Sawyer Mini filter, backwash pump
I have bought the mini and it looks good. I hope to do another month on the AT around late May.Do folks carry the pump to backwash the filter.
I do sometimes, but usually just back flush with the bottle/bag that I am filling.
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I should add that i only gravity feed through mine and back flush a little every use. With murky water I use the top half of another bottle as a funnel to hold my bandana as a prefilter to fill the dirty water bag before it enters the Mini. I made an adapter out of two cola bottle tops glued together with a hole drilled through for the funnel to dirty bag connection. -The syringe will generate more pressure for back flush, but I have never needed it.
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I don't backwash in the field but I'm never out more than a week. If I planned on being out for a month, would I think about it?
I backwash with the just filtered water--it does require a connection that will take a bit of pressure without leaking and a bit of care not to spill your clean water accidentally, as I learned!
I use the sports cap from a Smartwater bottle; it just so happens to fit the output nozzle on the mini perfectly.
Don't own one yet, but plan on buying one at some point. My take on things like this are.Originally Posted by English Stu
After you've put all your kit together, and trimmed everything down to it's bare bones minimum, look at that little plunger and ask yourself...."is this really gonna break my back if I bring it". I'd take it, just to have in case of clogging. There are many items in our packs that we could leave behind...put em aside, pack what I need, and then ask, "Is this little pile of stuff really gonna kill me" I think most people can carry way more than they leave home...not really a big deal.
Given that the Sawyer works by mechanically filtering out stuff, it would seem that you would HAVE to carry the back flush syringe if you are going to be on the trail with it long term... or have an alternate means of back flushing like Matt indicated.
I bring my backflush syringe and flush it in town. It says on the instructions that you need a strong forceful wash to flush it out properly otherwise you end up with "weak channels" in the filter media. The filter has been good insurance for my trips to the lowlands.
See ya when I get there.
Instead of a bandana pre filter, filters can be made to fit from the cotton wool make-up remover pads. Bandanas get dirty.
While it makes things a bit more awkward, I like to use the Sweetwater Silt-stopper as a pre-filter.
Tinny at minibulldesigns makes a custom cap that attaches to the straw which is lighter than the included syringe. This makes connecting a soft sided bag easier and can be used to backflush the filter.
I haven't used the mini yet with this cap as I got it for Christmas. Though I have the regular sawyer with his larger adapter and that worked very well for filling soft sided bags and a backflush. Made it very easy compared to not having it.
https://www.minibulldesign.com/produ...2&idcategory=3
-Stephen
I read somewhere.. I don't even think I read it on the packaging when I bought the mini sawyer cause it came with NO paperwork... that it is highly recommended to bring the syringe with you on extended trips to properly back flush the filter. Somewhere it said, makeshift backflushers such as those made from sport cap bottles do not force enough water through the filter fast enough to properly and fully clean out the filter.
It also said to vigorously force water from the syringe into the filter. I can see how you could really have a stronger backflush flow rate with the syringe than a squeezing a water bottle. Idk.. right tool for the job, doesn't weigh much. new product. we are the beta testers. my 2 cents
One problem is that the syringe doesn't seal tight on the out flow nib of the filter or the straw that comes with it. So I'm not sure how to get a tight seal that would allow a back flush that has the force described. I have both systems (syringe and Evernew bladders with Minibull adapter) but haven't tested yet. I was looking for more info before committing to one system of the other.
I have the larger Sawyer. I made a DIY adapter made from glueing two bottle caps back to back with a hole drilled in them. It is lighter than the syringe and takes up less space, but I definitely feel like I can get a more forceful backfluch with the syringe. On one of my hikes, I filtered water from a stock tank, and backflushing with my soft bottle didn't clear it as well as I would have liked. Luckily, it was the last water resupply before I finished my hike. Now, my personal choice is to carry the syringe.
Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and the forest and field in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul.--Fred Bear
www.misadventuregear.com
Has anybody used the new mini-sawyer? How is the filtration speed compared to the bigger on? I know the original was hell-a-slow and I hope the small one is not even slower.
Thanks for the info, I am going to carry the syringe.
I stopped worrying about whether to carry the syringe or not when I realized it was going to be the best piece of kit to irrigate wounds. I keep it with my first aid stuff now.
I believe that when the mini came out, the company indicated that the filtration speed would be slower than the bigger one simply because it is smaller (fewer fibers/holes for the water to pass through).
I've never used the bigger one, but I've got the mini and didn't find the flow rate to be bad at all. I wonder if your original (bigger one) doesn't need a better back flushing, or has perhaps developed some hard-water scales that's stopping up the works.
I also did the Sweatwater silt stopper, it requires an adapter kit, which is a male thread to hose fitting and a female thread to hose fitting, A fitting on each end Sweat water in the middle. I'm also going to do a female to female adapter so output from the filter will go directly into the platypus. I'm also planning an adapter with 4 ft. of hose, that will do gravity feed very well, and will 2nd as a shower.
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