Important tip of course: don't squeeze the pouch too hard! They will break easily if much force is applied. Also backwash often, and occasionally use very warm/somewhat hot watar with some vinegar to backwash once every few months too.
@@lex_one-two I've seen people saying this. I think they mean to force water back the other way through the filter to clean it for the next use. They get clogged.
My brand new never used not even home tested failed when I tried to use it 6 miles into the sawtooth wilderness here in Idaho. Sawyer has the worst CS ever and still fighting them to replace it. They suck as a company and don't have a quality built product. Here is the emails from them and I am still waiting on another response from them. Hi Doug, Thanks for reaching out to us and for choosing our filter. Sorry you've been having issues with the flow! It sounds as though your filter has just been blocked from particulates and/or minerals. Please try the process below for a blocked filter and let's see if that increases the flow. Please contact me again and let me know if this helped. A blocked filter can almost always be recovered by soaking the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for an hour or so, and then backflushing several times with hot water as hard as possible. The trick to a successful backwashing is to be very forceful with the process. Water will always take the path of least resistance, so in order to fully flush out the filter and restore its flow rate, make sure you are exerting as much pressure as you can, especially during the first couple of passes. The pressure of backwashing needs to be greater than the flow of the filtered water in order to dislodge the particulates. In cases where filters are very blocked, we would even recommend going back and forth with the backwashing process in order to "rock" the particulates out. If that doesn't work and your flow rate is still slow, your water source might be mineral rich, so we would suggest soaking it in plain, white, undiluted vinegar for an hour or more (you can even leave it overnight), and then repeating the process with hot water backflushes. This cleaning process is the key to filter maintenance and may need to be repeated a few times as it is normal for filters to get blocked by particulates and mineral deposits over time. The hot water soak helps to loosen up embedded particulates and the vinegar soak dissolves mineral deposits. We recommend repeating both the water and mineral soak processes when the flow is very slow as the pores are so tiny (0.1 micron is smaller than a human hair) that it may not be possible to reach all the pores the first few times around. To sanitize the filter, we'd recommend using a weak bleach solution (one capful of bleach per Liter of water). Slosh the weak bleach solution around in your pouch and run it through the filter. After the pouch and filter have been sanitized, let the filter sit upright with sufficient ventilation to dry out before storing the filter in a cool/dry location away from direct sun exposure. Some tips: For general maintenance, we recommend backwashing your filter after each outing, when your flow rate begins to diminish, before prolonged storage, and when you're ready to start using your filter again. Backwashing your filter after storage is a great way to re-wet the filters and restore the flow rate before use. Soak the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for ~30 min to loosen up any residual particulate built up in the filter fibers and then backflush several times with hot water as hard as possible. If the flow is still slow, repeat the process for a blocked filter above. Always sanitize the unit (as described above) before storing your filter. Our backwashing tips and tricks video can be seen here: sawyer.com/videos/backwashing-tips-tricks/ FYI, while we recommend dry storage, some people opt to store them wet. You would just need to be careful about mold growth in that situation and resanitize every so often. Many of our filters in developing nations have been being used on a daily basis for 12+ years. Hope that helps! Jeannie Sawyer Customer Service (727) 725-1177 My response This is a 100% brand new filter never used till this trip!!! First thanks for yoyr concern of our situation of a filter failed to work 6 miles in the back country. This could have been a very bad situation. I don't feel the need to back flush anything as this is brand new and never used. A replacement is what I expect !!!. Thanks Doug Their reply back !! Okay, apologies, didn't realize you had never used it before. While it's normal for new filters to need initial wetting (this is on the pouch directions) and for flow to increase after initial uses, inexplicably, some filters are hydrophobic and need more attention. Your first option would be to follow the directions that I sent for a blocked filter and see if that starts the flow. It is very possible that this will solve your problem. If it does not, you can send it in to us and one of our engineers will review/restore it (directions below). As long as there is no physical damage, your filter will either be restored or replaced. Note: please check with us to see if we are receiving them in the months from September through June, due to possible freezing conditions in various parts of the country. We are currently receiving them. Please safely pack and send just the filter in a properly