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MSR MiniWorks EX Filter
$89.95
Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)
The compact MSR MiniWorks EX filter with EX technology has been proven reliable by thousands and thousands of adventurers around the world.
- Ceramic/carbon Marathon™ EX element effectively removes bacteria and protozoa including giardia and cryptosporidia
- Also removes chemicals including pesticides, industrial pollutants, iodine and chlorine
- Filter can be cleaned over and over for maximum field life with no tools required
- AirSpring Accumulator™ increases filtration speed up to 1 liter per min.
- Bottom screws onto an MSR Dromedary® Bag or Nalgene® water bottle for easy operation (both sold separately)
- Easy disassembly lets you troubleshoot and maintain the MSR MiniWorks EX filter in the field
Made in USA.
Item 695265
Related Items:
MSR MiniWorks EX Filter Specs
Specification | Description |
| Weight | 14.6 ounces |
| Dimensions | 7.8 x 3.8 inches |
| Filter medium | Ceramic with carbon core |
| Housing material | Polyurethane |
| Removes | Protozoa and bacteria |
| Output | 0.83 liters per minute |
| Pump force | 10.4 pounds |
| Pump strokes per liter | 72 |
| Field cleanable | Yes |
MSR MiniWorks EX Filter Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Good filtration (98)
- Easy to clean (97)
- Easy to pump (77)
- Maintenance (72)
- Lightweight (54)
Cons
- Hard to pump (28)
- Bulky (19)
- Heavy (5)
- Poor filtration (5)
- Hard to clean (3)
Best Uses
- Backpacking (102)
- Hiking (81)
- Day trip (59)
- Car camping (37)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (68), Casual adventurer (41), Outdoor professional (5), Professional guide (3)
Reviewed by 112 customers
Sort by
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Low maintenance
Cons
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Car Camping
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
I've owned this filter for about 4 years, used it on numerous trips, and learned that Sweetwater's aren't all that great after all. Everyone I backpack with owns the Sweetwater. I'm the lone Mini-works EX owner, and pretty proud of it. I set up faster, pump faster, and clean faster than my fellow packers. My only gripe is you have to be pretty careful when scrubbing the ceramic filter. I managed to crack mine when I got a little "frisky" with the scrubby pad and doing the old "indian burn" washing method to the filter. I would recommend scrubbing in an up-and-down motion, and you'll be fine.
Those members of my group who carry the Sweetwater inevitably use my Mini-Works EX because of the speed and convenience. And, if you find that it pumps too slow for your taste, then scrub the filter, you big dope! It'll work just fine for you! Geeze, some people....
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Lightweight
- Low maintenance
Cons
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
This filter is great, it pumps the water quick, and I really love the fact that you can just screw it onto a nalgene or right onto your MSR water bladder. Makes it spill proof and lets your use both hands for pumping. Ive watched my friends use their different filters and try to hold their nalgene in between their knees and then watched them dump out all their water on accident.
- Gift:
- No
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Fast filtration
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Backpacking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
This is yet another great product by MSR. Filters fast, water tastes great, and it can be maintained in the field which is possibly the greatest feature. It takes me longer to unpack the filter from my pack and screw my Nalgene on than it does to fill the bottle up. Only cons I would say it has is it is a little heavy, but it is well worth the weight. The stuff sack it comes with is a great way to keep everything organized. Great filter, I would buy it again.
- Gift:
- No
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Lightweight
- Low maintenance
Cons
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Car Camping
- Day trip
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
I remember Back when filters pumped in a l;inear fasion and were not fitted to nalgene bottles. When I bought My first Mini works I loved these new features. It made pumping easier because I no longer had to blance my bottle while pumping my water. It takes me half the time to fill up a quart bottle than any katedyn I have ever owned. Since I adventure in locations with various naturally occuring pollutants it is nice to have a ceramic filter that sieves out all my concerns including heavy metals. I am an avid ultra light backpacker but I am OK with having a heavier filter. I would not buy any other product period.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Day trip
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
When I first used my filter I did not read the instructions and immediately found the pump to be extremely hard to operate. Go to instructions and read that pump will vapor lock and must be air primed before starting. Throw hose in water, pump till hard, pull hose out pump till easy, throw hose back in water.... Its all good. If the Marines choose this filter it must be good eh ?
- Gift:
- No
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Good filtration
- Quick setup
Cons
- Bulky
- Hard to pump
- Low flow
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
The good:
Very fast setup. There is no output hose; attach your threaded water bottle or bag to the bottom of the filter and start pumping. When finished, the intake hose conveniently wraps around the filter and you are ready to go. It is easier to avoid water contamination because of this.
The less desirable:
Compared to my MSR Sweetwater filter: The ceramic filter wears out more quickly. The throughput is far lower. More goes wrong with the pump assembly and I have to dissemble and rebuild it all of the time. The handle requires more force and must be moved more slowly. It is much bigger and heavier; traits not enduring to backpackers.
Pros
Cons
- Bulky
- Hard to Clean
- Hard to pump
- Poor filtration
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Day trip
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
I had this unit out on my first trip and it broke. It began spewing water from the connection to the nalgeen bottle and my MSR blader. The bladder is awesome I got a two litre but the filter is horrible. Almost everyone I've spoken to that has owned one for any decent period of time said that this filter has problems. My friend has constant issues with ceramic filter cracking. I am going to try out the Vario by katadyn.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Good filtration
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Hard to pump
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
This unit is heavy, but it filters great tasting water and is fairly compact. I am overly satisfied with this product. On my most recent trip to the Olympic Nat'l Forest it even filtered out the brown stain in the water created by the tannin in the tree bark. I was very impressed. I use it quite often and have had no problems with it yet, nor have I needed to replace the cartrige yet.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Lightweight
- Low maintenance
Cons
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Car Camping
- Day trip
- Extended overseas travel
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
I've used this pump on trips to China, Russia, India, SE Asia, South America and right here in the good ole USA. It works!!
We've found that for a 6 to 9-month trip, one filter could get two people through the trip, pumping tap water every day. We never got sick. We saved thousands of plastic bottles that would otherwise have littered the world's cities and country side.
The filter is easy to clean. (Don't scrub hard with the scrubby that comes with the pump. You only need to brush the discoloration off the filter. We've found an old toothbrush works perfectly without scratching the ceramic surface.) You know when it's time to clean the pump when pumping gets harder to do.
Overall, we can pump a liter of water in about 2 minutes. (And build up those pecks in the process).
Disadvantages we've seen with other smaller pumps are that it takes up to 5 minutes to pump a liter. The pull to just go buy bottled water is higher when your pumping time is so long.
The pump is sturdy. We've never had a part break and we have dropped it.
One note, if the pump gets odd smelling you can boil it (place it in the water as it's being brought to a boil), or pump water with a few drops of GSE through it to keep it fresh. This has only happened to us once when we had to pump pond water.
This is a winning pump!
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Easy to pump
- Good filtration
- Low maintenance
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Backpacking
- Hiking
Comments about MSR MiniWorks EX Filter:
This is a great little filter. I love the fact that the nalgene's and MSR camel back screw right to the filter do you don't have to worry about holding the bottle your are filtering into. Also it is very easy to clean, you just unscrew it and whipe it down and rinse it off and your good to go. I have had it clog up in some silty streams but a quick cleaning made it flow good again. I have used this for the last year on over 10 different trips and never gotten sick or had problems filtering water. Use in conjunction with the Sweet Water drops
- Gift:
- No
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REI response:Great tips. Thanks for sharing.