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Water filters in sub-zero temps
Are they all the same??
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Christian Anderson
31/03/08 12:56

29 forum posts 8 photos

Hello all

I'm actively considering purchasing one of the new Lifesaver Systems water filters.

For those that haven't come across it, the website is very informative, especially the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicing test results of its efficacy:

http://www.lifesaversystems.com/techinfo.html

All that is stopping me is the usage requirement of keeping it above 0 degrees C. Lifesaver customer services have sent me a very helpful email detailing why this is so:

"The LIFESAVER membranes are actually hydrophilic which means they absorb some of the water once used for the first time, it would take some time for the membranes to dry out completely after the first use. If the membranes are in an environment below zero after the first use then the membranes could be damaged by freezing. "

My question is - are all portable water filters subject to the same limitations, or is this a particular limitation of what seems to be an otherwise exceptional product?

Imagine how disappointed you would be if you forget to keep it inside your tent on one chilly night - £200 is a lot to throw away through one silly mistake.

Cheers

Christian

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Montgomery Wick
31/03/08 15:27

164 forum posts 40 photos 4 bookmarks

Not a filter, but my Steripen gets a bit cranky in very cold conditions (i.e. well below zero). Putting it inside my jacket to warm up the batteries generally gets the green light blinking again.
I've heard of ceramic water filters cracking when water within them freezes.

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Christian Anderson
31/03/08 19:53

29 forum posts 8 photos

Thanks Montgomery - clearly care is needed in marginal conditions with a lot of filters.

And I'm always amazed at how quickly my waterbottle ices up if in a side ruckasck pocket with a bit of wind-chill on Kinder in winter, so this sort of damage could take place quite quickly.

Was very impressed with the Lifesaver demo at the Outdoors show though - I know it was a sales pitch, but the robustness of the user experience was fantastic. I used a Katadyn in India last year, and we had to be very careful to keep the delivery tube clean, but with this, as long as you keep the teat cap on when collecting water, you can get the rest of it as dirty as you like.

I do think this could be a cracking bit of kit, just a little temperature sensitive, and a LOT of money!

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Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 01:24

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://www.backpacker.com/article/622 The problem has been covered in writings from winter campers etc, at this above given link and on sites like those by Half Assed Expeditions or HAE, who often regularly use their water filters in the coldest temperatures of the American outdoors backcountry wilderness areas.

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Edited: 01/04/08 01:25

Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 01:50

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://www.backpacking.net/wintertips.html   Has the best suggestions for water provision in winter camping trips.

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Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 01:57

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Water%20Treatment/Filters/ULA%20Equipment%20H2O%20Amigo%20Water%20Filter/Clifford%20Haynes/Long%20Term%20Report/ Some more good info on this subject here at this link too.

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Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 02:01

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://store.everestgear.com/117576.html As said before on the other water purification link of late, I have now myself adopted the little device at the above link here for back up use even into cold weather area use too.

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Christian Anderson
01/04/08 10:31

29 forum posts 8 photos

Thanks Trevor - those "real world" accounts were particularly useful. I clearly need to pick my product carefully.

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Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 16:11

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://www.the-outdoor.co.uk/ishop/853/shopscr281.html It is worth mentioning again once more the great little survival straw device manufactured for BCB International of Cardiff! It is a good little back up wilderness water filter unit too-kept inside your clothing inner pockets to avoid cold weather freezing problems till you might need it in colder realms! I always used to use these as they were the ones sold by the old Survival Aids Company in the eighties and the early nineties. They just used to repackage them in the Survival Aids livery then to sell on. They are still made today and sold in many outdoors and military kit shops. There is a much more detailed info source on these pen style water purifiers on the actual BCB website I think.

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Edited: 01/04/08 16:12

Trevor D Gamble
01/04/08 16:32

7537 forum posts 1 review 880 bookmarks

http://webshop.bcbin.eu/index.php?productID=1099
Well having now checked the BCB sales website I am amazed to see that the great body of the info about this product is now nowhere to be seen. There is an added silver in the product now-as is the fad at the moment coming from the USA with silver being put into everything from sticking plasters to washing machines, due to its ability to kill some microbes! The survival straw is a still a very good bit of kit though for emergency and back-up use out in the wilds. It effectively 'clogs up' when the filter life is over, to prevent one drinking any more water than the filter can handle, as a safety feature in-built into its most simple of designs. I thought it worthy of mention, even though it is a few pounds more expensive usually than the aforementioned American back up device firstly mentioned a bit earlier on.

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Edited: 01/04/08 16:34
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