Water Filters

Hello, I am looking at buying a water filter and I have narrowed it down to either the MSR MiniWorks EX or the Katadyn Guide PRO Microfilter. Both have their goods and bads. I like the MSR better I think...but I like the fact that I can fill my hydro pack and my water bottles easier with the Katadyn than the MSR. The MSR's Ceramic filter lasts a lot longer than the Katadyns. If anyone has any thoughts let me know...

I use an MSR Waterworks and I really like it. It threads right onto my Nalgene bottles and fills them quickly and easily.

Don't start this stuff, daggone it. I've already decided on a Katadyn Hiker Pro.

Switched to the MSR waterworks this year used it many many times this year. Have had no problems with it and also love the fact that it screws onto the nalgene bottles. Great filter.

The MSR is more easily field repairable, but it takes forever to pump. I don't think that this is a very efficant water filter.

I personly like the Guilde the best. It weight about 14 oz and pumps 1.35L per min. The Guilde also can screw on to a water bottle and comes with a quick connect to fill my camelbak. The only down side is that the filter lasts about a 90% less than the Miniworks and Waterworks. 200 gallons v. 2,000 gallons.

CamelCarson said:
The MSR is more easily field repairable, but it takes forever to pump. I don't think that this is a very efficant water filter.

Assuming the number of strokes to pump a given quanity of water describes efficiency then CC is correct.

However, the MSR Waterworks is doing this through a 2 micon filter vs the 3 micon filters found in all the other pumps that have been named so far. The 3 micon is probably satisfactory/safe for use in the USA/Canada/Europe but Third World water filtering would be safer with the 2 micon.
The 2 vs 3 micron filter may therefor describe a different level of efficient operation.

I have had and used a Miniworks for 7 years now. It still is in great shape and I have only replaced the cartridge twice, once because it was time and again when they came out with the ex model for faster pumping. It does take a few minutes to pump, but really...what is the hurry when you are backpacking that you need faucet fast?

has anyone used the MSR Sweetwater MicroFilter?

I have the sweet water. Have had for a nubmer of years and have only used it a half of dozen times or so.

It is slow in filling bottles. I think it advertised two liters a minute. Don't you belive it unless you have arms of steel.

What I don't like is that it does not screw onto anything and it does not fit a standard size one liter Pepsi bottle. I use them vs. nalgene.

Therefore it takes two people for best operation. As mentioned earlier, I to don't mind it being slow. Each time I used it I had more than enough time to fill several bottles and still enjoy my hike.

I cannot recall how far down it filters, but I don't think it is 2 micron.

I am planning several trips this summer and plan to continue using it. I may have to change the filter just because it is old, not because I wore it out.

-John

How big of a differance is there between 2 micron and 3 micron when it comes to filter size?

I'm not sure if I understand your question correctly but here are some sizes of the filters that have been mentioned.

Katadyn Hiker Filter (0.3 micron)
7.5 x 4 x 2.5 inches

Katadyn Guide PRO (0.3 micron)
2 x 9.5 inches

MSR MiniWorks EX Filter (0.2 micron)
7.8 x 3.8 inches

MSR SweetWater (0.2 micron)
7.5 x 2 inches

How much more stuff will a 2 micron filter catch than a 3 micron filter will?