First Need Deluxe Water Purifier or Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Microfilter ?

[kokomas]

Basically want to use this on backcountry hiking and fishing trips including alaska this fall, and want to buy from BC.com while i have this discount. Is there a big difference between and purifier and a filter, does the filter not get viruses or something?

thanks!

[mday]

I used to own several First Need water filters. I don't want to age myself with just how long ago that was, and maybe the First Need are better now, but you'd have to pry my Katadyn Guide filter from my cold dead fingers before I'd go back to a First Need. The ease of pumping is simply night and day. I don't think the Hiker has quite the pump rate of the Guide, but I still have to believe that it's better than the First Need.

[hutash]

The words are used interchangeably by most companies. You need to read the specs. as to what they remove from the water. Most do it by mechanical filtration, even down to the virus level. Some incorporate microbe killing steps. Personally I wouldn't worry about viruses unless I was using it in third world countries. But then I believe most of what the filter companies tell you is marketing BS anyways. I rarely carry a filter, am only semi-selective of where I get my water, and have never been sick. Most people get sick from poor camp hygiene, not from the water. I hike mostly in the California Sierra.

I do own a filter, just rarely use it. Most filters are adequate, so it depends more on preference and need. If you will be pumping large amounts, rate and ergonomics are important. If not, weight and size may be a bigger factor.

[Meadow Skipper]

Instead of a filter get a Steripen (http://www.steripen.com/). Lighter, faster, easier to use, kills all nasties, doesn't taste like chemicals (unless the water does). The only problem could be if you're drinking out of glacial streams - the water needs to be clear for a Steripen to work, but you can let the silt settle out if you have time.


... I rarely carry a filter, am only semi-selective of where I get my water, and have never been sick. Most people get sick from poor camp hygiene, not from the water. I hike mostly in the California Sierra...
Giardia is a factor in much of Alaska.

[flyby]

Use pristine (https://www.pristinewatertreatment.com/cart/index.cfm?ProductID=1&do=detail). A chemical alternative, way cheap, basically chlorine. Kills everything. Go with the steripen if you have a bit more money.

[Summit]

Aqua-Mira is the preferred clean tasting chemical purifier of the ultralight crowd. I've used it and I like it alot. There is hardly any taste and it works FAST.

[kokomas]

thanks for the responses all. i found this thread and am going to try out the First Need because its got smaller microns or something like that. hopefully it works.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=10384&page=2

[SchralphMacchio]

I've used steripens and they are pretty awesome where you can get pretty clear water. They come with pre-filters for water that has silt in it. But the main problem is when you run out of batteries. You can purchase a solar battery charger but then it's more electronic shit to carry with you in backcountry ... so I have mixed feelings about them.

Have had very good experiences with the Katadyn hiker pro ... simple pump mechanism, durable, and never seemed too heavy.

Good luck with the first need thing, sounds like it should work.

[allenataylor]

I have a first need. It works very well and has a very small micron rating. You can also fill a nalgene in under a minute, something like 45 seconds if you haul ass. Not so good on weight though.

[Hugh Conway]

I've used a MSR. Easily maintainable and good spares network.

Outside of that go with tablets.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

I use the MSR/Sweetwater Guardian and have had great luck with it. Seems some of the earlier models were prone to the bypass valve sticking and then they'd bypass all the time (slowing the pumping process) but if you buy at REI just take it back and they'll give you another. The newer models don't seem to have this problem.

Tried the First Need back in the day when it was the only real solution available and I'll never use one again. Clogs up very quickly and no way to clean it - at least that's the way they used to be. Then you're stuck carrying around a useless piece of junk.

[LightRanger]

Purifiers get viruses too. And, although hutash seems to think it, the two words are not used interchangably by the major companies out there. But yeah, as he said, you probably don't need to worry unless you're in a third-world country.

I generally don't bother bringing my Pur (now Katadyn) Hiker with me anymore. If I'm really worried, I'll use tabs and save the extra weight. Read this: http://pweb.jps.net/~prichins/giardia.htm And then extrapolate that data from the most populous state in the country to the 47th most populous state in the country.

Steripens are sweet. As is the Miox in certain situations.

[Summit]

Remember: do NOT allow a ceramic filter to freeze if wet