Which water filter?

“I have a gift certificate from Bass Pro Shops, and am considering using it for a water filter. Which one of these would you suggest?

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.SearchResults?cmid=TOP_SEARCH_GO

Or would one from somewhere else be better? Thanks!”

“Bad link, search results zero.

Do you remember what brands you were looking at?”

“Whoops! Sorry.

Here's the category link (hope this works):
http://tinyurl.com/2ke25t

Katadyn Hiker or Hiker Pro Microfilter
Katadyn Backcountry Series Hiker Microfilter
Katadyn Guide Microfilter
MSR Miniworks Ceramic Filter
Platypus Sweetwater water purifier system
Steri-Pen

Are any of these better for someone with carpal tunnel (easier to use, less hand/wrist stress?) I wish I could just go with the tablets, but I drink a LOT of water and don't want to get too much iodine, plus I have a hard time with the taste.
last edited: 3/05/07 11:32:54 AM”

“The miniworks and hiker are probably the most common you listed. People here will swear by both of these. I personally have the hiker and can attest to its functionality. It has never let me down.

I have started using Aqua Mira as of late however. I will take the filter along if I know I will be filtering out of a pond though.”

“Thank you!”

“Katadyn Hiker or Hiker Pro Microfilter

No field maintenance required. Pump i liter of water through with a couple of drops of bleach after each use, remove and air dry filter. Only down side to me is that its a tad heavy. The cartridges are disposable and expensive ($35) but one lasts me the entire year. I've heard of folks boiling them to remove the sediment residue but you risk enlarging the pores and ruining the effiectiveness of the filter if you do.”

“Hiker”

“but recommend the Hiker...it pumps faster on both the push and pull stroke, with less effort than the MSR...

the MSR filter on the other hand has a long lasting CERAMIC filter.....”

“I have the MSR miniworks and I find that its super easy to use....and I'm not real technologically advanced.”

“I have the MSR sweetwater and love it. It pumps on both strokes so it's fast. Mine came with an adapter to fit the top of the Platypus and one to fit a Nalgene bottle. If it plugs in the field just unscrew the pump and give it a few brush strokes. The cartridges are replaceable and OK to freeze.”

“Katadyn Hiker is the one I use.

Watch out for the CERAMIC filters in freezing temps. They filter way smaller than the other filters but letting them freeze will crack the ceramic.”

“I am pleased with my MSR Miniworks. Its reliable, but its slow. If wrist pain is an issue for you, you might want to look at something quicker.”

“i have the sweetwater and have not really had any problems, just need to make sure to clean it regularly...i've also used the hiker pro and really like it too but ever since i switched to aqua mira i've never used a filter...i love it”

“hiker”

“I just got the Katadyn pro hiker, works easy but I have pumped at least a gallon of tap water through it, and am still getting some small specs of carbon in the water, dont know if this is a problem or not.”

“Steripen for $99 at REI. To hell with the filter, chew the chunks. Gotta have some nutrition in 'em.”

“Thanks, everyone!

If I use the Hiker, will I need an additional solution to purify the water?”

“no, just pump and drink”

“Perfect! Thanks.”

“Here is a really comprehensive database put together by the US Army on pretty much every water treatment option out there....well, except boiling!

This database contains a comprehensive listing of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) handheld individual water purifiers (IWPs) sold in the United States marketed as devices able to produce microbiologically safe drinking water.

Additional information for each device is also provided to help provide the user a complete picture of these devices. This database is intended primarily for military personnel with missions where traditional field water supplies are not or may not be consistently available. In addition, this database is also useful to anyone in situations where microbiologically safe drinking water is not available. Such situations may include: camping, backpacking, natural disasters, and foreign travel.

Commercially Available Individual Water Purifier database”

“MFAs (More #&%!$ing Acronyms!) from the Dept of Defense.


Thanks for the link ----”

“I am a big fan of the Hiker....great pump

Now for suspect water I use the Aqua Pure stuff”

“Just remember that viruses are too small for any filter to trap, personally I use the pur (now katadyn) hiker myself, and polar pure after in suspect water.There is way too much human activity everywhere, and unfortunately, there are those who seem to forget or not realize that you should not use water sources as a toilet.”

“Although I'm totally happy with my Katadyn Hiker, when it comes time to replace the filter cartridge ($35), based on the study, I think I'll spring for a MSR SweetWater Purifier. In the meantime, I'll buy some MSR SweetWater Purifier Solution to take care of viruses.”

“I used a PUR Hiker for many years until it popped a pinhole in the case. Otherwise only had to replace the filter once and it had good flow rate.

I switched to the MSR Sweetwater. First one I bought the plastic part of the fulcrum broke. Got another one. It froze and broke. Took the best parts of those two and made a working one. Finally got tired of slow pumping and cleaning the ceramic element almost every outing. Plus you have to assemble and disassemble the pump handle each time.

Went back to the Hiker Pro and couldn't be happier.”

“The First Need was the biggest piece of junk I ever bought.”

“I used first need for a long time but it was so cumbersome the way it always seemed to be in separate pieces. The Hiker is what I carry now.”

“I have and have used both sweetwater and PUR (now Katadyn) Hiker.

Both weigh about the same, size about the same, both work very well.

