Katadyn Siphon Filter - 2007 BCS

This filter is best when you need an in-camp-for-two-days-with-a-group answer with all of Katadyn's best features and no weight. Have one member of the group bring this, another bring two collapseable containers, and you're set for water while you're out on a day-hike. Flow rate is fine if you put cloudy water in a container to settle first, or if you rubber-band a t-shirt around it first. Wet the element with pure water first for maximum flow, and it's great.

Having to filter water for the household, I have a couple of filter systems. One is the Katadyn drip filter (with three ceramic elements) and now the siphon filter. The one-element siphon filter so far filters faster than the three-element drip filter. The siphoning action seems to pull the water at a faster rate than expected. All you need are two buckets to make it work. The filter also drains the supply bucket bone dry.

Yes, the siphon works, but in even mildly cloudy water in a river running full with late spring runoff it clogged within an hour to only a few drops per minute. Filling a 5 gal jug took overnight and all day. Multiple cleanings with the supplied pad was necessary to restore the flow. After 5 days of repeated cleanings - lightly as possible - the filter diameter was at the minimum necessary for safe filtration. Total volume of water filtered: about 30 gallons. Use it when you need it, but beware of its limits.