Katadyn Pocket (Water Filter)

[GlockSpock]

So, convinced myself to finally buy one of these.

 

Katadyn Pocket

 

 

It should be here soon. I have never owned a device like this but figured I would pick on up. Goes down to .2 micron and is silver impregnated. That means it should get everything but some of the smaller viruses.

 

Biggest benifit of spending $290? 20 year warranty and up to 13,000 gallons dependent upon water quality.

 

Of course, you can also use UV light to kill off viruses/bacteria. Guess what the sun emmits! My research though has shown in the United States viruses aren't typically something you have to worry about being waterborne currently. I bought this to mainly mess around with to gain experience in that sort of thing. Plan on taking it hiking, etc. Also, will be nice not to have to worry about carrying so much water if I am planning around being near water to begin with.

 

All my research shows that Katadyn is built very nice. Yes, the ceramic filter inside is breakable but it should generally hold up for a very long time if you take care of it. You can go cheap on something like this, Katadyn even makes a "Hiker" that is I think $60. The catch? It is only rated for I think 200 gallons. You can buy replacement ceramic catridges for the Katadyn Pocket for about $150. $150 per 13,000 gallons is about a penny per gallon.

 

You can buy optional activated charcoal filter attatchments that are good for around 200 or so gallons. They would be good for filtering taste/chemicals from the water. I may buy one for hiking but wouldn't plan on long term using them.

 

That brings up one thing I'd like to discuss here; without having activated charcoal, you pretty much leave whatever chemicals that exist in the water in the water. Now, hopefully in back country mountain streams this won't be an issue, but I am interested in seeing what others have thought about. Eventually I'd like to tie some rain barrels together for catching rainwater for gardening and stuff. They would also serve as a backup water source for times such as what happened in Toledo last year. When chemicals in water become a concern, what are your thoughts in dealing with them? Activated charcoal in mass quanties? Distilling the water? Avoid the contamination and seek elsewhere? Something else?

Edited April 30, 2015 by CZ9MM

[GlockSpock]

Also, interested in opinions of the Katadyn Pocket vs. the Big Berkley Water Filters that are mentioned so often on here.

[Ted S.]

Neat pump filter. I'm getting a TDS meter in sometime, I've been thinking of testing my Sawyer filter with it... but I mainly purchased the TDS meter for monitoring the hose filter thingy I'm trying for gardening. I may as well test the Faucet filter as well. So many filters, so little time. It would be cool to have a chance to test that Katadyn as well. Damn we're boring people talking about filters. You realize this, right?

[monkeylizard]

I have a Steripen and a Sawyer mini. The Sawyer mini weighs 2 ounces and is rated to .1 microns and 100K gallons. the squeeze bags will eventually wear out before the filter does, but for $20 for a filter and $8 for a 3 pack of bags, I think it's a great way to go. Never used the Steripen as US water almost never has the viruses in it. Had a coupon and got a good price, so I got one. UV in sunlight isn't powerful enough to kill the viruses, thus the stuff like Steripens. UV doesn't actually kill them, it just makes them unable to reproduce. It's like anti-Viagra for them.

Edited May 1, 2015 by monkeylizard

[Mark A]

Also, interested in opinions of the Katadyn Pocket vs. the Big Berkley Water Filters that are mentioned so often on here.

Sort of an apples to pizza comparison. Different tools for different problems. The filter you bought is very nice but I couldn't imagine using it daily like we do our big berkey.

We keep katadyns in our car bags and have sawyers on our pack bladders

Mark

[GlockSpock]

I saw the Sawyer mini on the market before I placed my order. I wished and hoped it was a grear product but had my concerns about a $20 purchase that claimed such a long usage life. I had found a few mixed reviews and figured I'd go with something tried and true (in my opinion). Wouldn't mind having one in-line for a bladder as stated.

[monkeylizard]

At $20, if you don't like it, you're not out much. IIRC, I got mine during a sale on REI.com for $25 and it included 3 bags.

 

Your Katadyn Pocket is a Cadillac for sure. That metal construction will last a lifetime. You'll eventually replace the filter media if you use it a lot, but the body and pump should outlast you. :up:

Edited May 1, 2015 by monkeylizard

[GlockSpock]

At $20, if you don't like it, you're not out much. IIRC, I got mine during a sale on REI.com for $25 and it included 3 bags.
 
Your Katadyn Pocket is a Cadillac for sure. That metal construction will last a lifetime. You'll eventually replace the filter media if you use it a lot, but the body and pump should outlast you. :up:

Well, I doubt I will ever wear out even the filter media, but I would like to have a few extra ceramic filters themselves on hand because they are ~$150 each and should store indefinetely I would think.

It isn't so much as to whether I would like the Sawyer Mini, it is more as to whether I would trust it.

I've always filled up a couple of bladders and carried water with me whenever hiking or whatnot. Honestly, the idea of drinking water from the source (river/stream/lake/etc) is a bit unnerving, even with a $300 filtering system.

The Katadyn seems as if it will get everything but viruses and of course chemical contamenents. Drinking from a source such as the Hiwassee or Ocoee, specifically in the Polk County area, I would imagine that chemical and viral contamination would be virtually nonexistant.

Guess I'll do a bit more reading on such things and then just give it a try next time I go hiking.