Hey Mike, good video Sir! I’ve found the best method for me is to set it on the ground, lock your arms out and use your upper body weight to press it out. I use a mil bank bag, bandanna or an MSR coffee filter to pre filter the water before pressing it out. Pre filtering is a pain in the rear but in my experience it doesn’t last 250 liters without some sort of pre filter. It seems to be a bit heavy for the capacity but at least it serves as a filter and container. Thanks for the vid Sir! Don’t quit, we need more creators on the topic.
I've been using the Grayl for about 3 years, and I love it. I have tested it in the runoff from a beaver pond, however, I generally prefilter it by using a handkerchief over the top when filling it, to extend the filter life. You should also (per instructions) flush the filter afterward to dry it out.
Picked up the standard geo, will definately pick up a second...probably tan lile yours. The filters sometimes go for 24.95 so I picked up a couple spares. When pressing place flat on ground with cap half open turn. Place heels of hands on each side and press evenly. A little trick is to use a little bit of food grade silicone grease on the seal...just barely. It helps seal and makes it easier to press. Normally any oils or grease particularly petroleum based will destroy your filter immediately. Tannic/swamp water and clay/heavy particulates will shorten its life considerably. The silicone grease seems to work well with no adverse effects, about 6-7 dollars tube on amazon. A Milbanks bag is standard fare with any filter for prefiltering. The grayle is spendy but what it does it does well. Weight sucks and it's spendy. But I'll still by a backup.
FYI Dave Canterbury at Self Reliance Outfitters has a stainless cup he designed for the grayl and a canvas pre filter bag to get the sediments and debrie from water source. to prolong filter life and the silicone insert in the filetr is a anti back flow so can add flavored drinks or electrolites to you clean water you should watch a couple of his videos on the system
@@mikebox What do you mean here? You pre filter then boil before using the Grayl? I know time is an issue from time to time and other times the auto-spell gets in the way… please say what you meant to say here. Thx who knows maybe I’m not clear on my question/explanation LoL nothing beats a face to face conversation 🫥
@johnstrelow2533 maybe u was referring to here where I am. But I usually do a pre filter before I either boil or use my filter to clean the water. If that is what you’re asking.
Experienced Sawyer users use a CNOC bag for dirty water collection because they are so much better and easier than the stiff included bags. The Sawyer, Katadyn, and TruBlu VersaFlow are filters, not purifiers. They are great for filtering water sources that do not have agricultural or manufacturing runoff or viruses, such as mountain streams. Most have a 0.1 micron filter specification. Be sure to compare labels since some are only 0.2 micron. Especially compare the filtration percentages for each major contaminant type based on your needs. The Grayl and some other systems are both filters and purifiers, which also remove a lot of other contaminants and viruses. These are great when water sources are stagnant or polluted. Again, read the labels when choosing. Set the Grayl on the ground, open the top cap enough to break the seal so air can escape, then place both hands on either side of the unit and allow your body weight to do the pressing for you. It’s fast and simple, even for a weary hiker. With all filters and purifiers, it is important to prefilter when collecting dirty water. At a minimum, a bandana or other thin cloth will keep big stuff out. Some form of Millbank bag is used with dirty water to prefilter. In especially bad cases, users will use a multi-step process of pour through a Millbank bag, then pour through a 1 micron filter bag (inserted in a CNOC), then remove the 1 micron bag, seal the CNOC, and squeeze through a Sawyer. If purification is also needed, the Sawyer output can go into a Grayl outer container and then be purified into the inner container as shown in the video. This is overkill for most situations, but shows how components can be used together to maximize protection and maximize filter life. The Grayl purifier does a lot which also means it has a much shorter life. The silicone insert inside the filter has 4 duckbill one way valves. When installed in a Grayl filter unit, it allows use of drink mixes.
I pop 1 of my kids hair ties around the bottle and a hankerchief bandana and prefilter with it heading downstream, not up (less sediment possibly) works great.
I just use a bandana over the top when I fill it. Gets out most of the stuff. Been using GRAYL for a few years. I take it camping as well as when I travel. It’s going to Europe with me next month.
Hey Mike, good video Sir! I’ve found the best method for me is to set it on the ground, lock your arms out and use your upper body weight to press it out. I use a mil bank bag, bandanna or an MSR coffee filter to pre filter the water before pressing it out. Pre filtering is a pain in the rear but in my experience it doesn’t last 250 liters without some sort of pre filter. It seems to be a bit heavy for the capacity but at least it serves as a filter and container. Thanks for the vid Sir! Don’t quit, we need more creators on the topic.
