In-line Carbon Filters for Hydration Systems

Greg,

I use a carbon filter for the same reason you do, taste improvement. But I've done it a little differently.

I use a Nalgene soft-sided canteen (1L) with a GSI coffee filter screwed into the top. I make a small bag using noseeum netting and put 1 oz of charcoal in it. Bulk charcoal can be bought at aquarium stores.

Here's a link to the filter description …

http://www.rei.com/product/750397?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-na&mr:trackingCode=D92554CD-82F4-DD11-96D7-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

CamelBak also makes an inline filter. It weighs in around 4oz. I've noticed that there are two versions floating around the older one is made by MSR and the new one pictured is not marked. They both seem to be compatible with the Camelbak hydrolink system that allows for a quick disconnect but the older MSR seems to be smaller and connects better.

Thanks for the info guys.

The CamelBak looks to be a bit more filter than I need.

Here are the prices (MSRP):

Katadyn Carbon Cartridge: $15
AM Frontier Pro: $25
Seychelle Inline: $25
Triton Mc: $40
CamelBak: $78

PrisMedical has an impressive water treatment bio — see http://www.prismedical.com/about.html :

"Since its incorporation in 1996, PMC has been awarded several Department of Defense research grants through the Office of Naval Research. PMC's MainStream®, a prescription only FDA-cleared water purification device, was the first device of its kind to produce medical grade water for use on the battlefield as well as for other public safety needs.

Recognizing the need to supply safe water during emergencies and natural disasters, PMC leveraged the MainStream technology platform and in 2006 introduced the TRITON® EP Personal Water Purification Unit. In early 2007, PMC conducted primary market research, the American Safety & Preparedness Study, which validated the enormous US market need for a multi-purpose mobile water purification system. PMC leveraged its expertise and market research to develop and launch the TRITON M, a new family of modular mobile water purification systems targeted at emergency preparedness, outdoor recreation, international travel and military/tactical/firefighter/first responder applications.

The TRITON M’s unique modular configuration allows users to “dial in” the level of water filtration or purification they require depending on the conditions they encounter. TRITON M1, M2 and M3 modules address all categories of waterborne contaminants to produce safe water beginning with virtually any contaminated fresh water. TRITON’s low cost, compact, lightweight and versatile system requires no power, pumping or batteries to produce up to 500 liters (130 gallons) of great tasting purified water. The TRITON M has met the EPA requirements for microbiological water purifiers. In independent lab testing, the TRITON M has passed the rigorous NSF P248 Protocol for Emergency Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers, which was prepared by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine."

That's sweet, I did not know Camelbak made an inline filter for their hydrolink system. Where to get? How much? Do you have to suck really hard to get the water(which I've heard about in reviews for the AquaMira Frontier Pro on http://www.prolitegear.com)?

I own a CamelBak Viper w/101 fl. oz. Omega bladder(which uses the hydrolink system , and if I could get my hands on that thing…..ohohohohooooooooo……

goodnight all

See http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/HYDROLINK-IN-LINE-MICROFILTER-P824C0.aspx?UserID=9530047&SessionID=RjnJIdyMi33N{J3EEZde — About $77

The Katadyn carbon cartridge isn't heavy, but it is a bit on the bulky side.

Seychelle — I really liked the quality of the water coming out — both clarity and taste. I spliced it into my hydration system as follows: Platypus –> short length of tubing –> Seychelle –> major length of tubing –> Platypus bite valve. The short length of tubing between bladder and filter is to allow for a "U" — to avoid kinking the Platy hydration tube.

I now use the AM Frontier Pro as follows: Platypus bladder –> hydration tubing –> filter. The filter is now at the end rather than spliced in between. I added two velcro strips to my backpack's shoulder strap to keep the filter close at hand — to make for easy reaching. The filter's bite valve works pretty well. Water quality is good.

When at camp, I detach both the Platypus bladder and the filter — and simply screw the filter directly onto the bladder opening.

The Frontier Pro can be spliced in the middle of your hydration system and serve as an in-line filter. Simply pull out (slowly and carefully) the bite valve to expose the output nipple.

The Frontier Pro also works very well as a gravity filter — although I don't usually use it in that mode.

One caveat for the Frontier Pro: connecting the Platypus hydration tube to the filter's intake nipple works fairly well — but I wish it could be tighter (or more snug). The tube has disconnected (fallen off) a few times — not a lot — and nothing that a bit of care couldn't minimize. More of an annoyance than a show stopper.

All in all, I prefer the Frontier Pro over the Seychelle for its slim, compact and light weight design — and also for its versatility.

Finally — how will you be treating your water prior to drinking through one of the above filters?

Greg,

I have used the Katadyn Carbon Cartridge with my Sawyer inline filter.

Ben was nice enough to mail this to me for free last year…thank you Ben!

I have used it once in the field and it is bulky, but it does work and it will fit tightly with the Platypus tubing on the Hoser Hydration system.

I have noticed at some carbon granules will escape from the cartridge, but better than drinking nasty water.

Thanks for posting up the other alternatives….interesting to see what else there is out there.

-Tony

"One caveat for the Frontier Pro: connecting the Platypus hydration tube to the filter's intake nipple works fairly well — but I wish it could be tighter (or more snug)."

