Customer Reviews

Hiker Pro Microfilter

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought the old PUR version of this same filter nearly 20 years ago and it is still going strong. It is built more simply and much sturdier than the newer models. I recently went on a week long trip in SW Colorado where our group used the newer Hiker Pros with the detachable inlet. Several of them broke within a few days. This is a worthless design and serves no purpose. The hoses on my PUR (which I wish I had with me at the time) easily detach and reattach with no problem. The stem is nearly indestructible. Why they had to add the flimsy mechanism for detaching the hose I will never know. In either case, the whole unit is designed with cheaper materials nowadays and the handle design is not as good as the old one either. They should have never touched the design of the old PUR. It is the best filter I have ever used and will continue to use it as the replacement filter is still the same.

I have used the Hiker Pro filter for many years now. I've carried it on hundreds of miles worth of backpacking trips and even used it to filter water in Haiti following the 2010 earthquakes. This filter has never let me down. I have seen many other filters in action and have seen many of them fail. This is by far the best water filter on the planet! It filters water at a reasonable pace and is easy to field strip and clean. This thing holds up well too. All of the parts are sturdy and do not require a delicate touch. If you often venture into the backcountry and do not want to worry about a broken or disfunctional filter this is the one you need to buy. I consider myself a light/ultralight hiker but I refuse to go out with a lighter/flimsier water filter. The weight of the water filter is far less than the weight the addtional water would be anyway. Buy one of these today and you won't regret it. Take simple steps to care for this equipment and it'll help you for years to come.

Bought mine a year ago at Bass Pro Shops for about $68, tried it out at the local pond and the water tastes great. Carbon filter takes out all the bad taste and chems, while the paper filter takes out all the "creepy crawlies". Back it up with a SteriPEN or water tablets. Iodine will hurt your liver eventually so I use the Chlorine Dioxide instead. Katadyn sells Katadyn MicroPur Purification Tablets too. Overall a good buy, I'd recommend it for someone looking for a good product that's easily maintained.

I've used this filter for almost two years now, and it continues to exceed my expectations. Its reasonably priced, offers more piece of mind than those light saber-esque gadgets, way better than chemically treating water (taste-wise), and a common piece of gear among friends and fellow hikers.

I've used to to pump water from lakes, mountain streams, rivers, ponds, and puddles. Never fallen ill, nor have I regretted bringing it along. It's always in my pack be it on day hikes, overnight trips, or weeklong excursions.

Filling more than four 32 oz containers can get a little tiresome, but that can be expected (and I've seen friends slow down much faster with more expensive pumps). I've also started to bring rubber bands and a coffee filter or two along in the carrying case to keep the really nasty stuff out of the filter. I realized this would be a good idea after a trip to Olympic National Park where I had to filter water from fresh water streams on the beach (sand), puddles (mud/silt) and some swampy areas. I do have to admit that the swamp water was pretty gross thanks to what are apparently cedar tannins, but nothing a little drink mix couldn't overcome.

Title says it all. Bought the MSR thinking I was upgrading my purifier. I was wrong. I went back to using this and realized how much I missed it. Dependable. Pumps fast enough for it's size... much faster than the MSR miniworks. The only reason I give it 4 and not 5 stars is because pumping can be a little awkward in gloves...and...caring for the filter itself isn't quite as easy as if it were ceramic.

The Hiker Pro is a great filter for car, travel or backpack. I own 2 of them and am very happy with the lightweight, durability and easy maintenance. Some people have complained that they've broken the handle off which is quite possible if you're using excessive force. If you take your time and try not to force too much water through the hoses and filter you shouldn't have a problem. This filter is a great balance of size, weight and speed measured in liters per minute. After a lot of research on other types and brands, this filter turned out to be the best for me. Many ultralight backpackers still use the iodine tablets but I think the taste is really bad especially if you start cooking with it. The filter comes with all of the hoses, attachments and bag. I won't go camping without it in my backpack.

Had another companies filter for sometime. Always had trouble with it. Now own two of these and they have been flawless every time out. Never had to field strip either one because of failure. Most trips I supply the filtered water for four or more people. They have had a lot of water pumped through them.

I use this filter when I climb Mt Persis. There is a water source up there, and this way I can carry just a bit of water for the hike up, and fill up when I get to the water source.

I can quickly and easily fill the bladder of my camelback with this pump. I hang the bladder on my trekking pole, throw the float in the lake and pump the bladder full. The filter is much lighter than a bladder full of water, and this way I'm not limited in my water intake.

Highly recommended.

I used the Hiker for the first time on this year's BWCA canoe trip. I have an old Pur filter, but we can no longer find filters for it so I bought a hiker as a backup. As usual the Pur filter began to plug up on day 3. The water in the N. Minnesota in June is choked with conifer pollen, which can plug a filter in one use if you aren't careful to get your water as far from shore as possible. In any event, I broke out the Hiker and assembled it which was very easy. The filter works well and has an easy stroke. It will filter 4 gallons in less than 10 minutes without breaking a sweat. I was very please with the preformance of this small and well made filter.

I really like this filter. I've had one for over a year and I use it for backpacking trips. It's easy to use and easy to clean and the water comes out tasting great. Only complaint I have is that it's somewhat difficult to operate by yourself with the two hoses and whatnot. It's definitely doable once you get the hang of it and I'm still rating this a 5. I'm so glad I chose this filter.