Katadyn Hiker Water Microfilter - 2007 BCS

I have the PUR version of this microfilter & I've been using it since 2001. Filters water faster than any pump I've ever used with the exception of the Timberline but with better results, .3 microns compared to 1 micron for the Timberline. Glass fiber filter element, depending on use, lasts for many seasons. Durable & easy to assemble. The only downside is it's weight, 11oz dry & 14oz after use. Still a small price to pay for good, clean water in a flash.

I have used this filter on several long hiking trips. I was pumping very cold water and attempted to remove the inlet tube (something I had done many many times) and the nipple broke off. I did not do anything different or use more force than I normally do. Good thing my other friends had filters. This looks like a design issue.

The small tradeoff of weight is worth the cost savings and ease of pumping offered by the Hiker filter. I thought I wanted an MSR MiniWorks, but after using both on a couple of multiday trips, the Hiker won out on ease of pumping and certainly cost. I use mine all over Alaska, and it just keeps on going.

This filter is quick to setup, filters water fast, easy to clean, and I have never gotten sick from using it and have filtered water on different continents and sometimes in pretty shady places. I have replaced the filter inside as well and found this very simple to pull off in a few minutes.

I just wanted to add that if you check McMaster.com, you will find they sell a selection of 3/16 barb fittings that fit nicely into the hose if you need some kind of MacGuyvering, such as part#2808K105. Also, after some varmint ate our hose, I purchased #51845K26 as a replacement.

I know that skimping on something as fundamental as drinking water is a bad thing, but at the same time I researched before purchasing this filter to try and get the best coverage and functionality for the least amount of money. The Katadyn Hiker struck that balance. The filter created clear tasty water out of beaver poop lake water, and the little floaty bobber allowed me to keep the intake off the bottom of the shallows. Helpful hint to those who like me didn't already know that might allow one to buy the Hiker over the Hiker pro would be to use a piece of t-shirt over the intake if the water looks really gunked up to help as a front line against the larger grit.

Took this up into the Sawtooths and my wife could use it and not get tired of pumping. Even my 12 year old niece is a pro with this filter. Lightweight, small and simple to setup, and use.

It was so good that i was never thirsty or parched the whole way. It was waterlicious.

I've had my Katadyn hiker for a couple of years now without any problems. I have cleaned the filter according to the instructions after each trip and dried it completely before storing. The pump works great, take a small coffee filter for an extra prefilter for really gross silty water. I love the quick disconnect fittings which clip into my platypus without any spillage. Overall cold, clean, fresh tasting water, reliably. I would give 5 stars if it was lighter/smaller.

This filter is great for backpacking and have been taking to trips up in the ADKS. It works in dirty puddles and trickling streams at the top of the peeks. Small enough for day trips and weekend trips. Cheap, reliable and durable what else do want.

What a great filter. Took it on a trip to the High Uintas with the Scouts and it was easy to use and not a huge ordeal everytime anyone needed water. All 11 of us used the one filter.-

I have had two of these and they have both broken in the backcountry.

Not much else to say. the first one had a pump issue. The second one broke when i pulled off the hose. I was surprised to look down and see the plastic nipple had ripped off as well.

Its a shame bc its a simple system for a good price. 4 days of boiling water sucks though....

This filter is great! I’ve tried branching out to other brands… and have had issues… and seem to always come back to the Katadyn (PUR) Hiker. I am most impressed by its flow/pump speed and ease of use; I think the fastest pumping water filter I have ever used. It does get harder to pump when filter is dirty… But I found that rubber banding a coffee filter to the end going into the water will make your filter last longer- and takes a good amount of sediments out. ***I wished they made a lighter weight and compact version of this filter so that I can pack it for day hikes.

Great, very dependable filter. Sooo trouble free. Tried to convert to a MSR Hyperflow but it was a joke. I didn't realize how good the Hiker was until I tried the MSR Hyperflow. Had to go back to the Hiker. Filter element lasts a long time and requires no backflushing or cleaning. Just pump and use. Leave the heavy storage bag at home and shorten the hoses if you need to save weight. Better yet, make your friends carry it. Sturdy and well suited to shared use by multiple hikers.

