Katadyn Vario Dual Technology MicroFilter

I bought this just to add to my collection of outdoor gadgets, and didn't get around to using it right away. I've used many others by friends, mostly the 'Katadyn Hiker' model of filters, usually on week+ camping/hiking trips. This one blows it out of the water when it comes to GPM and ease of pumping, along with the ease of connecting it to water bottles; specifically Nalgenes, and Camelbaks. The ceramic filter is great to extend the life of the glassfiber/carbon filter. I highly reccomend this filter!

We took a week at Red Castle lakes in the Uintah this summer. 12 miles in, these filters were life savers. We had 10 people on the trip and usually filled 20-30 32oz water bottles twice a day. (I'll let someone else do the math) With two filters we could knock out all the bottles in about 15 minutes. It gave us time to enjoy the trip. These are fairly large, but worth both the weight and size tradeoff. When compared with a sweetwater we had with us the Vario filled 2 nalgenes in the time it took the MSR to fill one. We ended up just putting the sweetwater away for most of the trip. Design is idiot proof, remember to occasionally release the air pressure after pumping, this will keep it from leaking like in the review below.

This filter is pretty good. I say this because it does filter crazy fast, and seems to do a good job at it. The only downside at least to mine is that it seems to leak around the joint between the ceramic disc and the filter itself. This only happens on the "longer life" setting, and only if you pump hard. Maybe not a problem for many people, but I expect my gear to be bombproof and this is not particularly. When I put it on "faster flow" everything works fine, but like I said be careful when on "longer life".

This is my first season with the Vario after having used and loved the older Guide Pro. This is the fastest pump I've ever used and the standard Nalgene-compatible output is a great improvement from Katadyn's older pumps. Great set-up for the money, just be sure to follow the maintenance instructions after your trips...

Well, I was on my second season this year, using the vario. I was pretty happy with it last year, up until the problems with algae growing in the filter. Turns out that was mostly my fault for not running chlorine through the filter, when I got home. I bought a new filter cartridge and replaced all the seals this year, basically making it good as new. We took it on a six day trip this summer, and it worked pretty well for the first two days. For the most part, the eight of us used it to filter over 40 L of water. Then it just stopped working, half way through another routine pump. It was not able to keep a vacuum, or pump the water through the filter. I again took it apart, and replaced the seals, applying sealant, but it didn't work. Another user had a similar problem, with theirs. Luckily, we had a backup filter, and we used that for the rest of the trip. I took it back and traded it for an MSR Sweetwater. In the end the vario let me down twice, when I have been in the backcountry, so the trade-off has been giving up the faster flow rate for something reliable. After all, if it doesn't work anyway, the extra liter per minute is not going to do me any good. I recommend filter designs that have been around for a while and proven, like the MSR Sweetwater, Katadyn Hiker, or Katadyn Explorer - which they may have discontinued.

When I'm out, I'm usually not in any hurry. But I will say the rate of water that goes through this thing is pretty good, even when it's not on fast flow. Very simple to use. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the shape, it's a little bulky. I've gone through approx. 23 gallons on the same filter, so I can say it definitely does it's job. If I ever get sick I may sing a different tune. For now I am satisfied with this buy.

After my new MSR filter malfunctioned, our entire party depended on the vario for six days: about 48 gal of filtered water. The faster flow option does exactly what it claims, , and required only a 30 second scrub of the prefilter during the trip. My only con is that its a bit heavier than average-but maybe the reliability and longevity cancel this out. Thea "funny taste" from a previous review can be avoided by pumping a weak bleach solution before putting it away after the trip.

Groups I've been with have pumped around 100 gallons of back country water through my Vario in the last year. For clean water we've used the Faster Flow option and can pump at 3 quarts a minute-----I've actually timed pumping a quart at 17 seconds. For dirty water we use mostly the longer life setting and pumping slows to about 2 qts a minute. I have clogged the ceramic filter within 3 quarts in very dirty irrigation ditch water in Peru-----but it cleans up quickly. I love the Vario, but you have to read the instructions and plan on some maintainance, if you are going to pump a lot of water. I recommend it for group trips, and I still day hike with the slower, but smaller and lighter, Katadyn Hiker------now that filter is idiot-proof.

Step one find water Step two use and enjoy. Really very easy

the vario works great, but i recently went on a climbing/backpacking trip in the ozarks, pumped water from a stream in the dark so I couldnt tell how cloudy the water was, it clogged up the ceramic prefilter and the scrubbing pad hardly did anything, it still worked but hardly, took forever to get water, always carry a bandanna or coffee filter incase you need to wrap the strainer

This water filter was awesome for the first few trips. Pumping was easier than ever. Having a pumping action similar MSR models really eases the strain of pumping. Aside from that, I really noticed little difference from my PUR Expedition, or Katydyn Explorer. The last trip we took, we noticed a distinct taste in the water filtered from the Vario, and it was awful. After talking with some people, it would seem that the carbon can house a particular algae found in the High Uintas if it does not dry completely in between trips. I have to wonder if it is mostly my fault for not running some bleach through the filter, after the second to last trip, as I had done for all the others to kill anything left in there. The trips were so close together I did not think it would matter. With a new filter, and some extra carbon packages, we will give it another chance this upcoming season, and see if the problem is user error or an issue with the design.

The Vario microfilter is an amazingly compact water filter mainly used in the outdoors. It is created by Katadyn. The point of the Vario filter is to make dirty water pure enough to drink quickly so that you are not slowed down. This item is unique because it offers two different types of filters for different water conditions. There is a 'fast flow' or a 'long life' option. Also, the Vario microfilter is able to pump up to two liters per minute. The main competition for the Vario Microfilter is the MSR MiniWorks water filter. The two filters are strikingly similar. Katadyn is water filter company that was started in Switzerland. Katadyn has been creating personalized water filters since 1928 and has now become the global number one in producing water purification systems. Katadyn has been making products for militaries, health organizations, and outdoor adventures all over the world. I recently went on a camping trip and I used the Vario Microfilter the entire trip to supply me with water. It is small enough, about the size of a 32 ounce nalgene bottle, and light enough, just under a pound, to go everywhere I went in my backpack. It is one of the easiest filters I have ever used. With a simple twist of the top you can change it from 'fast flow' to 'long life' and back again. I enjoyed using the Vario Microfilter because it was so simple. All I had to do was screw the bottom onto my nalgene (it fits most bottles that size), stick the hose in the water I wanted to purify, and start pumping. In an incredibly short time my bottle was completely full. Also, the Vario Microfilter is not difficult to clean. It is very easy to take apart and put back together. All the supplies needed to clean the tool are included in the box. The only thing that I did not enjoy about the Vario was the lack of information about getting started with it. After you figure out how everything works it is incredibly simple to use. However, I would suggest becoming comfortable with the water filter in your sink or bathtub before you head out in the woods and try it out there. It took me a little while to figure it out at first. It would have been handy if there was a 'how to' book included in the package. Other than that I think the tool is an amazing piece of work. I would suggest the water filter to anyone who spends a good amount of time camping and hiking. It is rather expensive, around $80 but if used often will make up for every cent and many more. You will not have to worry about lugging water around anymore.

This filter worked fantastically well, had a great flow rate and very useful attachments. For the first three liters... The filter stopped being able to pull water. Katadyn Customer Service were very helpful, but a little hard to contact in the backcountry.