Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The Katadyn pocket has a well-deserved reputation for reliability and durability. It is one of the pricier filters but is also rated to pump much more water than its competitors. The Katadyn pocket isn't light (20 oz), but the better competitor pumps are also about 16 oz., so this isn't too much heavier. Some of the others pump a little faster, but they are usually 0.3 micron filters, whereas this is a superior 0.2 micron filter. The Katydin pocket is also the only pump with a lifetime warranty (excluding wear of the ceramic filter). If you search the web, you'll find a lot of reports of the $75 pumps eventually breaking, especially plastic handles. If you have to replace them (or their short-lived filters), you've already well into what it would cost to buy a Katadyn Pocket. This thing is pretty damn tough, and the only way to break it would be to take it apart and drop the inner ceramic filter. I've found it easy to use, though you need to hold it upright to keep water flowing. During 8 years of trips through the Sierra Nevada, Utah, New Hampshire, and Wyoming this filter has never disappointed. General tips to extend the lifetime of any water filter: 1) Use running water from streams/rivers whenever possible 2) Position the floater so that water inflow comes from the top of the stream and not the bottom (where a lot of sediment stirs about) 3) Rubber band a coffee filter around the prefilter to keep particulate matter out. 4) After pumping, unscrew the filter and drain the excess water. This filter is silver-impregnated though, to prevent microbial growth. If you want to keep your packing weight down, carry your water in collapsible water bladders instead of thick plastic bottles. You can buy a cheap adapter so that water is pumped from the filter right into the water bladder. If you search around the web you can find the Katydin Pocket for around 180 or less. I tend to pack light and have lots of fancy lightweight gear, but I am serious about my water sources and don't plan to compromise on this beauty.