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Author	Message Text
maxxbhp	05/14/2012 05:47PM   I have a Basecamp and it works like a charm, but lots of people aren't happy with Katadyn filters. I ran at least 50 gallons through mine, it had obviously slowed toward the end but was still OK. Then again there's a totally different philosophy between a gravity and a pump
schweady	05/14/2012 06:39PM   I'll never pump again, I don't think. (Sawyer gravity system user)
45Auto	05/14/2012 07:23PM   I'm only a few gallons in on my new one, but thinks for the warning. I will keep an eye on it. Let us know if you find the issue and fix.
Jestrem	05/14/2012 05:20PM   I just wanted to feel you guys out to find out if my water filter pump is operating on par with how it's supposed to. The first 10 gallons went through the filter like silk. I could have pumped the handle up and down with one finger, filling liter bottles in less than a minute. But after 10 gallons was a different story. 3+ minutes to fill a 1 liter bottle and lots and lots of straining effort to push the pump handle down. The manual advised that if the pump handle was difficult to push down, disassemble the pump handle, clean and relube the o-ring. That didn't do anything to help the situation. According the manual, it's supposed to yield something like 700+ liters. Curious if any of you have experience with this model, or any of the katadyn paper filter water filters? Thanks!
TomP	05/15/2012 10:29AM   Switched from Katadyn Hiker to Sawyer last year. The Sawyer is one of the finest outdoor products I have owned. We still bring our Katadyn but use it only in the canoe when we need to fill water bottles. In camp, only use the Sawyer.
DTrain	05/30/2012 12:26PM   I have the Katadyn guide. I paddle out to deep water and try as best as possible to collect from subsurface water. Bring water back to camp and let rest for 10 minutes, then pump. This works for me. I am still surprised when I see pictures of people pumping from shore at camp.
MrWalleye	05/26/2012 09:48PM   My hiker broke on my first trip. The blue plastic nipple the "in" tube connected to snapped off. I didn't have a receipt because it was a gift so I figured I was out of luck. I sent an email telling Katadyn customer service what had happened and 2 days later I had a new pump housing at my doorstep no questions asked. It has worked great ever since, great company with excellent customer service!! I would recommend their products to everyone!
Pikehunter	05/27/2012 01:19AM   quote MrWalleye: "My hiker broke on my first trip. The blue plastic nipple the "in" tube connected to snapped off. I didn't have a receipt because it was a gift so I figured I was out of luck. I sent an email telling Katadyn customer service what had happened and 2 days later I had a new pump housing at my doorstep no questions asked. It has worked great ever since, great company with excellent customer service!! I would recommend their products to everyone!" I had the same problem with mine. Called Katadyn and they sent out a new housing - had it the next day. Great customer service!
cjrn	05/27/2012 02:21AM   I own practically all the water filters by Katadyn. The hiker pro is my least favorite. It works but it seems sluggish to me as well. I always blamed it on the design...doesn't feel natural when you use it. The Vario is my favorite of them all. Fast, no problems, unless you count the cost but you can find them at Cabellas on sale pretty reasonable. Best of luck. here is a pick of my son using the hiker pro on our 2011 trip (trip report..Scariest Plane Ride Ever)
ZaraSp00k	05/16/2012 01:33PM   quote shoreviewswede: "I have pumped more than 10 gal with my Hiker... and it still works fine. I pre-filter with coffee filter wrapped over entire end and pull water from middle of lake though. Pumping water from shore with previous filter clogged it up fast. " I doubt there is anything wrong with the OP's filter other than using the above tips I suppose it's possible the filter is bad, but if you didn't use a pre-filter and discriminate where you draw the water ... you are asking for short filter life, a hard to pump filter is the indicator this particular filter needs replacing
Jestrem	05/17/2012 07:19AM   quote ZaraSp00k: "quote shoreviewswede: "I have pumped more than 10 gal with my Hiker... and it still works fine. I pre-filter with coffee filter wrapped over entire end and pull water from middle of lake though. Pumping water from shore with previous filter clogged it up fast. " I doubt there is anything wrong with the OP's filter other than using the above tips I suppose it's possible the filter is bad, but if you didn't use a pre-filter and discriminate where you draw the water ... you are asking for short filter life, a hard to pump filter is the indicator this particular filter needs replacing " The product claims a much higher yield then what I have out of it, and they don't recommend that you wrap any sort of additional filters around their existing system. All of the water I drew from was nice and clear. It was either from fast moving rapids, or from buckets (from the same rapids)carried back to our camp site to be pumped out over the next 30-45 minutes. I have zero doubt in the quality of the water I drew from. The other 8 people in my group agreed - it wasn't our source.
egknuti	05/17/2012 12:06PM   It could be a bad filter. I've had filters last for an entire year with heavy use. I wrap the intake with a coffee filter and use a rubber band to secure it. I use the filter a few times and then replace it when it's dirty.
ZaraSp00k	05/18/2012 02:03PM   quote Jestrem: "quote ZaraSp00k: "quote shoreviewswede: "I have pumped more than 10 gal with my Hiker... and it still works fine. I pre-filter with coffee filter wrapped over entire end and pull water from middle of lake though. Pumping water from shore with previous filter clogged it up fast. " I doubt there is anything wrong with the OP's filter other than using the above tips I suppose it's possible the filter is bad, but if you didn't use a pre-filter and discriminate where you draw the water ... you are asking for short filter life, a hard to pump filter is the indicator this particular filter needs replacing " The product claims a much higher yield then what I have out of it, and they don't recommend that you wrap any sort of additional filters around their existing system. All of the water I drew from was nice and clear. It was either from fast moving rapids, or from buckets (from the same rapids)carried back to our camp site to be pumped out over the next 30-45 minutes. I have zero doubt in the quality of the water I drew from. The other 8 people in my group agreed - it wasn't our source." actually the instructions do recommend you wrap a pre-filter around the end and tell you that the dirtier the water, the less life it is possible you have a bad filter, but do you see the trend here, everyone is saying put a pre-filter on it and draw water from the cleanest source possible (center of lake if possible) running water is dirty water, has a lot of suspended particles in it
tnthekids	05/19/2012 09:19AM   I have used the Katadyn Hiker for years and mine finally broke so I upgraded to the double pump one (don't remember its name right now). I don't think it was defective when it broke... just old and abused by youth. Anyway, my purpose of this post is if you are in Ely, stop by Piragis and talk to them. They are awesome with Katadyn products and will take a look at it for you. I was very happy with their service (and I didn't even purchase it from them).