sized box with sufficient packing material to avoid physical damage in transit. Envelopes and utility mailers will be returned. Include either a note stating the issue or a printed copy of this email chain. Packages can be sent to the address below. Sawyer Products Filter Review 605 7th Ave North Safety Harbor, FL 34695 Best, Jeannie Sawyer Customer Service (727) 725-1177 WTF I have to pay return postage for a brand new item that is faulty Screw them !!! Here is my reply back and I have heard nothing back not a word, Wow I am shocked I must send in on my own dime so you can inspect and restore or replace ?? There is 100% zero damage to the unit just one really pissed off consumer that bought a product that was life dependent and it FN failed to work the first try in the Mountains 6 miles in and no way to filter my water. This is 100% the worst service I have had in a very long time. Your product that is life dependent fails and I mean fails to work and instead of showing real concern and trying to resolve ASAP as what Oh its hiking season and I have 3 more major trips planned. Thanks for messing up my plans while I play this game of getting a faulty lifesaving product replaced under a lifetime warranty and first time ever using it. Send me a replacement please I will send the other back and pay via CC for deposit if for some reason you can find me at fault then charge my card but I am 100% confident your product is faulty and 100% new as I stated. Also I feel I should have my postage for the return covered as the product is NEW and FAILED to work in a life-or-death situation. Yes, we had a backup but what if we did'nt. Please fix this before I lose it and blast this all over social media and all my major hiking groups and explain this situation and how it has been handled As you can see I am holding up my word and sharing this all over the internet. $5.00 item and they can't take care of a real customer. Bad company
I'm hiking around Ireland on foot. It's such a small place, I'll never be more than 4 hours from a store, but im getting one of these for emergencies and heatwaves
Hey Ryan, Good to see ya bud. I just got one of these last week and used it a few times already to try it out. Works great! Heading to NC next week for 2-4 weeks to hike all around the Asheville area then heading back to FL to do some of the central Florida trail. Keep the videos rolling love the content!
If hiking the AT is a plan, the hose is not needed nor is the bag. Its best to use another smart bottle.Also i would always brace my clean bottle between feet when filling......
I have life straws stashed around. Tony lamb on UA-cam had a dream from Jesus where he was Instructed to tell people and give away as many water filters as possible
You need to learn mental discipline to make your water last. Could save your life. What if you got injured near the end of your hike and can't walk? You're almost out of water and could have to stay for a lot longer before help.
If you take care of it and clean it as the instructions say, it can last for a very long time. Keep it out of cold. If it gets to below freezing, the filter inside will get permanently stuck for some reason and make it useless.
@@accaciagame1706 I should say, it's warranty is lifetime. I've heard it can last a lifetime with proper cleaning and care. Mine went bad because they froze in cold temps. Once they freeze once, they become unusable or hard to drag.
Zoek je Mod? Nope! Maybe a little queezy, but I have always been ok. The only thing this doesn't protect against is viruses, but the Backwater sources don't usually have viruses. I'd say it's pretty safe when you're hiking, I just not use this thing around cities
@@OutdoorsEmbrace This filter won't protect from heavy metals like mercury, lead or cadmium or soluble, suspicious substances (like fertilizers and pesticides)
Hikers use these a lot! Iron tablets will also kill viruses but can make the waster taste funky. Viruses aren’t usually a problem in the wilderness. I’ve seen so many videos of people using the sawyer squeeze. They don’t get sick. If you watch Dixie’s channel, she had to drink nasty stagnant water with a dead cat in it. She boiled that one first. 🤢
@@bonniecreevy2642 Bruh! (or sis!?) No way. What IS that channel link? I'm researching for a system to install in an overland vehicle with the general thought that renewed potable will be drawn from running streams, creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc. It is surprisingly difficult to find meaningful info to that end. So far, it appears there is no 'complete system' that will do this without also removing beneficial, natural nutrients that you need. The system you use will be based on the kind of water you have to work with. And when you're mobile, that changes every day or week. Or, I lack the knowledge to know better. Either way, answers are the goal.
With the liberals in charge it'll probably be wayyyyy sooner. We're on the verge of collapse now with dumb ass biden destroying the economy and society
Lots of videos showing that these things filter out mud. Shows a fundamental misunderstanding of microbiology. It's the stuff you can't see that makes you sick
These things don't filter out just mud. They filter out most of that stuff that is too tiny to see. These things are great for hikers to filter water while hiking multi day hikes because they work. You can drink from a stagnant pond even.