The Katadyn Hiker Microfilter is a godsend in the backcountry. No more packing in water - drink ice-cold mountain water to your heart's content with this gadget. I've used this microfilter to pull water from sources ranging from crystal clear mountain streams to muddy-brown rivers and have had nothing but good results. The water coming out of the Hiker tastes better than my tap water at home, and the Nalgene/Camelbak hose adapters make pumping water a 1-man chore. The replacement filters are expensive, so I'd recommend hand-rinsing your filter in the sink after each trip.

I bought this filter when it was a PUR. It has done me well in the past and i am glad to have purchased it. I never experienced any clogging and it was easy enough to field maintain. I would recommend it as it is durable and the attachment works with a variety of tops. It is a bit on the heavy side and if you are weight conscious then this is not the water treatment system for you. I would recommend aqua mira. Anything with moving parts is bound to add a little bit of risk. great value for a nice filter.

Spent 8 nights backpacking in the Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan mountains. We were with our High Adventure troop 9650. Everyone else had the MSR Miniworks. My son & I used the Hiker, & we were always done pumping water way before any of the others. Everyone wanted to borrow our filter. This is the PUR version, but I don't think they changed anything but the name when Katadyn got it. Buy it, you won't be disappointed

Just thought I'd add to the plethora of reviews about how this filter is pretty much fool proof. I have had it for about 3-4 years and use it a couple times a year. It seems to stay wet on the inside even when I try to take out the filter and dry it. Fills a nalgene in about 1 minute and has the attachment for both nalgen and camelbak. The plastic bag which holds the clean tube broke at the clasp but got a ziploc and good as new!

I can't say anything that a lot of other people haven't already said. Reliable, affordable, easy to use, easy to clean. Excellent piece of equipment. The people at Backcountry are great. Excellent customer service, prompt shipping.

My son and I have used the water filter twice this summer and couldn't be happier. It is not bulky and can put out water rapidly. No more waiting around while we die of thirst. This purchase has been one of our best. Thanks

I think if you are looking for just a microfilter thats going to protect you, but not take too much maintenance, this is the one. Really easy to use, and even easier to maintain. The only downside is that sometimes I pinch my finger under the pump. Also, the Nalgene attatchment it comes with rocks!

This filter was already broken by the second time I used it. I'm not really sure what happened, but the hard plastic tube is cracked somewhere in the crease between the two cartridges and just leaks everywhere when I use it, also releasing all the dirt into the filtered water container.

after quite a few uses i'm satisfied with this filter. It is easy to assemble, pumps water quickly, and it tastes good too! only downsides are the size and weight. It's no microfilter,but you get what you pay for. All in all a decent filter that easily gets the job done for you

The fatal flaw: the inlet connection nipple.

So I was filtering some very cold water (alpine stream, so it was snow about 2 hours before). It was only the second time I had used this filter. It pumps very easily and works great. Then I'm packing it away and when I remove the inlet tube, the connection nipple breaks right off, making the entire setup useless. I would have been screwed but luckily my friend had his filter. I think the cold water makes the plastic extra brittle. I was not careless, it just broke as I pulled the tube off.

My brother owns the same filter and a week later the same exact failure happened to him. He had to boil water for the rest of his trip. Luckily he had extra fuel.

You can read more stories like this in the reviews of REI. I am amazed there are almost none here on BC. This is a habitual problem with this filter.

I learned two things from all of this. 1) I now carry iodine tablets as a backup. 2) this filter is a bad trip waiting to happen. Invest your money elsewhere, especially if your water sources are cold streams and lakes, or you might end up as Zombie food. I now own the Katadyn Vario and so far it's worked flawlessly though it is heavier and bulkier which is a drawback.

This may not be the smallest or lightest water filter, but it is literally the best for the money, in my opinion. I have used this and the Hiker Pro all over the Eastern Sierras and Los Padres National Forest, and it cannot be beat for reliability and volume. I drink a ton of water, and this thing fills a Nalgene in no time. Super easy to use, and much faster than my wife's MSR. The adapter and input hose are also very convenient, as I have both narrow and wide mouth Nalgene bottles and a Camelbak bladder. No monkeying around, it just works - well. The filter element lasts up to 750 liters, and I haven't yet had to switch mine out.

I had a hard time deciding what filter to finally buy and chose this one and I have NO regrets. It's easy to use, works great, and packs small and light. I have used it in lakes, rivers, and streams with no problems. Compared to other people's equipment that I have hiked with it seems easier and faster than many other brands out there. You won't be disappointed.

took this to amethyst lake in the high uintas- easy to use, and to clean.

