Showing posts with label water filters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water filters. Show all posts

Lifesaver Bottle 4000 Ultra Filtration Water Bottle Review

Lifesaver Bottle 4000 Ultra Filtration Water Bottle
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I did a one week kayak/camping trip through the Amazon rainforest and purchased the Lifesaver 4000 to supply all the drinking water for myself and the two friends who joined me on this trip. The filter performed as described on their website and I was more than happy with the quality of the water that it produced.
One thing to note is that the water won't necessarily be crystal clear - but it will be safe to drink. We were filtering 'black water' from the rainforest (ie water that is stained black due to decomposing leaf matter) and the filtered water was slightly cloudy - but only really noticeable when compared against a bottle of tap water. Taste-wise, it was fine. From what I have read, no portable water filter is capable of producing crystal clear water in these conditions so I don't count this as a negative against the Lifesaver bottle.
Pumping the water was easy and didn't require much effort. Five or six pumps and then you could sit back and watch whilst the water came out of the teat, then as the flow slowed, a few more pumps. By the time the bottle is 3/4 empty, I would have to refill it. You could let the last quarter trickle out, but it was quicker to top up the bottle again as the water flowed out quicker once you re-pressurised the bottle. I should point out that our guide commented that it was the 'best' water filter he had seen based on how little effort it took to get a steady stream of water pumping out the bottle. He said that the filters he saw other groups bring normally required constant pumping to took forever to fill a bottle.
After the kayak trip, my friends and I continued to travel throughout South America for the next 3 months where we used the bottle for all our drinking water (since we didn't trust the mains water). None of us got sick for the entire trip which I put down to the filter working effectively given other travel companions did. Admittedly not scientific proof, but good enough for me - and I would definitely take such a filter with me if I was visiting places like the countries in South America again.

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Developed in response to natural disasters such as 2004's tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and in response to the world's increasingly threatened supply of clean, drinkable water, the Lifesaver 4000 Ultra Filtration Water Bottle is a simple-to-use, chemical-free water purification system that removes water-borne pathogens and reduces chemical residues from the water making it safe to drink anywhere. The world's first all-in-one ultra filtration water bottle, the Lifesaver Bottle makes easy-to-use, portable water filtration a reality for travelers and outdoors people everywhere.
The Lifesaver bottle eliminates the need for iodine tablets, tedious boiling, chemicals, tubes, shaking, scrubbing, waiting, and effort from the water purification process. The bottle uses a long-term use replaceable filter, which can treat about 4,000 liters of water, 5.5 years of usage if you drank two liters of water every day. The bottle has a unique feature, which shuts the filter off when the cartridge has expired so you can get the maximum life out of your filter without the risk of drinking contaminated water.
The Lifesaver Bottle filters out all water-borne pathogens using a filter with holes 15 nanometers across to prevent even the smallest viruses, 25 nanometers across, to cross the filter, eliminating the need for chemicals to treat the water. The Lifesaver Bottle is fitted with a 4000UF replaceable purification cartridge that removes bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi, and all other microbiological water-borne pathogens from your water.
The Lifesaver bottle also comes with an activated carbon filter made of a high specification activated carbon block, which reduces a broad spectrum of chemical residues including: pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues, and heavy metals such as lead and copper. The Carbon filter also eliminates bad tastes and odors from contaminates such as chlorine and sulphur. The carbon filter is designed to last for approximately 250 liters.
In addition to the purification cartridge and carbon filter, the Lifesaver Bottle is supplied with a pre-filter disc. The pre-filter disc protects the membranes of the purification cartridge from objects such as gravel, sand, sticks, and mud, prolonging the overall life of the cartridge. Your pre-filter disc may also be used as a sponge to soak up water from those hard to reach areas like cracks in rocks or shallow puddles.
Exceptionally easy to use, the Lifesaver Bottle filters water on demand at the time of collection. Simply unscrew the base, dip the bottle in the nearest water source, and pump the water through the filter to a teat at the other end, purifying up to 750 milliliters of water in just under a minute. The clean water can be drank immediately, directly from the Lifesaver bottle or poured into a separate container for storage. Designed to work at any angle and in any axis, not only are you able to drink from the bottle in any position, but you can also fill mugs, water bottles, pans, and other water storage vessels from any position.
The Lifesaver Bottle utilizes failsafe technology to protect you from drinking contaminated water toward the end of the filter cartridge's life. As the cartridge approaches the end of its life, the bottle requires a greater number of pumps to induce water to flow. When no more water can be induced to flow despite continuous pumping, the cartridge has expired and it is time to replace it.
The Lifesaver Bottle is designed not to over-pressurize as a safety feature to prevent injury. Over-pumping the bottle will cause the flip lid to bulge. If pumping continues, then the teat will open and release the water and the pressure.
Due to its unique pneumatic action, the Lifesaver Bottle can be used to direct a jet of sanitized water directly onto a wound, cleaning away any other contaminants, allowing for levels of wound irrigation never before possible in the field.
Winner of the "Best Technological Development for Future Soldier System Enhancement" at Soldier Technology 2007, the Lifesaver bottle has earned the trust of the armed forces in delivering safe water anywhere in the world. Tested and approved for use by the United States EPA, the UK Water Compliance Guidelines, and the European Drinking Water Directive Council, the Lifesaver 4000 Ultra Filtration Water Bottle is a portable water purification system that you can rely on.
Filter Specifications:
Cartridge service rating: 4,000 liters (1,056 U.S. gallons)
Replaceable activated carbon filter
Replaceable UF cartridge
Bacteria retention: >99.999995 % (log 7.5)(2)
Virus retention: >99.999 % (log5)(3)
Activated carbon reduces chemical residues including: pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues, and heavy metals