shoreviewswede	05/15/2012 01:34PM   I have pumped more than 10 gal with my Hiker... and it still works fine. I pre-filter with coffee filter wrapped over entire end and pull water from middle of lake though. Pumping water from shore with previous filter clogged it up fast.
snakecharmer	05/15/2012 05:54AM   Katadyn Hiker user for 15+ years. Never any problems, but I've always taken care to draw the cleanest water possible to extend filter life. Sounds like yours is defective...I'd exchange it for a new one.
Arkansas Man	05/15/2012 07:35AM   I have had my Hiker for about 10 years, we too use a pre-filter, (coffee filter held on by pantyhose and rubbber bands) I am on my second filter and have pumped several hundreds gallons of water through it. I switch out the pre-filter before each trip, and clean the entire system after each trip! I also carry extra pre-filter materials just in case we hit some not so clean water. Bruce
Frenchy	05/14/2012 09:01PM   I have used the Hiker for years without any problems like you describe. You might trade it in for a new one where you purchased the filter. I will also be using the Sawyer gravity system this year. I couldn't pass up the Million Gallon guarantee.
SunCatcher	05/14/2012 09:11PM   Jestrem, I have a Hiker Pro, experienced the same problem on the 6th day of a 6 day trip, It got progressively harder to pump, in fact, I broke off the handle. Katadyn sent me a new Plunger Handle. I also greased it, or lubed it up. The problem I feel is the filter is plugged, and that is why it is harder and harder to pump. I have learned to cover the filter with this: Diesel Filter Sheets Bojibob turned me on to this. I cut it and wrap it around my Katydyn filters both basecamp and Hiker Pro, I use some of those huge rubber bands that go around the bottom of broccoli. I wrap this stuff around the filter and then put a rubber band at the top and bottom to secure it. Then this "pre-filter" catches all the big stuff. and when it gets bad I burn it and put a new one on. Really extends the life of the Katadyn filters. Some sort of algae or something could have clogged the filter prematurely. SunCatcher
fitgers1	05/14/2012 09:53PM   I've owned my PUR (original company) Hiker for 17 years and have had the problem you described happen to me once. It was resolved with a new filter. I hope that is your problem as well.
Jestrem	05/15/2012 09:38AM   All great advise, people. Thank you so much!! @ SunCatcher Just so I understand you correctly... You cut and fit those filters to wrap around the paper filter? There currently is a material wrapped around the paper filter. I'm not sure if it's paper or plastic, but it's a very VERY fine, super fine mesh - hard to see through type of material, but very clean still. Upon inspection, the prefilter at the end of the intake hose is 100% clear, like brand new. That "skin" wrap around the paper filter, according to my eyes, appears to be absolutely spotless. And what I can see of the outer layer of the paper filter, doesn't appear to be in poor condition. It's still mostly white. Based on all of your responses, I'm going to write Katadyn to hear what they have to say, because after reading your reports, I know for sure I should have had a much much better yield. Thanks again everyone!!!
SunCatcher	05/15/2012 03:54PM   That fine "plastic" filter that wraps around the paper one is what I wrap the diesel filter around fyi. Trust me, when you use that diesel filter as a pre filter, it catches stuff, and you can SEE it. SunCatcher
MEPPS	05/27/2012 10:31PM   We have used the hiker pro filter the last 4-5 years in both the base camp and hiker pro. The filter has been a BIG disappointment especially in the base camp. It has clogged each year with the flow going to zero in the base camp. I have added an MSR Silt stopper along with the hiker pro which has worked fine for the hand pump. If you contact Katadyn they will acknowledge a known issue at times during the season in the BW. I don't recall the exact algae which is the culprit but it blooms typically in mid June. For our gravity feed filter we have switched to a Sawyer inline which can be back flushed.
MrWalleye	05/29/2012 06:10PM   We had 4 guys using two pro hikers on a 5 day trip and they both pumped water like champs, filling up over 100 32oz nalgenes figuring for 5/day per person which is pretty average IMO. You are going to have clogging issues with any filter style pump if you fill up against a mossy rock. They have a longer hose and floater for a reason. If you are at camp, pitch it out there a couple of feet and at least 4-5" down in the water, give it 5-6 good pumps and pitch it out again. I always try to avoid pumping over dirty water areas.
Sierra1	05/29/2012 07:48PM   I think I'm going to have to resign myself to getting a new filter every year. My Hiker Pro just doesn't seem to have good filter life. I used mine last year in August and filtered five gallons of water. When I got home I cleaned it per the instructions and put it away for the winter. Fired it up last week and it went four gallons then really became very difficult to pump. I took clean water from the lake and made sure the pre-filter was clean. It just seems to clog easily.
Eightweight	05/30/2012 07:13AM   Compared both and went with the Sawyer 4 litre for camp will also have the squeeze packs "2" for back up in our party of 4 people. Everyone seems to love the sawyer for ease of use and quality there also cheaper than the ones I looked at for Katydyn