother!

[wawhiker]

@dmacken11 Thanks Dave! Haha - I hear you buddy - my gear closet is full of novice choices! Speaking of previous videos and gear, how's that gear room of your's shaping up? No excuses - LOL!

[dmacken11]

@wawhiker Ya know I clean up this damn gear room and then it somehow falls into disarray again. I did fill the closet after my original video and made some semblance of order but everytime I take a hike stuff ends up out on the table again. The table fits in the closet too but never seems to stay there very long.......

[Saijjani]

Awsome!! Thats some inventive way to roll!

[wawhiker]

@Saijjani Thank you for your kind comment and watching. Greetings to you in Finland!

[TheSerpentsEye]

Awesome system. I like this. Anyway you could link to the Amazon pages for these parts? I'd hate to buy the wrong parts. Thanks for the video.

[wawhiker]

@TheSerpentsEye Good suggestion - thanks for your comment! Under Amazon search - Frontier Emergency Water Filter System and CamelBak HydroLink Filter Adapter.

[dragonflyhiker]

great video, thanks for sharing the knowledge

[wawhiker]

@dragonflyhiker You are most welcome - thank you!

[CampfireTalk]

I like it

[wawhiker]

@CampfireTalk Thanks my friend - much appreciated!

[Ggreenvideos]

That is soooooooo cooooool Mr. DIY :o) Great work my friend. It's faved! Where did you get the filter? I love this ultralite gravity idea. Superb job :o)

[wawhiker]

@Ggreenvideos Mr. DIY?! - too funny! A Ggreenvideos Fav - you're too kind Buddy! I'll bet I could find a pair of these filters for you... : )

[Ggreenvideos]

@wawhiker I bet you could :o)

[BrokenAeroVT]

Great vid. Any thoughts for a sediment prefilter?

Some helpful info for your description caption:

Retails for about $11. Filters "up to 20 gal". Charcoal element filters down to 2 microns. Removes 99.9% Giardia, Crypto and bacteria. Weight 1 oz.

[wawhiker]

@BrokenAeroVT I'm thinking maybe a bandana - would that work? Thanks Tim - I added your suggestions in the description, and added others in the vid as captions.

[BrokenAeroVT]

@wawhiker Anything helps keep some of it out of the main filter. You can get nylon mesh that they use in prefilters from companies like this:

componentsupplycompanyDOTcom/p­roduct_pages/Nylon-screening-m­eshDOThtml?gclid=CKLA5vvrlKoCF­cWA5QodRXJ8xA

I think the finest silt is around 15 microns and rust is around 50-75 microns.

The Katadyn Pro uses a simple sponge element in the business end.

[osscouter]

Wow. Another great use of relatively inexpensive components to make a great piece of gear. Where did you get the adapter valve and the Camelback on/off valve?

[wawhiker]

@osscouter Thanks for your comment! I got the adapter valve and on/off from REI - it's CamelBak's

HydroLink Filter Adapter kit. Also available online thru Amazon.

[ridebks]

Great gear mod. Always thinking!!!

[wawhiker]

@ridebks Thanks! Comes from spending too much time sitting in front of my gear closet - haha!

[nuckkingfuts]

Wicked !! Just another DIY project for the upcoming winter thanks for the show and tell great video and great idea kinda like Jason glass but I think a bit better

[wawhiker]

@nuckkingfuts Finally got around to making it. Yes, Jason's idea I like too. Looking forward to seeing your DIYs... Thanks!

[Cragdwella]

Real nice ! thats about as light as one could expect. Happy trails.

[wawhiker]

@Cragdwella Happy trails to you buddy - thanks for your nice comment!

[Waldhandwerk]

Great equipment and Review, thanks for showing and sharing, my friend. Have a good Day, Sepp

[wawhiker]

@Waldhandwerk Always very much appreciated Sepp - you enjoy your day too my friend!

[steintanz]

That's a very smart filter system .. and really UL.

[wawhiker]

@steintanz Thank you Tim for your kind comment!

