Well, it won't fit in MY pocket but in my opinion it's the most bomber water filter out there.
It is expensive but, as I always say, buy once cry once.
Katadyn did not pay me or provide any gear for this independent write up.
Unlike the cheapies I see online and at REI, it has an all metal case and piston, ceramic filter, and it's Swiss made with a 20 year warranty.
We pulled water every day (4 day trip) out of Lake Superior with this bad boy and had zero issues. I can't really find anything to complain about other than size or weight but those attributes are what makes it what it is.
NPS recommends a filter specification of at least 0.4 microns, the Katadyn Pocket filters at 0.2 microns (!), the filter’s silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa, and can filter up to 13,000 gallons (50,000 liters) before needing a new ceramic element, depending on fresh water source and quality.
I consider all surface lake and stream water to be contaminated with pathogens and so should you. Drinking contaminated water can make you very sick. Learn more HERE about types of contamination.
To be 100% safe, water collected should be filtered and then boiled at a rolling boil (Jetboil etc) for at least one minute because most filters (even this one) do not filter out VIRUSES. They must be killed via boiling, adding chemicals like chlorine, or by using UV light from a device such as the Steripen.
Suitable for cloudy or very dirty water, this is the only water filter I need to own and can provide water for me and my family during an extended emergency.
I give this Katadyn 5 stars for durability and ease of use, about 1-1.5 minutes to fill a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with clean, good tasting water.
A Note on Algea: Blue-green algae can be toxic, and filtering does not remove toxins from the water. Avoid swimming, fishing, or filtering water if it has a cloudy-blue cast or looks like "pea soup".
It is expensive but, as I always say, buy once cry once.
Katadyn did not pay me or provide any gear for this independent write up.
Unlike the cheapies I see online and at REI, it has an all metal case and piston, ceramic filter, and it's Swiss made with a 20 year warranty.
We pulled water every day (4 day trip) out of Lake Superior with this bad boy and had zero issues. I can't really find anything to complain about other than size or weight but those attributes are what makes it what it is.
NPS recommends a filter specification of at least 0.4 microns, the Katadyn Pocket filters at 0.2 microns (!), the filter’s silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa, and can filter up to 13,000 gallons (50,000 liters) before needing a new ceramic element, depending on fresh water source and quality.
I consider all surface lake and stream water to be contaminated with pathogens and so should you. Drinking contaminated water can make you very sick. Learn more HERE about types of contamination.
To be 100% safe, water collected should be filtered and then boiled at a rolling boil (Jetboil etc) for at least one minute because most filters (even this one) do not filter out VIRUSES. They must be killed via boiling, adding chemicals like chlorine, or by using UV light from a device such as the Steripen.
Suitable for cloudy or very dirty water, this is the only water filter I need to own and can provide water for me and my family during an extended emergency.
I give this Katadyn 5 stars for durability and ease of use, about 1-1.5 minutes to fill a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with clean, good tasting water.
A Note on Algea: Blue-green algae can be toxic, and filtering does not remove toxins from the water. Avoid swimming, fishing, or filtering water if it has a cloudy-blue cast or looks like "pea soup".