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Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter
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Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter

Item # 720265

$79.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

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Field maintainable, the Hiker PRO includes extra features for higher performance and improved versatility.

  • Includes field maintenance kit with cleanable filter protector to extend cartridge life in challenging conditions
  • To clean filter protector, simply swish it in the water
  • Quick-connect fittings permit easy installation and removal of input and output hoses
  • Lightweight and easy-to-use design makes this filter a great choice for all-around use
  • Filter physically removes particles, protozoa and bacteria down to 0.3 microns in size, including Giardia, salmonella, cryptosporidium and others
  • Glass-fiber element is pleated for increased surface area to handle silt and muddy water
  • Activated-carbon core adsorbs chemicals and pesticides to improve taste of water
  • Pre-filter at hose inlet filters to 150 microns, removing larger contaminants before they reach the main filter to increase its life span
  • Quick-connect fittings allow direct attachment to drinking tube (1/4'') of your hydration pack
  • Ergonomic pump handle is comfortable and easy to pump
  • Includes a carry sack and bottle adapter that fits most water bottles

Check out this comment from Backpacker Magazine's March 2006 Gear Guide issue: "We sent the Hiker Pro on the trail with testers who swore they'd never give up their ultralight, fuss-free chemicals. Then they tried this glass-fiber filter and rediscovered the sweet taste of mountain streams sans chemical aftertaste."
Weight reported dry, without accessories; manufacturer-supplied specifications.

Imported.

Item 720265

Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter Specs

Specification

Description

Weight11 ounces
Dimensions6.5 x 3 x 2.4 inches
Filter mediumPleated 0.3 micron glass-fiber/carbon core
Housing materialABS plastic
RemovesProtozoa and bacteria
Output1 liters per minute
Pump strokes per liter48
Field cleanableYes

Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter
 
4.2

(based on 71 reviews)

84%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Good filtration (50)
  • Lightweight (44)
  • Easy to pump (43)
  • Maintenance (42)
  • Easy to clean (36)

Cons

  • Bulky (7)
  • Hard to pump (4)
  • Not durable (4)
  • Filtered water doesn't taste good (3)
  • Hard to clean (3)

Best Uses

  • Backpacking (53)
  • Hiking (35)
  • Day trip (28)
  • Car camping (9)
  • Improving water quality (8)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (31), Casual adventurer (30), Midrange shopper (9)
  • What Is Your Gear Style:
  • Minimalist (3)
  • Primary use:
  • Personal (11)

Reviewed by 71 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Low filter life but great system

By Josh the Voyageur

from Kansas City, MO

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Easy to pump
  • Good filtration
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Low filter life

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Hiking

Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

I used this on a 7-day canoe camping trip in the Boundary Waters. Filter life is rated at 200 gallons, but I'm guessing that is 200 gallons of nearly pure water. The disclaimer does say '...depending on water quality', after all. After the trip, I estimated we went through roughly 2.5 - 3 gallons per day, but the filter clogged after about 5 days (15 - 16 gallons). We filtered all of our water right off the shoreline, so I'm sure we picked up some sediment or other small debris, although it was not visible in the pre-filter or the filter screen, which I used (an optional screen that wraps around the filter).

I really liked the operation of this filter. It was very easy to use, and the water tasted great. The adapter system works very well and is easy to figure out. You will need to purchase extra adapters and hosing if you want both the Nalgene adapter as well as the input adapter for your hydration bladder. The unit felt very durable and rugged. I don't have any fears about the handle breaking, or any other part of the system, for that matter.

I am not giving this unit a bad rating because the filter failed well before 200 gallons - I believe that was simply user error, although I am including it in this review as a warning to other filtration newbies. I think this problem can be avoided in the future if I pump water farther offshore or use a coffee filter as a pre-filter.

(12 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

10+ years of good service

By The Woodseys

from Atlanta, GA

About Me Casual Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Easy to pump
  • Good filtration
  • Lightweight
  • Low maintenance

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Day trip
    • Hiking

    Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

    I've been using this product for over 10 years, and have never had a real problem. I typically use it on four to six backpacking trips per year (one or two nights each), plus a few day trips. The unit is very easy to operate, and it's the perfect size to support a small group (two or three people) for a few days at a time.

    With the disposable cartridges, the pump is very easy to maintain. All I've ever done is replace the cartridge about once a year and flush the unit with clean tap water after each trip.

    Living in South Florida until just recently, I've used the filter in some pretty smelly, murky, water. At times, I've had to filter the water twice to remove the smell of sulphur, but have never had a problem with illness. I've only replaced the carbon filter once in all the time I've owned the unit.

    Originally, I used the pump with the old Platypus (late 90's style) water containers which had small fill openings. It was difficult to line up the discharge of the filter with the container and pump at the same time (usually involved holding the pump between the knees or enlisting assistance from another camper). I've since switched to using Nalgene bottles, and the pump is a perfect fit. You simply lay the water bottle on the ground and forget about it until it's full.

    • Gift:
    • No

    (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    LOVE IT, easy, durable.

    By Lakota Medicine Wolf

    from Salt Lake City, Utah

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Comfortable
    • Compact
    • Easy Operation
    • Lightweight
    • Tough

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Can't pay the water bill
      • Day trip
      • Long Term Wilderness stay
      • Mountaineering

      Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

      I used this on an eight day backpacking trip in the Uintas, pumped clean clear Utah water from the chain of lakes leading to Okie Dokie Lake. Also used it at Dog Lake, some of the dirtiest water I've ever seen! and the Hiker Pro handled it like a charm. No regrets with this buy, it's easy to use, extremely durable, light weight, easy to pack. It's the real Mcoy

      • Gift:
      • No
      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Minimalist

      (10 of 10 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      This thing is great!

