Drinksafe Travel Tap

Robert P

Thru Hiker
Just curious really - this rarely seems to be mentioned in threads on water filters. I've been using a Travel Tap for more than a decade without issues: it perhaps has a slow flow rate and slightly heavier than some options, but has some advantages over hollow fibre filters (eg not being susceptible to freezing, not need to backflush, removal of chemicals). I've been put off the Sawyer filters for example because of the risk of accidentally letting them freeze (eg by leaving in a car boot) and not being able to text if they are damaged. Would be interesting to know people's experience and if I've missed any considerations.
 

Stube

Trail Blazer
I've used a travel tap for five years with no problems.
I like that the filter is integral to the water bottle so no pipes to get in a tangle. It's best for water to drink on the go since you filter as the water is drunk via its bite valve. However, filtering a quantity of water for cooking is a slow process as it all has to be hand squeezed through - there's not enough head of water for a gravity feed to work.
 

Clare

Thru Hiker
Doesn’t it have better filtering qualities than the sawyer, I seem to remember. I think @Lady Grey uses it in addition/as a back up to a sawyer. Maybe I’ve misrembered. I’m happy with the befree. Just so simple.
 

benp1

Trail Blazer
I used one for years. Lost it in the alps and replaced it. But then it froze on a trip and I got a dodgy tummy on a subsequent one. Not the filters fault

Moved to a trailshot as I found it better for filling from shallow or narrow sources
 

Teepee

Thru Hiker
I used to use these but the flow rate was a real pain. I froze a couple, pretty sure at the time that they needed replacing if frozen and so held no advantage over a much lighter and quicker hollow straw system. Then, one dropped and it shattered. When I searched for info on freezing, it was hard to find anything about care instructions and the site was full of mispellings. That was the last time I bought one.

TBH, I never bought the removal of chemicals sales pitch. None of my Drinksafe filters ever removed peat colour from water, or food dye....therefore, believing that they removed a good percentage of chemicals never 'washed' with me.
 

Robert P

Thru Hiker
This information on freezing is available on the site:

'Avoid allowing filter to freeze as this will impede water flow. Insulating the filter bottles or products will help prevent this.

If water has frozen to filter allow filter to thaw naturally - Do NOT use hot water , however tepid warm water added to bottle will accelerate thawing if filter left in contact with this for over 15 minutes.'

I agree that the flow rate is slow, particularly for filtering any volume of water, but have never tried anything else.
 
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