Katadyn VS Platypus - Gravity Water Filters & Speed Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Comparing Katadyn and Platypus - gravity-based water filtration systems after 100+days of use. The Katadyn system had been used longer but the filter replaced once. The Platypus filter here had more miles on it.
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I’ve been using the katadyn for a few seasons, and I appreciate that you can actually take the filter apart to clean it as opposed to just a backwash. I filter a lot of pretty greasy creek water when backpacking and as long as you rinse it once every day or two it filters seamlessly.
Really great comparison and good to know. I currently use the platypus and love it.
Thanks Dale! Great product in my books. Worth every penny.
I didn't really care which one filtered the fastest, but which filtered the most contaminants. I would be very interested in learning that in your next comparison. Thanks 👍
Well I told my wife I no longer needed to dry the dishes because air does that.. Im kicked to the couch now, appreciate it bud! Lol
LOL just let her know that the dish rag is probably crawling with bacteria. Dish rack for the win!
WHICH IS BETTER AT REMOVING CONTAMINANTS?
If you ever have trouble finding a replacement filter for the Platypus, a Sawyer filter works fine. They will be quite a bit slower as they filter down to 1 micron instead of the larger 2 microns of the platypus, but work well and are also backflushable. They seem to last a lot longer than the platypus filters and are rated for many times the volume before needing to be replaced. They are cheaper too.
Great video and good comparison. We have been using a 15l boundary tech bag for dirty water and 10l msr bag for clean water with a Sawyer inline filter without fail for many years now, and we do at least minimum of 4 fill ups of the dirty bag from camp make up to tear down on our trips and we have 10 people usually in our groups traveling the lakes of Northwestern Ontario. Always nice to see what other s are using....cheers Fred
Thanks Fred! Whew 15L, that's a solid bag...makes sense for 10 people. I've heard great things about Sawyer too.
Wow I learnt some good stuff. I have to say I think your sense of humour is awesome, definitely left of centre. Every video of yours I have watched I have LOL tears down face moments. Thank you so much Please Please keep up the good work.
Hahah you rock Nikki, thank you!!! My videos aren't for everyone and probably much less my sense of humour, but I'm always glad to hear that it connects with someone lol. Thanks!!! 🙏
Great review and we agree - Platy 👍🏼 We also use 3 additional things: the charcoal filter (huge taste improvement), Platy 4 litre tank used to fill reservoir and, finally, modified coffee micro screen with hanky to filter the scum/debris while pouring from tank to reservoir (increases life of your expensive filter). After 11 days in Woodland Caribou, this system performed very well. We have a BeFree for between portages so we don’t carry water bottles.
Interesting Tina, I've never noticed a taste from the regular filter but now I'm curious. Might have to try that. That's wise to filter pre-reservoir... There's inevitably a fair bit of stuff. I just address it with the backflush but you're stopping it at the source.
Backcountry Angling Ontario now that you are in those pristine lakes up north, H2O taste may not be noticeable. Some of the Algonquin/Kawartha Highlands lakes have an “earthy” taste to the water so the charcoal filter works great here. We always backflush too but gunk doesn’t build up as much.
Hi Backcountry: I've used a Katadyn for about 7 years & the only problem I've had is with a hole in the tub from pinching it at the top because of it being pinched at the nipple. Every year I thoroughly rinse the filter . Also found that the hose length has an effect. Thanks for the review. Brian 79
Thanks Brian, that's interesting. And the same filter all 7 years I gather? I took pretty good care of my filter without the same success. -Jon
Great job sir..huge fan of your channel...i use the sawyer mini...hope you have some huge trips plan this fall...ill be up in the BWCA in 6 weeks for my once a year trip I make solo...really can't wait till the one...
Thanks so much Erich! I've seen great reviews for the Sawyer too...seems like another great option. Starting a 9-day trip in two days and then one more in the fall 😁 Hope you have an awesome trip in the BWCA next month!
We (wife , me 2 kids under 8) ending up buying the Lifestraw Mission. A bit spendy but we love it. We use 2
2L jugs to keep topped up without worrying about time. It’s the 1st water filtration device I’ve ever had. The virus protection might be overprotective in Ontario waters but we didn’t care.
Oh cool I didn't know Lifestraw offered a gravity filter. Better safe than sorry!
I might consider considering the platypus. Respect your opinion. Experience has its privileges.
