The Hiker was exceptional. It is lightweight and NEVER CLOGS. I have used it many times in the past year and haven't had a problem. Does not prevent viral contaminants but in the U.S. that is OK. GO OUT AND BUY ONE!

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Katadyne

The Pur Hiker filter has proven to be simple, easy to use, and effective. While costing less than the majority of filters, it does everything needed for use in the U.S. and Canada. IF I were traveling in Mexico or other 3rd world countries I would upgrade to their Voyeger or Explorer model for virus removal. But that is not nessasary for for U.S. backpacking/mountaineering. Overall I'm am pleased with it's functioning. i.e. easy to use and no one has gotten ill. And it is lightweight.

Customer Service

N/A

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N/A

Surprised on such good reviews - Have had Hiker (and more expensive Explorer) fail on three trips in silty water - Can't be cleaned - Only way to use in silty water is to let water stand in a pot first -silt settles to bottom - Great Pump - Bad Filter...

Customer Service

Pur replaced filters - said I should pre-filter first (let water settle see above) - wish they could've replaced my filter day 2 and 4 into my 5 day trip -

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MSR - works well - field cleanable - Sweetwater - works best - very easy to clean in field -

I'll just echo everybody else's response, this thing is great. Pumps easy, produces great water, never got a bug. Can also use the Voyageur's Iodine resin filter for more serious conditions (outside the U.S.). As far as the ""too long hoses"" goes, errrrrr CUT THEM OFF !

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Katadyn pocket filter ""It Will Pump You Up !"" Great it you have infinite time to kill, along with quite a few bucks.

sweet....loved it
we had 3 different filters..the hiker worked outstanding
it would take about 50 pumps and 40 seconds to fill a 32 ounce bottle
no hassle what so ever...

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None

A good filter with a smooth, two way action, and fast water bottle filling. priming filter element is the only annoyance.

Customer Service

This is a real quality product. I have to hand it to PUR. It's much more problem free than my old First Need filter. I got mine on sale from Campmor a few years ago. Priming the cartrige before use is essential but easy to do since they give you good instructions. Pass on the Voyager with the anti-virus resin unless your going to Nepal or Kenya for its first trip. The voyager replacement cartrige can be bought to convert a Hiker into a Voyager.

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First Need
Sweet water

This is a very nice filter, it pumps quickly and easily and has very few parts.

I would recommend putting a coffee filter over the intake on it. It will save filter life.

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None

This filter was used along with the PUR Scout and the MSR Miniworks on a Boy Scout troop's weekend backpacking trip to the Cumberland State Park and Fiery Gizzard Trail on the Cumberland plateau in East Tennessee. We compared the time and number of pumps to fill a 32 ounce Nalgene bottle to the brim with all three filters. The Hiker took 56 seconds and 55 pumps to fill the Nalgene and the Scout also took 56 seconds but only 38 pumps to fill the bottle. The MSR took 1'50" and 110 pumps to fill the bottle.

As for weight, the PUR Hiker wins hands down, at 11 oz. vs the MSR Miniworks at 15 oz. The Scout is a larger filter, so the weight comparison is not apples to apples.
We also compared ease of use for boys 11-13 years of age. For routine use, all three were comparable. The Hiker was a little harder to hold on to for some of the boys, as compared to the T-handle on the PUR Scout and the lever action on the MSR. The Hiker was extremely user friendly as to field maintenance, as was the Scout. The MSR did fine, but was a little complicated for 11 and 12 year old boys.
All in all, the Hiker is an excellent filter for backpacking when you want weight, size,ease of use, and speed of water flow. The PUR Scout and MSR Miniworks are also nice filters. The PUR's require filter changes, at approx. $25.00 per filter. This may be a small price to pay for the weight and performance differences as compared to the MSR.

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None

used for weeks in CO, didn't get sick, looks like it did its job

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None

This filter is the best so far that I have used. It pumped several gallons without a problem, unlike Sweetwater's. I honestly can't think of a gripe about it with the exception that it can get tiresome pumping it, but that is any filter.

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Sweetwater guardian (spray ya every time)