Best Survival Water Filter

Which water filter is the best to add to your kit bag?

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[grumpybuzzard]

Over the years, I have always recommended the Life Straw for the classes I have been an instructor. I agree with your assessment, however the reason I usually recommend the Lifestraw is for three reasons. Most of the classes a good many of the people are of lesser economic means, and the Lifestraw is relatively inexpensive. The second is the ease of use. I also assume or at least make it a standard that most people using these devices will most likely be under severe stress. TheLlifestraw has a simple lanyard to keep around the neck and doesn't add the extra stress or time to search for the filter kits in a bag/pocket etc. The third reason is they were sent thousands to Haiti after that terrible earthquake a few years back and they worked very well for the people there. I had personal experience with that. Another good presentation as usual- good work!

[wolfman]

I worry about viruses so my go to is Grayl Geo Press. My back up is a Sawyer mini and boiling or water purification tablets.

[lorkainenkingg]

The Grayl Geopress is my go-to filter system, but I also have Sawyer Mini as a backup. I prefer the Geopress because it removes more particulates than the other systems, and it can store an additional 24 ounces. If I am strapped for space in my kit for whatever reason, I will always go for the Sawyer.

[Stoney_AKA_James]

Good and important video Bill, as the old saying goes:
"Hydrate Or Die"
Pre-filtering water using a 100% cotton cloth (triangular bandage, handkerchief, etc) is a very important for increasing the life span of any filter.
I really like the Grayl Geopress and keep one on my pack.
I have a Sawyer Mini in-line filter on all of my 100oz CamelBak Mil-Spec Antidote bladders (I ALWAYS have one with me when outdoors).
The MSR and/or Cnoc bladders are a great way of storing large quantities of water and their larger openings make it much easier.

[Bman-xyvh]

I always use the katadyn purification tablets in my water bottle. Then use either a Sawyer or life straw to remove the sediment and some of the chemical taste. Haven't had the runs or upset stomach yet. The grayl looks really nice but it's expensive and doesn't treat too much before having to replace the filter. Another quality video from you to show the options though.👍

[robertrolland]

I use three types of water filtration, the water purification tabs, the sawyer filter and the life straw or equivalant. Haven't had any problems so far. Good video. The Grayl is a little spendy for me.

[preppingpenguin]

Grayl has less lifetime because it actually filters/purifies more things that the lifestraw and sawyer do not. Compare the things each remove and you'll see your safest drink is from that grayl.

[EvanKEJT]

I own all three, and I agree with your overall conclusions. I carry a Grayl as my primary filter most of the time because it doubles as my water bottle, and where I live you can't walk 500 feet without tripping over a water source so carrying piles of water isn't really important to me. I keep an unused Sawyer squeeze in my truck for my emergency filter. I don't generally carry one when in the field because of all of the other accoutrements you have to carry with it. I have Life Straw in my get home bag, since it's compact and inexpensive. One you didn't mention is the Aquamira Frontier straw. They're TINY. I have one in my Hill People Gear Kit Bag as a backup filter if my primary goes down in the field for some reason.

[Stone-Wolf-Outdoors]

great video i have been using the same Sawyer Mini for 4 years love the versatility of it i also got the Sawyer 1 gallon bag for it the larger mouth helps to fill and the handle let you hang it up to use as a gravity filter just remember to never let it freeze

[jpoconnor]

The Sawyer and Lifestraw are filters, not purifiers. The Grayl is a purifier. It removes everything the other two do, plus viruses and lots of other bad things. That is why its insert doesn’t last as long.

Know the difference and know if filtration is good enough for your water sources or if you need purification.

To get full use of the Grayl if you have water with sediment or debris, pre filter with a Millbank or similar bag. In really bad situations, people will use a three step process of Millbank, Sawyer Squeeze, then the Grayl. Even with no sediment, some folks will use Sawyer then Grayl. It all depends on how good or bad your water source is and on how much you care about getting the full life of the Grayl.

[arctodussimus]

Way back in 1989, a friend gave me a Steri-pen system to try out on a trip I took to the San Juan Mountains in Colorado. I was camped near a somewhat large pond at the downhill side where it turned back into a creek. There were lots of ducks in the water at that time, and although I strained it through a bandanna, I could tell there was still a bit of duck poo in the water.
I stayed there five days and used all the water I brought with me by the end of the second day. I used the steri-pen exclusively to clean my water for over 72 hours. Had no problems at all during, or after my stay.
It was really nice. I gave it back to my friend and told him it worked great, but I couldn’t handle having to rely on anything that required batteries.
These days I’m a big fan of the Sawyer Mini, and the Survivor filters.

[shadowscout]

P.S. I love the Sawyer squeeze and mini's but I ditch the bag and use a water bottle or soda bottle with matching threads. I also just got a couple c nock bags that match up to the Sawyer's.

[rickhicks]

I have a Katadyn that been using for Years, works great. The lifestraw I only consider for EUO. Got them in our get home bags, expecting no more then 36 hours or so.

[MarilynStangl]

Definitely prefer the mini as you can buy 5 for the price of one Grayl and the 100, 000 capacity can't be beat. I still boil any water after pre-filtering and filter; better safe than sorry! Also, I have seen several U tube videos where they said that the Grayl leaks if laid down sideways! If you have a mouth injury/dental problem, sucking on the Life Straw may be a non starter!

[AntiFederalist]

I opted for the Katadyn Hiker Pro for my get home bag and the Sawyer Mini for the buttpack on my Alice gear (that I never leave home without). Another great video Top.

[moorejl]

I have the Sawyer mini gravity feed version and carry 1L smart water bottles for storage. As backup, I will boil my water with an alcohol stove or the Jetboil. The mini claims 100k gallons but you need to back flush it on the regular or it will clog.

[jamesvickery]

Grayl is best for crappiest water around, but the Sawyer filters really shine with a five gallon bucket adapter kit Sawyer Mini and bucket adapter kit is 100k gallons for less than fifty bucks; Sawyer Mini gravity flow rate not best though….one liter about every five minutes

[StrategicSelfRelianceDefense]

What a lot of people do not know or consider is the filter type. Absolute or nominal. Most manufacturers will not disclose it but sawyer does. Grayl works in a different manner.

[robyngrogan]

Would it still be a good idea to also boil your water too? Or is that just over kill?

[shadowscout]

If you put the grayl filter in contaminated water won't you get a small amount of contamination from the lip of the cup as you drink from it ? When you use chemical water treatments they tell you to spill some treated water onto the threads of your bottle to decontaminate it.