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[pct-l] Water filters



I've been lurking on this subject for a little while and thought I'd spew my two cents worth:

A couple of posts have suggested the MSR as a good filter for thru-hikers.  Perhaps it has improved, but everyone I knew who used it on the AT in '95 hated it.  We also hiked with two folks in '98 on the PCT who were using it and had endless problems.  None of these people were neophytes, except to the extent they took the MSR filter!

Our own experience points to the PUR Hiker or the PUR Pioneer.  I also used the Sweetwater on the AT, but got tired of it toward the end (too much energy expended and water squirting everywhere as the filter got dirty).

I've used the Hiker on shorter hikes and at work (trail crew) with excellent results, though the replacement cartridges are pricey and not cleanable.  We used the Pioneer on our PCT thru-hike:  the Pioneer is very light, fast-pumping, and compact and has the benefit of having filters that cost about $4 and are basically flat paper discs about 5" in diameter and weighing almost nothing.  We carried an extra so that when one started to clog (about every 10 days to two weeks) we could slap another one in.

We did, however, crack two of the Pioneers, apparently from not changing the filter soon enough and applying too much pumping force.  Clearly, something else should tell you you're pumping too hard before the plastic case of the filter cracks almost in two.  We weren't really torquing on it -- it was a fairly subtle line between correct pumping force and too much force.  However, even when broken, the filter still pumped and apparently still filtered, though it leaked a fair bit and we did avoid contaminating the pumped water with the leaked water.  Perhaps we just got lucky the two times this happened and had good sources or just aren't very susceptible to giardia.

I would use the Pioneer again.  It is a good little minimalist filter which has a small pick-up which will fit into the mouths of Platypus water carriers.  I think it weighed 8-9 ounces.  Sure is nice to instantly have safe water without chemical tastes.

For what it's worth....Chris
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