Gravity Water Filters

Until recently, the only readily available, gravity-flow, water filter was the Katadyn Base Camp. Now there are two new choices and they use newer, perhaps better technology.

Here's what's available on the market today, mid 2008:

Katadyn
Katadyn Camp - listed only in Katadyn Europe - I've seen a couple web sites that confuse this one with the "Base Camp" listed below. The difference is the filter - ceramic, cleanable in Europe - fiber, disposable in the US.
Be sure your vendor is listing the correct item.
9.5 liter bag
0.2 micron ceramic filter - cleanable
0.1 liter per minute (this is a "drip" system)
20,000 liter life
1.5 lbs
4" x 7.5"
part # 8013637
replacement filter 1120070
Camp

Katadyn Base Camp - listed only in Katadyn US
9.5 liter bag
0.3 micron glassfiber - disposable (Katadyn says, "... needs no cleaning."
0.5 liter per minute
750 liter life
1 lb
4 " x 7.5"
part # 8010655 - $65
replacement filter 8014644 - $40 - same as Hiker Pro
Base Camp
at REI

Usage restrictions:
The fiber filter needs to be fed very clear water as it clogs easily and back-flushing doesn't effectively clear it. Highly recommended to thoroughly pre-filter water going into the bag.

New product / technology - Spring 2008

MSR Autoflow (also Platypus Cleanstream)
4 liter bag
0.2 micron, hollow fiber - cleanable by simple back-flushing
1.5 liter per minute
1,500 liter life (max under ideal conditions)
11 oz
4" x 6"
$80 when available
replacement filter - part # 56506 - $40
replacement pre-filter - part # 56507 - $15
Autoflow
Cleanstream

Usage restrictions:
The hollow fiber filter cannot be allowed to freeze.
Shock from dropping or heavy impact will break fibers in the filter, rendering it ineffective.

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21may08