When comparing Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Water Filter System vs Survivor Filter PRO, the Slant community recommends Survivor Filter PRO for most people. In the question“What are the best water filters for backpackers under $100?” Survivor Filter PRO is ranked 2nd while Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Water Filter System is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Survivor Filter PRO is:
Thanks to the three-stage filtration system it not only removes most bacteria and protozoa, it also removes viruses and many other contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals with the use of an integrated carbon filter. This is a feature that almost none of personal water filters have.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Allows constant water supply for a campsite
The unique bladder filtration system has a total capacity of 8 liters – 4 liters of clean and 4 liters of dirty water. In a combination with the fast filtration process it provides enough water for a campsite without the need of constantly running after new supplies of water to filter.
Pro Fast treatment time
The filtration process is very fast as it can filter 1.75 liters of water per minute. This becomes in handy if a group of people are backpacking and you need to filter large amounts of water each time.
Pro No complicated parts
There isn’t anything that can go wrong with this filtration system because there aren’t any mechanical or electronic parts that can go bad. Just make sure to keep the system out of freezing temperatures.
Pro Useful accessories available
Platypus makes handy additional accessories for this filtration system. You can buy a bottle adapter to directly fill the filtered water in a bottle and a Carbon Element filter that helps remove odors and flavors from the filtered water.
Pro Filters out even the dirtiest wate
Thanks to the three-stage filtration system it not only removes most bacteria and protozoa, it also removes viruses and many other contaminants like chlorine and heavy metals with the use of an integrated carbon filter. This is a feature that almost none of personal water filters have.
Pro Sturdy
While the pump may look plasticky and fragile it actually is made from very durable lightweight polymer hat can withstand lot of pressure and abuse.
Pro Cheap filter replacements
Each of the filters used in this system can be replaced if necessary. They last quite a long time with the carbon filter lasting 260 gallons of water and costs 12 dollars to replace while the pre-filter can be cleaned and costs 7 dollars if replacement is necessary. The Membrane Ultra filter can be backflushed and costs around 12 dollars.
Pro Can be used in various ways
There are several ways you can use the pump - drink directly from fresh water source, pump into the included cup or pump into any bottle or portable hydration device pack.
Cons
Con Expensive cartridge replacement
The cartridge filter is good enough to filter up to 1500 liters of water, after that it needs to be replaced. The replacement filter is on the expensive side, costing around 50 dollars.
Con No covers for the tubing
There are no covers included for the connecting points so you have to pay extra attention keeping them clean when the system is stored.
Con Doesn’t filter out viruses
The hollow fiber filters out bacteria and protozoa as large as 0.2 microns but doesn’t filter out viruses. It shouldn’t be a problem in North America, but be careful when using it in parts of the world where the water can be contaminated.
Con You need to work for clean water
The filtration system isn’t driven by gravity or any electronics instead you need to manually pump to get the water filtrated. This can be very time consuming and tiresome if you need to filter large amounts of water.
Con Needs to be cleaned and maintained
After your camping trip has been finished it is advisable to dissemble the filtration system and clean it out thoroughly to avoid bacteria growth.