@@OutdoorsEmbrace what the video claims and what the video shows are not the same. If you want to show how these things filter microorganisms then show us a video with microscopes!
How about a video showing week old fly ridden road kill thrown in a tank of water. Add a good dose of dog diarrhoea. Leave it in the hot sun for a few days. Give it a good stir then get your magic filtering straw out and take a drink. Am I being ridiculous? I think the microbes contained in my "special brew" are far more similar to those you might encounter while walking in a popular area than those in the video's muddy puddle experiment. If the makers of this video truly believe in their product then they won't be afraid of my challenge
Important tip of course: don't squeeze the pouch too hard! They will break easily if much force is applied. Also backwash often, and occasionally use very warm/somewhat hot watar with some vinegar to backwash once every few months too.
You mean just the pouch correct? To wash and rinse the pouch?
@@lex_one-two I've seen people saying this. I think they mean to force water back the other way through the filter to clean it for the next use. They get clogged.
My brand new never used not even home tested failed when I tried to use it 6 miles into the sawtooth wilderness here in Idaho. Sawyer has the worst CS ever and still fighting them to replace it. They suck as a company and don't have a quality built product. Here is the emails from them and I am still waiting on another response from them. Hi Doug,
Thanks for reaching out to us and for choosing our filter. Sorry you've been having issues with the flow! It sounds as though your filter has just been blocked from particulates and/or minerals. Please try the process below for a blocked filter and let's see if that increases the flow. Please contact me again and let me know if this helped.
A blocked filter can almost always be recovered by soaking the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for an hour or so, and then backflushing several times with hot water as hard as possible. The trick to a successful backwashing is to be very forceful with the process. Water will always take the path of least resistance, so in order to fully flush out the filter and restore its flow rate, make sure you are exerting as much pressure as you can, especially during the first couple of passes. The pressure of backwashing needs to be greater than the flow of the filtered water in order to dislodge the particulates. In cases where filters are very blocked, we would even recommend going back and forth with the backwashing process in order to "rock" the particulates out.
If that doesn't work and your flow rate is still slow, your water source might be mineral rich, so we would suggest soaking it in plain, white, undiluted vinegar for an hour or more (you can even leave it overnight), and then repeating the process with hot water backflushes. This cleaning process is the key to filter maintenance and may need to be repeated a few times as it is normal for filters to get blocked by particulates and mineral deposits over time. The hot water soak helps to loosen up embedded particulates and the vinegar soak dissolves mineral deposits. We recommend repeating both the water and mineral soak processes when the flow is very slow as the pores are so tiny (0.1 micron is smaller than a human hair) that it may not be possible to reach all the pores the first few times around.
To sanitize the filter, we'd recommend using a weak bleach solution (one capful of bleach per Liter of water). Slosh the weak bleach solution around in your pouch and run it through the filter. After the pouch and filter have been sanitized, let the filter sit upright with sufficient ventilation to dry out before storing the filter in a cool/dry location away from direct sun exposure. Some tips:
For general maintenance, we recommend backwashing your filter after each outing, when your flow rate begins to diminish, before prolonged storage, and when you're ready to start using your filter again. Backwashing your filter after storage is a great way to re-wet the filters and restore the flow rate before use.
Soak the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for ~30 min to loosen up any residual particulate built up in the filter fibers and then backflush several times with hot water as hard as possible. If the flow is still slow, repeat the process for a blocked filter above. Always sanitize the unit (as described above) before storing your filter. Our backwashing tips and tricks video can be seen here:
sawyer.com/videos/backwashing-tips-tricks/
FYI, while we recommend dry storage, some people opt to store them wet. You would just need to be careful about mold growth in that situation and resanitize every so often. Many of our filters in developing nations have been being used on a daily basis for 12+ years.
Hope that helps!
