Gear Test: Water Filters
Add to Del.icio.usby Justin Mool
You reach a rushing mountain stream. You scoop up some crystal clear water and the coolness drips over your elbow. You take a long, deep sip as the sun shimmers on the water. Sweet. Cold. Delicious… Two hours later you're locked in the latrine at the trailhead, cursing that blasted river. Apparently looks can be deceiving.
You should have used a water filter.
Water filters are a must for any backcountry nut. They don't leave a nasty aftertaste like iodine or chlorine tablets and they eliminate the need to continually boil water on the trail.
We had a look at three filters that our customers love - the MSR Miniworks EX, the Katadyn Guide, and the MSR SweetWater. While these filters don't filter viruses (you need a purification system for that), they block 99.9999% of bacteria, and 99.99% of nasty little protozoan cysts like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Our testers broke out the magnifying glass to see why everyone loves these things so much.
The Tests:
After priming each, we filled a wide-mouth Nalgene bottle. We timed how long it took and counted the number of pumps. We repeated this five times and took the average.
Our testers performed the Nalgene Test with absolutely filthy water. This test represents how often you have to clean the filter in less than favorable conditions. In other words, how fast it clogs.
Rating of how easy it was to clean the filter after the Filthy Test. This is a convenience test and also a good indication of longevity.
We dropped three iodine tablets into 1.5 quarts of water and filtered an equal amount with each filter. These samples were then presented to our flavor-guru, Jean-Luc du Chèvres in a blind taste test. He will tell you his findings.
AKA Idiot Arctic Test. We filtered some water, and then stuck each filter in the freezer. This helps us determine the durability of each. We'll find out whether you're screwed if you forget to empty the filter and the temperature drops below freezing over night.
The Results
SweetWater SweetWater Microfilter
Weight: 11oz
Life: 200 Gallons (757 liters) depending on water conditions
Packed Size: 4 x 9 x 4 inches
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Fits:
- Wide-mouth Nalgene
- Platypus hydration bottle
- Off size
Replacement Cartridge: SweetWater Cartridge – $36.95
Contents: Carry bag, hose float, bottle adapter, filter-cleaning brush
62 Seconds/88 Strokes
While this took more stokes than the other filters, the pumping action was easy (easier than the MiniWorks, harder than the Guide). There was a consistent flow and the pumping action works both ways - on the down stroke and up.
The first liter filtered in the same amount of time as clean water. The Pressure Release Valve started squirting water (soaking our lovely assistant) after about 750ml, resulting in a longer fill-time. As we started the third liter, however, it was obvious that filtering was no longer possible; the PRV was releasing more water than was going in to the Nalgene.
Before
After
Jean-Luc says: This has a medium-bodied bouquet with stronger iodine undertones - 3.5-4 Goats. Color rating of G on the gemological scale - 3.5 Goats. The flavor is nice, smooth with a slight hint of iodine left on the palette - a 4 out of 5 Goats.Pass. No leakage/breakage.
Simple design without many moving parts; no maintenance required.
Weight: 14oz + 2oz for wide-mouth Nalgene adapter
Life: 200 Gallons (757 liters); depending on water conditions
Packed Size: 12 x 5 x 3 inches
Warranty: 1 Year
Fits:
- Wide-mouth Nalgene
- Small-mouth Nalgene
- Hydration bladders w/quick connect – i.e. Nalgene, The North Face
- Off size
Replacement Cartridge: Replacement filter – $39.90
Contents: Carry bag, bottle adapter, large-mouth Nalgene adapter, hydration bladder adapter, sponge, hose float, gasket lubricant
Large Nalgene
Small-mouth Nalgene
Large-mouth Nalgene attachment
Hydration connecter
37 Seconds/37 Strokes
Out of the three, the Katadyn was the easiest to pump. The large chamber kicked out a lot of water and filled the one-liter Nalgene in no time.
From the first to the fifth, this thing didn't slow down. It consistently filled the Nalgene in less than 40 seconds. It became slightly more difficult to pump around the third liter, but the filter is guaranteed not to clog for one year.
