Katadyn Vario Dual Mode Hand Pump Continuous Water Filter for Backcountry

When I purchased this filter (about 6 months ago) I was torn between this item and MSR HyperFlow Microfilter ... so I bought this one and my hiking buddy bought the MSR. We took them on two overnights on the AT and then one week long trip camping on a lake in Maine near Mt. Katadyn. They are both great products and each has their own pros and cons. For the Vario Multi Flow: Pros: Fast. Water goes through the pump on both the up and down strokes. Easy to pump, but you can easily over pump it, which is bad because you'll have more pressure than water that is able to pass through the ceramic filter. I've only used this filter in the "longer life" setting, as it's the one that has the water pass through the ceramic filter first. No field maintenance needed for a week long trip, pumping 5 liters a day in questionable lake water. Prefilter at collection side of the hose is very effective at keeping garbage out and has a good weight to keep the water flowing in. Cons: Big, Bulky (compared to MSR) but not too heavy. Small leaks around the top sometimes. MSR Hyperflow: Pros: Great size, portability.Easy to keep in side pocket of pack for fill-ups at the stream, I'd be rummaging in my pack for 3 minutes while my buddy was already filling up his canteen. Decent flow rate. Comes with it's own canteen top that fits nalgeen and camelback bottles, making fill up to the bottle hassel free. (the Vario connects too, but you need to take the bottle top off first) Cons: Filter gets clogged pretty quickly, needs to be "back flushed" to clear it out. During the week long trip it needed to be unclogged several times. Collection filter is designed to float, and collect water from one side, but it seems to always flip over to the other side while you are pumping, and needs to be constantly reset. If you are pumping a lot of water (like cooking for 4 people) you need to put your muscles to work. All in all I am very happy with the Vario and it's perfect for me.

I bought this along with an MSR MiniWorks for my Scout troop (I'm the Scoutmaster) to test out and compare in preparation for a back country trip in the Rockies. It took only a short test to determine that even on the "Longer Life" setting that the Katadyn Vario was much faster than the MSR MiniWorks. This is mostly due to the fact that the Katadyn Vario pumps on both the push and pull strokes of the handle unlike most pumps. The Scouts liked this one so much better that we purchased a second one for the trip, so that less time would be spent pumping water and more time could be spent exploring and enjoying the mountains. Care and maintenance of these filters is very easy. The outer casing of the pump unscrews with a simple 1/4 turn thread. The "guts" of the pump them disassemble equally easy with the ceramic prefilter pulling off of the main filter, all of which comes out of the bottom barrel of the pump with a slight pull or light push on the bottom outlet port. My one concern - the inlet port protrudes from the top of the pump assembly and I can see where this could be easily damaged if the filter is stored and handled with some care. I stressed this point to the Scouts and we made sure to put the red cap back on each time and then put it into the carry bag with the coiled hose under that port to provide some extra support and padding. We did take these two Katadyn Vario filters along with us on our 9 day trip from MN to CO. We used the Vario to filter water from a variety of sources including a campground in Omaha on the way out where the water had a very questionable smell to a variety of mountain streams, some that bordered on river size and some at elevation which were nothing more than snowmelt that was trickling down the mountain. In all instances we were satisfied with the results, and water bottles and hydration packs were filled up quickly while hiking or at our campsite. Once we got home, we ran a mixture of bleach/tap water through the pumps and allowed them to thoroughly dry for a couple of days and then packed them away until the next time we need them.

For the past 11 years I have spent 8 days a year hiking/camping with buddies. I have gone through numerous pumps and this is my favorite. The msr mini is more durable and the filter lasts a lot longer but it pumps super slow. This baby can fill my water bottle really fast. It costs more fire the replacement filters as well (mini is $40) by $12 but I’m still ok with that. The one thing I don’t like about this filter is the paper filter doesn’t last at all. If the water is really harsh the paper filter will only last about two weeks on the slow mode. For me it is still worth it solely based on how fast and easy it pumps. You have to lube up the rings regularly but this filter is really reliable. A couple friends have it as well and no one has had a problem at all. Oh yeah another difference between the mini and this filter is the mini starts pumping slow when you need to clean the filter and this one leaks around the middle. I can pump one liter with the mini between cleaning the filter and two with this filter. Saves me a little time and makes it less annoying to get water. I’ve never gotten sick with any of the filters I’ve used. The base camp is garbage and so is any filter that only has a paper cartridge. They don’t last and get clogged way too easily. If you go on a trip where you are totally dependent on a filter to clean your water you must have a ceramic cartridge. Hope this review helps.

Bought for a 9 day hike. This thing saved our butts as the more than one of the water reflll locations was dry when we arrived. The issue is it stopped working on about day 6 after maybe 20 liters of use. It clicks when you pump. I could get it working again but keeps repeating this issue. Great at filtering but malfunctioning this often is an issue.