Bottle Specifications:
Bottle storage capacity: 750 milliliters
Chew-proof, replaceable drinking teat
Watertight, snap-fit lid
Cap seal
Pump tube
Protective sleeve
Removable anti-slip base
Twist lock pump handle
Removable carry strap
Dry weight of bottle including cartridge: 635 grams (approximately 22 ounces)

Operating Specifications:
Minimum operating temperature: >0 degrees Celsius, 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Maximum operating temperature: 50 degrees Celsius, 122 degrees Fahrenheit
Minimum storage temperature: -10 degrees Celsius, 14 degrees Fahrenheit
Maximum storage temperature: 60 degrees Celsius, 140 degrees Fahrenheit
Initial flow rate: 2.5 liters per minute at 0.25 Bar(1)
Flow rates and capacity depend on the quality of the feed water
After first use the product should be protected against freezing

Compliance and Testing Specifications:
U.S. compliance EPA: U.S. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act 93-523
UK compliance: Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000
EU compliance: European Drinking Water Directive Council, Directive 98/83/EC
Tested by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine using Escherichia coli NCTC 10418 in accordance with the Protocol for Microbiological Water Purifiers in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines
Tested by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine using Poliovirus Type 1 (Sabin vaccine strain) in accordance with the Protocol for Microbiological Water Purifiers in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines

Manufacturer Warranty Two-year international limited warranty

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Katadyn Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter Review