Jeannie
Sawyer Customer Service
(727) 725-1177
My response This is a 100% brand new filter never used till this trip!!! First thanks for yoyr concern of our situation of a filter failed to work 6 miles in the back country. This could have been a very bad situation. I don't feel the need to back flush anything as this is brand new and never used. A replacement is what I expect !!!. Thanks Doug
Their reply back !! Okay, apologies, didn't realize you had never used it before. While it's normal for new filters to need initial wetting (this is on the pouch directions) and for flow to increase after initial uses, inexplicably, some filters are hydrophobic and need more attention. Your first option would be to follow the directions that I sent for a blocked filter and see if that starts the flow. It is very possible that this will solve your problem. If it does not, you can send it in to us and one of our engineers will review/restore it (directions below). As long as there is no physical damage, your filter will either be restored or replaced.
Note: please check with us to see if we are receiving them in the months from September through June, due to possible freezing conditions in various parts of the country. We are currently receiving them.
Please safely pack and send just the filter in a properly sized box with sufficient packing material to avoid physical damage in transit. Envelopes and utility mailers will be returned. Include either a note stating the issue or a printed copy of this email chain.
Packages can be sent to the address below.
Sawyer Products
Filter Review
605 7th Ave North
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
Best,
Jeannie
Sawyer Customer Service
(727) 725-1177
WTF I have to pay return postage for a brand new item that is faulty Screw them !!! Here is my reply back and I have heard nothing back not a word, Wow I am shocked I must send in on my own dime so you can inspect and restore or replace ?? There is 100% zero damage to the unit just one really pissed off consumer that bought a product that was life dependent and it FN failed to work the first try in the Mountains 6 miles in and no way to filter my water. This is 100% the worst service I have had in a very long time. Your product that is life dependent fails and I mean fails to work and instead of showing real concern and trying to resolve ASAP as what Oh its hiking season and I have 3 more major trips planned. Thanks for messing up my plans while I play this game of getting a faulty lifesaving product replaced under a lifetime warranty and first time ever using it. Send me a replacement please I will send the other back and pay via CC for deposit if for some reason you can find me at fault then charge my card but I am 100% confident your product is faulty and 100% new as I stated. Also I feel I should have my postage for the return covered as the product is NEW and FAILED to work in a life-or-death situation. Yes, we had a backup but what if we did'nt. Please fix this before I lose it and blast this all over social media and all my major hiking groups and explain this situation and how it has been handled
As you can see I am holding up my word and sharing this all over the internet. $5.00 item and they can't take care of a real customer. Bad company
Thanks for showing how to use it! Just bought one yesterday! This was very informative!
I'm hiking around Ireland on foot. It's such a small place, I'll never be more than 4 hours from a store, but im getting one of these for emergencies and heatwaves
Hey Ryan, Good to see ya bud. I just got one of these last week and used it a few times already to try it out. Works great! Heading to NC next week for 2-4 weeks to hike all around the Asheville area then heading back to FL to do some of the central Florida trail. Keep the videos rolling love the content!
Hell yeah! Enjoy NC! I'm in SC right now, so close to hitting the road again full time. I've been stationary for a little while during the quarantine.
Just saw these at Academy for $20. Water nearby is probably just as murky if not more. Thanks for demo
I always been curious how people drink dirty water so thank yu
If hiking the AT is a plan, the hose is not needed nor is the bag. Its best to use another smart bottle.Also i would always brace my clean bottle between feet when filling......
Thanks for a quick lesson! 👏👏👏👏👏
My family also planning to buy this, so I went on yt and came across your vid, nice video btw.
I have life straws stashed around. Tony lamb on UA-cam had a dream from Jesus where he was Instructed to tell people and give away as many water filters as possible
i have just discovered your channel... great content... greetings from chile
THank thank yu I'm so weird lol a always wanted to know how it works
Thanks for Sharing info for other viable drinking water source not normally one would think of. :))
Cheers for the video, Bud.
I'm stocking some of these up for emergency purposes. I got mine on ebay
Trying to figure out how to use my water filter.
Lol
This would be good to have
I am curious if this can filter ocean water and turns it into fresh water
No, I believe it can not. That is another level haha.
I just bought this , I always seem to run out of water even if I’m only hiking a few miles
You need to learn mental discipline to make your water last. Could save your life. What if you got injured near the end of your hike and can't walk? You're almost out of water and could have to stay for a lot longer before help.
I’d use that and also boil the water ......
Than maybe, if I’m dying of thirst.
can you use this with water from a dehumidifier?
