In-line Carbon Filters for Hydration Systems

You could save even more weight by replacing the valve with a short length of tubing and a pinch clamp:

https://www.amazon.com/tubing-pinch-clamp/s?k=tubing+pinch+clamp

Sure, but I don’t really need a valve or clamp – I filter directly into my bottles and then cap off the reservoir until I need more.  I was just wondering if that’s what it was.  But a good idea for those who might want a clamp!  Would probably make for a nice shower or washing station.

My modular gravity system.  Configurable depending on the specifics of the trip.

• 2L (repurposed hydration bladder) or 4L (GravityWorks) dirty reservoir
• Hose from the repurposed bladder
• Cheap plastic hose clamp … why not? :)
• Sawyer SP140 “water bottle” filter.  Easily swapped out for Sawyer Micro/Mini/Squeeze or pretty much any other inline filter
• Sawyer connection kit (these are now included with the Squeeze and Mini filters
• Platypus Charcoal filter (optional)
• Platypus 2L clean reservoir

Total system weight: 5.82 – 9.37 oz.

I like using a collapsable bottle as the clean reservoir as you can keep the system sealed…no need for air to escape.

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

Yes. Like you mentioned, makes for a nicer washing station, but not for a shower due to water flow with both filters.

I was using a Platypus 1L Hoser bladder as my dirty bag prior to the CNOC Vecto, and it was just annoying to fill if the water wasn’t running due to the bag staying collapsed when trying to scoop water. Wide opening bladder recommended.

That’s basically the system I’m looking to put together.  I have collapsible Platy bottles as well as SmartWater bottles for refilling.  I keep plain water in the SW bottle and only use flavorings/electrolytes in the collapsible.  Reason being, I can much more easily fit a collapsible into my Ursack than I can a SW bottle.

I have used the Platy carbon filter with a gravity system, it works fine. I have not used it in a sip and go configuration.

Do you need also to treat the water, as in remove microorganisms?  The AM Frontier Pro is the only device you list that has two functions: filtering out microorganisms and removing (bad) tastes.  AM also has a product line where the filter cartridges are replaceable. The $14.99 one just removes chemicals so it must only have carbon inside of it

The OP mentioned the AM Frontier Pro; I’d never even heard of those before. I like the Sawyer filter for every day use on the trail, but I also like the option of adding an in-line carbon filter for when my water source is a little sketchy.

That said, even water that I know is “clean” can have an off taste, such as the tannins I encountered in remote Adirondack lakes and ponds.

I might also carry some Aqua Mira drops just cover all my bases, although that’s probably overkill on a trail like the AT.

The OP mentioned the AM Frontier Pro; I’d never even heard of those before. I like the Sawyer filter for every day use on the trail, but I also like the option of adding an in-line carbon filter for when my water source is a little sketchy.

The original post was from 2009 and the Frontier Pro was first available on Amazon in 2010. I started backpacking around 2009, and I don’t recall people talking about it back then. It seemed like Steripen or Aquamira/Aquatabs/Potable Aqua idodine were the water purification of choice, with a Katadyn Hiker here and there, before Sawyer and BeFree took over.

I recently bought Aquatabs for backup, but learned after the fact they don’t neutralize Cryptosporidium, unlike Katadyn Micropur or Potable Aqua tablets. I’ll probably keep them until they expire.

The Platypus carbon inline filter comes with Prop65 cancer warning. Same for LifeStraw carbon filter. I have not seen similar product warnings for the HydroBlue carbon elements online, but I also have not seen the packaging for it.

Would some of the knowledgeable folks on this forum be able to expound on the connection between carbon filters and cancer warnings? What is the actual risk level? The Prop65 notice related to Platypus model references exposure to styrene.

Thanks,

Niko Z.

Virtually everything causes cancer if you listen to Prop 65 stuff. Take everything there with a grain of salt. Products only need to be certified if they want to be legally sold in California. Not all manufacturers are willing to pay the money to get the certification. In other words, even if it doesn’t say Prop 65 on it, it still may contain chemicals known to cause cancer. It’s cheaper short term to just print a “not legal for sale in California” label than pay for the certification. That being said, it’s unlikely that anything with statistically significant risk of cancer would make it from product concept to actual production (at least, probably not in any first world country).

I have a HydroBlu carbon filter still in it’s original packaging, and there’s no mention of Prop 65, no mention of cancer causing substances, and no mention of restrictions on sale within CA. I took photos of all sides of packaging inside and out for your reference:

@Paul G thank you for the photos! This is somewhat reassuring. Let us hope it stays that way, as I just ordered two :).

@S Long Thank you for the context. I did notice that my X-therm pad carries that same warning, but it was more unnerving seeing it on the water filter products. I did a bit of internet research and found out that many commonly used water filters, including some high end ones, come with the Prop65 warning but I don’t know enough to evaluate the actual risk level.

If I had to guess it might be the use of certain types of plastic that requires the Prop 65 warning. So as long as you don’t eat your water filter you should be fine. 😁