User Review: Katadyn Vario Microfilter

I love this filter. Works as it is supposed to. Each time I used it was for week long trips providing filtering for three people for trips in the Adirondacks, Grand Canyon, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Easily field maintained, fits perfectly on Nalgene and sport bottles.

I have read the previous reviews, and one thing is clear...all you who have given it low rating are not maintaining it properly. The filter, like any filter, needs to be cleaned, and the dirtier the water, the dirtier the filter. Like a home hvac filter or car filter, you let that thing go and you will have performance issues. And if the filter gets dirty....guess what, it's doing its job.

For those who complain about water coming out the head, have you considered that you are pumping too fast and overwhelming the filter? Ever put too much water in a brita pitcher before it has time to filter thru?? It will overflow. That overflow on the Vario is a feature, not a fault. And priming...yeah, that's typical as well. It's a pump.

Seems the real problem with the pump is people's lack of common sense.

I have been using my pump for 5 years now. I'm sure it has a few years left.