RE: [pct-l] MSR Filters

["Mayer, Jim" <JMayer@crt.xerox.com>]

Loathe them or love them?  I don't know if I'd go that far :-)  Here are
some possibilities though:

(1) There are two flavors of MSR filter out there.  The "Waterworks" and the
"Miniworks".  The Waterworks has a membrane filter element after the regular
filter.  It is also a bit heavier.  The membrane filter cannot be cleaned,
so perhaps a dirty membrane filter explains some of the poor performance
people seem to see.

(2) I seem to reacall that earlier versions of the Waterworks had a problem
with "vapor lock".  While I don't know the exact mechanism, the end result
was apparently frustrating.

(3) Having used both a PUR Hiker and a MSR Miniworks there is no question in
my mind that the Hiker pumps faster, at least when the filter element is
new.  When compared "head to head" against a PUR Hiker with a new filter the
Miniworks just feels aenemic.

(4) If you don't use bottles and/or bags with a Nalgene wide mouth fitting
the ergonomics of the MSR filter would be painful.  On the other hand, if
you DO use bottles with the right fitting the ergonomics are great!

I like my MSR, but if I was planning for a thru-hike this year I might start
experimenting with the PUR Pioneer.  The Pioneer has a couple of big
potential advantages:

(1) light weight
(2) it still screws on to my bottles
(3) the filter elements are so light that one or two can be easily carried
as spares.

Since I've never used one I have no personal experience with how they hold
up in the field.

I really like the idea of being able to "rejuvinate" my filter by cleaning
or by carrying a (light and compact) spare element.

-- Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Bailey [mailto:hikertrash@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 1999 2:41 AM