[pct-l] Sawyer Squeeze

[Jim Banks]

As to con #3, there was a demonstration at the home-made gear presentation
at the Kick-off this year by a guy (sorry, I can't remember his name to give
him credit) who solved this issue by using a cyclone tube and a partially
cut-away soda bottle.  I copied it and it works great and adds practically
nothing to the weight.  You cut away most of one side and the bottom of a 12
or 16 oz soda or water bottle, screw the cyclone tube to it and then screw
the other side of the cyclone tube to the Sawyer squeeze bag.  Dip it into
the water and it acts as a funnel to fill the bag.  A cyclone tube is a
piece of plastic about one inch long with female threads on both ends.

I-Beam

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Rob Solorio
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 10:50 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Sawyer Squeeze

For the last few years my friends and I have used Katadyn Hiker pumps on our
weeklong PCT section hikes.  Two years ago my friend's pump broke (the
nipple on the filter for the tube snapped off).  Last year the exact same
thing happened to mine.  He replaced his with an new Katadyn.  I decided to
replace mine with the Sawyer Squeeze.  This summer I used it in Section I
(Tuolumne Meadow to Sonora Pass) for a week and again for a 4-day trip in
the Lake Aloha area.

Pros:
1.  Super lightweight.
2.  Much more relaxing squeezing the bag than pumping.
3.  Came with 3 different size bags.  Multiple bags allow continued use of
the filter even if one bag fails.
4.  It is nice being able to fill up the bags and take them back to camp to
actually do the filtering there.
5.  If you have the time to wait and don't feel like squeezing gravity will
do the work for you just not as fast.

Cons:
1.  Even with trying to be careful with the unit (I had read not to squeeze
too
hard) the first bag (32oz) sprang a leak in the side (not on any seam) on
the third day as I was squeezing.  To be fair it appeared to be a puncture
hole so I can't be 100% certain of the cause but my best guess is that the
rigidity of the bag caused the leak as I was squeezing and rolling.  Was
able to cover it with duct tape and continued to use.
2.  A few days later that same bag sprung a much larger leak at the base
where the plastic threaded piece is "glued" to the bag.  Had to toss the
bag.  Had no problem with either the 16oz or the 64oz bag.
3.  Filling the bag is easiest in running water (stream/waterfall).  Large,
still bodies are fine as well though you have to wave the bag back and forth
in the water to fill it.  It won't "inflate" with water if you just submerge
it. 
 All this agitation can stir up lots of gunk in the water and clog the
filter if you aren't careful.  I never did back-flush but probably should
have after some of the debris I stirred up while filling.  I did notice a
slight speed decrease over time.
4.  Not quite as fast as advertised but still faster than a pump.

Overall I am happy with my purchase.  I prefer it to the labor required to
use a pump and like the weight savings.  I will always be sure to carry at
least 2 bags and am OK with treating the bags as semi-disposable since they
are fairly cheap to replace.  Not the wonder unit Backpacker magazine seemed
to make it out to be this year but still a great choice.

-LoneRiver



>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: 
> pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net[mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
>
> On Behalf Of John Abela
>
> Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 2:53 PM
>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT Sawyer Squeeze Feedback
>
>
> Hey All,
>
>
> Do any of you hikers on the trail this year have any feedback so far 
> on the
>
> Sawyer Squeeze??
>
>
> Wondering how it is performing for thru-hikers so far.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> -Abela
>
> HikeLighter.Com
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
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