Sawyer Filter Freeze Indicator

$12? sure

$10

I'd be willing to spend $10-12 on it. Is it a single use item, as in one freeze and its done? Or can I transfer it it my new Sawyer I have to buy to replace the frozen one?

It's a one and done permanent change indicator. No guesswork in if it hit freezing or not while you sleep or hike. Goes from clear to red at 0°C/32°F.

Just to be clear…I'm looking at a price point of $12 SHIPPED CONUS.

HTH

KJ

I often see myself aging when I balk at prices, but I would think you could do better price-wise. My father is an engineer and he put these on a variety of things for curiosity's sake. Anyway, there has to be a way to get a dozen of these for $20-ish. I think they are recording strips. I'll google about and see if we can do better. It's a good idea. But … it doesn't matter. If it freezes it's done, and if it doesn't, it's not. I guess if you sleep on your filter and it's -5*, it'll be fun knowing it didn't.

These are not strips, but rather a small plastic device. My prices are wholesale and there's no way even at wholesale prices I could get 12 for $20. Not even close.

The point of the device is to KNOW when you're not positive if your filter froze…be it accidentally leaving it in your pack overnight or forgetting to put it in your pocket when the temp drops while hiking. The focus is on protecting your health when uncertain if the filter has froze.

HTH

KJ

The problem I see, is that water doesn't just instantly freeze at 32 degrees and swell 11%, rupturing the membrane. The temp could dip to 32 for an hour, triggering the strip and rendering it permanently used, while the water behind the plastic inside the filter would never even frost over. Even then, a soft frost is nothing compared to a hard freeze.

Sawyer isn't much help on the matter either, so I guess it leads me to further believe it's more of a grey area than a simple "trigger effect".

On the flip side, any err would be on the side of caution, so for those so desiring the security, it would be a useful item. I could see a market for it, but I don't see myself using it.

Edit: posted before I saw it wasn't a strip. A "device" would provide even more false positives IMO

Interesting. More interesting because my brief look around the net turned up many more high heat taps, than sub zero tapes. Do you have any more of a physical description? Back to your original post, the price sounds right. Since a Sawyer Mini is only $20 it would not seem to be a good fit, but at around half it's nice. I froze a filter once, not a Sawyer, but it was pretty obvious from the increased flow that it had broken. I guess there are health interests but I'm a filter-cause-its-convenient guy. I spent a lot of years rolling the protozoa dice with no known consequences.

Glenn-

A little more clarification:
The product is also self-adhesive should you choose to use it, but the product itself is inflexible and flat.

HTH

KJ

Interesting idea, but a $12 bet on a $20 filter sounds weak.

As others said, what is the degree of damage at what temperature? There are more goodies inside to rupture than just the tubes. Any internal leak will cause a bypass of the filter media and the obvious risk. I agree that there would be little damage at 32F, but it would increase quickly as the temperature drops and time is a factor as well. There's no reliable way to tell what is going on internally.

The "cure" would be to pump something in there that would change the specific gravity, AKA antifreeze. Everclear would be my first choice, IF it didn't damage the filer media. I can't see Sawyer giving a straight answer to that question and I don't want to be the guinea pig– although I will be happy to test the Everclear itself ;)

It's an ugly date, but I'll just curl up with it for the night :) Keep in mind you need to stow the filter in your clothing while hiking in cold weather too. I would expect it to freeze in my pack while hiking if the temperature drops much below freezing.

If I'm hiking at consistently cold temps, I don't need a filter as I have to melt snow or ice for drinking water anyway and it can boil.

I may be able to go lower on the price if I can find a unique way to ship it cheaper. Anyone want to be a one time shipping guinea pig for $6?

If the new way I have in mind shipping it works without getting destroyed in the mail, then I could sell them for $10 shipped.

I'm also testing (tonight) the ability to reset the indicator. The design of the product indicates that it MIGHT be possible even though it is sold as a permanent change indicator.

KJ

If a buyer sends you money, and if you send the device to the buyer, and if the package is exposed to freezing temperatures during transit, what is the buyer going to receive?

–B.G.–

The way I see it, one can put their filter in their sleeping bag for free.
Those that dont in freezing conditions like to live dangerously anyway.