The best portable water filter ever: small, quick, easy to use, easy to care for, cost effective and it works very well. What more can you ask?

We used our Katadyn Hiker Water filter for the first time on an overnighter a few weeks ago. Due to recent rains, the water was somewhat murky, and we had our doubts how the water would taste. The pump is easy to use; we had four Nalgene bottles filled in about five minutes. I took the advice of others and wrapped a coffee filter around the intake to extend the filter life. The lake water really tasted great! Almost as good as bottled water from a store. Setup/takedown was very easy. I'm not sure how anyone could confuse the inlet/outlet; they are clearly marked.

Ive always been weary of drinking water in the back country, but with this filter you are safe. I filtered out of a waterfall pool that people and dogs swam in and had no problem. The water actually tasted good. The only time I wouldn't trust this filter is if there was a dead animal in the water. Took this up on the AT in winter and the hose froze and busted. Been the only problem I have had. Called Katadyn and they sent new hoses and filter bag in a flash.

My buddy and I was waiding and fishing in the Big Piney River, in Missouri. We drank all our water early on and luckily I brought my Katadyn Hiker water filter. I filled our bottles and we drank away. The next day we were in formation (did I mention I am in the Army) and they told us the river was closed for swimming and waiding because they found high levels of e. coli after 4 people were diagnosed at the hospital. My buddy and I never caught e. coli and we owe it all to that Katadyn Hiker water filter.

This filter has yet to let me down. It's durable, it's easy to use, and the case it comes with is pretty handy for keeping it isolated from your other gear. Just put one end in the water and the other end in the water bottle and start pumping. I did not notice an after-taste and the Nalgene attachment comes in handy. It filters at like one liter per minute to the size of 0.3 microns and I have yet to get sick from using it. Overall, a solid buy.

Although I used this thing gently and only filtered about 4 gallons of water through it total, the lower nipple broke off when I removed the silicon inlet tube. I’d read other reviews where folks complained of a weakness in the design of this area, but assumed they were careless in their use of the filter. All I can say is that I was especially careful with mine and still it broke off. Now the filter is useless. If I had it to do over again, I would not buy this filter. Of course, I recommend that you do not buy this, as it will leave you in a pickle some day when you need water. If you buy it anyway, please carry iodine tablets, or have some other backup water source—you’ll need it.

I have used this filter for about 1500 miles and never had a problem.

We first used this filter while hiking 5 high peaks in the Adirondack's last month. The day and a half trip required a lot of water and the filter was used hard. Surprisingly it left no taste to the water whatsoever. I was fully satisfied with the purchase and price. Much better than lugging around a bunch of water bottles.

First let me say we have been using these filters for several years and we used to like them. We knew, or thought we knew the limits of water clarity to not clog the cartriges. On our latest Utah adventure we blew out not one but four of these units in less than 20 minutes in semi clear pool with very low to no silt. We also wrap a filter around the intake at water level as an extra precaution. We actually managed to break one of the pumps in the process. The originl Katadyns cartriges we'd used previously worked great but they seem to have changed the filters. We started with all new cartriges. I was not a happy desert-canyon hiker that day. 4 units and we had to Iodine the water. Getting ready to start the replacement process, I hope.

We do a lot of desert canyon hikes and have found this filter to work great in the sandy water. Light wieght and easy to use. We usually wrap a coffee filter around the intake to keep the fine grit out of the filter. We lost one so we ordered a new one this year.

Great filter at even better price. Not the smallest or the lightest but it works when you need it. No complicated pump levers to break. Unless you are getting your water from really questionable sources this level of filtration is perfect and you are not working up a sweat trying to pump your water through a super hard filter. This model is not "field serviceable" so if you are going on a long trip get the pro model.

Bought as a X-Mas gift. I placed my order after 9 pm and I received and order processed message only two hours later. I then received an order shipped message @ 1 am. I received it 2 days and all this was with their free shipping. Backcountry does it right!!

4 stars only because there are better filters just not at anywhere near this price.

Super fast (definitely 1 liter/minute). Lightweight and compact. Cuts down on the amount of water we needed to carry because we can stop at any stream along the way. Hoses don't slip out of your containter when you fill. The best part? The nasty brown water we just got out of the stream and filtered- tastes incredible! Like bottled water! Buy this. Use it everywhere.

