subject: Katadyn Hiker - A Portable, Easy Way to Filter Your Water in the Wilderness [print this page] Katadyn Hiker - A Portable, Easy Way to Filter Your Water in the Wilderness
Katadyn Hiker is among the smaller more portable models of water filters available on the market. This light weight unit can conveniently fit in a backpack to be transported where ever you may want to go.
Even the clearest looking water can contain dangerous microbes and particles. Using a filter can cut down on your chances of getting a nasty disease. The portable unit will take care of all of these problems. A standard filter will handle the protozoa and bacteria, a more "high tech" filter will also filter out viruses. These units come standard with a filter that has activated carbon which also rids the water of pesticides, chlorine, bad tastes and other organic and inorganic substances.
The Katadyn Hiker is a simple to use unit. To work the unit simply attach the hoses, input hose to the bottom of the unit, the output hose to the top of the unit. Place the hose into the water making sure to not put the input hose on the bottom where sediment can be sucked up into the unit. Pump the unit a few times to flush the system. Once the system is flushed put the output hose into the container of choice. Pump the handle until the container is full. Empty the unit once you are finished.
The Katadyn Hiker unit is equipped with a field serviceable filter. The filter is surrounded by a membrane that is simple to clean. This membrane keeps the filter from getting clogged by items. Anything that is big enough to clog the filter will get stuck in the membrane first. If the unit gets hard to pump then it is probably a good idea to check the membrane and clean as necessary.
While you might consider the Katadyn Filter to be a little expensive, running from $65 to $85 ot saves a lot of money and energy once you consider that one filter in this unit will filter around two hundred gallons. Plus, when you are considering that this unit is light weight and easily carried in a backpack. Two hundred gallons are impossible to take on the trail with you. The unit has little waste, only the water filter when it has to be replaced, which will happen eventually. This makes the unit very eco-friendly, no plastic bottles to throw away in landfills to rot.
