Water Purifiers?

[Marmotnj]

leaving in 34 days and just decided to loose the iodine tabs and go with a purifier. I have been looking into a sweetwater but heard they jam. can't seem to find a purifier with really good reviews. What are some popular filters that some of you more experienced hikers use?

[Hooch]

IMO, the best filter on the market was the ULA Amigo Pro gravity filter, but it's not on the market anymore. Paul at Arrowhead Equipment offers a gravity filter called the AquaSimple. All you need to add is the filter element itself. You can also make one based on Just Jeff's directions. Of course, you can get a regular pump filter that has moving parts and is prone to breakage, takes up time and energy to make work and gets progressively more difficult to pump the longer you have the filter cartridge.

[Roche]

Have you looked into / researched Aquamira Water Treatment Drops? I now have an MSR Waterworks filter for sale, includes ceramic catridge and membrane element which are both still in the original box.

[CrumbSnatcher]

IMO, the best filter on the market was the ULA Amigo Pro gravity filter, but it's not on the market anymore. Paul at Arrowhead Equipment offers a gravity filter called the AquaSimple. All you need to add is the filter element itself. You can also make one based on Just Jeff's directions. Of course, you can get a regular pump filter that has moving parts and is prone to breakage, takes up time and energy to make work and gets progressively more difficult to pump the longer you have the filter cartridge.

what do you mean the amigo is off the market I sure hope you picked me one up?

[CrumbSnatcher]

IMO the best filter is the katahdyn hiker
nothing else to see hear folks lets move along!

[CrumbSnatcher]

for what its worth
99' thruhike i fought my sweetwater most of the way after a few hundred miles
02' and 03' i used a pur hiker( now katahdyn hiker) and have never had a problem with it. i still use it today
i hiked with alot of people using the MSR MINI-WORKS good filter but slow! some like the bottle attachment on the msr but i prefer the hoses on the katahdyn. attaching the bottle to the filter sounds like a good deal but watching people pump them is a different story! i believe the pour size on the katahdyn is larger than the sweetwater and the mini-works making it flow better, it used to be anyway. and the pump design on the katahdyn is faster and smoother
things change and they might of changed things/specs on those filter to make them better/faster? there are fans of all three of these filters, i hope you find one you like. have a great hike!!!

[Hooch]

what do you mean the amigo is off the market I sure hope you picked me one up?

After ULA got sold this past fall, they halted production of it, however, I'm not exactly sure why. I found this out when I went to ULA's website to buy one for Dancer for Christmas. Bummer, too, because it was one of the best filters on the market and definitely the best gravity filter on the market. Oh well, easy come, easy go (This won't break my heart, don't ya know). Did I just quote Winger lyrics?

[Tinker]

I have a First Need. Heavy but it kills viruses and removes organic chemicals (according to the manufacturer). I've been using one since the mid 1980s and haven't had an intestinal malfunction while (or shortly after) a hike since I bought it.
It can be used as a gravity filter. The filter cartridge is sealed, so it cannot be cleaned though it can be backwashed with treated water to allow a few more gallons to pass through before replacement is necessary. Like most filters, it doesn't work when it's frozen, but unlike some it can be thawed out, undamaged, and be used again. The only problem I ever had was breaking the seal inside the cartridge on one when I dropped it from chest height onto the kitchen floor. I doubt most other filters would have survived either. I'm not sure whether or not the new models come with the bag and grommet/nipple and hose for use as a gravity filter. You could certainly save a few ounces by leaving the pump at home. A bag filled with untreated water could, theoretically, be squeezed through the filter and collected on the other end (a forced gravity filter).

[white_russian]

I have a Katadyn Hiker and have NEVER had a problem with it or encountered anyone who had problems with it. I have been using it for at least five years, but can't remember how long I have had it. It is a pretty simple design and the cartridges are easy to find.

[Marmotnj]

thinking about going with the Katadyn hiker pro. the good reviews strongly out weigh the bad. [B]CrumbSnatcher[B], have you ever had any mechanical problems with this pump?