[morgandewolfe]

Check out the video by Jason Klass, "Ultralight Gravity Pro Water Filter " published Sept. 3 2008. very similar using the Fronter Pro version. I really like your connector though. Very sweet system, thanks for sharing. :)

[wawhiker]

@morgandewolfe Thanks - I just watched Jason's vid on your recommendation. Very ingenious of Jason. I really like his use of the Frontier Pro system - it already fits a Platy bottle, and filters more water. Really appreciate your comment and watching, again, thank you!

[morgandewolfe]

@wawhiker I never miss one of your videos. You've given me way too many new ideas and man I love your hiking vids. Thank you for sharing each one!

[medicjimr]

Looks like a great filter for a day pack , now how many microns is that filter Bill and is it good for about 25 gallons.

[Ebiczebulanious]

@medicjimr The Frontier will filter 20 Gal. It's a carbon filter not ceramic or fiber so not great with fine sediment under 20 Microns but it should kill enough pathogens for safe drinking water.

[KIFQHESE]

@Ebiczebulanious It doesn't kill too many "pathogens", it only filters out 99,9% of *biggest* nasty stuff, so from millions of cryptosporidium and giardia sitting there, there will be still thousands in your guts. It's also leaving water with all it's bacteria and viruses. I'd rather boil the water afterwards. And use PET bottles, so reduce waste even when adding some more work, rather than ruin such a cute water bladder.

[Ebiczebulanious]

@KIFQHESE 99.9% is good enough for me but I guess it does depend on how you rank in the gene poll.

[wawhiker]

@Ebiczebulanious I would boil or use tablets after filtering - my luck would place me in the 1% group - haha - thanks!

[wawhiker]

@KIFQHESE Yes - thanks for this further explaination. This is an emergency water filter only. I'll caption the vid. to advise using purification tablets and/or boiling before use. Again - thank you for your comment!

[medicjimr]

@Ebiczebulanious Thanks was curious.

[wawhiker]

@Ebiczebulanious Yup - what Jim says. There is a complete set of instructions that comes with the filter. Very good points raised here. I will add a few captions to the video - thanks Jims!

[Ebiczebulanious]

@wawhiker If the water is very polluted I would add a few drops of tincture of Iodine to the water before filtering. Let it stand for 20 Min before filtering. The filter will get rid of the Iodine taste.

[wawhiker]

@Ebiczebulanious Thanks! I've used tablets before, but not the iodine - never hurts to have some around...

[wawhiker]

@medicjimr They say 20 gallons and "Although the Frontier Filter does reduce bacteria and virus, it is not certified to remove >99.9999% of bacteria and >99.99% of virus required by the US EPA water purifier standard". They advise purification tablets.  Thanks buddy!

[medicjimr]

@wawhiker Gotcha Bill thanks my friend

[MrJoeyBoombotz]

Very good idea. I loved the video but I can't seem to make it through till the very end because I keep needing to run to the bathroom. I'm sure it worked well, though!

[wawhiker]

@MrJoeyBoombotz Too funny - good to know you keep yourself well-hydrated. Thanks for commenting and giving me a loud laugh!

[intenseangler]

This is brilliant buddy!! By far the best option I've seen for a filter that will fit with my new UL system... gotta get one of these! Trade for a nice backpack? hehe

[wawhiker]

@intenseangler So you like eh?! : )

[12ax7mod]

ingenious!!..... tnx for sharing...

[wawhiker]

@12ax7mod Thanks for the comment - and watching!

[TomsBackwoods]

Great Job buddy!!! looks awesome!!!

[wawhiker]

@TomsBackwoods ...and you keeping taking those awesome hikes and vids my friend!

[MsSpy]

Brilliant!

[wawhiker]

@MsSpy Thank you for commenting - appreciate you watching!

[LoveRise]

Great Demo...keep em coming!

[wawhiker]

@LoveRise Thank you Laurie - I'll do my best!

[rainbowhiker]

Now that --is slick. Thanks for the heads up.

[wawhiker]

@rainbowhiker John you are most welcome - thanks!