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That $150 water filter that failed me on the Appalachian Trail near Hot Springs
I picked up a Katadyn BeFree filter for a 5 day trip through the Smokies last fall. On day 3, the flow dropped to almost nothing and I had to squeeze water through it for 20 minutes just to fill a liter. Ended up having to boil everything that night with my tiny pot. Has anyone else had these filters clog up way faster than advertised?
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rubyschmidt1mo ago
Rinsing helps some but honestly that BeFree is super sensitive to any kind of sediment. I switched to a Sawyer Squeeze after mine clogged on day two in the Shenandoahs last spring... that little backflushing syringe they include is a game changer for muddy water sources. Took me maybe 5 minutes to clear it out and get back to a normal flow rate. The only real downside is the Squeeze bags can be a pain to fill in shallow streams, but you can use a smartwater bottle instead.
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