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First Need XL Water Purifier

$115.00

(65)

Item # 767831

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The First Need XL water purifier delivers convenient chemical-free water purification for outdoor adventures and international travel.

Structured Matrix 3-stage purification technology provides natural and ecological removal of contaminants down to 0.1 micron nominal (0.4 absolute)
Purifier is certified to EPA Guide Standard for microbiological purifiers against bacteria, cysts and viruses; removes giardia and cryptosporidia
Also removes dirt, unpleasant tastes and chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides
Easy-grip, ergonomic handle provides comfortable pumping; double-action pump is field serviceable
Use the included gravity feed kit for hands-free purification without pumping
Fast flow rate of 1.89 liters per min. lets you enjoy clean, great-tasting water in no time at all
XL purifier's large capacity lets you purify up to 150 gal. before needing to replace the canister
Direct Connect attaches unit snugly to many wide-mouth and narrow-mouth water bottles and hydration systems, sold separately
Attach the drink tube on your Camelbak® hydration reservoir directly to canister so you can refill without removing the reservoir from your bag
Additional adapters (sold separately) allow attachment to directly to select Platypus, Sigg and Nalgene water bottles and reservoirs, sold separately
Included prefilter removes larger contaminants before they reach the purifier; adjustable float lets you position the prefilter exactly where you want it
36 in. long inlet hose provides consistent flow and won't kink
Excellent impact resistance withstands use in the wilderness and during international travel
First Need XL water purifer includes a lightweight storage bag
16 oz. weight includes filter canister (does not include storage bag)

Made in USA.

Item 767831

View all First Need products

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First Need XL Water Purifier Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

First Need XL Water Purifier

4.2

(based on 65 reviews)

89%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Good filtration (54)
Easy to pump (52)
Easy to clean (36)
Maintenance (35)
Lightweight (17)

Cons

Heavy / bulky (30)
Hard to clean (7)
Hard to pump (3)

Best Uses

Backpacking (57)
Hiking (36)
Day trip (28)
Car camping (26)
Travel (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (44), Casual/ recreational (13), Casual adventurer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (20)

Reviewed by 65 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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May

2008

(92 of 95 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

I've tested this in a lab

By Carew

from ABQ, NM

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to pump
Good filtration
Low maintenance
Virus removal

Cons

Bulky
Pricey

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

If you go to the General Ecology website you can find a scientific paper written about this filter. It was written and tested by a limnologist out of U of AZ, Charles Gerba (my limnology professor from UNM actually knows him). It shows that this filtration system removes particles as small as polio and rota viruses (and does this to 99.9999% even after the filter had run more then 90 gallons through it and the water had stagnated 48 hours). In my Limnology 496 Lab it even showed to effectively lower inorganic chemicals such as nitrate and sulfate. I highly recommend this system and if I can't convince you read the paper online (its a simple read too). The best aspect being that there aren't any chemicals involved and the water always tastes crisp.

Feb

2010

(45 of 45 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

You need THIS PRE-FILTER TRICK

By ScotMaster

from Monterey Bay, Ca

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

Excellent purifier for those of us who would really prefer to hike out in comfort, rather than crawl out with stomach cramps, etc. EXCELLENT TRICK to extend useful life of filter and maintain super ease of pumping effort: add an MSR SiltStopper (REI Item # 611748) in-line just after the included First Need pre-filter, and carry extra MSR SiltStopper Replacement filters (REI Item # 611750). I scrape the MSR prefilter paper cartridge lightly with my finger nail every couple of gallons to remove just the outer layer of stained paper, and find that my First Need purifier cartridge lasts easily a full year or two of heavy use and pumping effort remains factory new the entire time, WITHOUT ever needing to backflush. I usually replace the MSR paper prefilter after every trip or two on general principles because of the low cost, or once pumping effort begins to lag, or after using super muddy pig wallow water (remember, this is a PURIFIER, so any water is fair game!).

So: First Need factory prefilter; then an inch or so of tubing; then MSR prefilter; then rest of tubing up to First Need purifier.

That said, without this prefilter trick, I'd clog up after a few days, you just can't have super fine micron filtration and purification without clogs. Still usable mind you, but sooo slow to pump the frustration level wasn't worth it. Now, with the prefilter trick, I carry this purifier everywhere, gladly lug the 180z my full kit weighs, and can confidently use ANY water source available with ease, as the only purifier for groups from four to fourteen, two days to two weeks. I've become so (over)confident in my prefilter enhanced system that I've stopped carrying an extra First Need as a backup, something that will bite me one of these days I'm sure......

Happy Trails to All.

May

2008

(38 of 40 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great filter BUT...