      By thirteens

      from Dallas, TX.

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Easy to clean
      • Easy to pump
      • Good filtration
      • Lightweight
      • Low maintenance

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Hiking

        Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

        I brought this along with me on a three day camping trip at Caney Creek in the Arkansas mountains. There is nothing around there, only saw two other people, thick woods, and the river. I had my osprey pack with a camel back in it and thats it. When I ran out of water I used this to refill and it was perfect. The water didnt taste funny at all, and it was very simple to use. The attachment that lets you plug directly into your camel back drinking tube made life that much easier. It has almost no weight and as compact as can be. I am very impressed and highly recommend this to anyone.

        • Gift:
        • No

        (9 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

         
        2.0

        Very annoying to use

        By mchrisneglia

        from Boulder, CO but really everywhere usa

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Good filtration
        • Lightweight

        Cons

        • Bulky
        • Cumbersome

        Best Uses

        • Car Camping
        • Day trip

        Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

        I've used three filters before, an MSR, a Sweetwater and this one. They all functioned well, but this one was far more cumbersome than the others. Of course, it didnt' fail in the woods on me like the MSR, but the double hoses are ridiculous. It's much better to have only one hose with the Nalgene/platypus/camelback directly connect as with the the other two. The second hose would get tangled up and necessitate that I hold onto the camelback/platypus. I kept knocking over the nalgene when i was trying to acquire water from a source high above me.

        If you have a flat surface in which to work, it's great...like a nice little perfect creek. But as some of you know, your watersource could be in a trench, high above you as in a rockface or another type of difficult-to-access spring. Chances are you are bent-over managing the intake hose while standing on a loose rock or hunched over a boulder...difficult to manage two hoses in that position.

        (8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

         
        1.0

        Side seam ruptures

        By plantgeek

        from Lake Tahoe, CA

        About Me Outdoor Professional

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy to pump
        • Good filtration

        Cons

        • Bulky

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking

        Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

        I have gone through two of these. The side seam on the pump handle ruptured in both cases, once after 6 days, once after 2 months of use (in the middle of a thru-hike). When the side seam ruptures the pump is completely useless except as a water gun. If Kataydyn fixes this it would be a great product as it is easy to pump and produces good tasting water.

        • Gift:
        • No

        (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Quite Satisfied

        By kschnitz

        from Macon, GA

        About Me Casual Adventurer

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy to pump
        • Good filtration

        Cons

        • Bulky

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking

        Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

        I took this filter on a two week backpacking trip along the Colorado Trail. While the filter itself is a little heavy and bulky, I felt that it was ultimately very much worth it. It weighs less than a liter of water, and in an area with plentiful water sources I could afford to carry the filter in lieu of an extra liter of water. An added bonus is the taste of the water, which is so much better than water treated with tablets. Apparently some people find the two hose system to be cumbersome, but I didn't have any problem with it. It actually came it handy on a few occasions.

        (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Fast and easy

        By kurtw

        from Dallas, TX

        About Me Casual/ Recreational

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Easy to pump
        • Good filtration
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Car Camping
          • Day trip
          • Hiking

          Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

          I just got back from SW Colorado. We had 2 filters between 4 of us. Everyone owned at least one filtration device and a couple of folks owned 2 different ones. Everyone was talking about how good their filters worked at the start of the trip. After we got going, every person agreed that this filtration system was the fastest and easiest they had used. You do need to check on the bottle fittings for your water system. We pumped water into a Camelbak bottle and transferred to the other bottles. I was very happy.

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Dependable

          By flaxin

          from Quincy, MA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Easy to clean
          • Easy to pump
          • Good filtration
          • Lightweight
          • Low maintenance

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking

            Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

            This pump is simple to use and reliable for me in the backcountry. I am sure that it will need some maintenance eventually and it might event fail, but I have used it dozens of times in the backcountry for the past three years and I haven't done a thing to it to help keep it running. I just keep pumping and pumping filling dozens of bladders and Nalgenes in minutes without fail. Just what I need.

            • Gift:
            • No

            (6 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

             
            1.0

            Very poor filter

            By campcook063

            from Canaan, Ct

            About Me Outdoor Professional

            Pros

            • Lightweight

            Cons

            • Filtered water doesn't taste good
            • Hard to Clean
            • Hard to pump

            Best Uses

            • None

            Comments about Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter:

            I used this filter for 6 months with various groups and various water conditions. right out of the box this filter was putting out a grey colored water and i assumed that it was just activated carbon and would go away after a couple of liters. well it didnt it never went away and it tasted absoulutly horrible, and on top of thatyou needed to have 4 people to filter all the water needed for dinner and drinks and such on a 6 person group you needed that many people because the filter was so hard to pump, and the flow was not that good after the first trip that i used this on i contacted katadyn about it and they said it was normal and not to worry about it. so i took them at there word... a big mistake! i had tried changing cartidges and anything else i could think of and i continued to use it and then finally i was halfway through a 14 day hike in MA, i was filtering and the handle broke off of the filter and i was left to polar pur until i got to town again and i purchased a katadyn vario and have been very pleased with it ever since!

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