Most of the waters we travel are in close proximity to urban areas. I’m not sure I would trust a filter without boiling. I’m allergic to spudge. Lol. Trace elements are highly concentrated. We pack our water and longer trips are a challenge. I would love to filter but don’t know if it’s a viable alternative. Time to do my research.
Thanks for the honest review.
Cheers
Thanks Snail :) Don't blame you at all for boiling in close proximity to development. Let me know if settle on an answer.
"Buy which ever one you want, I don't care!"...….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ive used the platypus for a while now too. Not Keen on the zip lock either but thats the only flaw. I love being able to set it up and leave knowing that I'll have 4L of clean water while I do other things. I froze it last year and after un-thawing it still worked great. I also have a BeFree (trying to lighten my load) but I can't get the plastic taste out so my preference is going to be the platypus.
Great and accurate review
Thanks a lot Mark! That's exactly it...just let it go while you set up camp and then you're set. Plastic taste would definitely be a deal-breaker for me.
Picked up the Platypus from your recommendation. Thank you!
The cedars look like you have a healthy rabbit population. Only a slight judgement... haha.
Right on Chris :) Hahah definitely lots of hares here
About 7 years back, I came across a filtration unit, made by Reliance Plastics, of Winnipeg (All Canucks have one of their clear, fold up jugs w/spigot). They had redesigned the jug with a larger mouth (like their hard-sided blue Aquatainer) The screw on cap had spigot outside and a Katadyn 4-5 inch filter that would filter out water-borne cysts, EPA approved. This jug held 20 litres and could sit on a flat surface and act like a faucet - to speed up the flow it was possible to push down on the jug. I bought one at "The Tire" for $30. I guess the "gear heads" wanted something more expensive. Reliance dropped it due to poor sales. This was something made for groups, but the 4 litre bags are also to much for your trips. I make a litre with Aqua-Tabs for drinking. Most water consumed, around camp, is boiled. I have found that the best way to have a cool drink at camp, is to mix lake water with over-proof rum! Giardia be gone.
Lol wow 20L, that's pretty solid, especially for the price. Sounds pretty handy for a group. Rum is all well and good but what if one wants cool water in the morning? 😋 I use Aquatabs too when on the go. I'll boil in cold weather for the warmth of the fire, but otherwise I'd rather be fishing 😁
Another vote for the platypus. Also- judging so hard on the cedars. From what I can tell they are emerald cedars- likely bought from home Depot or some other large box store. These trees are grown out in bc in a vastly different climate then shipped to Ontario to sell. Very common to see them doing poorly in any landscape in Ontario.
Keep the awesome content coming!
Hahaha thanks for the honesty 😋 I just bought the place a couple of months ago so I don't even know, but they seem pretty unhealthy 😞 Thanks Andrew!
My current system is two CNOC Vecto Bags... one Orange for the dirty water, one Blue for clean Water. I pair these up with a Sawyer Micro filter. That's all that is needed... bag to filter to bag. Additionally I have the Hose with clamp from Platypus. It can be purchased separate. This is a great way to filter the water to a different container, such as a Nalgene bottle. Platypus also makes in-line charcoal filters that can be installed when the only water available comes for a very bad source. Only good for about 100 liters, but well worth having one in kit. The new 2019 CNOC Vecto bags are awesome... I've used them several times over, and have no complaints, other than to be sure that you match the threads up just perfect. User error.
I run the sawyer also. I 'll check out the Vecto bags as the sawyer bags are a pain to fill. I fill bottles so the pinch shut off would be very nice.Thanks
Interesting, reviews seem good for the CNOC bags, and I've seen great reviews for Sawyer too. Definitely plenty of user error with these bags. You're also not supposed to have the filters out in freezing conditions which I've probably been guilty of on shoulder season trips.
@@LostLakes I bought the sawyer because it was on the shelf at my favorite outdoor supply store.I went for thirty years without treating water until I walked up on a guy defecating in the river upstream from where I camped the night before. I filter because of people, not beaver fever.
OMG. What is wrong with people... GOOD. CALL. Humans are so gross.
Thanks for this. Is it true that the Platypus develops air bubbles, which stop the flow through the filter?
Lol, I'm with you on the dishes drying themselves. Great vid, helped me decide on a system.
Hahah only logical choice to me. Glad to hear that, thank you!
