User Review: First Need Deluxe Water Purifier

First Need Deluxe Water Purifier
Above: The current Deluxe Water Purifier, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed November 7, 2007 by CJM

Rating:

I've used this purifier on dozens of hikes and multi-day trips, pumping water that was very dirty in appearance and dubious in quality. This unit produces appealing water with no off taste very efficiently. Other filters that were in use on the trips I've been on have clogged, broken, or produced less appealing water all with a far greater level of effort.

This is by far the best device on the market save the one problematic issue - if/when the unit's serviceable purifying life ends the unit requires replacement of the filter cartridge. One must either carry a spare or try to guestimate the remaining life before hitting the trail. Even with that drawback I would rely on the First Need purifier over every other handheld device I've tried.