Pump and Gravity Water Filters

Featured review by Sir Inch-a-lot

OMG! Seriously? If you haven't already drooled all over one of these like a lifeless zombie online or in your local shop for hours by now than you've probably already bought one. Here's why you should too. It's perfect in almost every way. Period.

I could just list everything above in the Pros column but I have to get something in here too.  The Platypus GravityWorks Filter is a God send. It filters out everything I'm worried about accidentally ingesting plus... No more endless trips to hand pump out of the stream! No more iodine and chlorine tablets or boiling or any other negative thing any experienced backpacker can come up with when it comes to getting their potable water. It's a drag. Well, no more. Because these guys invented something called "Gravity".

Read more: Platypus GravityWorks Filter System 4L reviews (21)

Featured review by David Drake

With more thought than I ever imagined, I cast my Katadyn Pocket's intake hose into the most vile, disgusting, putrescent, foulness I could possibly imagine…

Water: a transparent, tasteless, odorless liquid!? Hmmm, think again. I, once, with little choice, filtered water from an abandoned cow trough full of the most nauseating putrescence I've ever encountered, the only possible water source available! With more thought than I ever imagined, I cast my Katadyn Pocket intake hose into the most vile, disgusting, putrescent, foulness I could possibly imagine. A horrid faction of life defying blight (in retrospect, it may not have been that bad, but at that time…).

Read more: Katadyn Pocket reviews (16)

Reviewed by Mike Mineart

Without a doubt Platypus has a very clear understanding of what its customers are looking for in a water filter, resulting in the Platypus Quickdraw Microfilter. From my perspective, it is the number one hollow-fiber membrane water filter design available today for solo through hikers or anyone looking to buy their very first water filter. The well designed Quickdraw Microfilter is a hollow-fiber membrane water filter that takes a few evolutionary steps from an integration and maintenance perspective over other water filters currently available that use similar technology. Every aspect of its design is well thought out, resulting in a filter that performs well, provides multiple interfaces for dirty water containers, and can be maintained in the field without additional special tools.

The Quickdraw Microfilter is a hollow-fiber membrane filter recently introduced by Platypus that from my perspective is the first filter design that really takes into account how these types of filters are actually used and maintained out in the field. While the hollow-fiber membrane used in this filter is not new, each and every feature of this filter is well thought out and delivers a design that reflects how people want to use and maintain a water filter.   The Quickdraw Microfilter is designed to filter out bacteria, protozoa, and particulates larger than 0.2 microns, but is not intended for use to filter out chemicals, toxins, or viruses.

Read more: Platypus QuickDraw Filter System review (1)

Featured review by Lori Pontious

It's hard to look at water filtration as anything but a chore. At least it can be less of one.

There will be advocates that stump for total protection, who want a purifier. There will be those who do nothing at all and drink the water straight. Since I personally know more than 30 people who've had confirmed giardia cases that were actually a result of wilderness water sources, I have a few different kinds of filter for different kinds of trips. When taking a group and sharing my filter, I bring the Katadyn Hiker Pro. Like all filters, it will remove most bacteria and protozoa. Like all filters it will not remove viruses -- those require some chemical component.

Read more: Katadyn Hiker PRO reviews (51)

Featured review by Freedeep

A good alternative to treatment pills.

I have used the older PUR version of this filter for the past 20+ years to purify all our drinking and cooking water each hiking day. Find a flowing water source if possible, they say 20 feet of tumbling water is somewhat clean. I would not expect this filter to clean water from a stagnant pond that horses use.  I have tried treatment pills, but don't like the idea. I cover the inlet filter screen with a double paper coffee filter held in place by a rubber band. This keeps sediment out of the filter screen.

Read more: Katadyn Hiker reviews (31)

Featured review by Bheiser1

The Sawyer Squeeze filter system is a lightweight and effective alternative to traditional pump filters. It works well for long distance hikers or anyone wanting to reduce their pack weight and traveling in areas where filtering is desired (and sufficient). While caution is required to avoid contaminating clean containers, it has worked well for me on several one to four-night trips as well as a 30-day trip in the Sierra Nevada of California. I recommend this system for those taking similar trips.