Several wraps of Teflon plumbers tape around the filter barb will make it as snug as you like.

Thanks, Greg!

And yes, barbs sound better than nipples. :)

In a previous life, I was a car guy… What about the $2 fuel filter casings from the auto parts stores? Remove the included paper filter, add your own carbon and voila. I'll go get one today and try to figure out what material they are made out of. Conveniently I have a bit of carbon to try it out.

Cheers, Matt

Thanks everyone for the much-needed insight. I liked the Katadyn on paper because I could simply refill the carbon with bulk carbon at the end of its life. It looked like it could be a bit bulky–maybe because it's designed to be screwed onto a wide-mouth Nalgene?

The Triton looks interesting. If I can find it for less than the MSRP (and more in line with the Frontier and the Seychelle), I'll pick one up. I wonder whether the threads it uses for its modular system are the same diameter as the platy port. If the diameter is right, I think it might be a good comparison to the AM Frontier Pro.

I think I'm going to get a Frontier Pro for now. If I can find the others on sale, I might pick some up for comparison testing. I like that the Frontier can be screwed directly onto the Platy bags, used inline, or at the end of the line with the bite valve. And at 2 oz, it appears to be the lightest.

As for my treatment, most of the time, I use a SteriPen Adventurer (yes, I know that is not popular in these parts, but it works for me). The real reason I'm looking for carbon is that the better half wants better tasting water. We normally only take from clear sources, but in some places in New York, the water will have lots of organics in it and throw off the taste. To make it a little easier on her, I am looking to put some carbon between her and the sterilized water. I could also see using it (in conjunction with some MP tablets) instead of the SteriPen.

If the car filter works, let us know. Sounds like a good MYOG project.

I think the Steripen-Frontier Pro combo is an excellent choice!

Matt
Did you ever try out this carbon filter idea of yours?

Thanks
JD Schaefer
Raleigh, NC

OK, so this post is over 10 years old but I’m planning an AT thru-hike in 2022 and had the same bright idea. Many of these products are no longer available or no longer viable. Has anyone managed to come up with a better solution?

I’m kind of surprised that manufacturers haven’t come out with a small, lightweight carbon inline filter that can be tied into existing gravity filtration systems. Seems like a no-brainer product to me.

I’m using a 3L CNOC bladder, which gravity feeds through a Sawyer dual-threaded filter, which I connect directly to my water bottle using a coupler.  Would LOVE to be able to add a carbon filter between the Sawyer filter and my water bottle, especially when confronted with potential dangers like agricultural runoff, heavy metals, etc.

Well lookie here – I may have answered my own question!  Anybody have first-hand experience with one of these?

https://www.backcountry.com/platypus-gravityworks-carbon-element?CMP_SKU=CAS00GG

Not sure how I’d connect it to my current system, at least not without making it a bit ungainly.  But overall this is exactly what I was envisioning. Feedback welcome!

I’ve used the in-line Platy carbon element with the GravityWorks setup. I didn’t do any taste-test comparisons or anything so I can’t comment real effectiveness, but the water that was delivered tasted good and was perfectly clear.  I also used it inline with the MSR Guardian which also worked well.

In both cases I was using it to filter water which had a higher-than-normal chance of agricultural or industrial contamination. I’ll continue to use it when under those conditions, but if I’m hitting mountain streams and springs I leave it at home.

I’ve used the platy carbon filter for years…does a great job on the nasty sulphur water on southern Atlantic coastal islands.  Works well in my DIY gravity filter system and comes along whenever I am not certain of water quality.  Recommended.

Good to know, thanks JCH.  That was my plan as well: only use when my water source smells or tastes a little funky and needs a little extra “polish”.

I first thought about this when backpacking the Adirondacks last year and the water had a lot of tannins in it from all the dead leaves (fall foliage season). The Sawyer did a decent job of stripping out most of the tannins, but the water still had a tinge of tea-color to it and tasted a little stringent. Same thing when I hiked the Adirondacks again a few weeks ago.

I often use an electrolyte powder to make my water more palatable, but I don’t want to have to depend on additives to mask the taste.

I use this one all the time and like it. I think it helps improve taste a little. Only has 1 nipple end though, so it needs to screw on to a standard bottle thread on the input side, which works with the hydroblu particulate filter and probably some others.

https://hydroblu.com/activated-carbon-filter-for-versa-flow/

Marcus, thanks for posting. I love my Hydroblu filter, same ratings as Sawyer but a lot more user friendly. Like MCH, I take a carbon filter on coastal trips where spring water typically has a strong sulfur content (as does water near Hungry Mother St. Park in southwest VA).

I’ve never heard of Hydroblu, but it looks like it might work perfectly with my current setup. Thanks for the tip!

Well lookie here – I may have answered my own question!  Anybody have first-hand experience with one of these?

https://www.backcountry.com/platypus-gravityworks-carbon-element?CMP_SKU=CAS00GG

Not sure how I’d connect it to my current system, at least not without making it a bit ungainly.  But overall this is exactly what I was envisioning. Feedback welcome!

Here’s what I came up. 8.1 oz.

Nice! Is that an on/off valve coming off the Platy filter?