Your Sawyer Squeeze is NOT dead! (And why the heck did I buy a Sawyer Mini?)
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- (Audio bugs fixed). You can jump to results of the cleaning/testing if you don't care about the rest of the video - (27:05)
I bought and wanted to test out a (smaller) Sawyer Mini to replace my Sawyer Squeeze (larger, more flow) when it slowed down after 600 trail miles despite my efforts to clean it out by back-flushing it.
When I looked through the packaging for the MINI, I noticed the more advanced care instructions for the first time. Hot water makes sense, and I'm more than a little disappointed with myself for not thinking of that one when I had plenty of access to hot water in hostels on trail. But VINEGAR? That kind of blew my mind.
I finally realized that my filter had probably slowed down due to calcium build up. Now that I know vinegar can fix this kind of clogging, I think my Squeeze filter will last a long long long time.
That's the great thing about the sawyer, you don't have to buy a new cartridge (basically rebuying the filter every couple of months). I've seen posts online about newer filters, and people say "oh you have to rebuy a Sawyer too". But I think that if your'e armed with these maintenance tips your sawyer will keep ticking.
An important thing to note is that Sawyer recommends sanitizing your filter before you put it away (after a hike/ period of use). I never did this before, but I'm definitely going to now.
I think some hikers expect the Squeeze to last an entire 'thru hike' with just normal back-flushing, but really if you just soaked and flushed it with hot water like I tested out here it will perform way better for you. On a zero day at a hostel you can take an hour to maintain what is arguably your most important piece of equipment, and even spend the buck or two it costs to pick up a jug of vinegar (for mineral deposit clogs) for everyone to share when you are doing your food resupply in town.
The Sawyer is a LOW MAINTENANCE piece of gear, not NO MAINTENANCE (no water filter would be). It's a $35ish piece of equipment, which is kind of nuts (good price) considering it's THE CHOICE water filter right now for long distance hikers. But that $35 is also significant enough that you probably don't want to be rebuying it all the time due to poor maintenance.
More so, if it's a perfectly good filter that just needs some cleaning its a shame to just throw it out for a new one.
Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you! I'm going to avoid buying another filter ever again if I can help it. Unless that is, I end up testing out something new.
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Shown in this video:
Sawyer Squeeze - sawyer.com/pro...
Sawyer Mini - sawyer.com/pro...
Poncho Tarp Backdrop (discontinued but here's an extremely close alternative from maker of the original GoLite) - mytrailco.com/...
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Other Content:
littlelifehappy.com - my website
My current SUL gear list - lighterpack.co...
Music sourced from the UA-cam Audio Library.
I took my mini out on a quick hike and realized I never cleaned it after I got home after my last trip. First taste I realized I had no water to drink, the foul taste of mold. Got home and bleached it several times (light concentration) then used para cord to spin at a high speed to remove all of the water the plunger couldn't. Let it dry in a bag of rice to prevent and regrowth.
Great videos and great work.
I will also add that I use mine as a gravity filter so I do notice the slowing rate of flow when it becomes clogged.
TheThomasites,
Agh! Yuck. Good on you for fixing it up rather than tossing it.
The spinning with paracord and storing it in a bag of rice is a good idea. I’ve thought about trying to fully dry the MINI so that I can keep it in my car full time without risk of freeze damage, I think your method might do the trick.
With my luck I’ll take out a window spinning the filter at high speed!
Thank you very much for your comment and support of the channel. Happy New Year! :)
@@songbirdultralight7384 spin it outside
TheThomasites,
Yes of course I was just joking that, with my bad luck, it would probably fly off to bad effect while I was spinning it.
I lost a set of keys spun around with a lanyard like this. The keys came off when the metal lanyard clip failed and my keys rocketed off into a stand of trees with surprising speed.
I pulled apart a small eye dropper and the rubber made a great cap for the other end of the mini :) Thanks for the vid nice test!
Wolf Walker
That’s a very good idea for a cap!
Thanks for your comment and support of the channel. :)
Hi Songbird
Hey man, hope you are well. I have not seen you on UA-cam lately - I see you need to spend more time on your study - fair enough - me too. I had 2 months off over year end but am back into it again with my motivation back but I will have to scale it back soon as my study year kicks in next week.
I have tagged you in my video, so I would love to see your 3 luxury items. If you have time it would be great to see what you come up with. Its fun.
Heres my 3 Luxury items video that I tagged you in - ua-cam.com/video/qBi6dX0O_80/v-deo.html
Regards
Blue Boy
Blue Boy Ultralight
Heya Blue Boy :)
Just to reply here as well:
Thank you for the tag and a fun video idea. I’m going to try to film before the weekend.
Hmm... “luxury” items. (Looks at ditty sack sadly)
*coming soon*
@@songbirdultralight7384 Cool Songbird - I look forward to watching your Vid. It will be sweet I am sure. BB