By alexwood

from Temecula, Ca

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Screws on to Nalgene

Cons

Filter is expensive
The filter clogs easily

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

I have had this filter for a long time now, and it works great....that is if you clean it (backwash it) regularly....When I first got this filter, I didn't know about that, and if you don't do that, the filter will slowly start to not pump and it will presurize and the tube that transfers from the filter to the pump will shoot off becuase of the pressure... So, great filter, just be sure to backwash it as often as the directions tell you too.. and when backpacking, be sure to empty all the water out of it otherwise you carrying extra water....Also, the water from this filter tastes great!

Jul

2008

(35 of 35 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Worth every ounce to carry on long treks

By Khaosanrd007

from Arcadia, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

Just got back from 6 weeks in Africa. Climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, and treked though five other East African countries. The First Need XL paid for itself on the very first day of climbing Kili. This water purifier was invaluable. This pump ended up filtering water everyday for every climber in my group. And there were eight of us total. It was easy and quick to use. The water tasted great, and was able to filter anything that came our way. This was one of the best investments I made for hiking/treking. I would highly recommend this unit for anyone thinking about buying a filter. With the amount of water that we were filtering on a daily basis, there is no way one of the handheld pens could have gotten the job done. Save your money, don't buy a pen.

Jun

2008

(34 of 39 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best of the best

By lakewood

from NYC

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

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

Cons

Not for the ultralight

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Disaster Survival
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

This is the best worry free purifier that there is, just, as with any filter, carry a extra cartridge and a small bottle of bleach to backwash.
But this is with any filter that requires a back wash, always use a pure water source and a few drops of bleach to backwash. It is just common sense.
This is one of the few filters I recommend when I teach urban disaster survival.

Nov

2008

(27 of 27 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best purifier hands down.

By bipod

from Virginia

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking
Overseas travel

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

I've had my original First Need for over 12+ years. It's rugged, reliable, easy to maintain and has yet to let me down. For those who had issues with clogging much of that can be avoided by finding clearer running areas of water to draw from but with the prefilter on, unless you're sucking from mud silty water shouldn't be an issue. To maintain my First Need all these years I be sure I backwash the filter at least twice a season w/ a bleach solution and clean the outside after returning home from every trip. If you maintain this system it should last as long if not longer. I've replaced the filter two times in 12+ years. One of which was after filtering one of the worst water sources I've ever pumped from and that was after a 5-day trip pumping for two people. Gatorade yellow water came out crystal clear, fresh and cold. No sickness, nothing. But at the end of the trip even a backwash wouldn't help the filter so I replaced it, the other was after 6+ years of use and abuse. Needless to say, I recommend the First Need to any serious outdoor person who doesn't want limitations to what or where they pump either here in the States or abroad. My one grip is I wish it were more compact but that's it.

Jan

2008

(26 of 30 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Excellent Product

By 10missiontrip

from Phoenix, Az

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Best with gravity filtrat
Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance
Very effective

Cons

Best Uses

Overseas source of water

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

We bought our first need 6 years ago and have used it in 9 foreign travel assignments. Not once have we gotten any illness from the water filtered by our First Need pump. Our trips have been to Africa, Philippines, Inter-America, and Nepal, so there have been plenty of possibilities for infection from water. Not a single one.

Aug

2008

(23 of 23 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Still the best

By John F

from Maryland

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Filters viruses
Good filtration
Low maintenance

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

There are other purifers and filters out there that are smaller, lighter, slimmer, and cooler-looking than the First Need, but this is still hands-down the best one for the money. It will easily and quickly pump a large volume of water on both the up and down strokes, and unlike most other packable filters it removes viruses. Another plus is that it's a water purifer, so there's no funky aftertaste that you sometimes get from filters using chlorine. It's not really field-cleanable as some other filters are, although a quick backwash will work to clear most clogs. No other filter at this price combines all of the performance features of the First Need.[...]

Jul

2008

(19 of 19 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great Purifier

By Scouter Zach

from Hayward, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to pump
Good filtration

Cons

Bulky
Fliter is expensive
Hard to Clean

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

This has been a great filter / purifier overall. It's very easy to use - especially is you have a large mouth Nalgene. It's easy to pump, and the best feature is that there is water flow with the up stroke AND down stroke.

Big Down side is no matter how often you back flush, filter only seems to last a year and the oly thing to do is to replace the filter - which is a little expensive at over $40.00 per cartridge. besides this flaw, I haven't met a filter/purifier that matches it yet.

Dec

2007

(18 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

No more chemicals in my water!

By bcdp6703

from Santa Rosa, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip

Comments about First Need XL Water Purifier:

This water filter is great! The First Need XL has a small footprint, allowing it to go along on backpacks or long day hikes. The pump action is very efficient and it is great how the bottom of the filter canister fits directly on water bottles. On backpack trips of a few days I formerly used chemical treatment (followed by a clearing agent). First Need has changed that since it is so easy to pull out and refill water bottles while on the trail. The purified water tastes great!

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