Eureka!

“Well, Johnny Walker and I finally did Mount Marshall in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks (#38 for me - he's done them all). Fantastic walk in very hot weather. John had bought a Pur hiker. He had lusted over one ever since we had observed another hiker with one in the Seward range. I still prefer my First Need because it is still the only absolutely reliable purifier available; but this trip I had a chance to compare one on one in real-life conditions.

The Pur wins on convenience hands down. I must add that my First Need is an original model that does not have the long tube pre-filter, nor the screw-in option for the Nalgens bottle. John just dropped his pre-filter in the water and friction fit the other tube to bot wide-mouth and small-mouth Nalgenes. When one of his bottles was full, the overflow squirted me and I dropped a bottle into the stream - BAD THOUGHTS and BLACK ENVY at the ease of use of the Pur.

HOWEVER, I solved the problem by duct taping the filter canister to my Nalgene and voilà, as much convenience as the Pur. Problem solved. Of course I decontaminated the Nalgens and back washed the First Need (I have well water, can't do that with the chlorinated stuff) when I got home.

The duct tape works for repeated applications and I have more wrapped around the Nalgenes. My First Need has been going strong since I bought it in 1988. I maintain it religiously and since my life changed after my divorce I have resolved never to dump something that works just for a newer model. Any comment?”

“Oh yes. While my filter was marginally harder to pump, it did fill the boittles more quickly, as it pumps on both strokes. Performance was just about equal in that regard. Happy trails.”

“you ACTUALLY have a friend named JOHNNY WALKER?!?!?!

aMAAAZing!”

“I had a ten year old Pur Explorer. When the T-handle broke I called to get a replacement part and a new filter while I had 'um on the phone. They refused to take my money and sent me a brand new Pur Hiker. It's not technically a purifier but the '97 Hiker is still nicer than my '87 Explorer was.

I was a fan before, I'm a loyal customer now.

How sturdy are the First Needs?”

“Sorry, Rad, Johnny Walker's not his real name (John is).

I'm not sure I'm the best one to ask, Crow. As I said, I'm a fanatic about maintenance and care. I buy the best I can afford, use it correctly and maintain it religiously. So far only two things have disappointed me; one of them was a Rolex and I got rid of them both.

I bought my First Need in 1988 for a backpacking trip to the Rockies with my kids. I also ordered the glacial water pre-filter which I still have. I use it only to fill water bottles for drinking and I boil water for cooking. I don't use a filter-purifier in winter an I backwash it after every trip. I have used the same canister since then. I take special care not to drop it for fear of cracking the matrix. I've never had a health problem that could be related to tainted water up to now. Happy trails.”

“ok what do you think of Eureka backpacks.
i new they had tents, but not backpacks”

“Eueka are joined with Camptrails. The packs are Camptrail.”

“New season started a minute or so ago.”

“I think you need to update this thread. that minute ago is out of date now”

“what season?”

“silly season”