That “Hydration Revolution” from Sawyer

I would very much like to see pics of the setup. I have a hard time picturing it and am trying to rework my hydration system. Maybe that will help…

Max:

Did you try a "costume rehearsal" test?

1. Fill up your 2 or 3L bladder — insert into your pack — and pack up your gear like you were heading for a trail — pack nicely cinched up and all.

2. Empty out the bladder through the hydration tube — lightly shaking the pack as the bladder empties — so gear pieces will settle nicely — as they would when you hike.

3. Now try the gravity method. the "revolutionary" way — without taking the bladder out — or even opening up your pack.

4. Let us know if the force of gravity will fill up the bladder fully. I have doubts. If you need to add force by pushing water from dirty bladder to clean — pushing 2 or 3L won't be much fun. And if you have to open up the pack and move things around to make room for the bladder to bulge back up — then it may not be so revolutionary after all.

Anyway, please let us know!

I used to hang a 2 liter bladder in an osprey pack and fill by plugging the hose directly to the output nipple of my katadyn pump filter. Worked really well. Could probably do it w/out even removing the pack.

I could see this being problematic with a gravity feed. And more so without a bladder hanger

I use a steripen now anyway

Ben,

I won't try because I'm sure it doesn't work. I don't have any misconceptions that I'm gonna slide my reservoir into a loaded pack and then empty/refill all trip. But it is convenient not having to "aim" the sawyer into an open reservoir. That is a huge challenge that this system avoids.

"But it is convenient not having to "aim" the sawyer into an open reservoir."

Simple tubing and the inline adapters included with the Squeeze will do this without the quick change adapters.

"But it is convenient not having to "aim" the sawyer into an open reservoir."

"Simple tubing and the inline adapters included with the Squeeze will do this without the quick change adapters."

Or, simpler yet >

Maybe I'm missing something. Probably…..

+1 to Rusty.

"Simple tubing and the inline adapters included with the Squeeze will do this without the quick change adapters."

what????

this is pretty simple:

Maybe I'm missing something. Probably…..

"Maybe I'm missing something. Probably….."

What the!!!!! I thought the Sawyer Squeeze as an enema bag, hence the tubing! It all makes sense now!

Just got mine and haven't used it yet, so thanks Rusty, that does make perfect sense. I'll carry the tubing, though, to set it up as a gravity filter at camp.

huh?

pretty simple and light..

Lots of reasons to use a filter other than sediment. There are good reasons that the National Park Service tells campers at some coastal/lowland locations that only filtering or boiling will make the water safe to drink.

Jason, I could name half a dozen ubiquitous parasites that would laugh at your little bottles, if they could.

This strays from the topic of the thread, though. I'm looking forward to photos of the OP's new system.

The Sawyer filter will also work inline with the Geigerrig pressurized hydration system.
Now if I can use my Geigerrig pump on an inflatable mat it may earn it's spot.

There are other posts on BPL, but just in case you missed them…

This was loosely wrapped around a PointOne in a hipbelt pocket with plenty of room.
No unusual abuse.

If you are going to rely on the filter, do yourself a favor and find an Evernew.

FYI, the Sawyer bladders have been redesigned for 2013 to address this.

"Lots of reasons to use a filter other than sediment. "

One option is to treat the water with chlorine (household bleach) — wait 30 minutes — to kill viruses and bacteria. Then drink through an inline filter like Aquamira Frontier Pro to block the bigger stuff like protozoa. Advantages over Sawyer:

1. FP is lighter (weighs just 2oz) and much more compact.
2. FP incorporates a carbon core — will improve water taste — which Sawyer won't.

Relying on chemicals to kill just the small stuff (and not everything) means shorter wait time – 30 min. even in cold water.

Relying on filter to block only the big stuff (protozoa) means a smaller, lighter and simpler filter that requires little sucking effort.

