Katadyn Mini Ceramic Water Microfilter

This mini-Katadyn filter is perfect for what it claims to do. It is very small, light and almost completely self-contained (the hose and filter gauge fit inside the unit, but not the cleaning pad). The down side is that it is very slow and takes quite a bit of pumping to produce filtered water. I like the fact that you can field clean this filter and use it for up to 2,000 Gallons of water! If you are in a hurry or filtering water for a group larger than 2, then you probably don''t want this filter, but if you''re alone and you don''t mind exerting a little effort than this filter is just right.

My wife and I got this for use on overnight backpacking trips. First trip we used it and it worked fine, though it takes a good deal of pumping with a ceramic filter. But, we knew that when we bought it, so no problem.

Second overnight backpacking trip, it worked for about a day (we cleaned it regularly as we used it), and then the gray cap that is attached to the filter broke into three pieces as we were using it. We had just cleaned it shortly before it broke, and it was within the one year warranty period, so we contacted Katadyn, thinking that it was a defect of some sort. Well, we find out that they won''t replace that part under the warranty, as they claim that this filter is only for use on a day hike by one person and thus our using it on an overnight trip for two people was outside the intended use. And thus they wouldn''t honor the warranty, even though we cleaned it regularly and they agreed it was within the warranty period. Looking back on their advertising, they say it is ideal for day trips and solo hiking, but nowhere saying it shouldn''t be used overnight or by two people. Rather deceptive to take that and turn it into a reason to not honoring a warranty. Very disappointing to spend $84 on such a limited product that isn''t backup up by the company when under warranty.

So, be careful with this one, as it''s very limited in use and not backed up by the company.

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(This review is written by Nathan, Rachel''s husband)

I''ve had this filter for 7-10 years (I don''t remember exactly when I got it). I have found it very dependable, producing clean, good tasting water. I have never gotten sick from water I pumped through it, and have taken it backpacking several times.

PROS

light and fairly small

the ceramic filter can be cleaned easily

the ceramic filter has a very long life

integrated measuring tool which tells you when the filter needs to be replaced

removes bacteria like typhoid, cholera, amoeba, giardia, etc from water

never gotten sick from water filtered through it.

CONS

it is a filter, not a purifier, so it won''t remove viruses like hepatitis.

it is slow. My friends and I counted 96 pumps/liter of water

it sometimes gets an airlock, requiring you to suck water into the pump chamber to get things started.

Overall, a very good filter

Nathan

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very light, small, and easy to carry. Ceramic filter is a major plus but small size means it takes a while to produce a liter. still it''s the trade-off for the weight/size reduction. Would buy again.

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As a former wilderness survival instructor, I''ve probably got close to twenty different water filter/purifiers...including every model of Katadyn (except the three hundred plus dollar one.) I''ve got two of these Mini''s.

Slow? Hard to pump? There aren''t enough letters in those words to convey how inconvenient and practically useless this filter is.

To put it in perspective; it takes about four times the effort to pump one fourth of the water you can get from a Katadyn Hiker Pro. And that extra force you''re using will eventually break something on the Mini.

They seem to work (barely) acceptably in the kitchen, BUT if you are exerting yourself even mildly while backpacking or hiking, you cannot keep up with your hydration needs with this filter.

Please note: I''m talking about this Katadyn Mini, NOT the Katadyn brand per se. I think virtually any other Katadyn filter would make a great choice...just not this one. And ultralighters; Don''t be fooled by the weight and volume specs. Carry a couple ounces more. You''ll thank me later.