I’m looking for a water filter to take camping for under £50. We usually take water or there is water on site. I have life straws for emergency but don’t want to use them. We’re not going to a site this time but have a stream nearby. I want to have some idea of what using stream water, campfire cooking would be like with bare essentials. I’ve looked at some ceramic filters but they’re too expensive. Others don’t filter metals. Just wondered if anyone had tried and tested ideas?
Water Filters
- Thread starter Gracieboo
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
I dont know of any for under $50, you know lifestraw does make a good family filter.
https://www.lifestraw.com/products/...DJRbDNIDyylVjKvPEFVcE77xeQZs8mQBoCv2cQAvD_BwE
https://www.lifestraw.com/products/...DJRbDNIDyylVjKvPEFVcE77xeQZs8mQBoCv2cQAvD_BwE
https://qualitywaterfilters4you.com...qmF-jL8fxoCySUQAvD_BwE&variant=31180291211329
Used while treking Kenya
Sawyer has several products under $50.00. Usually available at Wal Mart. That would be my recommendation.
Sorry, Gracieboo. I didn't realize you were in the UK. Amazon probably carries it if you can order on line.
Sorry, Gracieboo. I didn't realize you were in the UK. Amazon probably carries it if you can order on line.
I can get that one! Thank you.
What's the water quality like that you're filtering....
If it's "organic", the Sawyer will work fine.... use a bandanna, or a coffee filter to prefilter first. Sawyers tend to clog up with sand, and silt, prefiltering will solve that problem
Not familiar with this brand...reminds me of a Pur. Will check it out..
Hard to beat a Sawyer.
Sawyer mini is my go to filter and is very good price
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sawyer-Mini-water-filter-system/dp/B00UJHLMJW
should be available for less in other stores in the UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sawyer-Mini-water-filter-system/dp/B00UJHLMJW
should be available for less in other stores in the UK
I use Royal Berkey and Life Straw Family and for personal use I use the Sawyer Mini System.
I have made using two 5 gallon food grade buckets and 3 BB-9 berkey black filters though 2~3 times the cost you're looking at just for the filters. questionable water I would filter than boil.
Berkey Filters filtering 6000 gallons
"Removing up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria in freshwater sources, while also removing or dramatically reducing protozoa, trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment"
I have made using two 5 gallon food grade buckets and 3 BB-9 berkey black filters though 2~3 times the cost you're looking at just for the filters. questionable water I would filter than boil.
Berkey Filters filtering 6000 gallons
"Removing up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria in freshwater sources, while also removing or dramatically reducing protozoa, trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment"
We use it at the cabin, we pull from glacier water running along the cabin coming in from Mt. Adams
You can use different brand bags such as platypus platy water bottles (made in the US) and evernew water bottles (made in Japan) these are what I use, but I also have used sawyer with good results.
The Berky is indeed for use at home. But, as Maverick stated, those filters are costly. The Berky is what we are using. A few years back, had an earthquake that affected our well. The cost of putting in a new 400 ft well to reach good water at the time had doubled being that a number of other wells in the area were just as affected, and the well drillers were hiking prices. Was cheaper to put in a rain water catchment system and the Berkys.....these filters eliminate any concern at cross contamination as the water flows off of metal roofing. Two large stainless steel stock pots, or food grade pails plus two Berky blackfilters is all that is required to get started. This youtube video shows how to build a Berky type system....
My portable water system
32oz capacity SS water bottle
24oz capacity SS cup w/lid
Baker fish spreader
Sawyer SP126 Mini Water Filtration System w/maintenace kit
2 platypus platy water bottles *not in picture
Coffee filters (pre filter for Sawyer SP126)
Polar Pure - Crystal Iodine Water Treatment
Nalgene 96oz capacity wide mouth canteen (empty) *not in picture
Seattle sports foldable camp bucket 3 gallon *not in picture
32oz capacity SS water bottle
24oz capacity SS cup w/lid
Baker fish spreader
Sawyer SP126 Mini Water Filtration System w/maintenace kit
2 platypus platy water bottles *not in picture
Coffee filters (pre filter for Sawyer SP126)
Polar Pure - Crystal Iodine Water Treatment
Nalgene 96oz capacity wide mouth canteen (empty) *not in picture
Seattle sports foldable camp bucket 3 gallon *not in picture
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2016
- Messages
- 177
Use a Berkey for home water, but would not rely on it for SHTF. The design is totally dependent on the seal formed by a course thread plastic stem that is prone to stripping out and puts very little pressure on the seal. I had a set of filters UNGLUE when they had quality control issues.
For SHTF I use..
https://iconlifesaver.com/product/lifesaver-jerrycan-20000uf/
For SHTF I use..
https://iconlifesaver.com/product/lifesaver-jerrycan-20000uf/
Do you know what, you lot are like a goldmine for useful info. I can look for days on google and still be flummoxed. Can’t use quote but so far, ordered the sawyer and the jerrycan filter is something to work towards because the idea of boiling water from my rain barrels is daunting.
The last 6 years of using I haven't had any issues with Berkey or it's filters other than the plastic spigot on one Big Berkey, I have since replaced with the metal spigots on all the Berkey's.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2016
- Messages
- 177
The replacement spigots are nice. Have you done food color tests?
Boroux Stainless Steel Spigot –... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0170M9DPS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Boroux Stainless Steel Spigot –... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0170M9DPS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Last edited:
Yep, I do that before it’s used and we clean it
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2016
- Messages
- 177
Good to go then, after something fails on me once and because of what I feel is a design error or quality control issue (Berkey recalled the filters) I'm not willing to bet my life on it.
We use it on our well water and when we go camping from "potable" sources, but I'd prefer to use something like the Lifesaver that has a record of working in 3rd world countries using feces infested water when drawing from "non-potable" water like my rain barrel setup or pond.
We use it on our well water and when we go camping from "potable" sources, but I'd prefer to use something like the Lifesaver that has a record of working in 3rd world countries using feces infested water when drawing from "non-potable" water like my rain barrel setup or pond.