This is the first water filter I have purchased. Having reviewed several reviews just like this one, the Katadyn filter was my choice and I could not have chosen better. The simplicity of use was outstanding and the results were just as good and the price made it even better. As a beginning user, I couldn't imagine any product being better and easier to use.

Bought this filter for a Tuscarora Trail leg from Hawk Camp WV to Gore, VA. Beginning of Summer, needed lot's o' H20. Worked great. Packs small.

I had to get my own Katadyn Hiker after I used one of my fellow backpackers during a weekend trip. Super simple to set up and use, easy to clean up as well. Water has tasted great and never been an issue. My only beef with this product is the multiple objects you have to keep track of during your pumping. I lost one of the rubber nipples that covers the intake valve on the filter in the creek. Silly error on my part but still upsetting losing part of a brand new filter on the first trip. My only advice to future buyers, set up your filter away from any running water so you dont lose any part of it. Happy hiking!

Small, light weight, easy to use. Decent price. I was very happy!

First use on the Missouri River and by the fourth bottle filled the filter was clogged, though no fault of the device. Ignorance will clog this filter. Either wrap intake in a coffee filter for sediment heavy water, or have a reserve container to let water stand in and sediment settle. I was very surprised when I was able to clean the filter under a tap and restore it to great use contrary to what I was told was possible. Before I tried cleaning it I bought a replacement filter, and it seems that Katadyn has addressed the clogging issue by adding an extra sediment screen around the filter. This filter pumps water very fast. If you're going to need to pump large amounts of water or pump frequently, this is a great filter.

I'm used the filter on a five day hike along the GA part of the Appalachian Trail and it completely met my needs. I t was light wieght and easy to use.

Very good product but...not very durable...they could make it sturdier...enough said

After it's first use, this filter shined. Easy to use and compact design was great to pack in for a weekend, or even a dayhike, and most importantly, my water was clean, tasting great and I managed without getting sick. The carry-case is convenient for trips to the watersource pack free, and even has some extra room for some collapsible water bottles. Great value, this will stay in my pack for some time.

I've used this filter everywhere in the US - on the AT, Utah Desert, Rockies, etc. It has always worked great. It isn't the lightest option for filtration but the reliability has been worth it to me and I'm still on my first filter so if you take care of them properly they will last just about forever.

I've been using this filter for the past two years and it's easy to use, not too heavy and cleans up the muckiest water. It pumps a liter in less than a minute and as long as you keep the filters and hoses clean, your water is very high quality. I always worry that I'll be in the middle of nowhere with a broken water filter, but this one gives me confidence.

I've taken this filter on almost all my backpacking trips. It is easy to use, foolproof, and gives you clean water instantly after a few pumps. It cleans well and isn't all that heavy to carry. An overall great product - I have yet to be disappointed.

It's small, fast, light and cheap. What else can you ask for?

Highly recommended. A great value for the money. Put this on the top of your list if you're considering buying a water purifier. Easy to use and it's lightweight - a backpacker's must!

This worked great! No problems with the unit you could very quickly fill your water bottles with this unit

I've tried a few other filters, but this filter takes the cake. I don't even carry a bladder when hiking along streams and lakes, just my trusty Nalgene and my Katadyn filter. Bust it out, stick it in the water, pump for a few minutes and you've got some good, clean water. Why take on the extra weight of a bladder when it's this easy? My favorite piece of equipment!

This microfilter is the best. I never had any other microfilter other than the MSR waterworks. But it is bulky and doesn't give out enough water. I went for the Hiker among others because of its cheap price and quality (Tough outer case and it's made in Switzerland!). True to the previous reviews this little filter works great. It pumps water fast and tastes much better and fresher than my MSR. I looked at the design and also realized that you can use it as a water fountain, in case your hoses do rip or something. Just take both hoses, dip the filter in the water and start pumping! the water will come upwards like a drinking fountain. That option was not available for my MSR and I'm sure it is not available in other filters as well. Overrall it is a well thought, well made filter. Would highly recommend it. For it's price, quality, and "fountain" option it cannot be beat.

