Katadyn Vario Water Filter, Dual Technology Microfilter for Personal or Small Group Camping, Backpacking or Emergency Preparedness

For the past 11 years I have spent 8 days a year hiking/camping with buddies. I have gone through numerous pumps and this is my favorite. The msr mini is more durable and the filter lasts a lot longer but it pumps super slow. This baby can fill my water bottle really fast. It costs more fire the replacement filters as well (mini is $40) by $12 but I’m still ok with that. The one thing I don’t like about this filter is the paper filter doesn’t last at all. If the water is really harsh the paper filter will only last about two weeks on the slow mode. For me it is still worth it solely based on how fast and easy it pumps. You have to lube up the rings regularly but this filter is really reliable. A couple friends have it as well and no one has had a problem at all. Oh yeah another difference between the mini and this filter is the mini starts pumping slow when you need to clean the filter and this one leaks around the middle. I can pump one liter with the mini between cleaning the filter and two with this filter. Saves me a little time and makes it less annoying to get water. I’ve never gotten sick with any of the filters I’ve used. The base camp is garbage and so is any filter that only has a paper cartridge. They don’t last and get clogged way too easily. If you go on a trip where you are totally dependent on a filter to clean your water you must have a ceramic cartridge. Hope this review helps.

I bought this along with an MSR MiniWorks for my Scout troop (I'm the Scoutmaster) to test out and compare in preparation for a back country trip in the Rockies. It took only a short test to determine that even on the "Longer Life" setting that the Katadyn Vario was much faster than the MSR MiniWorks. This is mostly due to the fact that the Katadyn Vario pumps on both the push and pull strokes of the handle unlike most pumps. The Scouts liked this one so much better that we purchased a second one for the trip, so that less time would be spent pumping water and more time could be spent exploring and enjoying the mountains. Care and maintenance of these filters is very easy. The outer casing of the pump unscrews with a simple 1/4 turn thread. The "guts" of the pump them disassemble equally easy with the ceramic prefilter pulling off of the main filter, all of which comes out of the bottom barrel of the pump with a slight pull or light push on the bottom outlet port. My one concern - the inlet port protrudes from the top of the pump assembly and I can see where this could be easily damaged if the filter is stored and handled with some care. I stressed this point to the Scouts and we made sure to put the red cap back on each time and then put it into the carry bag with the coiled hose under that port to provide some extra support and padding. We did take these two Katadyn Vario filters along with us on our 9 day trip from MN to CO. We used the Vario to filter water from a variety of sources including a campground in Omaha on the way out where the water had a very questionable smell to a variety of mountain streams, some that bordered on river size and some at elevation which were nothing more than snowmelt that was trickling down the mountain. In all instances we were satisfied with the results, and water bottles and hydration packs were filled up quickly while hiking or at our campsite. Once we got home, we ran a mixture of bleach/tap water through the pumps and allowed them to thoroughly dry for a couple of days and then packed them away until the next time we need them.

Overview: A wonderful, complete water filter system. Prefilter could have been a little better to extend the life of the ceramic inner filter. Can be used alone (or) paired with a SteriPEN traveler system for additional protection. Pros: - Lightweight - Compact form factor - Includes soft carrying case - Price Cons: - Prefilter mesh (intake) is good, but still allows a lot of stuff through which limits the life of the ceramic filter - Small, red, silicone cap (used to protect inlet valve during storage/transport) easy to lose This filter system was purchased for hiking. It is relatively compact and easy to use. Simply screw a wide mouth Nalgene bottle to the bottom of the filter and pump the water in. I always leave it on "Longer Life" because the "Faster Flow" setting bypasses one of the internal filters which means your water isn't as clean. It still pumps water into the bottle twice as fast as any other system I've used. To get around the wide mesh prefilter that's included, you can purchase an inline silt filter from sweetwater for about $20. Just cut the intake hose and insert the inline filter. This will filter more dirt before it hits your ceramic filter and extend the life of your system. Recommend following the priming procedure (pump 1 L of tap water through it to flush all the filters before using it) and disinfecting after each trip. The ceramic filter can be removed and cleaned (gently sanded if needed). The charcoal cartridge should be replaced yearly. If taken care of, this will provide you with a great system for purifying water on your hikes. One last interesting tip, is a SteriPEN traveler (3-in-1 purifier) fits perfectly in the bag with the Vario. It will provide an additional layer of protection when you are near campsites / shelters where you may be worried about viruses, etc.

I've had mine out multiple times and so far it's worked flawlessly. One item to note is that the intake connection sticks out from the side of the unit and is plastic. I would prefer to have had it covered or protected but I just make certain I pack it so that part won't get stressed. As others have said, this thing filters water extremely fast. I've not had to use it in situations where the water has been highly contaminated or loaded with sediment so I can't say whether it has issues in those situations. The bottom is sized to screw right onto many water bottles and hydration bladders which saves having to use the outlet tube (included). Since I don't camp every week, I follow the long-term storage instructions on the unit before packing it away. This involves running 1L of water with either Katadyn's water purifier tablets or a small amount of bleach through the unit. Next comes removal of the ceramic disc filter to be scrubbed off, and finally removal of the paper/carbon filter to allow it to air dry. After about 24 hours I put some included silicone lubricant on the O-rings and put it back together. I haven't replaced the activated charcoal yet but it's not difficult to find and not overly expensive. If the unit is dried properly the charcoal should last quite a while. The filter parts have tabs which are designed to make certain the unit goes back together properly, but I have to wonder if some of the problems reported are the result of improper re-assembly after cleaning. I will agree with others that it is a bit bulky (it doesn't present any problems for my pack) but it's also pretty light, and compared to some of the more compact units, this one produces a lot more filtered water a lot faster. As with most camping products, the buyer should consider the tradeoffs of ultra-small and lightweight vs. lower expense and more usability.