We bought this filter a few days prior to leaving for a week-long hike in the high Sierras. It was a last minute purchase as our group-of-eight realized we'de need another filter for our trek. Where we were going was known to be contaminated with giardia and other nasties, so I was hoping this little filter would fit the bill. I couldn't be happier! I had never used one of these before, and wasn't really sure what to expect. I opened it up, and was very happy to see that the only setup required was attaching a couple of tubes to the filtration mechanism, and the weight+filter head that you dangle into the water source. Other than that, it was ready-to-go. It came in a great little case, too - with a bag of replacement o-rings and most other parts except replacement filter cartridges (which I'm sure you purchase separately). The case was very handy for keeping the unit contained in my day-pack during our long hikes, both protecting the filter unit and keeping my other gear safe from drips. The unit actually doesn't drip much, though, especially if you pull the dongle out of the water source before your last few pumps (this voids the tubing and empties the water in the filter chamber, which will top off your water bottle and get the water out of the unit, making it lighter to carry and less prone to drips). It also comes with a securely-fitting stopper that plugs up the outlet to help prevent leaking. The unit feels very sturdy and well put-together. It just feels "solid". When you're trusting your health to something like this - it helps to feel like it's well made and isn't leaking on the inside, and this filter delivers. When first getting accustomed to its operation, I noticed that if I unscrewed the top before the filter had been voided, you could hear pressurized air escaping (a result of forcing water through the filters), further testament to its tight construction. Despite two other people in our group having their own filters, by the end of the trip everyone was wanting to use this one since it was so much faster and easier. I would highly recommend this filter to anyone who needs it!

This is my first portable water filter. I've used it several times with relatively clean mountain spring water, and with city water. It definitely works well and makes the water taste good. It comes with a nice case and is easy to use. The negative side is minor. The filter takes a long time to dry out (several days), which you're supposed to do when it won't be used for a while. Instead it seems the better thing to do is pump a mild solution of chlorine/bleach through it before storage (as instructed) and then pump lots of water through it before reuse. Also, the replacement carbon packets seem outrageously overpriced, yet I haven't yet found an alternate source of replacement carbon (I think it can work for a long time). As for the older negative feedback, I can see how the inlet could break off if pressed hard against something, so take care with it. I'd also not try to pump too hard or fast, as there is a lot of resistance in the pump and is meant to move slowly. And if you avoid filtering really dirty water, it will likely last much longer and work better; this filter is not a replacement for viral sanitation (in some cases use chlorine/tablets and then filter, or vice-verse).

I've had mine out multiple times and so far it's worked flawlessly. One item to note is that the intake connection sticks out from the side of the unit and is plastic. I would prefer to have had it covered or protected but I just make certain I pack it so that part won't get stressed. As others have said, this thing filters water extremely fast. I've not had to use it in situations where the water has been highly contaminated or loaded with sediment so I can't say whether it has issues in those situations. The bottom is sized to screw right onto many water bottles and hydration bladders which saves having to use the outlet tube (included). Since I don't camp every week, I follow the long-term storage instructions on the unit before packing it away. This involves running 1L of water with either Katadyn's water purifier tablets or a small amount of bleach through the unit. Next comes removal of the ceramic disc filter to be scrubbed off, and finally removal of the paper/carbon filter to allow it to air dry. After about 24 hours I put some included silicone lubricant on the O-rings and put it back together. I haven't replaced the activated charcoal yet but it's not difficult to find and not overly expensive. If the unit is dried properly the charcoal should last quite a while. The filter parts have tabs which are designed to make certain the unit goes back together properly, but I have to wonder if some of the problems reported are the result of improper re-assembly after cleaning. I will agree with others that it is a bit bulky (it doesn't present any problems for my pack) but it's also pretty light, and compared to some of the more compact units, this one produces a lot more filtered water a lot faster. As with most camping products, the buyer should consider the tradeoffs of ultra-small and lightweight vs. lower expense and more usability.

Having just finished a hike into the San Bernadino Mountains we were sure glad we had this item along. There were a couple of streams to take water from but they were miles from the areas you could camp in. When you are going up to 8500 feet+ you better load up on water. The pump is very easy to use and does its job very well. It is fairly quick even when turned to the slower of the two settings it has. Filters last longer and works better on the slow setting. Light weight and a must for backpacking. One trick that works well is to put a coffee paper filter over the intake nozzle to keep any sediment from clogging your filter. Even if you choose not too the filter is going to give you great water free of the nasties that sometimes can get it. Of the top two this is number one. My brother had the number two model (a different brand) and I could fill my 1ltr bottles in a minute. His took almost twice as long. If you are thinking about getting one this is a safe bet to buy. Amazon prices very from time to time but you can usually get it for less or the same as the competition. Safe Buy.

Great product I heard some great reviews and they wernt wrong. Thanks for such a great deal, highly recomended. Good for camping etc

Broke on third use, cutting camping trip short.

what a great product. Its small but so useful. We were able to drink the river water with out any issues, dose not completely filter the taste of the water but that is the least of your worries when your thirsty and out camping with no other water sources. This product changes the way I camp, I no longer need to haul around a few days worth of water, now I just pump it from the closest source!

Me gusto mucho

Lieferzeit promt , Ersatzdichtungen und Silikontube beigefügt , sehr stabil gebaut , gute Funktion, aber leider noch nicht im Einsatz getestet.