LOL! That was too funny. Been using the Katadyn for a few seasons and had to replace the filter, unfortunately it calfed in the middle of our last paddle so there was some boiling going on. Like the back flush feature much better and looks like Platypus packs away more compactly. We use an MSR Dromedary 6L and it is tough as nails; doubles as a shower too when its too cool to take a dip with some warm water mixed in . . . like your 8 day hiking trip with a canoe lol. That was serisouly cold water brother and will never forget Erin the Ice Breaker who walked out of the bush with bowling shoes. Don't let her go Bro!
Lol oh noo, that's not ideal mid-trip. That MSR one looks like it's made for the military lol. All hail Erin the Ice Breaker!! She's sticking around 😜
I used a katadyne this weekend and it was blistering fast for about a day (20-30L, it was a 10L model), them it allowed right down. With no backflow,I just had to wait. I'm going to get a platypus.
Yep!! That has been my experience exactly, and seems to be the norm. The Platypus has been fantastic.
I was literally about to ask you what water filter I should get and then thought to look at your channel and tada! Read my mind. Properly gearing up for baby's third (wish it were more) portage!
Hahah! Funny enough I just ordered the Life Straw you had on our trip. Nice for on the go...I hope.
I really like the Katadyn. You see bad reviews on REI and others, but I think they are mostly user error and lack of maintenance/cleaning between trips. Something I never considered was backflushing my katadyn from a bag. I usually just clip my katadyn tube into my hydration pack to fill it so I guess I could backflush when it is connected.
Yeah I hear ya. Often the case. I took pretty good care of mine but found that the Platypus filter ran longer and with less maintenance. I loved the Katadyn when I first got it though. I think I've read that it can't be backflushed because the filter isn't inline, even if you have a reservoir that clips in. If you're able to with a noticeable improvement in flow after, please let me know.
Did you wet the filters for the recommended time prior to your test?
I have & use the Platypus. Backflushing works to a point, but eventually you have to replace the filter. Otherwise it's great and NO PUMPING.
For sure. Even without backflushing, I've found that the filter lasts significantly longer. No pumping!! ✊
We have the katadyn. We use it on our canoe camping trips.
Works great Sarah, but only up to a point I've found. After 50L, both filters I had for it slowed down a lot, and after 100L it was very slow. The Platypus has filter hundreds of litres for me and still runs great. Just my experience though, and I did love the Katadyn for a while.
I just use a sawyer mini, cheap and it seems to be doing the job. Also if that was a unibroue, I have to commend your fabulous taste in beer.
Hahah thanks Ethan, it was indeed. My favourite brewery by a long shot. La Fin du Monde is my all-time fav but I enjoy everything they make. They don't sell it where I live so whenever I'm in Thunder Bay I come home with a couple of cases. And yeah, Sawyers seem to be very well reviewed as well...never tried one myself.
Are you still satisfied with your Platypus? I'm just about to invest in one before this summer
Yeah absolutely. Pull the trigger!
i have the Kat basecap and i enjoy it. But i did find that it clogged fairly quickly. Even after cleaning it i never had good flow after.
Yeah exactly Adam. I still liked it when I had it, but it got super slow after the first 50L, if that.
haha, I have also lost my cap. They probably do, but they should sell replacements. Also on those humid southern ontario days, air does not dry dishes.
Lol damn elusive cap. Wish I still had it. I imagine they could provide it, but it seems like such a silly little thing to ship/pay for. Hahah depends how long you're willing to wait :P Dish towels are fine as long as they're treated hygienically...often not the case 😱
We've had the platypus for a few years now. It was a MAJOR upgrade from the old pump filters! Man…those were the days. Just got the katadyn be-free system last Xmas…actually really like that system! The down-side is that it feels like you're always going to the lake to refill it when you're in camp…but it's awesome for getting drinks on the go and super useful on portages. Only down-side I found was figuring out how to carry it over the portages. Ended up sticking it in a mesh bag I was using for something else and hanging it off my pack. Worked like a charm!
Do you take the platypus when you go solo?
Yeah that BeFree seems like it meets a need too, but I agree that the frequent refills can be a bit of a bother. I use the 4L Platypus solo and with Erin... a bit oversized for me, but for a small penalty in weight. I've never been a gram counter so I don't mind. Nice to fill it when I get to camp and not run out while I'm there.
