re: Anybody use a water filter when they go camping?

I have owned both an MSR Miniworks and a Katadyn hiker pro. MSR is nice in that the filter is field serviceable by scraping off and washing off the outer layer of the carbon filter with a brillo pad. But pumping action does get noticably harder quickly and requires more cleaning than the Katadyn and also pumps a lot slower. The Katadyn is also a lot lighter which I liked on long distance hikes.

But, the Katadyn doesn't like overly silty water and if you don't filter cleanish water before you filter your filter pace will start off fast but slowly drop down to a dribble. Other than swishing it around on some water there is no other way to service the filter. If the filter clogs in the field and a quick field cleaning doesn't fix it you are DOA. I use a Silnylon water bag that I can scoop water out of the water source and let it settle before filtering. Of course this isn't always possible and sometimes on long hike your water source might just be a muddy trickle. Whatever filter you use, you will want to start with the cleanest water possible to prolong filter life.

I made my own own water bag out of Silnylon and grossgrain ribbon but it looks like this.

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