Purchased this to replace a 20 year old MSR that finally succumbed to age and use and the housing cracked. As a life long MSR fan, swiched to Katadyn out of curiosity more than anything else. Worked just as smoothly as the waterworks. Double pump filled containers quickly. The feature to fill a water blatter by connecting the end of the drink hose worked well and was very convenient to not have to pull the bladder out of my pack. Carbon filter had mountain streams tasting as good as any premium brand. Wasn't expecting miracles but carbon filter didn't do a great job on heavy iron rich water from the pump at the shelter area. Granted, the water was as orange as Tang. Katydin did take the edge of better than the sawyer squeeze. Only complaints are relatively minor: (1) "base cover" is a bit flimsy and although it screws in (same threading as nalgene), it is softer and rubbery and I feel it could be unintentionally pryed or bumped out and lost. Would like to see that more rigid and tighter fit. (2) the storage bag from the MSR had a dual compartment to keep the "clean" output hose separated from the "dirty" input hose. This did not as the bag only had one chamber but supplied a zip-loc bag for the "clean" hose. Worried I'm gonig to lose that in short order. This gripe is easily remedied by DIY, but hate to have to do that after dropping nearly $100. (3) it's heavy. Probably overkill to take ona solo trip. Had a group of 5 and this beat the pants off the sawyer squeeze in terms of filling speed for a group. Worth the extra weight for a group of thirsty backpackers. Can't say it's loads better than the MSR but I don't regret my choice to try something new. I find both brands products exceptional and firmly believe you can't go wrong with either.

We bought this filter a few days prior to leaving for a week-long hike in the high Sierras. It was a last minute purchase as our group-of-eight realized we'de need another filter for our trek. Where we were going was known to be contaminated with giardia and other nasties, so I was hoping this little filter would fit the bill. I couldn't be happier! I had never used one of these before, and wasn't really sure what to expect. I opened it up, and was very happy to see that the only setup required was attaching a couple of tubes to the filtration mechanism, and the weight+filter head that you dangle into the water source. Other than that, it was ready-to-go. It came in a great little case, too - with a bag of replacement o-rings and most other parts except replacement filter cartridges (which I'm sure you purchase separately). The case was very handy for keeping the unit contained in my day-pack during our long hikes, both protecting the filter unit and keeping my other gear safe from drips. The unit actually doesn't drip much, though, especially if you pull the dongle out of the water source before your last few pumps (this voids the tubing and empties the water in the filter chamber, which will top off your water bottle and get the water out of the unit, making it lighter to carry and less prone to drips). It also comes with a securely-fitting stopper that plugs up the outlet to help prevent leaking. The unit feels very sturdy and well put-together. It just feels "solid". When you're trusting your health to something like this - it helps to feel like it's well made and isn't leaking on the inside, and this filter delivers. When first getting accustomed to its operation, I noticed that if I unscrewed the top before the filter had been voided, you could hear pressurized air escaping (a result of forcing water through the filters), further testament to its tight construction. Despite two other people in our group having their own filters, by the end of the trip everyone was wanting to use this one since it was so much faster and easier. I would highly recommend this filter to anyone who needs it!

This is my first portable water filter. I've used it several times with relatively clean mountain spring water, and with city water. It definitely works well and makes the water taste good. It comes with a nice case and is easy to use. The negative side is minor. The filter takes a long time to dry out (several days), which you're supposed to do when it won't be used for a while. Instead it seems the better thing to do is pump a mild solution of chlorine/bleach through it before storage (as instructed) and then pump lots of water through it before reuse. Also, the replacement carbon packets seem outrageously overpriced, yet I haven't yet found an alternate source of replacement carbon (I think it can work for a long time). As for the older negative feedback, I can see how the inlet could break off if pressed hard against something, so take care with it. I'd also not try to pump too hard or fast, as there is a lot of resistance in the pump and is meant to move slowly. And if you avoid filtering really dirty water, it will likely last much longer and work better; this filter is not a replacement for viral sanitation (in some cases use chlorine/tablets and then filter, or vice-verse).

You're supposed to drink 1 gallon of water per day. Purchase the filter replacement 2pk and you will have 600 gallons of fresh water at your fingertips as each filter cleans 200 gallons. That means you can have a 1 year supply of water for 2 people (or 2 years for yourself) all in a handy little bag that fits neatly in your survival bag. There's a weighted tip with a screen that you drop into the water. The pump is dual action which mean it pumps on the down and the up stroke which means no wasted movement/effort. There are 2 settings, one for more filtration and one for longer life of the filter. I suggest pre-boiling your water, letting it cool then putting it on more filtration and then pumping your water. Doesn't hurt to be double sure and even though its on more filtration it doesn't strain the filter because it's pretty much clean water already. If you cannot boil your water then you have no choice but to do the more filtration setting unless you really trust your water supply. I know you're probably thinking me boiling and then still filtering it is overkill, but this product removes and taste that may be in the water. Better safe than sorry too. Hopefully you will never be put in a situation where you have to rely on this, but if you ever do... This is the device that will save your life! You can go at least a week without food. But you won't barely make it past 3 days without water. Don't be fooled by imitators. Katadyn is with out a doubt the best way to go.