Great job on this review! You opened up my eyes on what to buy! I think slower filtration is better anyway. You have to wonder if the other one is doing the job? I wonder if you put a dye in the water in both, could you tell a difference? Any way, great comical ending! As always thanks for sharing !
Rick from Virginia..
Thanks a lot Rick, glad to hear that. It's a good product. Hmmm dye would've been pretty cool in the demo. I've never gotten sick using either one---I can say that much.
Hi. Appreciate your review of the filters. I assume you don’t use these in the winter. Can you comment on any issues you have had / or the difference in how you deal with water winter versus summer. Thanks!
Sorry for the delay. Yeah I don't use them in freezing conditions so I don't ruin the filter cartridge. I use aquatabs sometimes but I find they taste extra bad in ice cold water in the winter (from an auger hole in the lake) and they seem to upset my stomach. So if I can't use the filter, I'm pretty much always boiling. I don't like melting snow for water because it doesn't taste as good, and you need so much to get a decent amount of water
Nice shed,,,, go leafs!!!
Thanks Bob! ✊🤘
Alright homie I was looking for exactly this comparison for group camping, but you didn’t really give a verdict in the end. It sounds like the Platypus is your preference. I agree the roll top closure seems like a better design. Did you have any problem with sediment gathering in the bottom of your Katadyn? That seems like a pro for the shape of the Platypus bag, since the tip is offset.
Yeah definitely the Platypus, despite the lack of roll top. And you're right that sediment did gather there, though there's still a small spot for that to occur on the Platypus. I just rinse it out as needed. More than any other aspect, it's the longevity of the Platypus filters that makes it an easy winner to me.
@@LostLakes Good to know and thanks for the reply! 👍
@@LostLakes Hey bud you might also want to check out a different product I just discovered, the Cnoc Vecto Bags. Available from 2-3L, they have a wide mouth opening and a screw top bottom, and two bags can actually be paired with a Sawyer Micro Squeeze coupler for a more compact gravity system with no hoses. I just found this from another youtuber (Backcountry Exposure) and thought I'd mention it, I think that's the system I'll check out.
Does this actually work? I’m looking at purchasing the platypus to put in my travel trailer. We live in northern British Columbia and I’d like to be able to drink from the streams and rivers, plus we had an episode last year where my dog drink at Mount Robson then had a pretty bad pooping episode for about a week later. I want to make certain that this is worth the money. Can you drink directly from it after it has drained even if it’s pretty sludgy water? I know that it doesn’t get rid of viruses so would you recommend putting it through a carbon filter afterwards and boiling the water?
While they are both gravity feed systems they use completely differant filters. I belive the Katadyn is faster because it uses a much larger cylindracle particle filter with carbon in the housing in the bag. The Platypus is smaller and uses a cluster of fibers to filter the water.
Also from my research the Platypus can suffer damge in the cold. Left over water in the filter can freeze and damage it. Id still buy the Platypus as it comes with the clean bag , and its easier to clean, store and backfilter. Plus that leaking on your bag concerns me. I bet its realted to the larger filter and the extra sealing they have to do on the bag for it. The playtypus uses pressure and screw fittings with an inline filter and leaks are probably easily fixed with a new hose....but thats just my 2 cents.
Note I think the platypus uses stand battle sizes for its capes. Have you tried using a 2 litre pop bottle lid?
Dude, if you're right about that then I owe you one! I really miss that cap. Great insights, thanks Logan!
Have fun and be safe hey may be I need to start drinking the other stuff !!!
Hahaha I recommend it Lambert...Unibroue's beers are so good.
Just ordered one from you Amazon link. Do you use the carbon filter as well? What would be the worse pond water you would put through this, other than one with a lot of sediment.
Thanks a lot Tom :) Naw I never have...the hollow fibre filters are expensive enough as it is. But also the water here is usually so clean and abundant that I've never had to resort to nasty ponds lol. Worst I've had to use is water from muddy rivers...you might remember some rivers that have looked like iced coffee. In those cases I try to find small clear tributaries to avoid shortening the life of the filter. But the backflush can keep it going for quite a while
Great vid! Ugh!!! I am heading into Bush next week. Just tested my gravity works to be sure it works. Filter is completely clogged. Tried everything. Had it for 2 maybe 3 years. But barely used it and took excellent care cleaning, storing. Do they have a 2-3 year shelf life even if barely used? hoping I can find replacement cartridge in time Thx!