Preface This review covers my experience with the Sawyer Squeeze filtration system, and does not cover the larger topic of of water treatment. For a thorough study of that topic I refer you to an excellent four-part series by Bill S. Background Years ago in the White Mountains of New Hampshire I drank freely from creeks and lakes while hiking and backpacking.  Many people still do that in some areas including the Sierra Nevada where I do most of my hiking now.  However given the risks involved with the seemly ever-increasing backcountry usage and potential contamination of water sources, I choose to be safe & filter my water.  Up until recently I used an MSR Miniworks.  It weighs in at roughly a pound, and it works well in its own right. ...

Read more: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System reviews (33)

Reviewed by BigRed

This upgrade to Sawyer's widely-used squeeze system comes with an easy-fill and tougher reservoir than the original, and a coupler for gravity filtering directly into a bottle or reservoir with standard soda bottle threads. Well worth $20 more.

  Last I checked, gravity was still free. That makes it the easiest and cheapest way to move water downhill—or through a filter. In contrast to boiling, pumping, or squeezing, the upgraded Sawyer Squeeze System with its Cnoc reservoir is a great way to let gravity do the work of filtering water. The Sawyer Squeeze filter with Sawyer's own welded-seam mylar water pouches has long been a good choice for treating water, but the pouches have only a 28 mm opening, which can be hard to fill and squeezing while aiming the stream into a water bottle or other receptacle can be a three-handed operation.

Read more: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System with Cnoc Premium 2-liter Bladder review (1)

Featured review by Malotrekker

This filter works great and is very easy to use. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a simple backwoods water filter.

This filter has two parts. There is a foam filter at the end of the water intake tube. This foam removes large sediment and prevents debris from entering the filter system. It works well, but it's still a good idea to ensure that the water intake is not sitting in muck or surrounded by debris. The second part of this filter is the ceramic element (the part that actually filters the water). Water is pumped up the hose and forced through the ceramic element. This filter removes protozoa and bacteria as small as 0.2 microns.

Read more: MSR MiniWorks EX reviews (41)

Featured review by Dave MacLeay

The MSR HyperFlow Microfilter is a lightweight, cucumber-sized water filter that utilizes hollow fiber technology to provide remarkably fast water filtration. Resembling a compact bike pump in form and function, the HyperFlow delivers up to 2 liters a minute and mates nicely with hydration bladders, Nalgene bottles, and even soda bottles. The downside? It is susceptible to damage if dropped or exposed to freezing temperatures.

First Look: MSR HyperFlow Microfilter MSR HyperFlow MicrofilterWeight: 7.4 oz. (209 g)Size: 7 x 3.5 in. (19 x 7 cm)MSRP: $99.95Available: Spring 2008 Speed The HyperFlow’s claim to fame is its ability to filter water quickly: 3 liters per minute, according to MSR. In our tests, typical flow was about 2 liters per minute, although we never felt at a loss for capacity. Extremely aggressive pumping may provide additional flow, though we never felt the need. More notable than raw speed is the HyperFlow’s capacity.

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Reviewed by PhilNC

The MSR Trail Base Water Filter Kit is a versatile water treatment device with easy pump and gravity flow setups built in. It could conceivably replace your filter, bladder hydration system and a water bottle for many outdoor activities. A couple of reasons I haven’t switched permanently to this system include weight not suited to a solo hiker like me, initial taste issues (like many bladder systems), and an issue with the pump spout/cap.

WAIVER:  This is not a recommendation for using or not using a filter vs other water treatment options. For those not familiar with the pros and cons of each type of treatment, please refer to Trailspace’s excellent review of these methods. QUICK VERSION I went into a lot of detail below, so if you are short on time or attention span, here is the quick scoop: I wanted to really like this filter, but the combination of weight/bulk, initial taste issues that lasted a while, and the leaking and weak cap connection reduced the rating for me.

Read more: MSR Trail Base Water Filter Kit review (1)