Yes! Funny people still watching my old videos! These are cringe hahahah
@@OutdoorsEmbrace I like them
Hey just wondering how long does that last??
If you take care of it and clean it as the instructions say, it can last for a very long time. Keep it out of cold. If it gets to below freezing, the filter inside will get permanently stuck for some reason and make it useless.
@@OutdoorsEmbrace A very long time is a meaningless after. More than such and such years has more meaning.
@@accaciagame1706 I should say, it's warranty is lifetime. I've heard it can last a lifetime with proper cleaning and care.
Mine went bad because they froze in cold temps. Once they freeze once, they become unusable or hard to drag.
You could have left it in pouch and carried more water with you ?
True
Saya membeli sawyer mini dan hydroblu carbon active untuk emergency survival bila terjadi bencana alam/ natural disaster
Did you ever feld sick after drinking out off this?
Zoek je Mod?
Nope! Maybe a little queezy, but I have always been ok. The only thing this doesn't protect against is viruses, but the Backwater sources don't usually have viruses. I'd say it's pretty safe when you're hiking, I just not use this thing around cities
@@OutdoorsEmbrace This filter won't protect from heavy metals like mercury, lead or cadmium or soluble, suspicious substances (like fertilizers and pesticides)
Hikers use these a lot! Iron tablets will also kill viruses but can make the waster taste funky. Viruses aren’t usually a problem in the wilderness. I’ve seen so many videos of people using the sawyer squeeze. They don’t get sick. If you watch Dixie’s channel, she had to drink nasty stagnant water with a dead cat in it. She boiled that one first. 🤢
@@bonniecreevy2642 omg 😱🙀
@@bonniecreevy2642 Bruh! (or sis!?) No way. What IS that channel link? I'm researching for a system to install in an overland vehicle with the general thought that renewed potable will be drawn from running streams, creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc. It is surprisingly difficult to find meaningful info to that end. So far, it appears there is no 'complete system' that will do this without also removing beneficial, natural nutrients that you need. The system you use will be based on the kind of water you have to work with. And when you're mobile, that changes every day or week. Or, I lack the knowledge to know better. Either way, answers are the goal.
Hiking with headphones?!
Usually that or a speaker. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks while hiking.
That's called an outdoors pretender. City folk, they're ruining it for us real outdoorsmen that aren't just doing it as a social event.
i wanna see sawyer filter with black inky swamp water
Does this work with salt water?
No, need desalination for that
Tried this with tap water - still tastes bad lol
Doesn’t remove chemicals or compounds so the taste will be the same
Just saw a tik tok mentioning that we'll all be fighting for fresh water in around 10 years so here I am just in case
With the liberals in charge it'll probably be wayyyyy sooner. We're on the verge of collapse now with dumb ass biden destroying the economy and society
@@michaelvoorhees5978 sucks to be u. I'm sure u don't like liberals but I sure do. Good luck in America cus im not even American mate.
My question is how does this filter bacterias and viruses? This is a real question because there are brain eating bacterias.
I would google this for an answer. I was just showing people how to use this. It is a survival tool. Not for daily drinking.
My Sawyer I just bought looks way different then yours
Mine is the Sawyer Mini
Just because your water looks clean doesn't mean it is clean
Of course, but it works enough.
I have this
Lots of videos showing that these things filter out mud. Shows a fundamental misunderstanding of microbiology. It's the stuff you can't see that makes you sick
These things don't filter out just mud. They filter out most of that stuff that is too tiny to see. These things are great for hikers to filter water while hiking multi day hikes because they work. You can drink from a stagnant pond even.
@@OutdoorsEmbrace what the video claims and what the video shows are not the same. If you want to show how these things filter microorganisms then show us a video with microscopes!
Oh behave Steve.
How about a video showing week old fly ridden road kill thrown in a tank of water. Add a good dose of dog diarrhoea. Leave it in the hot sun for a few days. Give it a good stir then get your magic filtering straw out and take a drink.
Am I being ridiculous? I think the microbes contained in my "special brew" are far more similar to those you might encounter while walking in a popular area than those in the video's muddy puddle experiment. If the makers of this video truly believe in their product then they won't be afraid of my challenge
@@stevenewcombe9266 You could be right tbh, I think the kinda filter you’ll need would be a portable big berky 😂