Oh nooo. Maybe that is the case, and there's a finite shelf life. The Katadyn in this video seemed to benefit from a year off for some reason. Could always grab some Aquatabs if you can find a replacement filter in time...
Same. I only go canoe camping a couple times per yr, am very careful w storage and do backflush and if I can get 2 yrs out of a filter I feel lucky. I have found I can force water through after taking it out of storage to remind it of its function and get it going, but if I can't get it running smoothly at home before a trip it will be a problem on the trip and usually my experience is a battle w a filter in its second yr anyway. I like the platypus but the filter life is sooooooooo annoying. And the first person who tells me it is just air trapped in the filter....
Very good John but does Erin Agree?
Erin can get her own channel! :P Hahah JK.
I've always just used filters in Ontario and was wondering if you feel the need to use tablets as well?
Hey Greg, naw I wouldn't unless you're getting water from a somewhat questionable source
I use a Befree but upgraded the bag to a Hydrapak. Seems Katadyn overestimates the durability of their bags.
Interesting, haven't seen those ones yet. Yeah absolutely. That was one of my biggest grievances with them. The filter claimed to work well for about 10x longer than they actually did for me.
Liked the dishes comment :D
Yep, I'm a Platypus man!
Seems to be the consensus, but it sounds like Sawyer is solid too.
Pretty disappointed with the Gravityworks. Super slow filtering after a single use. Multiple backflushes and tinkering haven’t worked at all. I’ll likely try to get a refund for it.
Very surprising. Mine still works like a charm after a backflush
Wats wrong wit da cedars? Is it some sort of RUST? TFS!
Hahah if only I knew 😅
The Katadyn is only good when new. It quickly slows to a crawl, and if the water is dirtier it really is useless. That’s where the Platypus excels- longevity. The replacement filters are pricey.
Yeah that's exactly what I found. Glad to hear it just in case mine was a one-off. 1 Platypus filter and 2 Katadyn filters isn't the best sample size 😅
Not a fair test as one had I straight house and the other had coiled hose this slowing the flow. Just saying
True enough. Haven't found it to make a huge diff. But even though the Platypus hose was bent and it lost the race, it's still the superior filter IMO
I already have a Katadyn so when I lose/break/leave behind/run over/drop overboard the Katadyn, I'll give the Platypus a try. Hey, Jon, if we use the Amazon link, can you shop around on other pages too, and still support BAO?
Hahah no rush, I still loved the Katadyn when I had it, especially when it was new. Just filtered a lot slower after not much use, but still did the job. That's a good question. I think so, at least to some extent, because I've gotten commissions on products that I've never linked to. So if I direct the user to Amazon and they buy within 24 hours or something like that (there's some limit), then I believe I get some credit. Thanks for asking 🙂🙏
@@LostLakes That's good to know. I want to get the spinning reel and rod, but the rod listed is a casting rod. I just wanted to make sure you got the penny you would receive. 😉
Sold me: www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-528/GravityWorks-4-0L-Filter-System
I'm going to suggest to MEC that they make you an ambassador (or whatever so you can field test and get stuff. I trust your reviews.)
Please apply: www.mec.ca/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants
Right on CanadianBushman, it's a good product. And that is most kind of you, thank you so much!! Love MEC. Never knew about their grants...not sure a TH-camr is what they're looking for on that one but maybe. I'll have to look into it. Thanks again man.
Toronto makebeliefs 🤢 .................lol
Hahah I was born this way...blame my dad
Does this actually work? I’m looking at purchasing the platypus to put in my travel trailer. We live in northern British Columbia and I’d like to be able to drink from the streams and rivers, plus we had an episode last year where my dog drink at Mount Robson then had a pretty bad pooping episode for about a week later. I want to make certain that this is worth the money. Can you drink directly from it after it has drained even if it’s pretty sludgy water? I know that it doesn’t get rid of viruses so would you recommend putting it through a carbon filter afterwards and boiling the water?
Definitely works :) Keep in mind that as the filter gets used, it slows down...so it's not like a faucet. You'll hang it and leave it for a bit. Initially it's almost like a faucet but eventually it may take 15-20 minutes for 4L even with the Platypus which has much better filter longevity. I believe there's an 8L size too. Poor quality water will slow down the filter much faster too. I really don't think it's necessary to treat it after filtering it...I never have and I haven't heard of anyone else doing that. I've drank many, many litres from it and never had an issue.