Thanks. I’m learning many things myself daily. And will keep hammering at it making videos on topics I hope people can also learn from.
I've been using the Grayl for about 3 years, and I love it. I have tested it in the runoff from a beaver pond, however, I generally prefilter it by using a handkerchief over the top when filling it, to extend the filter life. You should also (per instructions) flush the filter afterward to dry it out.
So far I’ve done this.
Picked up the standard geo, will definately pick up a second...probably tan lile yours. The filters sometimes go for 24.95 so I picked up a couple spares.
When pressing place flat on ground with cap half open turn. Place heels of hands on each side and press evenly.
A little trick is to use a little bit of food grade silicone grease on the seal...just barely. It helps seal and makes it easier to press.
Normally any oils or grease particularly petroleum based will destroy your filter immediately. Tannic/swamp water and clay/heavy particulates will shorten its life considerably. The silicone grease seems to work well with no adverse effects, about 6-7 dollars tube on amazon.
A Milbanks bag is standard fare with any filter for prefiltering.
The grayle is spendy but what it does it does well. Weight sucks and it's spendy. But I'll still by a backup.
Thanks for the information. I’ll continue using it. But it’s hard with that weight.
FYI Dave Canterbury at Self Reliance Outfitters has a stainless cup he designed for the grayl and a canvas pre filter bag to get the sediments and debrie from water source. to prolong filter life and the silicone insert in the filetr is a anti back flow so can add flavored drinks or electrolites to you clean water you should watch a couple of his videos on the system
Thanks. I follow his channel.
I think most people put it on a stable surface or ground to press it. The accordion squeeze looks tough.
Like working out. 😂😂😂
A milbank bag WILL make your filter last much longer..love my grayl!
I use mine when I boil. But I usually prefilter water. For this video I tried it raw
@@mikebox What do you mean here? You pre filter then boil before using the Grayl? I know time is an issue from time to time and other times the auto-spell gets in the way… please say what you meant to say here. Thx who knows maybe I’m not clear on my question/explanation LoL nothing beats a face to face conversation 🫥
@johnstrelow2533 maybe u was referring to here where I am. But I usually do a pre filter before I either boil or use my filter to clean the water. If that is what you’re asking.
Experienced Sawyer users use a CNOC bag for dirty water collection because they are so much better and easier than the stiff included bags.
The Sawyer, Katadyn, and TruBlu VersaFlow are filters, not purifiers. They are great for filtering water sources that do not have agricultural or manufacturing runoff or viruses, such as mountain streams. Most have a 0.1 micron filter specification. Be sure to compare labels since some are only 0.2 micron. Especially compare the filtration percentages for each major contaminant type based on your needs.
The Grayl and some other systems are both filters and purifiers, which also remove a lot of other contaminants and viruses. These are great when water sources are stagnant or polluted. Again, read the labels when choosing.
Set the Grayl on the ground, open the top cap enough to break the seal so air can escape, then place both hands on either side of the unit and allow your body weight to do the pressing for you. It’s fast and simple, even for a weary hiker.
With all filters and purifiers, it is important to prefilter when collecting dirty water. At a minimum, a bandana or other thin cloth will keep big stuff out. Some form of Millbank bag is used with dirty water to prefilter. In especially bad cases, users will use a multi-step process of pour through a Millbank bag, then pour through a 1 micron filter bag (inserted in a CNOC), then remove the 1 micron bag, seal the CNOC, and squeeze through a Sawyer. If purification is also needed, the Sawyer output can go into a Grayl outer container and then be purified into the inner container as shown in the video.
This is overkill for most situations, but shows how components can be used together to maximize protection and maximize filter life. The Grayl purifier does a lot which also means it has a much shorter life.
The silicone insert inside the filter has 4 duckbill one way valves. When installed in a Grayl filter unit, it allows use of drink mixes.
Great information. Thanks for writing it up for us to read.
I pop 1 of my kids hair ties around the bottle and a hankerchief bandana and prefilter with it heading downstream, not up (less sediment possibly) works great.
I just use a bandana over the top when I fill it. Gets out most of the stuff. Been using GRAYL for a few years. I take it camping as well as when I travel. It’s going to Europe with me next month.
Welcome to Europe
Also, the silicon insert inside is a one way valve, in case you want to add a drink powder without it getting into your filter.
I carry 2 32oz Nalgene and first need water purifier I love to death