The hiker pumps faster but takes more effort, better for small fast fills.

For larger volumes like camp bladders where you are going to be pumping for a while anyway I prefer the slower but effortles sweetwater.”

“If you really want effortless for large groups, just set up a gravity filter using a Hiker cartridge and let the earth do the work!”

“I have a sweetwater and absolutely hate it. It's failed me in the field far too many times that I don't trust it on it's own.

My next filter will be a First Need.”

“I am a Hiker/Hiker Pro fan”

“I had the sweetwater and had problems with it all the time. I had to replace the ceramic filter more than I think I should have had to ( three times in one season) because it would crack. I didn't think I did anything out of the ordinary to cause it to crack. I even tried putting it in the middle of my pack so it would be protected, but it still happened. The water was great that came out of the filter when it worked, but I didn't like the unreliability of it. One time I was filtering water and it cracked right in the middle of filling our water bottles. I switched to the hiker and have been very happy.”

“auqa mira”

“I had my first Pur /Katydn Hiker for about 5 years...then one weekend some scouts used it and broke the casing...sent it back...BAM new Hiker for free.

I heard that the Hiker and Voyager or something were the same size replacement cartridge and you could turn the Hiker into a purifier with a simple cartridge replacement....but don't know.”

“That used to be true XL but Pur was required discontinued the voyager due to somesuch FDA regulation.”

“next question.....”

“The only one I ever had was the MSR Miniworks. Had it for about 9 years and it got stolen along with my backpack at Trail Days this year. Do they still make the Miniworks?If so thats what I will purchace again. It's a great filter.”

“I have read the US Army webpage that kleetn gave above. It seems the Katadyn Micropur tablets are just super save.
A friend of mine complained about the taste, though I didn't found it too offensiv. Has anybody experience with using Micropur and - in a second step - filtering the water, to get rid of the chlorine taste? It wouldn't harm the filter? It would just be a lot more hassle and waiting time?”

“I haven't noticed a chlorine taste from the MicroPur tabs and have been using for about four years...”

“Spam-

They still make the Miniworks EX.
http://www.rei.com/product/695265

Sorry to hear about your pack. I hate a theif.”

“I was gonna say, for large camp bladders, you can probably use the weight of all that water to set up a gravity filtering system -- just hang the "dirty" bladder higher than the "clean" bladder and the water will flow through the filter by itself.

For the trail, I've seen people with squirt-style water bottles that have the filter on them already. So when you squeeze it to take a drink, the water is filtered as it comes out thru the spout. I forget what they're called, but if you poke around for a bit, I'm sure Google can find it...”

“After reading that report, I think I'll go back to boiling water. For as short trip, another fuel canister wouldn't weigh as much as the filter.

Generally though, I use AquaMira. I usually treat enough water the evening before to last through the next day. That way it has enough time (4 hours) to knock out the Crypto.”

“Phantom Soul,

The database I referred to lists those types of water bottles that filter as you drink. The Seychelle Flip-Top Straw Filter Bottle is one of them, the Katadyn Exstream Water Bottle is another. The study says that while they're really convenient, the Seychelle products weren't effective against bacteria and viruses and both brands were highly affected by turbid water, requiring frequent filter replacements.”

“The biggest problem I saw with the water bottle filters is that it give no indication of failure (exhasution.) So, you really could not depend on it in areas where you will have high turbidity. And, carrying a spare will negate the weight savings.”

“Steripen, with prefilter. And a pack of Micropur tablets for backup in case I break the Steripen.”

“Euro, some filters don't like chlorinated water - you're not supposed to pump it in the First Need.

I use only the First Need and have done so since 1987 without a problem.

Kleetn, thanks for the useful link. Once again we all must read carefully. Among the disadvantages to the First Need listed on the site is that it cannot be backwashed. In fact it can easily be backwashed and the instructions are included. Pre-filter blockage due to turbidity is - to my mind - not a disadvantage; it can easily be cleaned and protects the canister. Care must be taken to avoid cross-contamination, of course.

I changed my canister once and discovered that the problem was my pre-filter.

Twenty years of loyal, virus free service (I contracted Hep A twice) does it for me.

Doug”

“Yo Gremlin! Which model do you have? The link says the Base Camp model can't be backwashed but the First Need Deluxe can:

When pumping becomes difficult the canister can be backwashed according to manufacturer
instructions. The hand pump is attached to the outlet of the canister and clean water is pumped in the opposite direction of normal operation. The manufacturer recommends passing dilute bleach through the device following backwash.”

“I used my Miniworks Ex the very first time this Sunday. I went on a day hike, that would lead me into the large, alluvial plain of a glacier. I took pretty little water with me as I knew there would be hundreds of little streams coming down the side of the valley. I guess with cold, fast running mountain streams virus are not a big issue anyway and it's OK to not bother with chlorine.

Hey Gremlin, guess what, I found my candle latern in the box with the water filter. Funny, though...that was the first place that I was looking for it and I searched that box a couple of times for my precious little lantern.”

“Congrats on finding the wayward lantern!

I think I told you my 20-year-old Swiss Army knfe came back from its three year vacation not long ago ---”

“I find the glacial fed streams, depending on the amount of alluvium within, can clog a filter in no time...”