Katadyn Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I agree with consensus of prior reviews that it's good all around, faster than other models, but has some issues w/back pressure & leaking if you pump too fast or while using the "faster flow" setting instead of "longer life". The faster setting bypasses the ceramic filter (your biological nasty filter) and uses only the charcoal (some bio, chemicals & taste, like your average Brita filter).
I bought this instead of Katadyn's Pocket Microfilter (found for $179 on some sites at the time) for 4 main reasons:
1) ability to attach directly to Nalgene bottle. I'll be using this primarily while living overseas in areas w/questionable tap water, so this is a nice convenience. Don't think the Pocket filter allows this.
2)2-stage filter w/activated charcoal to remove chemicals, pesticides & bad taste. This option isn't available w/the ceramic-only Pocket Microfilter, and again was something I want specifically due to where I'm going. If chemicals aren't an issue where you'll be, this aspect might not matter to you.
3) Double-piston design for faster output & ease of use compared to the Pocket Microfilter. Pumping action was simple & ergonomic.
4) Cost. $80 is great compared to $180+. I may regret that mentality if/when this breaks, but for now it's a good deal.
Three things so far that I'm not excited about:
1) Although they state that the paper carbon "cartridge" is good for 500 gallons, the instructions say that the activated charcoal INSIDE the cartridge should be replaced about every 50 gallons or every 6 months, depending on chemical content/taste of the water. I felt deceived after discovering this omission from the reviews I read. Not printed anywhere in their online documentation, but REI does mention it. Without the charcoal, I might as well have purchased the more expensive Pocket filter w/lifetime warranty & just use a separate PUR/Brita pitcher for taste & chemicals (which I'll probably do anyway)... (The pocket filter's ceramic filter has a life of 13,000 gallons, compared to the 1000 gallons of the Vario's ceramic pre-filter).
2) The back-pressure & leaking issues mentioned by people in other reviews seem to be true, but mainly occur after removing the "source" tube to flush the system. After a few pumps, handle resistance increases & it wouldn't lower fully. I have to unscrew the pump head to release the pressure, which of course splatters water everywhere. This could potentially contaminate your filtered water if you're not careful.
3) This doesn't seem like the simplest system to use, clean & maintain. Several O-rings & moving parts to deal with. Also, the plastic housing may or may not hold up over time. We'll see.
Since I need a filter for travel/living overseas where the water is allegedly contaminated both w/chemicals and biological stuff, I'll keep this around & replace the charcoal until it breaks. After I get back, I'll probably get the more expensive filter for camping/backpacking use. This one is a bit large too, but hopefully will be ok.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Katadyn Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter

A member of Katadyn's Backcountry Series of water filters, the Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter is the first water filter that is adjustable for different conditions. It combines two leading technologies into one high-performance pump: ceramic for a longer life and pleated glass fiber for easy operation. The Vario offers a high output and also contains a replaceable carbon core to keep the water tasting fresh.
Key Details:
Output: Up to 2 quarts (2 liters) per minute
Cartridge Capacity: Up to 500 gallons (1875 liters)
Weight: 15 ounces
Height: 6.5 inches
Hose Length: 36 inches
Includes prefilter, cleaning pad, and deluxe carry bag

About Katadyn Katadyn of Switzerland has been producing high quality portable water systems since 1928. Their history has been one of innovation and durability. Katadyn products are used by militaries, health organizations and outdoor adventurers world-wide. No other water system provides higher quality or longer lasting performance. Katadyn is the global leader in portable water treatment. With subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, France, and Singapore; Katadyn develops, produces, and distributes high quality products which are used whenever safe drinking water isn't available--for travel, camping and humanitarian operations.
From Backpackgeartest.org The Katadyn Vario Microfilter is part of the backcountry series filter line. The manufacturer indicates this filter line is good for all round use. The manufacturer claims that this filter meets the industry standards for reduction of bacteria (99.9999% Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9 % Giardia and Cryptosporidium)...read the entire review

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Katadyn Quick Fill Hydration Adaptor Accessory Review

Katadyn Quick Fill Hydration Adaptor Accessory
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I got this product and had it spliced into my CamelBak Hellion in about 10 min's. I had to reverse my tube because it has insulation for the cold on it, which came all the way to the mouthpiece. On the other end there was about 4 inches of exposed tubing, which was perfect to splice the adapter into. I haven't had the chance to use it with my Katadyn Pocket yet, but I'm pretty positive it will work great!!

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Katadyn Guide Replacement Cartridge Review

Katadyn Guide Replacement Cartridge
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this item as a replacement filter for my PUR Scout (now discontinued). The actual pump assembly has had very little use over the years, so I didn't want to replace the entire device. The Guide replacement filter functions perfectly. The enclosed mesh screen definitely helps prolong the life of the cartridge by pre-filtering some of the particulate. The instructions included were very easy to follow, and installing the new cartridge posed no problems. Be sure to pump water through the filter for a minute or so after installing to prime the cartridge. The water will appear black for the first few pumps, but will be perfectly clear after about 20 seconds of pumping.
A must buy if you have a PUR Scout, or Katadyn Guide that needs a new filter cartridge.

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