The FP can also be used in gravity mode — just like Sawyer. To me, gravity feed is great when at camp. But waiting for gravity to do its work can be very tedious and annoying in the middle of the day — esp. if it's raining or skeeters and flies are biting. Mid-day water stops — 'just scoop and go' is my preference. I can quickly resume hike (if need be) and let the chlorine do its work.

Finally, the FP comes with its own bite valve — so it can be screwed directly onto a Platypus for easy drinking at camp. I believe FP beats all in the versatility dept. — the Houdini of water filters.

"Lots of reasons to use a filter other than sediment. There are good reasons that the National Park Service tells campers at some coastal/lowland locations that only filtering or boiling will make the water safe to drink.

Jason, I could name half a dozen ubiquitous parasites that would laugh at your little bottles, if they could.

This strays from the topic of the thread, though. I'm looking forward to photos of the OP's new system."

Sure there are always areas that a filter would be superior. But for me the drops are all I have needed. I hike on the west coast mainly in CA and mainly in the sierras and a filter is not needed up there. I do own a Frontier pro in case im going somewhere that i think i might need it but never have actually used it..

I'm curious what parasites you think would survive a chlorine dioxide treatment? I was under the impression drops kill everything including viruses (which filters do not)

Jason:

I've read that certain protozoa (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) are quite resistant to chlorine – at least the concentration level that we can still tolerate drinking. While they are still microscopic, they are much bigger than bacteria, and some of them have shells which further protect them from chemicals. Those don't exist everywhere, but where they do, they can make you pretty sick. In my post, I described my own method – which combines chlorine with a simple filter.

Sorry about the pics taking a while. Computer troubles. I don't know if it's that exciting. Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAn4DBeMn2M

In it, she shows the male end of the Sawyer's blue cap tube connecting with the little modifier she put into the Camelbak tube.

That female end is identical to Camelbak's (proprietary?) tube connection system. The blue and yellow port on the reservoir where the tube connects is also compatible with Sawyer's blue cap/grey tube mount for the Sawyer Squeeze.

Makes sense?

Ben,
It's true that cysts are resistant to chlorine (ie, bleach) but it is NOT chlorine that kills them when using chlorine dioxide despite the name. It may take 4 hours to do so in certain conditions, but ClO2 will get them.

I am curious as to what other critters Colin is referring. I've not read anything along those lines.

The FP hanging off the end of my hydro hose makes it rather bulky and more difficult to use. The Sawyer fits inline, so it can go in the pack.

Take the bite valve off and clip a piece of tubing off. Reinstall the bite valve then use that tube to connect the sawer to your bite valve with the mouth piece pulled off.

@ Colin, who wrote, "Ben,
It's true that cysts are resistant to chlorine (ie, bleach) but it is NOT chlorine that kills them when using chlorine dioxide despite the name. It may take 4 hours to do so in certain conditions, but ClO2 will get them.

I am curious as to what other critters Colin is referring. I've not read anything along those lines."

Colin — just to be clear — I was referring to chlorine – as in common household bleach — not CLO2. Bleach is cheap as heck whereas CLO2 is expensive. While the latter is effective against cysts, the treatment time can take hours — which is impractical unless treating water overnight. Much better, IMO, is to simply use chlorine — to kill the tiny stuff — and rely on a simple filter like the Frontier Pro to trap the bigger stuff (like cysts). The combo can cut way down on treatment time.

@Terran Elam, who wrote, "The FP hanging off the end of my hydro hose makes it rather bulky and more difficult to use. The Sawyer fits inline, so it can go in the pack."

The FP has the option of fitting at the end of your hydro hose — but it too can serve as an inline filter — and a more compact one than the Sawyer. Simply (and carefully) remove the bite valve to expose the connecting "nipple".

There is a nipple, but not a quick connect. The nipple is too large to fit a hose around. A smaller hose will fit inside the nipple, but isn't secure. It's made for a straw.
FP makes a filter for Geigerrig that has the quick connects that fits next to the bladder. Albeit 7 bucks more…Both good for only 50 gallons. For that the Katadyn charcoal is refillable though perhaps a bit bulky.