In the search for good gear, more than anything we trust our friends. Even better if they’re family! My brother-in-law has had his Katadyn Hiker for some time now and so I asked him to write me a review of it. Here it is and it definitely looks like something worth picking up! Thanks Graeme!
The Katadyn Hiker
by Graeme A.
Not long after getting hooked on backpacking, one of the first items I purchased for my kit was a water filter. After comparing a number of water filters, I settled on the Katadyn Hiker. After 3 years of using it on 2-3 backpacking trips per year, it has proven to be a durable and reliable filter.
In its raw statistics, the Katadyn Hiker has all of the filtering ability you would want while out in the back country, filtering out common disease causing organisms with a 0.3 micron filter. What sets the Katadyn Hiker apart from other filters is that its specifications seek a balance of weight, size, and output at a reasonable cost.
At 11oz weight, it is not suited for an ultra-light kit, but still not too heavy for a serious backpacker.
It is not the smallest filter out there, but can easily fit into a normal backpack and daypack.
It pumps a respectable 1 liter per minute which is not the fastest out there, but can handle the water needs for about 3 people without delaying the trek too much.
It makes this highly respectable showing at a cost which is generally about 10-25 % less than other filters, which for a backpacker who desires reasonable quality without having to hand over a lot of money, is a definite bonus.
Using the filter is mostly comfortable. The pump handle is comfortable and has sufficient range of motion to keep your hands comfortable. Pumping a liter of water is not difficult, but it does get tiring once you’ve filtered 1.5 liters. The trick with this filter is pulling on the handle only sufficient to draw in water. Pump too quickly and you need extra strength to maintain the vacuum to draw in the water, and you will likely not capture the full output.
This filter has a number of extra benefits which the core statistics don’t mention. The Katadyn Hiker has both input and output hoses, which can give this filter quite a bit of reach. This is very handy when travelling in a group as the extra hose can easily extend to the person managing the water containers. On the outlet hose the Katadyn Hiker has an attachment designed to fit on most water bottles and hydration packs that are on the market today.
This filter is not without its issues though. Having a lot of extra hose as well as both input and output hoses can create quite a challenge preventing cross contamination of the output water and the input water especially while in the bag on the trail. I store my outlet hose in a Ziploc bag, which adds a bit of time to the process, and takes some getting used to until one gets into the habit.
While the upfront cost is relatively low, the cost of replacement filter elements is on par with other filters, none of which are especially cheap. A single trip pumping from very murky silty water can easily reduce your filters life to zero. If you must use water that is silty, put the water in another container and let the silt settle a bit before pumping.
In a recent 3 day backpacking trip to the Ozette Triangle near the Washington State coast, the Rangers passed on handy trick to add a bit of extra mileage to the filter, a trick that the Katadyn Hiker is especially suited for: When hiking in areas where the water have a bit more particulate or tannins, wrapping the prefilter with a coffee filter and securing it to the input hose with a rubber band can help extend the filter’s life by acting as a pre-pre-filter.
Advantages:
- Decent weight, size and output
- Lower cost
- Input and output hoses makes for great reach when backpacking in a group.
Disadvantages:
- Not the lightest or smallest filter on the market.
- Takes longer to filter water when filtering for 2-3 people.
The Katadyn Hiker manages to produce a respectable weight, size, and output at a very good price. This filter is best suited to backpackers who don’t mind carrying a little bit extra weight and volume in order to have a solid, good quality filter for their backcountry adventures.
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This filter is not without its issues though. Having a lot of extra hose as well as both input and output hoses can create quite a challenge preventing cross contamination of the output water and the input water especially while in the bag on the trail. I store my outlet hose in a Ziploc bag, which adds a bit of time to the process, and takes some getting used to until one gets into the habit.