Before
After
Since this is a glass fiber filter, you can't scrub off the gunk like you can with the others. If you were around real nasty water for a long time, this filter might clog up and become useless.
Jean-Luc says: Despite its hearty tone (a J on the gem scale), this one has a very delicate bouquet. This one gets 4.5 Goats for odor but only 2.5 Goats for clarity. The overall flavor is a strong iodine with a hint of fertilizer – 2 Goats for flavor. This vintage is best served chilled with a hearty freeze-dried meal.Pass. No leakage. No breakage
All these tests were performed with the filter protector. This has no real affect on the results.
The Katadyn's carry bag doesn't have the best design; it's hard to get everything in there.
It has a simple design without many moving parts. Katadyn included a lubricant if the pump doesn't move smoothly.
MSR MiniWorks Ex Ceramic Water Filter
Weight: 16oz
Life: 530 Gallons (2000 liters) depending on water conditions
Packed size: 5 x 9 x 3 inches
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Fits:
- Wide-mouth Nalgene
- Off size
Replacement Cartridge: Marathon EX Ceramic Element – $39.95
Contents: Carry sack, hose float, scrub pad
63 Seconds/73 Strokes
This little bugger required the most effort out of the three. It didn't slow down, but boy, did our tester get tired.
The first liter took the same amount of time as clean water. By 2/3 through the second the tester was pumping like crazy and seeing minimal trickle. By the third liter, the pump was useless; it had to be cleaned.
Before
After
Jean-Luc says: Bottled water never tasted this good. Nice legs - 4.5 Goats. The bouquet is a little iodiney but overall I'd say it is 3.5 - 4 Goats. Color/clarity rating: if this water were a diamond it would get a rating of D – that's not a grade school rating – this stuff is nearly colorless, crystal clear – 5 Goats.Pass. No leakage, no breakage. However, if somehow you managed to put the cap on the filter without allowing it to drain a little (which is rather hard to do), there is a possibility that the ceramic filter will break.
Lots of moving parts. While it can be taken apart without tools, it is probably a good idea to get the maintenance kit.
Conclusions:
After playing with all these filters, our testers felt that it would not be accurate or fair to give an overall rating saying which is “the best.” Each has its strengths and limitations. For example, while the Katadyn filtered much faster than the other two, it had two major setbacks - taste and a non-existent cleaning ability.
For this reason, our testers decided to do things a little differently:
Get the MSR SweetWater if:
- Weight and space is at a premium (fastpacking, climbing, day hikes)
- Ease of pumping is more important than overall speed
- You want good tasting water
- Price is an issue
Get the Katadyn Guide if:
- You will be filtering a lot of clean water (good for groups, guides, basecamp, families)
- You have a variety of water bottles
- You want a simple design
- Speed is more important than taste
- Filter longevity is not one of your main concerns
Get the MSR MiniWorks EX if:
- You want a filter that will last for years and years
- Space is an issue (weekend trips, backpacking trips)
- You want the best possible taste
- You will be filtering dirty water and don't want to trash your filter
- You want a filter that is easy to clean
At a Glance:
Specs:
| Weight | Life | Packed Size | Warranty | Fits | L-mouth Nalgene | S-mouth Nalgene | Hydration compatible | Off Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SweetWater | 11oz | 757 L | 4 x 9 x 4in | Lifetime | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Guide | 16oz | 757 L | 12 x 5 x 3in | 1 Year | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| MiniWorks | 16oz | 2000 L | 5 x 9 x 3in | Lifetime | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Tests:
| Nalgene | Filthy | Cleaning | Taste | Freezer | Good For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SweetWater | 3 Goats | 2 Goats | 4 Goat | 4 Goats | Pass | Fastpacking, climbing |
| Guide | 5 Goats | 5 Goat | 1 Goats | 2 Goats | Pass | Lots of water, long trips |
| MiniWorks | 3 Goats | 1 Goats | 5 Goats | 4.5 Goats | Pass | Longevity, backpacking |