Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter.

We tried our new Aquamira Frontier Pro Filters this past weekend. We treated water first with tablets, poured it into our Platy hydration packs, then replaced our hydration packs' bite valves with the Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter. So, we were drinking directly from the A.F.P. Filter using the Bite Me valve (as shown on the packaging).

Problem:
Several times, the input side of the AFP Filter would come loose from the hydration pack's hose, resulting in disconnected (and overspilling) water hoses, which is obviously unacceptable. We tried the obvious short-term solution: anchor the Filter to our pack straps and frequently check the connection and be cautious with the tube, but I need something more "permanent."

Does anyone have a solution to this problem of the tube popping off? (I've considered using zip ties to tighten the connection, but it's inelegant and may not work unless I can find a zip tie with a small "buckle.")

The problem makes me think one is better off getting clean water into the hydration pack and using the original bite valve. The A.F.P.F. Bite Me also requires a pretty hard bite, which is surely poor for one's dental health.

Thank you for any ideas on solutions, folks!

– Robert

Robert:

I too connect the Platy bladder to the Platy drinking tube, then to the Frontier, which is attached to my shoulder strap and easily accessible when needed.

Two things to minimize the drinking tube disconnecting from the Frontier intake:

1. If the end of your Platy had been attached to a Platy bottle connector or Platy on-off valve previously, then it's likely stretched out. If that's the case, then you should snip off the stretched out secion. A regular platy drinking tube should fit the Frontier input "fairly" snug.

2. Make sure the drinking tube is sufficiently long — so when you grab the Frontier to take a drink, you are not pulling on the tube.

On my last two trips, the set up works for me 98.587% of the time. :)

I belong to the JMT group on Yahoo. There was an ultralight backpacker on there recently that did the JMT in 12.5 days. He said the Aquamira Frontier was hands down his best purchase (followed by the Gossamer Gear Mariposa and Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1).

I wish I had known about it before I blew $100 on my MSR HyperFlow. I still have to carry Katadyn Micropur tablets as a backup. I have friends that just filter with their bandanna and then use a tablet.

Benjamin, can you please provide a photo of your setup? Also, how much time does it take to filter 1 liter of water in your setup? Thanks!

Roleigh:

Even better than a photo, click here for Jason Klass’ video.

These are pretty good and straight from aquamira….

http://aquamira.com/a_word_about_filter_ratings.pdf

http://aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-treatment-drops/BPL_2_Efficacy-of-Water.pdf

I know this is resurrecting a dead long dead thread, but I had to say thanks to David for posting that info, back in 2008 haha.

I was having issues with my frontier pro system, even though I had followed jason's video pretty sharply. Adding the tubing between the dirty bag and the filter made this system fly through liters of water.

I was honestly shocked. It went from taking hours to filter a liter to minutes. So thanks David!

Adding tubing increases the pressure drop available for filtration, by increasing the height of the water column above the filter.

Technically, it doesnt matter if its above or below the filter. With the caveat that too low of a flowrate with tubing below the filter, will keep the tube from running full of liquid, and will reduce the pressure via that route. When the tubing below the filter is full of liquid, you can think of that liquid as "pulling" just as the liquid column above the filter "pushes".

The flowrate is proportional to the square root of the pressure drop.

In other words, to double the flowrate, you need 4 times the height of water column. To triple it, you need 9 times the height of water column. To increase it tenfold, you need 100 times the height. Etc.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the info in this thread, it has been really useful.

I still have a couple of questions about the unit, if anyone knows the answers I'd be really grateful:

1) How often do you have to replace the prefilter (I guess it depends on water quality, but in your experience…?); are you likely to run out of the ones that come supplied before the microfilter gets clogged?

2) Is the microfilter replaceable, or do you just buy a new unit when it gets clogged?

3) Depending on the answer to 2), how long does the unit or filter last before you need to replace it? I have found other published figures for the Katadyn Hiker cartridges unrealistic – figures like "up to 1100L" compare poorly to the 100L I've managed.

Thanks

I think it is too hard to give a specific response for your lifetime question. It will really depend on the quality of water you filter. I have estimated that I have filtered about 90L of water so far (23 gal) over the past 3 years.

I think the way forward is to monitor flow rates after each trip to see if you are nearing the end of its usable life. I wish I had measured this when it was new but after reading this forum I see I can expect ~ 2.5 min to filter 1 L. My filter right now is a little over 3 min to filter 1 L. So I suspect I got a few trips yet in it.

Once the main filter is clogged it is done, time to replace. At 20-25 bucks this is not too bad considering the replacement costs of other water filters.