Bob

"If a buyer sends you money, and if you send the device to the buyer, and if the package is exposed to freezing temperatures during transit, what is the buyer going to receive?"

They will receive a perfectly good indicator. The activation tab must be pulled out for it to work. The device is mechanical.

Additionally, I'm testing the ability to "reset" it tonight.

HTH

KJ

MB

"The point of the device is to KNOW when you're not positive if your filter froze…be it accidentally leaving it in your pack overnight or forgetting to put it in your pocket when the temp drops while hiking."

As I see it, if you're putting the filter in your bag or pocket…you'll have a ziploc to drop it into so everything doesn't get wet from residual filter leak. This indicator can simply live in said ziploc bag.

HTH

KJ

As a couple have noted, If the device tests the temp on the outside of the filter (ie a tape applied to case or mechanical device that wraps around or sits next to the filter in a ziploc), I don't see it being very useful… it needs to monitor the internal temp to be worthwhile.

If there was a way to setup a device that would slide into either of the openings on the filter (intake or outflow), maybe as a little plug or cap w/ a probe, THAT would seem much more appealing. Of course it would have to avoid puncturing any of the internals, but if the probe was soft and/or simply short enough not to reach said critical components, should be easily accomplished.

As I'm ruminating about it, if a strip of the color change "tape" type product were rolled up to go in the end and given a little string to remove (sorry to say it, but like a tampon), or applied around a very thin piece of rubber tube, or maybe a very small piece suspended by a string, could be inserted and removed easily. Plus I'd expect something like this to be very light and cheap to make as it wouldn't be mechanical.

The big detractor of an internal one like this is you'd likely either have to remove each time you use (if left in regularly) or remember to put it in when temps drop (if not left in regularly). If integrated into a little cap that put on for storage, would make easier to remember and harder to lose. If it could be made so not affected by water and didn't impede the use of the filter thus could be left in 100% of the time, you'd have a gold mine.

Rudy

The problem with the color change tape/stickers is that it is effected by humidity. Liquid crystal would not play well with the water filter. In addition, liquid crystal is not an permanent change product. It would simply read the current temperature and not be able to show you if a certain low temp was reached. Also, as the liquid crystal degrades due to humidity, it would start reading higher than actual current temps.

Another option would be to use a -5ºC/23ºF version of the indicator.

KJ

I can now confirm that you can reset the indicator. Although the manufacturer does not indicate this as a possibility, I have done so with 10 seconds of finagling with an unfolded paperclip. I'm now testing this a third time.

The indicator isn't fast to pop. It does take about 1-2 minutes after my thermometer reads below 32F.

HTH

KJ

Edit: Tested (read: reset) three times now and appears to still be working properly.

It's only a one time use, but they are only $3.14 (in quantities of 100).

http://www.labelmaster.com/shop/shipping/damage-indicators/coldmark-freeze-indicator

Yup. I've looked at those Larry, but they must be shipped in a controlled temp packaging when it's cold out so they don't get set off. You must also drop $312.44 on them, not including special shipping.

The ones I am selling can only be set off after the activation tab has been removed. The activation tab on the ones I have is also reusable. I've tested my indicators 4 times now and they appear to keep working just fine. I just let the indicator warm back up, and then reset it.

KJ

If you're thinking about trying to mail it in a regular envelope, I would not suggest it. Anything that looks like a letter goes thru a sorting machine for letters. Hard stuff inside does not fare well! Small padded envelopes should still be OK for 1st class rate, but will be more than a letter.

I am actually thinking of shipping it in a regular envelope. I have had success in doing so with other stuff I've shipped. The product is under the 1/4" maximum and you could stomp the (main) product and not break it. It's a very tough piece of plastic. I think the only way I could crack it would be with a hammer.

KJ

Kenneth, I'd almost certainly buy one if I could see a photo of their size and photos showing the basic principle of their operation. It sounds like a good idea to me.

I don't think I'd carry it unless the price itself came down to below your cost. This sounds like a good idea in practice but I doubt it indicates your filter is damaged anymore than a digital watch that records temperatures or my phone that tracks temps etc etc.

Everyone knows you can't bake a good turkey with these indicators and I doubt they work on the filters too.