Do not bring this filter as your only filter. The filter plugs one certain lakes. It is a monster inconvenience to have your filter die half way through a trip.

This is a known issue to Katydyn and it why they came out with a new filter cartridge.

See this thread for converting your filter to a much more reliable system.
Converting basecamp

This Katadyn difficulty has been noted several times - do a search of the site - for som good solutions.
Others have come up with some GREAT DIY solutions - get a Sawyer or Playtapus.
Glad your "field" conversion worked out well.

Yeh, this topic has been around the block. My first trip, went to the border, Sag, Ottertrack, Knife,etc. 7 days, that filter was flawless. Next year went to EP47, it clogged up in 2 days, luckily I had an extra cartridge but still it was very iffy, I thought we were gonna have to cut it short. AndySG talked to Katadyn at length about it, they have an explanation but knowing doesn't give you water. Everyone has moved to a different system.

Yep, stay away from the old ones. The guaranteed anti-clog filter has worked well for me so far (under a year, not much use). We'll see if it makes it through a couple of backpacking trips this summer.

Threw mine away and started over with a gravity bag. Never going back.

Mine works fine. I usually find with message boards is that for every 1 person who post a negative comment, there's most likely 10 people who have no problem with the product and never post on any message board

As long as your water is collected far enough away from shore where there is far less debris, it'll be fine.

quote millerb: "As long as your water is collected far enough away from shore where there is far less debris, it'll be fine. "

This is not true. Some crystal clear water has un seen algea. Those algea bloom will plug the old katydyns after a few gallons.

Gathering away from shore is a good idea. But has no guarantees. ..

I don't recommend bringing any filter that you can't back flush. All filters are going to clog at some point.

quote Blatz: "Mine works fine. I usually find with message boards is that for every 1 person who post a negative comment, there's most likely 10 people who have no problem with the product and never post on any message board"

Would agree with you except I saw the reviews, knew it was coming, and then it happened, and you don't want to compromise clean drinking water. Giardia? No thanks. That would be, uh, crappy.

quote Blatz: "Mine works fine. I usually find with message boards is that for every 1 person who post a negative comment, there's most likely 10 people who have no problem with the product and never post on any message board"

I really tried to get mine to work. And it has worked flawlessly in Alaska. It also worked flawlessly on several BW trips.

But... But it also plugged on at least 3 trips out of 14. If I had wrote a review after the first 5 trips, I would have been thrilled. After it plugged 3 times, my review has changed.

A water filter is pretty critical piece of equipment. Failing about 20% of the time is not acceptable...