Katadyn Vario Water Filter, Dual Technology Microfilter for Personal or Small Group Camping, Backpacking or Emergency Preparedness

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.

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!

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.

I've brought this Katadyn on a few trips and it's functioned flawlessly. On the last trip, about halfway through (and in the middle of nowhere) it stopped pumping out any water. It seemed like a seal was broke was water poured out of everywhere put where it should (the bottom). Thankfully, disassembly is easy and the instructions are relatively clear. After removing the top portion and looking for a faulty O-ring or something similar, I reassembled after not finding any issues. It worked for about half a liter and then started leaking water everywhere. A bit disconcerting when your 20 miles from anything. After another disassembly and removal of the ceramic stone, I put everything back together and this time around- it worked great. For the remainder of the trip. The downside is, I'm not sure what the issue was if it crops up again. Seemed like a bit of blind luck. Aside from that, the filter has been problem free. On the last trip, we were filtering on average 20 liters of water a day. Currently I've put 200 liters or so through it. Pros: 1.) Screws right on top of a Nalgene bottle and works well with some CamelBak as well. 2.) Good water flow/ fast output for a minimal amount of work pumping. 3.) Water taste great (assuming the water source is halfway decent to begin with). Cons: 1.) Failure to filter... On a recent outing the unit began to lock up, resulting in water spilling out the sides and generally everywhere but through the filter and bottom. A few "attempts" at troubleshooting brought it back into filtering shape again and the pump worked like a charm after that, but it's not something you want to deal (I always carry water treatment tablets as a back up). 2.) Longevity... not sure how the plastic housing will hold up over time, getting bounced around in a backpack. Also, plenty of O-rings and other pieces that could be potential issues down the road. Overall, it's been a great filter with the exception of the last trip. Which served as a good reminder- things always break, and when it comes to water, backup options are always a necessity (no one wants to boil and cool 3 liters of water to fill their CamelBak).

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.

Overview: A wonderful, complete water filter system. Prefilter could have been a little better to extend the life of the ceramic inner filter. Can be used alone (or) paired with a SteriPEN traveler system for additional protection. Pros: - Lightweight - Compact form factor - Includes soft carrying case - Price Cons: - Prefilter mesh (intake) is good, but still allows a lot of stuff through which limits the life of the ceramic filter - Small, red, silicone cap (used to protect inlet valve during storage/transport) easy to lose This filter system was purchased for hiking. It is relatively compact and easy to use. Simply screw a wide mouth Nalgene bottle to the bottom of the filter and pump the water in. I always leave it on "Longer Life" because the "Faster Flow" setting bypasses one of the internal filters which means your water isn't as clean. It still pumps water into the bottle twice as fast as any other system I've used. To get around the wide mesh prefilter that's included, you can purchase an inline silt filter from sweetwater for about $20. Just cut the intake hose and insert the inline filter. This will filter more dirt before it hits your ceramic filter and extend the life of your system. Recommend following the priming procedure (pump 1 L of tap water through it to flush all the filters before using it) and disinfecting after each trip. The ceramic filter can be removed and cleaned (gently sanded if needed). The charcoal cartridge should be replaced yearly. If taken care of, this will provide you with a great system for purifying water on your hikes. One last interesting tip, is a SteriPEN traveler (3-in-1 purifier) fits perfectly in the bag with the Vario. It will provide an additional layer of protection when you are near campsites / shelters where you may be worried about viruses, etc.

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 love this filter! I take about 4-6 backpacking trips every year and this filter always comes with me, except when it is below freezing. I always use the ceramic filter just to be safe, which still provides a fairly quick flow rate. I always look for the cleanest water possible and take care to avoid sediment as much as I can. Sometimes I will fill a separate bottle, let the sediment fall to the bottom, and then only pump the clean water down to an inch or so. I've never had a problem with sickness or foul-tasting water. Sometimes I get a little odor depending on the source, but it's hardly worth mentioning. This filter is light weight and easy to pack just about anywhere. Very easy to use, simple to clean and attaches to wide mouth water bottle threads, like a Naglene. Or pair this with an MSR dromedary bag with the same threading and you're set. I know there are people that just throw the tube into the water and pump like mad, which will evenually cause you problems. Take a few extra minutes and set up the tube away from sediment and the bottom of the stream, pond, etc. Simply putting a stick in a pond at an angle and letting the tube hang from that is a good way to pull clean water while the prefilter is suspended in water, keeping it off the floor and surface of the water. This is a great product and has served me well for 3 years now. I'm still using all the original parts since I only pump 5-8 gallons each year. Clean and store per manual instructions and you won't have any problems. I'm afraid most of the negative reviews could have been avoided had the users cleaned the ceramic disc properly, spent more time preparing when drawing water, or bypassed the ceramic disc if necessary.

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!

Excelente compra pero encontrar cómo se ensambla ya que el mío cuando llego fugaba y encontrar cómo se colocaban correctamente los orring fue tardado pero una vez que encuentras cómo funciona es magnifico

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