The Hiker is a superb water filter compared to others I've used in the past, typically PUR brands. I was extremely pleased with the light weight and compact design, as well as the water flow. I was able to fill a one-liter Nalgene bottle in about 35-50 seconds. A high recommend for any backpacker.

The Katadyn Hiker is definitely in top ranks when it comes to water filters. It is very lightweight and compact and extremely fast compared to other filters I have used. I definitely made the right decision in purchasing a Hiker.

Great. Simple, well-made and easy to use. Just took it on an 8-day trip in the Sierras, and it performed flawlessly.

The Katadyn Hiker is easy to use, fills up a Nalgene bottle in about a minute, and the water tastes great. No hesitation whatsoever in recommending this filter for anyone: day hikers, backpackers, etc.

This water filter was extremely easy to use and the water tasted better than bottled. "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

After reading many different sources and getting input from a few who actually own the "Hiker" I decided to jump headlong in and purchase one. I have 0 complaints as it has stood up in the short time I have owned it and delivered. I'm always pleased when a product comes along and is everything it was billed to be and more. The Hiker filters easily and the result is good clean {clear} tasting water. I highly recommend this product to anyone who is in the market or dissatisfied with what you've got. It is light weight and doesn't take up much space. So all around you just cant beat it. Comparatively even the price is right, so dive in the waters great.

Was the best money I’ve spent on camping gear so far is to use almost idiot proof and haven’t gotten sick off the water yet and the water tastes great.

The fact is that I used water from crystal clear mountain springs while hiking in Colorado Rockies. But it needs some time and skill to assemble all those hoses together. Anyway, good piece of gear.

Bought this model based on the value and solid reviews it received. Worked exactly as expected. Service from this site was excellent as well.

I bought the filter for a 20-mile long hike through Yosemite in California. It worked great. We got water from several different sources including a very small spring in a hole underneath a tree. The water was perfectly clear and it tasted better than anything you can get in a store or from a tap. Of course, the water was very clear to begin with. The filter was easy to use, lightweight and didn't take up much space.

Katadyn Hiker Water Filter worked fine. A little awkward pulling hoses to put in separate bag. So far I'm not sick and there was a large flock of sheep (500) in the wilderness area. Ugh.

A friend had one which I used along with my MSR Waterworks filter. The Katadyn was much easier to use than the ceramic and pumped 3-4 times the water in the same period. I pumped about 20 gallons through it with no noticeable decrease in flow- only time will tell. I like it very much!

The hiker filter is the best in the market today. I’ve owned MSR and Sweetwater filters and they don’t even get close to the quality of this one.

I've used a few other products--I think this is a good one. It pumps water quickly. I guess the only downside to this pump is that it isn't "field servicable" which means you can't really clean it on the trail. But I'd rather have a quicker filter and just be careful where I pump water.
I just bought this for the second time--first one got stolen.

This filter is worth every ounce, it's fast and you don't need flavoring just to get it down.

I have been using mine for a while in the Uintas and the Rockies that have some fairly muddy water and I have never had a problem with getting sick or bad tasting water. I am still on my first filter also which is good. I really like this simple easy to use filter.

This filters ease of use and flow rate is great. I went on a group backpacking trip last summer. We had three filters from three different manufacturers. The favorite among all in the group including the owners of the other filters was the hiker.

One half of your job as a outdoor product manufacturer is to make quality equipment that performs in the wild. The other half is to serve your customers after the purchase and stand behind the product. This unit broke after only 5 gallons of use. We were 3 days into a 120 mile backpack trip on the southern half of the John Muir Trail in the Sierras, and the hose connector for untreated water flowing into the unit broke off. Luckily fellow hikers let us borrow thiers and a ranger gave us chlorine tables for the last 7 days. Upon returning home, we contacted the very reputable outdoor store where it was purchased and they referred us to the manufacturer. Their response was to only replace the plastic housing over the ceramic filter- which was the original problem, because this is where the break occoured. However, the actual ceramic filter needed replaced because all kinds of crap was sucked into the unit when the connector broke. This is the expensive, must-function part of a microfilter, and if not functioning, renders the unit worthless. The company refused to replace the ceramic filter and we were forced to buy a whole new filter. The MSR Hyperflow is what you want.

I was looking for a light weight portable filter, the Katadyn is a great fit. So far the Hiker does a great job and is easily maintained. The pumping action is smooth and consistent. I would recommend this to fellow hikers.