Katadyn Hiker Water Microfilter

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?

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.

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

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 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'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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

This is one of the best filters I've owned. I have used it extensively in the Sierras in and around Yosemite, and it works on even "iffy" water. It is super easy to use, even my 5-year old can pump a bottle full in about a minute or so! The intake is clearly marked, and it is a very compact system. Highly recommended for any outdoor trip.

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.

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.

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.

As a first-time user of any hiking filter system I found this filter to be easy to use and easy to clean up after the trip. It is a little on the heavy side but weighs less than a liter of water so it makes up for it with less water weight to carry. Be careful that the handle is ALL the way down before putting on the storage caps though as I shot one of them into the underbrush never to be seen again. Live and learn. Overall a great value.

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!

This is a good filter. It pumps quickly even against 4 feet of head. The water tastes fine with no retained algae taste. But it is awkward to hold and use while smearing on a rock over the water. It would help some if the base was flat or there was a method to get a better attachment to a water bottle/hydro-pack. But trying to hold a bottle, the filter and pump can be a bit challenging.

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

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.

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.

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

Great and easy to use filter. Made the river water safe to drink and my pack oh so light!

This filter works great. Used it for 5 week trip on the AT and it never gave us any trouble. Very dependable. Had been using Steripen and had a bit of bad luck with it. Easy to take apart and clean and filter lasts a long time.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Bought it for my son's Boy Scout canoe trip, it pumped a lot of water in no time for the entire group of boys and adults. Another unit someone had couldn't handle a liter in the time they filled two 2 1/2 gallon containers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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!