First Need Deluxe

“Anyone know how it stands up against heavy metals?? It seems to be one of the better filters for seriously bad water, but is a carbon filter needed to remove heavy metals, more so then the FND can do on its own. ??? Any ideas if so??”

“Well, pore-size supposedly takes care of bacteria, imbedded iodine supposedly takes care of viruses... the heavy metals are disolved, hmmmm?

Good Question.

All I know is, my First Need's handle broke off during normal use (nothing kinky) and we were lucky someone else in the group had some polar pure. I didn't get another one.”

“Are you talking iron in the water?”

“more likely talking lead and mercury - iron is no big deal”

“I wouldn't trade our First Need deluxe for any other purifier. Check out "test results" at General Ecology

There's also a phone number for technical questions: (610)363-7900

Too bad about the handle breaking off of yours Tilt. One of the things that make me happy I have this model is that you can filter water w/o the pump. It comes with a gravity filter set up.”

“i think i need a water filter for the fountain here at work...no joke! it smells and tastes quite like sewage! my friend Christopher gave his goldfish new water this morning, and it kicked the bucket 2 minutes later...

i'm bringing a filter tomorrow!”

“I caught something briefly about a company called miox-they are the ones who do the armed forces and municipal filters- Their system has something to do with electrolosys-would it help with heavy metals?”

“Yes, Ms. Sass, I discovered that I don't mind the taste of iodine so much, so I switched to the tabs and saved some weight. I got a Pur Hiker to replace the First Need but it's still in the box two years later...

About those heavy metals... I wonder how much a portable distiller would weigh?”

“It all depends on size of the metal.What does your filter down too and also find out what sizes metals are.”

“its crazy mike, a pore filter isn't going to remove dissolved metals, just particulates. Charcoal filters do remove some dissolved chemicals including heavy metals but I'm not sure of the details off hand. The best way to find out is to ask the manufacturer.”

“lyra, are you sure that it wasnt the 35 degree water temperature?”

“Ok.....I did not know that...?”

“no, he let it sit there all weekend. as of last week, no one has been able to drink the water because it's so disgusting. i had been making hot chocolate and tea with it, to disguise the taste, but i think after the fish incident, even that's out of the question...”

“Are yall talking about a trail filter or home filter? As to trail filters, I had a pump-bottle Exstream "purifier" and it was a pain in the ass. I've heard nobody has gotten sick drinking water run through a Pur Hiker and now that's what I use. Simple and does the job.”

“Well, I know with my First Need that one of the cleansing methods for one that has been stored is to filter some bleach water through it, and what comes out has no chlorine left. But I'd still call the company for full details on metals.

As for durability, I didn't have any problems with my first generation First Need I got 20 years ago, so I bought a First Need Deluxe last year just to update.”

“My first filter was the First Need, bought about 5 years ago (the predecessor to the Deluxe). Two years ago, I found a PUR Hiker on sale, and bought that. Having done enough research on most filters of the time, I opted for the Hiker because 90% of the threads I read on reliability and ease are positive.

I like the First Need also... it's efficient, effective, and - so far - durable. While it's a bit more awkward, and sometimes modestly harder to pump, I really have no personal complaints about it.

Nevertheless, if I was COMPLETELY satisfied, I suppose I wouldn't have purchased the Hiker...

... or was it just because I like NEW GEAR AT A GREAT PRICE!?!?!?!?!?”

“I can't even imagine where you are hiking that requires heavy metal removal. I don't want to go there. No hiking filter will remove dissolved heavy metals.”

“Lyra: Don't use the F-Need on chlorinated water - which yours aslmost certainly is. The F-Need is a purifier and I'm pretty sure it's good for metals, but if I needed such a feature I'd contact the company or put out the moner for a Kataydan (sp?). I have an old one too, Pekka. I use duct tape to attach it to my Nalgenes and bend over to pump - works great. I only use it for drinking water (everything else is boiled) and backwash it (with my well water) regularly.”