[LimpsAlong]

Katadyn hiker, Cheap, reliable.

[CrumbSnatcher]

thinking about going with the Katadyn hiker pro. the good reviews strongly out weigh the bad. [B]CrumbSnatcher[B], have you ever had any mechanical problems with this pump?

try to filter the water from the cleanest spot in the water source & carry a light weight collaspeable waterbag(for camp at night) that way you can scoop up enough water for the evening and enough to load up in the morning.(without going back to the water source more than once) i carried a 3-gallon coghlans(probably spelled wrong)cheap,light and rolls into a small ball,MRO in damascus has them. my current filter my PUR HIKER(bought out by katahdyn) has 7,000 miles on it.(i have only owned 2 filters) i plan on carrying it this year also on the COLORADO TRAIL and the LONG TRAIL
i've owned it since 2001 & have never had a problem. the only problem i noticed on trail is i came across a few different people over time and they had no pressure build up in the pump handle. that is a easy fix you pull off the handle pour a little water inside the pump housing and close it back up this is called priming the pump. i have never had to do this. i believe its because the small little rubber seal on the inside of the pump(you won't miss it) needs to be lubed once or twice a year. lube the rubber o-ring when you replace the filter. the lube/grease come in a small tube included in every new filter box. just follow the instructions and you will be fine! GREAT FILTER

[Marmotnj]

Thanks everyone for the info. just have to make it through the next 33 days without going crazy.

[Appalachian Tater]

Katadyn Hiker or Hiker Pro. Look at the reviews on Amazon for the Hiker Pro for a lot of different viewpoints. The filters are available at most outfitters if it needs replacing and the pump itself is sturdy and easy to use.

Regardless of which brand you buy, you might want to put some stocking or a coffee filter over the inlet and be careful not to drop the hose in the water and have it go downstream.

Another option would be to start out with iodine and see what people are using then buy one you like on the trail. No doubt if you offer to pump water people will be glad to let you try theirs out.

[rp1790]

Well, going against the grain here but I had a Katadyn Hiker Pro, cleaned it every few days and it clogged up so bad I broke the handle. I know of two others last year that had the same problem. The guy I was hiking with, he cleaned his filter a lot and about 2 weeks after mine broke his got to the "can't pump and the handle will break" stage as well.

Might I suggest leaving buying one until you get to Neels Gap and seeing what their recommendation is? You could use some Aqua Mira for the first few days until you get there.

[Mountain Wildman]

First Need XL

[leaftye]

I've just started using it, but I really like the MSR Autoflow. It's 10.5 ounces and filters really fast. I bet an ounce can be removed by trimming the hose and straps, and maybe even more if the nalgene cap assembly isn't used.

[Marmotnj]

What about the Katadyn pocket filter? Besides it being expensive it looks like a good buy. The thing looks bullet proof and i haven't seen a bad review. I've seen more than one review saying they have had theirs for over 20 years. the advertisement says one ceramic filter is good for 13,000 gallons and can be cleaned in the field. if thats true its probably the cheapest and most functional filter on the market.

What do you guys think?

[Marmotnj]

and at 20 ounces the pocket is not the lightest, but I'm a sucker for reliability so i could deal with it.

[CrumbSnatcher]

Well, going against the grain here but I had a Katadyn Hiker Pro, cleaned it every few days and it clogged up so bad I broke the handle. I know of two others last year that had the same problem. The guy I was hiking with, he cleaned his filter a lot and about 2 weeks after mine broke his got to the "can't pump and the handle will break" stage as well.

Might I suggest leaving buying one until you get to Neels Gap and seeing what their recommendation is? You could use some Aqua Mira for the first few days until you get there.

did you use the filter screen that wraps around the filter? the filter works much better without that screen!
never heard of people cleaning a hiker or hiker pro so much(what are you cleaning ?the screen with that little brush that comes with it?) probably had a pinched hose when you broke the pump handle and the air couldn't get thru was it really cold out when your pump broke?