Hands-free: Filter Water Like a Pro
Wherever your adventure, here's my favorite way to filter water in the backcountry!
What you'll need:
- Sawyer Products Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
- Sawyer Products Cleaning Coupler piece
- Cnoc Outdoors Vecto 2L Water Container
- Smart Water Bottle or standard-sized bottle
- 5-7" rope or cord
Assemble all pieces, starting with the Cnoc Vecto water container, and attach the Sawyer Squeeze water filter to the Vecto opening.
Remove the white push-pull cap from the Sawyer filter and replace it with the blue coupler piece. Twist on the water bottle to the opposite side of the coupling piece.
Next, grab the cord and tie a knot on the top of the Cnoc Vecto to create a hook for hanging. Once assembled, this represents the gravity-method for hands-free hanging and filtering. See picture galleries below.
I like the Cnoc 2L Vecto water container for many reasons including the dual opening design: a wide mouth scooping style and standard water bottle opening. Water sources vary from piped springs to trickling streams and having more than one option to collect water makes it all the easier.
Packing-wise, I keep the Cnoc, Sawyer, and water bottles within arms reach in the side pocket of my ULA backpack. This way, I have access to all the items I need as quickly as possible. On the Appalachian Trail, you may cross a water source on your way into a shelter. If I can reach the Cnoc pouch and fill it up on my way into camp, I save time rather than having to backtrack.
Sawyer Products calls it the Cleaning Coupler, and it’s a perfect multi-use tool in the backcountry. A simple design that pairs the Sawyer to your water bottle will also clean your water filter. When your Sawyer Squeeze gets clogged and requires a back-flush, the coupler is great for holding the clean water bottle for high-pressure flushing.
Overall, this hands-free method to filter water allows you more time to enjoy the outdoors. Whether your setting up camp, prepping for camp dinner or chatting with fellow hikers, let this handsfree method do all the work and filter water like a pro! Check out the pictures below and let me know what you think!
Happy trails,
Highlight
Tarptent Notch Li and gravity system in the background. New Mexico, Continental Divide Trail 2019.
