Long Term Report

H2O Amigo Gravity Filter Long Term Report

Personal Information:
Name: Christine Korhonen
Age: 31
Gender: female
Height: 5'4" (1.6 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
E-mail: chris@wormguy.com
Location: Western Montana
Date: February 1, 2005

Backpacking Background:
I'm in Montana where I'm enjoying the summers and becoming re-acquainted with winter. Now that I'm back above the snow line, I'm attempting winter camping and snowshoeing. I'm a lightweight backpacker mentally, if not always in practice. I've gotten my summer multi-day pack weight down to 19 lb (9 kg) with a tent, but winter backpacking is still new to me, and my winter pack weight hovers around 25 lb (11 kg).

Product Information:
Manufacturer: ULA Equipment (Ultralight Adventure Equipment)
URL: www.ula-equipment.com
Item: H2O Amigo
MSRP: US $40
Year of Manufacturer: 2004
Listed volume: 1.25 gal (4.7 L)
Listed total weight: 9.25 oz (262 g)
Measured total weight: 8.6 oz (244 g)

H2O Amigo Description:
The H2O Amigo is a gravity-fed water filtration system. The system uses a carbon filter cartridge with a 2 micron pore that is advertised to remove 99.8% of waterborne contaminants.

Field Information:
I tested the H2O Amigo in Montana, Wyoming and New Zealand in temperatures from 35 F to 70 F (2 C to 21 C) and at elevations up to 7500' (2300 m). I filled the Amigo from streams, rivers, and lakes.

Experience with the H2O Amigo:
I really enjoy the H20 Amigo. After the bag is filled and hung, no effort is required to filter the water. I really appreciate having extra water storage at camp, and the nozzle is great as a faucet for washing hands and dishes.

Filling the H2O Amigo:
The quickest and easiest way to fill the H2O Amigo is by submerging it into a water source. As the weather got colder, this became less enjoyable. Not only did my hands get wet, but when filling from lakes I had to wade a few feet out into the water to get to an area deep enough to submerge the bag. My hands and feet got quite chilly.

Filtering water:
After I was clued into the fact that the H2O Amigo hose can connect directly to a Platypus, I had no problems filling my hydration bladder. I collapsed the bladder to get the air out, hooked the filter to the nozzle on the bladder, and turned the filter on. I didn't have to worry about the filter hose dragging in the dirt and didn't have to watch the system to make sure water didn't overflow. Water filtered into the Platypus until it was full and then stopped. I just had to remember to turn the filter off before disconnecting the hydration bladder.

Hanging the bag:
I never had any problems finding a place to hang the H2O Amigo. I tend to camp in wooded areas with plenty of trees and could always find a branch the appropriate distance off the ground. I didn't have to use additional rope or a carabiner to secure the bag, but carried them along on trips just in case. When I did camp in areas with no trees, like Joshua Tree National Park, there wasn't a backcountry water source to filter from anyway, so I carried enough water for the whole trip and didn't worry about filtering.

Filtering rate:
The lake I filtered water from in New Zealand was full of silt and gave the pre-filter a workout. It also reduced the flow rate of the cartridge considerably from 0.70 L per min (24 oz per min) to 0.40 L per min (14 oz per min). After backflushing the cartridge for one minute using the flush bulb and my sink, the cartridge flow rate increased to 0.52 L per min (18 oz per min). I don't mind the slower rate of filtration. In camp I always have something else to do so waiting a few minutes for the water to filter is not a hardship. The cartridge filters well at this slower rate, and I can't tell how much life is left in the cartridge. There isn't any indicator besides the flow rate to tell when a cartridge is used up.

Storage:
As the weather got colder, I was very careful not to let the filter cartridge freeze. I made sure to empty the cartridge at night and store it in my tent. I didn't have any problems with water from the filter getting my gear wet, but sometimes I got a little overzealous in blowing water out of the cartridge. I would blow on the nozzle where the unfiltered water goes in. My hiking partner commented that when I got giardia and he didn't we'd all know where it came from.

Wear:
The H2O Amigo has born my abuse very well. The bag looks like new. The handles show some scuff marks, but are still sturdy. The stuff sack's seams are intact. The hoses are fine. The one mark of wear is on the cartridge. The arrow sticker indicating which side the contaminated water goes in and which side the clean water comes out is showing some wear. The other stickers on the cartridge that give the name of the product and manufacturer's website have held up fine. The directional sticker is paper while the other stickers have a plastic coating. Paper stickers don't like water, and this one is peeling off. When it's gone I will have to rely on the small words "in" and "out" stamped into the plastic to tell me which way to place the hoses.

Overall:
The H2O Amigo is great. No pumping required. The Amigo filters while I'm doing other things, provides excellent water storage in camp, and is very useful as a tap. I wash my hands and my dishes more thoroughly when there's such a readily available water source. Thanks to ULA equipment for providing such a useful piece of gear.

Likes:
No pumping.
Nice to have a spigot around.
Lightweight.

Dislikes:
Challenge to fill the bag without getting wet.
Directional sticker is peeling off.

Read more reviews of Ultralight Adventure Equipment gear
Read more gear reviews by Christine Korhonen

Reviews > Water Treatment > Filters > ULA Equipment H2O Amigo Water Filter > Christine Korhonen > Long Term Report

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