That $50 water filter I bought from a random website was a complete dud

I picked up this cheap gravity filter off some outdoor gear deal site before a trip to the Gila National Forest last month. First day on the trail, the output slowed to a trickle after just 2 liters. Took it apart and the filter element was basically just a piece of cloth inside. I ended up having to boil all my water for the rest of the 5 day hike, which cost me extra fuel weight and time. Has anyone else gotten burned by those no-name gear websites?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahm396d ago

That website you got it from, did they have any reviews or a return policy? I know some of those sites pop up and then disappear after a month, so it's almost impossible to get your money back. My guess is the filter element was just a gimmick, maybe some cheap activated carbon cloth that does nothing for bacteria or protozoa. I'd be curious to know if the site even listed any actual certifications like NSF or EPA ratings, because most of those no-name brands skip that part completely. Did you end up leaving a review or reporting it anywhere?

verawhite6d ago

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head about those sites popping up and disappearing. I got burned once with a similar setup, and by the time I realized it was junk, the whole domain was gone with no way to get my money back. It's a real shame because stuff like that makes it hard to trust any new brand, even the honest ones.

keithbutler6d agoRising Star

Three months back I bought a "survival" filter from a site called PureFlowOutdoors, and same thing - gone within six weeks. No shipping confirmation, no tracking, just a package that showed up with a filter that looked like it was stuffed with charcoal from a barbecue. I even tried running some pond water through it just to see, and the output still smelled like algae and dirt. No NSF stamp, no EPA number, nothing but a sticker that said "tested" with no details on who tested it or how. I did leave a review on Trustpilot but who knows if that even matters when the company's already vanished. @verawhite you're dead right, it's a shame because now I just assume any new brand I see is a scam until proven otherwise.

-4