Sawyer Squeeze opinions/suggestions

imported
#1

My main source of water purification is the First Need water filter. It works great. But its almost like carrying a water treatment plant around with you (19oz.) It’s heavy. So, I purchased the Sawyer Squeeze mini so that I could drop 16 oz from my pack($25.) Has anyone used this on the CT? my concern is that I have passed a few trickles that were tough enough to get water out of with a filter pump, I cant imagine how to use the squeeze mini in low water. Is it a viable option to use this? It is basically the sawyer squeeze.

Stephen

#2

I’ve loved Sawyer Squeeze along the CT. Helps to also have a dedicated cup to scoop in the smallest of water sources, then transfer to the squeeze bag.

On Track

#3

We carry a one quart ziplock freezer bag dedicated to scooping from low water sources. It works fine and weighs almost nothing.

Thanks to info from Boston and Cubby’s trail journal, we are trying some 1micron biodiesel filter material to filter out particulates from muddy sources. It seems to work much better than a coffee filter or a bandana. We bought a cone shaped bag on Amazon and cut out a piece to make a small cone to pour the dirty water from the ziplock into the squeeze bag or the wide mouth bottle we use with our steripen. One cone bag will make lots of filters. So far we are happy with this system.

Turtle Walking

#4

By “particulates,” are you referring to fine solids suspended in solution, or undissolved floaty bits of dirt, sand, insects, etc? I have yet to see any system capable of rendering “brown water” clear. In my experience, a bandana works just fine all other respects.

fern

#5

You are right, the 1 micron filter material just removes the suspended solids. The water floes through much faster than a coffee filter.

Turtle walking

#6

Would a new nylon kneesock work to filter out the particles as well as a bandana?

Maxine

#7

I used the Sawyer Squeeze filter on the PCT and it turned brown stagnant water into crystal clear drinking water. I thought it worked really well as a backup to my Aquamira.

Ned

#8

I used the Sawyer on my CT thru last summer; great…‘everyone’ had one…

Would echo the comments re. ‘scooping’ - I carried a 500ml rigid soda bottle for trickles and ‘excavated’ water sources.

Never had to pre-filter anything on the CT.

edh

#9

Plastic bag to scoop water during low water conditions. I lov it and never thought of it. I will use it. Thanks Turtle Walking for the idea. I plan to use coffee filters. Where does one get biodiesel filters? Coffee filters are easy to find, disposable, and nearly weightless. How easy is it to find biodiesel filters and what do they weight?

Road Warrior

#10

The problem with coffee filters is they clog almost immediately when trying to filter water with lots of suspended material. We tried a coffee filter when we needed water from a puddle, but had to give up with less than half a liter after using two coffee filters.

Boston and Cubby said they used a 1micron biodiesel filter. We found biodiesel filters on Amazon.com. If this link does not work, just search Amazon for 1 micron biodiesel filter. We bought the cone for $6.50. You can also buy yards of the stuff, but we were not sure we would ever need that much. We cut out a roughly 5" semi circle. That means we will be able to cut several filters from the cone. So far, we have used it for sandy water and scummy water in the Grand Canyon. It can be rinsed out an reused. They are heavier, probably 1ounce, but much better than coffee filters. As you can read above, others prefer a bandana or nylon.

So our method for very shallow water with lots of suspended stuff is scoop using a 1quart ziplock bag. Pour from that through the biodiesel filter into the squeeze bag or the wide mouth jar we use for our steripen.

Turtle Walking