Customer Reviews

Katadyn Exstream XR Water Purifier Bottle (Cobalt)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

this is a good product.

It effectively cleans water of microbiological contaminants (including viruses) through a layered filtration system and iodine-releasing resin (and among the only EPA certified bottles to do it). It is not heavy and leaves the water with a slight iodine taste (much more subtle than using iodine tablets). Each filtration system, which screws into the inside of the water bottle, lasts about 26 gallons (about 100 liters) after which you have to replace it, costing about US$22.

I have been using the bottle in rural peru and have had no problems. I would recommend this product for anyone venturing into areas with unknown water sanitation, all you need is the bottle and a puddle, stream, river, etc. I don't know its results against pesticides, arsenic, lead, etc. but for short term use this is a great product.

I'm extremely fussy about the taste of water. I used the Katadyn Exstream purifier bottle for a month while trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and I never tasted iodine. I never got sick, either. High altitude travel requires constant hydration to prevent altitude sickness. I acclimatized well and was able to stay hydrated because I had drinkable water available at all times. My only complaint is that it didn't quite deliver the volume I'd have liked for acclimatization purposes, but for regular travel it would be fine. I'd use it again in a heartbeat, and I'll never travel to a third world country without it.

[Update] I returned to the Everest region in March 2009 and used this filter bottle again. Unfortunately, it froze at the higher elevations, despite the fact that I was carrying it in the crook of my arm against my body. Once frozen, it renders the reliability of the filter useless. I had to use iodine tablets for the remainder of the trip. It has to be extremely cold for this to happen (it was 18F inside my lodge room, so obviously much colder in the windy conditions outside). That's the only drawback, and I intend to try it a third time when I return to the Himalayas.

My husband and I trekked all over Morocco, and there were certainly times when bottled water was not available. This was a life-saver; neither of us got sick. We were constantly filling the bottle up from questionable sources. The only down-side is that you must "push" the water through the filter by squeezing on the bottle... hard. Not so bad if you only want a sip or two at a time. You do need to have some patience and strength to operate the bottle, but really, isn't clean water worth it?

I have used my Katadyn Exstream extensively while living and traveling internationally. It's as convenient as a regular water bottle, and you can just fill it from the tap wherever you are. I also liked not using all the plastic bottles that people waste, especially in areas, like most of Central America, where most of them end up littering the streams, countryside, and side of the road. The filters also last a very long time when you are using them with relatively clean water to begin with. As for camping, they can get clogged quickly with dirtier water.

Note that the filters are by far the most expensive part, and look at how much you can expect to use them before buying this product.

The Katadyn Exstream XR just works. Fill it up with water at the source, squeeze to shoot out a thin jet of clean, virus & bacteria free water. It's a little tough to squeeze at first but not as bad as other reviews led me to believe. Needs to be kept 1/3 full to really work well. Overall, a great product if you're going to be near water sources all the time but will not replace a filter for bulk water.

Worked for a good clean source of water while vacationing in Costa Rica. We could fill in the hotel or anywhere and feel safe drinking the water and not get ripped off buying bottled water. Taste is a little metallic at first but goes away or you get used to it.

A wonderful devise for backpacking or a long day of river fishing. Light easy to use and as long as there ie water around your in good shape. Great for back country camping.

This bottle filters everything. The flow isn't the best and it tastes a LITTLE weird, but it filters everything including leptospirosis (important on our trip to Kauai). Katadyn is the way to go.

We like this product for a day hike. And the upside is that our toddler has figured out how to drink from it. The downside is that we have almost contaminated ourselves by accident several times by forgetting that the drinking spout is the filter so to speak. We have found ourselves wanting to twist off the cap and drink straight from the bottle to get a really good swig.

I think that a filter + iodine + carbon is the best way to go. It's a little hard to get water out very fast, but overall, I like it.